Activism 101

5/24/26



Now that I've introduced the negative consequences of refraining from engaging in politics, you may be wondering, "What should I do next?" People often think being an activist requires you to be on the front lines of a protest or to give an important speech at a political event that will be televised for the world to see. While these roles are certainly important, anyone can be an activist!



Being an activist and engaging in activism does not require you to take on this specific role. There are many different roles, and for change to occur, we need people to take on all of them. So, what can you do?



Here are 10 options for roles you can take on!



Boycott:

Something I think people take for granted is the power of boycotting. The recent years of boycotting big corporations associated with Israel, OpenAI, and other parasitic companies has led to major losses for them. People tend to think, "How will the actions of 1 person even make a difference?" However, if enough people have that same thought, nothing will get done. Imagine if every one of those people instead thought, "Maybe it's worth a shot to try."



Educate:

Spreading the word and educating others is especially important in times of censorship. People are often unsure of whether the content they're seeing is truthful. Important events may also not be getting the coverage they normally would due to this censorship.



If you're a content creator, especially one with a bigger platform, posting your opinions can help rally others. Spreading or reposting educational content can also get the word out about what's going on. Even if you're not a content creator, posting or reposting about current events spreads the word to others and may spread resources to others who may not have seen such content. Of course, fact-checking and authenticating information and sources are crucial. Being aware of possible AI content being spread around is also important.



Use Your Voice:

Contacting your elected officials is also a way to make your voice heard. Even if you believe your elected officials will vote in accordance with your values, you cannot be fully sure that they will. Therefore, it's important to call in and give your opinion.



These officials want to be reelected, so they may pay extra attention to the opinions of their constituents if it means ensuring a higher probability for their reelection. This is a website you can use to find the phone numbers to call for your elected officials: https://5calls.org. Signing petitions is also a way to make your voice heard. Also, keep in mind that using your voice is especially important if you have elected officials who may be on the fence about certain policies. Or officials who seem to fall somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum.



Conversely, for states that have historically almost always voted red and have very right-wing elected officials, they tend to have their minds set on how they will vote on certain policies. Even so, it doesn't hurt to try calling or signing petitions. However, it's good to be aware that in these cases, your opinions may fall on people who are not willing to listen.



Volunteer:

There are many groups currently working to provide support to their communities. In Minnesota for instance, in response to the violent invasion of ICE, the Stand With Minnesota website gives people, outside and inside Minnesota, information on how to help and take action: https://www.standwithminnesota.com.



On their website, you can find a directory that lists organizations currently operating in Minnesota. These organizations can give you ways to volunteer, whether it's making deliveries, helping out at food pantries, distributing resources, fostering pets, providing mental health services, facilitating collections for donations, providing transportation services, providing translation services, and more!



The Stand with Minnesota site has recently expanded to include "Stand with New Jersey." The site gives people ways to help New Jersey neighbors and the situation at Delaney Hall. You can give directly to impacted families, donate to bail funds, and even sign up for a direct protesting shift at Delaney Hall if you are able.



Although I'm not currently living in Chicago, since I'm from the Chicagoland area, I looked into what kind of volunteer opportunities are available in the city. One amazing group I found is called the "People's Patrol." They patrol Chicago neighborhoods and use non-aggressive tactics to "annoy" ICE agents away from these neighborhoods. They also keep track online of ICE agents that are spotted in the area.



There is also an organization called Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD): https://www.organizedcommunities.org. They are currently looking for volunteers and have a volunteer sign-up form you can fill out if interested. All in all, efforts are underway across the country. Look into what events are going on in your local community to help out your neighbors.



Provide:

Donating resources and supplies, whether it's medical supplies, food, baby formula, diapers, menstrual products, or clothes, everything is important and appreciated. Again, looking into the organizations and groups in your community is a great way to figure out what and where you can donate. Both the Stand With Minnesota and Organized Communities Against Deportations (Chicago) websites have a list of groups you can contact regarding donations.



Financial Support:

For those who are financially able, people are needed to raise and donate money. This may be toward protest organizations, nonprofits providing support to local communities, or bail funds for bailing out protestors. It's also important to simply take notice of where you're spending your money. Shop locally to support your community and follow the boycotts.



Skills and Services:

For those who have specific skills, people are needed for medical support, translation services, and even representing pro bono in legal circumstances.



Document:

People are also needed to document and record/photograph current events. This is especially important during arrests and protests so the community can get a first-hand account of what's going on. It's even more important as censorship continues to increase. The more documentation of events online, the more likely people will be able to find out what's going on.



Encourage:

Keeping up morale is crucial. These days, more and more people are expressing feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Encouraging and supporting others in any way you can is an act of activism, especially when those in power benefit from the public's feelings of hopelessness.



They want us to feel that we have no power or ability to change our circumstances. Whether it's reaching out to your friends and family or creating and sharing art/music, be the positive voice that can guide others forward during difficult times. It's this sense of community and hope that will keep us together and propel us forward to action.



Protest:

Finally, there are also protests! Protests are a great way to show up and use your voice to demonstrate where the people stand on what our politicians are doing.



During a time when our administration and the people in power are trying to keep us divided, it's important to create community and be there for one another.



Sources:

https://www.standwithminnesota.com

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/17/nx-s1-5575533/chicago-patrol-neighborhoods-ice-and-help-migrants-escape

https://www.organizedcommunities.org

https://5calls.org