RESOURCE LIST FOR NONVIOLENT RESPONSE TO A COUP ATTEMPT

SVFM – v5.2 – 11/22/20

 

Originated by Dan Snyder, with contributions from Beth Keiser, Becky Ledbetter, Michael Galovic, Maggie O’Neill, Sue Cannon, Erica Burns, Marvin Schrock, Susan Ikenberry, David LaMotte, Jane Goldthwait, Kathleen Jorissen, Susan Murty

 

The following is the beginning of a list of available resources to help us become better prepared to engage an effective, strategic nonviolent response to a coup attempt.

 

Let’s pool our information, SVFM, and add to this list so as to develop a comprehensive resource that anyone in the meeting can access.

 

How this list is organized:

 

  1. LITERATURE to help us understand effective strategy building
  2. TED TALKS
  3. Other ONLINE RESOURCES
  4. Organizations offering ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES for various aspects of DIRECT ACTION
  5. Organizations engaged in DIRECT ACTION responses to a coup attempt, both locally and around the country.
  6. UPCOMING EVENTS
  7. What SVFM members ARE DOING/ or COULD DO

 

  1. LITERATURE TO HELP UNDERSTAND STRATEGY BUILDING

 

Chenoweth, E. and Stephan, M.: Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. NY: Columbia University Press, 2011.

 

Engler, M. & Engler, P.: This is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt is Shaping the Twenty-First Century. NY: Nation Books, 2016.

 

Lakey, G.:  How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning. Brooklyn, NY: Melville House Publishing, 2018.

 

Moyer, B. (et. al.):  Doing Democracy: The MAP Model for Organizing Social Movements. Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers, 2001.

 

Sharp, G.: From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation. Boston: The Albert Einstein Institution. First printing, 2002. No copyright. The author has intentionally placed this material in the public domain.

 

Sharp, G.: How Nonviolent Struggle Works. Boston: The Albert Einstein Institution, 2013.

 

Zunes, Stephen: Civil Resistance against Coups: A Comparative and Historical Perspective, 2018.

 

  1. TED Talks (www.ted.com)

 

Jamila Raqib: The Secret to Effective Nonviolent Resistance.

(https://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_raqib_the_secret_to_effective_nonviolent_resistance)

 

 

Scilla Elworthy: Fighting with Nonviolence

(https://www.ted.com/talks/scilla_elworthy_fighting_with_non_violence)

 

Srdja Popovic: How to Topple a Dictator

(https://www.ted.com/talks/srdja_popovic_how_to_topple_a_dictator)

 

Julia Bacha: Pay Attention to Nonviolence

(https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_bacha)

 

Van Jones:  What If a Presidential Candidate Refuses to Concede After an Election https://www.ted.com/talks/van_jones_what_if_a_us_presidential_candidate_refuses_to_concede_after_an_election?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

 

  1. OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

 

The Albert Einstein Institution (www.aeinstein.org)

  • A variety of monographs and pamphlets are available in PDF as free downloads.

 

Waging Nonviolence (www.wagingnonviolence.org)

  • Articles on history, strategies, and current nonviolent campaigns. Many of George Lakey’s articles are archived on this site and are well worth reading. Other writers are also making insightful contributions, especially Daniel Hunter.

 

ICNC (International Center on Nonviolent Conflict) has a rich resource library. There are several classic resources available for download via their website, including

  • The Anti-Coup by Gene Sharp and Bruce Jenkins
  • Training Manual for Nonviolent Defense against the Coup d’état

https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org

 

The Social Dilemma

https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/

A documentary that can be viewed on Netflix.  Here is a statement from The Social Dilemma website:  “Never before have a handful of tech designers had such control over the way billions of us think, act, and live our lives.  We tweet, we like, and we share— but what are the consequences of our growing dependence on social media? This documentary-drama hybrid reveals how social media is reprogramming civilization with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations. ”

 

Securing Democracy in a Conflicted Election: Resources for Educators

https://www.peace-ed-campaign.org/securing-democracy-in-a-conflicted-election-resources-for-educators/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monthly-Nov+2020

 

Relevant US Election History (requires NY Times subscription)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/opinion/trump-concession-transition.html

The article discusses contested elections, such as those in 1800, 1860, and in the reconstruction era of the 1880s, as well as options of the current president to threaten US democracy.

 

“Fresh Air” interview with Journalist Garett Garth

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/12/934117807/journalist-details-potential-mischief-of-trumps-remaining-weeks-in-office

Garth gives predictions of what actions may be taken during the Lame Duck period as well as what the current president may do after leaving Washington.

