7 Ways to Rise Up Against Trumpism 2.0

Grassroots movements, legal organizations, and nonprofits are leading the opposition.

Since Donald Trump鈥檚 second term began on Jan. 20, 2025, his administration has aggressively launched a deluge of multipronged attacks on immigrants, transgender people, racial equity initiatives, federal workers, climate regulations, and more. 鈥淚t is a fire hose right now,鈥� Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) told the . 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what he does. He creates a ton of chaos so it鈥檚 hard to keep up with it.鈥�

In other words, overloading us so we don鈥檛 know where to begin is the point.

But the good news is people are fighting back with every tool at their disposal, from trainings and legal challenges to walkouts and strikes. Here is a non-comprehensive list of ways people across the United States are rising up against Trumpism.

On Feb, 5, 2025, students gathered outside of city hall in Los Angeles to protest Donald Trump and his anti-immigration stance as part of a national protest. They hold Mexican flags and a sign that says "Stop ICE Raids" — On Feb, 5, 2025, students gathered outside of city hall in Los Angeles to protest Donald Trump and his anti-immigration stance as part of a national protest. *Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP*

1. Immigrant Rights

鈥淜now Your Rights鈥� trainings are one of the most effective ways to counter Trump鈥檚 promised ICE raids against undocumented people and those suspected to be undocumented. Large networks such as the and smaller local groups such as in Stockton, California, are educating local communities about what their rights are in the event of raids by federal immigration officials. is available in numerous South East Asian languages as well as in Spanish.

Groups such as the in Southern California are also using to spread awareness of people鈥檚 rights, share ways to report ICE raids on a hotline, and learn how to identify different federal law-enforcement vehicles.

Additionally, students from immigrant and mixed-status families are flexing their grassroots power by leading and in protest of ICE raids.

After Trump鈥檚 executive order on Jan. 28, 2025, that restricted gender transition procedures for people under the age of 19 and a local hospital cancelled scheduled appointments, hundreds demonstrated in protest in New York City on Feb. 3, 2025. Here, five protesters seated next to one another hold signs like "We will not be erased" and "protect trans kids." — After Trump鈥檚 executive order on Jan. 28, 2025, that restricted gender transition procedures for people under the age of 19 and a local hospital cancelled scheduled appointments, hundreds demonstrated in protest in New York City on Feb. 3, 2025. *Photo by Charly Triballeau / AFP*

2. Transgender Rights

Trump鈥檚 attacks against transgender people include an executive order that bans gender-affirming care for minors. This has caused chaos for those seeking care, as numerous hospitals and providers have . In response, advocacy organizations and have joined forces to launch a against the administration.

Some are heroically providing care to their patients in the face of Trump鈥檚 ban, promising to continue until they are forced to stop. And State Attorney General of New York for providers in New York to continue necessary care in line with state laws.

Meanwhile, transgender-led media outlets such as as well as individual are rewriting narratives on trans rights.

On Feb. 14, 2025, demonstrators gathered outside of the offices of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., to protest against Elon Musk鈥檚 Department of Government Efficiency budget cuts and employee terminations. One man holds a sign that reads "Workers over billionaires!" — On Feb. 14, 2025, demonstrators gathered outside of the offices of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., to protest against Elon Musk鈥檚 Department of Government Efficiency budget cuts and employee terminations. *Photo by Bryan Dozier / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP*

3. Workers Rights

Though among people in the United States, the Trump administration is still and hamstringing the , which became a bulwark against corporate resistance to unions under the Biden administration. In response to these actions, the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 federal workers, has .

are also working at the state level to push attorneys general and governors to step in and fortify already existing protections. Additionally, in December 2024, in anticipation of Trump鈥檚 anti-labor stance. And unions are slowly changing the way they organize rank-and-file workers, making their institutions less hierarchical and more responsive to worker needs and concerns. According to labor writer , that reorganization can make unions more resilient in the face of Trump鈥檚 anti-labor policies.

An abortion rights activist holds a protest sign with "No Laws Exist to Control Men鈥檚 Bodies" written on it. She and others gathered in front of the Heritage Foundation during the Women鈥檚 March. — Shortly after the November 2024 election, abortion rights activists and Women鈥檚 March protesters gathered outside the offices of the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank that published Project 2025. *Photo by Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images*

4. Reproductive Rights

Newly confirmed Health Secretary has sparked deep concern among medical professionals because of his anti-vaccine stances and conspiracy theories on health. And, as Trump , Kennedy appears to have .

