Baratunde wrestles with how to handle rising political violence in the U.S. by learning from a leading steward of strategic nonviolent action. Jamila Raqib, executive director of the Albert Einstein Institution, shares lessons on the superiority of nonviolent approaches to change, options for defending democracy against authoritarianism, and tips on what to do if a certain head of state refuses to leave office. Hypothetically. 

Show Notes + Links

We are grateful to Jamila Rahib for joining us!

Follow her on Twitter @jamilaraqib. You can learn more about The Albert Einstein Institute at https://www.aeinstein.org/. 

We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.

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HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE. 

INTERNAL ACTIONS (Actions that help you reflect and explore your emotions and experiences related to these topics or personal actions that don’t involve others)

Give energy and attention to what you WANT for our country 

If you journal, pray, meditate or do yoga, use your practice between now and the election to center yourself on what you want to happen. Developing that clear picture first will help you emotionally and psychologically prepare to respond if it doesn’t go the way you want. Walk that fine line with me!! 

For a powerful visioning example, see this proposed 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution organized by the Brooklyn Public Library. https://www.bklynlibrary.org/28th-amendment 

Look through the 198 methods at the Albert Einstein Institution https://www.aeinstein.org/nonviolentaction/198-methods-of-nonviolent-action/ 

Identify any you’ve already employed. Congrats! You’re a strategic nonviolent activist already!

EXTERNAL ACTIONS (Public actions that require relationships and interaction with others) 

Contribute to building our collective civil resistance muscle through the actions below.

Share this site that Jamila mentioned with examples and stories about nonviolent action https://wagingnonviolence.org/ 

Attend a Choose Democracy workshop on “How To Defeat An Election-Related Power Grab”

Find trainings at https://choosedemocracy.us/, take the pledge on the home page, and check out the action center. 

Engage in action recommended by “Hold The Line” and tell others about it

https://holdthelineguide.com/

Volunteers created this 55-page guide for the situation we’re in. It includes methods to set up election protection efforts in your community, attend workshops for non-violent resistance, and get your elected officials, police, and military to commit to upholding democracy. 

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If you take any of these actions, share that with us - [email protected]. Mention Returning Citizens in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen. 

We love feedback from our listeners - [email protected]. 

Visit Baratunde's website to sign up for his newsletter to learn about upcoming guests, live tapings, and more. Follow him on Instagram or join his Patreon. You can even text him, like right now at 202-894-8844.

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