How to do it:

The steady drumbeat of local actions is punctuated by a growing number of days when everyone, everywhere, is asked to participate in unison. From protests to blackouts to strikes, it takes a lot of people to send a national signal. The No Kings! protest dates have set records. So far the impact of economic boycotts have been mixed, and national strikes have been limited. The more you’re asking from participates, the more infrastructure organizers need to provide.

A protest takes permits and parking and porta-potties, but a national strike means lost wages and even lost jobs. If you want widespread participation, you have to consider the cost to participants. Most of us would lose a day’s wages to end fascism. Many of us would risk our job to put a stop to it. New organizers sometimes shame practical concerns by saying things like “what are you willing to do to stop fascism?” but this carries an ego-driven assumption : that the organizers’ action can do that, if only you will participate.

So how do you know which national events are “legit” or worth the effort? Here are a few tips:

• If it’s a protest, has an established group endorsed it? This includes Indivisible, 50501, No Kings, or any well-known non-profit like the ACLU as a sponsor. National planning takes experience, infrastructure, and resources. New organizers should start with something more local and build a reputation.
• If it’s a boycott, is it targeted? A boycott of Target, Home Depot, Amazon and Walmart over the Black Friday weekend is specific. So is a date to avoid buying gas. Asking people to boycott Walmart permanently isn’t, if they live in a town where it’s the only grocery store left. Instead, ask people to buy as little as possible there. Some of us can avoid it entirely. Others can’t.
• If it’s a strike, does it acknowledge employment realities? Unlike most European countries, we have no job protection during a “wildcat” (non-union) strike, and job loss can mean loss of health insurance. So do organizers provide alternatives for those who can’t take that risk? Guidance for those in jobs barred from striking? Effective organizing centers participants’ needs. It doesn’t rely on shame to drive participation.

Ultimately each of us needs to decide what we can do to participate. Whenever you are able, travel to larger protest sites on national days, but if you can’t, protest where you are. If you’re asked to boycott, do so as well as you can. If your essential prescription comes in during the boycott, it’s okay to pick it up. If a national strike is called, it’s okay to schedule the day off, or call in sick. You don’t have to tell your boss you’re protesting. If you need to go to work, wear something supportive if you can. If you feel guilty, pick a “penance” by doing another form of activism instead. We all have to do something. We don’t all have to do the same something.