 

  1. ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

 

Choose Democracy is the organization that is offering the “How to Beat an Election-Related Power Grab” hosted by George Lakey and Zein Nakhoda. Many in SVFM have participated already. Additional trainings are offered if you’re interested.

https://choosedemocracy.us

 

The Blackout Collective offers online training, and helpful resources for staying safe.

www.blackoutcollective.org

 

Eileen Flanagan is a Philadelphia Quaker who has developed a comprehensive resource for training and discernment:

https://eileenflanagan.teachable.com/p/finding-your-role

 

The community safety toolkit offers helpful information and resources for staying safe.

https://www.visionchangewin.com/services-and-programs/community-safety/

 

The Coup-O-Meter assesses risk and has a number of links to other helpful resources.https://isthisacoup.com

 

The Hold the Line Guide outlines a four-step process for defending democracy. It is a downloadable document that also includes links to helpful organizations.

https://holdthelineguide.com/

 

ICNC has also hosted an hourlong webinar taught by Stephen Zunes on “How Can Civil Resistance Work against Violent Coups?”

https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/can-civil-resistance-work-violent-coups/

 

  1. ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN DIRECT ACTION

 

Protect the Results is a national website linking actions around the country.

  • Under the “Resources” tab there is a Host toolkit and a Social Media toolkit.
  • Under the “Partners” tab they link to the websites of nearly 150 organizations that are mobilizing resistance. That alone is reason for hope!

https://protecttheresults.com

The Asheville chapter of Indivisible, working with Protect the Results https://indivisibleavl.org/

The Asheville Nonviolent Coalition to Protect Democracy and Prevent a Coup For efficiency, smaller affinity groups were formed to decide upon and initiate actions. For more info, ask Beth Keiser (elizakeiser@aol.com)

 

Choose Democracy has added a new action center to their website which includes several immediate steps Friends can take as well as helpful links to other resources.

https://choosedemocracy.us/take-action/?link_id=0&can_id=53a4f5fb26689d79001570259419900f&source=email-is-this-a-coup-2&email_referrer=email_976366&email_subject=brand-new-action-center-to-prevent-a-coup#.X5tH5y3MylM

 

Poor people’s campaign

https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/committee/north-carolina/

 

 

Protect the Election/ Contact State Election Officials

https://www.protectourelection.com/contact-state-election-officials?sp_ref=681408046.392.211438.f.0.2&fbclid=IwAR1Nb0DF4sgV2prRjvG_RZ-IGjYqF-p8EoIDLmDXVym4H4IzhovuBFYIMZs

 

Braver Angels (formerly Better Angels) is a nationwide organization dedicated to facilitating dialogue across political divides. They have a new initiative called “Hold America Together” that is worth checking out.

https://braverangels.org/hat-initiative/?link_id=3&can_id=53a4f5fb26689d79001570259419900f&source=email-new-poll-56-of-americans-expect-election-violence&email_referrer=email_976422&email_subject=new-poll-over-70-of-americans-want-the-two-sides-to-work-together-despite-election-fears

 

 

  1. UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Steps to Start a Shrimp Farm, Sunrise Asheville and Asheville Democratic Socialists of America

Includes Crucial Reading and Calendar of Actions.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hfa5vbcQPvYCa-dtgPvRDRRRYje_q_8bt27K23CydgU/edit

 

“Let’s be neighbors” sign

An invitation to show up for community by communicating a welcome to others

https://www.letsbeneighbors.org/

 

 

  1. LIST OF WHAT SVFM MEMBERS ARE DOING/ OR COULD DO

 

In the event of a coup

 

  • Support for those on the streets – meals, water, supplies
  • Presence on the streets – physical, car caravan
  • Alternative presence on the streets – singing, open worship
  • Witness and document – the direct actions by others

 

To promote election integrity

 

  • SVFM Letter: Write a letter that could be signed by those members who would like to and be sent to such leaders or as an op-ed to the Citizen-Times
  • Letter-writing: Draft talking points that individuals could have to write their own individual letters and emails asking for public statements to be made protecting vote count.
  • Financial support
  • Other: Tweet storm, share info on social media, phone and texting

 

To promote community unity

 

  • Post sign at SVFM – “You Are Our Neighbors”–

https://www.letsbeneighbors.org/

 

  • Encourage SVFM members to purchase and post one of these signs at their homes and/or businesses /

 

  • Formalize a partnership with local churches

 

  • Organize a car caravan to promote unity