But access to abortion procedures remains popular throughout the nation, so much so that last November protecting abortion care, .

Meanwhile, are also intervening to protect abortion access. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has moved to ensure his state will not allow federal enforcement of abortion restrictions, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced his state will begin stockpiling mifepristone, which can be used to induce abortion.

The is offering legal support for abortion providers and the for those needing abortion care. Individuals have also begun stockpiling abortion pills, obtaining them from groups such as and .

During the People鈥檚 March in Washington, D.C., held January 18, 2025, protesters held signs advocating for racial justice and intersectionality. In this photo, a black woman holds a sign from SisterSong, a reproductive justice organization, that reads "Trust Black Women" — During the People鈥檚 March in Washington, D.C., held January 18, 2025, protesters held signs advocating for racial justice and intersectionality. *Photo by Bryan Dozier / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AF*

5. Racial Justice and Equity

One of Trump鈥檚 most high-profile actions has been banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government and threatening private institutions to not implement such programs. Under his purview, the has dismantled its DEI programs.

In response, a coalition of DEI advocates, including the , has filed a lawsuit against the administration, saying the DEI bans are vague and unconstitutional. The has also taken similar legal action.

While some schools and faculty are complying with Trump鈥檚 orders, and . A network of community college leaders called Education for All is going further by on how to resist the DEI bans.

As private corporations like Target have announced they will roll back DEI programs, plan to preserve them. Some consumers say they will participate in a , in protest of corporate DEI rollbacks.

Climate activists stand outside the US embassy holding letters reading 鈥淭rump Climate Catastrophe鈥� just over a week before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on 11th January 2025 in London, United Kingdom. Climate activists gathered outside the US embassy in solidarity with people on the frontline of the climate crisis and in protest against President-elect Trump鈥檚 policies based on climate denial. — Just over a week before the inauguration of Donald Trump, climate activists gathered outside the U.S. embassy in London in solidarity with people on the frontline of the climate crisis. *Photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images*

6. Climate Justice

The Trump administration pulled back on the United States鈥� while also launching an immediate and massive and environmental initiatives, especially those aimed at assisting .

Large such as the Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defense Council have already planned legal challenges to Trump鈥檚 actions. These organizations have a track record of winning a majority of such cases during Trump鈥檚 first term. States like are doing the same.

are also vowing to fight back and are promising disruptive, though peaceful, actions.

on Feb. 5, 2025, protesters gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota — On Feb. 5, 2025, protesters gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. *Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire*

7. General Strike

Americans are angry about Trump鈥檚 slash-and-burn approach to government. They鈥檙e so enraged, in fact, that millions have been making phone calls to their Congressional representatives, . Unfortunately the opposition party is, in the words of The Nation鈥檚 Chris Lehmann, 鈥�.鈥�

In such a political vacuum, a grassroots effort has launched a that is gaining traction. Based on research showing that 3.5% of a nation鈥檚 population striking from work can force leaders to meet their demands, the effort is calling on people to make a pledge to strike by signing strike cards.聽

As of this writing, more than 200,000 people have signed strike pledges. The goal is 11 million people.

Sonali Kolhatkar joined 大象传媒 in summer 2021, building on a long and decorated career in broadcast and print journalism. She is an award-winning multimedia journalist, and host and creator of聽大象传媒 Presents: Rising Up with Sonali, a nationally syndicated television and radio program airing on Free Speech TV and dozens of independent and community radio stations. She is also Senior Correspondent with the Independent Media Institute鈥檚 Economy for All project where she writes a weekly column. She is the author of聽Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice聽(2023) and聽Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence聽(2005). Her forthcoming book is called聽Talking About Abolition聽(Seven Stories Press, 2025). Sonali is co-director of the nonprofit group, Afghan Women鈥檚 Mission which she helped to co-found in 2000. She has a Master鈥檚 in Astronomy from the University of Hawai鈥檌, and two undergraduate degrees in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin. Sonali reflects on 鈥淢y Journey From Astrophysicist to Radio Host鈥� in her 2014聽TEDx talk聽of the same name.