The Indivisible display their resistance against Trump’s agenda at a town hall event. [Source: The Associated Press]It all began with a Google document. “Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda” was a 26-page, public Google document created by former progressive congressional staffers who wanted to fight the Trump agenda by sharing “insider” info on how to successfully influence Congress. The document was published in mid-December and instantly became widely shared by thousands, including “Star Trek” actor George Takei and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich of the Clinton administration.
The document, available on the group’s website, provides a step-by-step guide for constituents on how to change Trump’s agenda. The first chapter describes how the group learned from the Tea Party’s rise and how they advocated the grassroots movement to stop former President Barack Obama.
The second chapter describes the typical thinking process of Congress members (a thought process which consists of doing anything in their power to get reelected) and how to take advantage of it to “save democracy.” As a House member is elected every two years and a Senator runs for office every six years, most “members of Congress are always either running for office or getting ready for their next election — a fact that shapes everything they do.”
The third chapter shows how common people can get involved, and the fourth chapter describes the four tactics that have worked for the Indivisible, which include going to town halls and making the members of Congress listen to constituents, asking questions about racism, authoritarianism, and corruption at local public events, going to district offices to demand a meeting with Congress members, and calling Congress members about a certain issue.
People stand outside Brighton High School before GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz holds his town hall meeting in Utah. [Source: The Associated Press]The group first worked to get rid of the American Health Care Act, which would replace the Affordable Care Act, and even caused representatives to flee town halls or to cancel public events by consistently and constantly calling district offices, demanding answers from the members of Congress. For example, in Pewaukee, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner faced members of the Indivisible and angry democrats at a town hall, in which he had to repeatedly tell them to “be respectful.” Similarly, GOP Rep. Diane Black was questioned by passionate constituents in Tennessee, in regards to the Affordable Care Act. One of the constituents said, “And you want to take away this coverage, and have nothing to replace it with,” as he explained that he had health conditions that could kill him without insurance.
On the group’s website, they stated that over “4,500 local groups have signed up to resist the Trump agenda in nearly every congressional district in the country. What’s more, you all are putting the guide into action–showing up en masse to congressional district offices and events, and flooding the congressional phone lines. You’re resisting – and it’s working.”
Through social media websites, such as Facebook, the Indivisible movement is continuing to show how people can join the movement locally, continuing to fight certain issues currently occurring in the Trump administration and posting videos to help readers face their members of Congress.
Lauren Yu has been part of the JSR program since Fall Semester 2013 as a continuing reporter. As a senior at Van Nuys High School, Lauren is an Assistant Financial Editor for her school’s newspaper, The Mirror. She takes advantage of the freedom of speech in order to provide factual writing. She hopes to learn the numerous different aspects of journalism as she experiences and progresses within the program
![The Indivisible display their resistance against Trump’s agenda at a town hall event. [Source: The Associated Press]](http://www.jstudentboard.com/reporter/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/4-18-protest-A.jpg)
![People stand outside Brighton High School before GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz holds his town hall meeting in Utah. [Source: The Associated Press]](http://www.jstudentboard.com/reporter/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/4-18-protest-B.jpg)
