Resisting Fascism in America

A People’s Guide to Defending Democracy

Trump is ushering fascism to the US

By Danika Joy Fornear

As authoritarianism tightens its grip on our institutions, our communities, and our future, more and more Americans are waking up to a harsh reality: the threat of fascism is no longer some distant warning—it’s here, and it’s operating in broad daylight.

From voter suppression bills like the so-called SAVE Act, to the coordinated attacks on public education, reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and free press, the signs are all around us. These are not isolated incidents. They are pieces of a dangerous puzzle being assembled by a regime that seeks to dismantle democracy from within.

But we are not powerless. We are many. And we are not going down without a fight.

Here’s a simple, powerful guide to understanding fascism—and resisting it.

What Is Fascism?

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian ideology that thrives on nationalism, the suppression of opposition, and the fusion of corporate and state power. It’s rooted in control—of people, of truth, of the narrative. It uses fear, division, and propaganda to maintain power.

Modern American fascism doesn’t wear a uniform. It wears a suit, waves a flag, and claims it’s “saving” the country while it guts your rights. But make no mistake: whether it’s book bans, voter purges, or criminalizing dissent, the tactics are the same.

Signs of a Fascist Regime on the Rise in the U.S.:

• Discrediting elections and restricting voting access

• Targeting marginalized groups with hateful legislation

• Undermining public institutions like schools, libraries, and media

• Censoring educators and criminalizing protest

• Cultivating cults of personality and political violence

• Blaming societal issues on scapegoated communities

We’ve seen this before. Our ancestors fought it. And now it’s our turn.

How to Resist Fascism and Help Save Democracy

You don’t need to be a politician to protect democracy. You just need to show up—and bring others with you. Here’s how to start:

1. Get Loud. Get Local.

Fascism feeds on silence and apathy. Speak out at local meetings. Write letters to the editor. Call out disinformation on social media. The battleground is your school board, your county commission, your community spaces.

2. Know Your Rights—And Use Them

Educate yourself and others about civil liberties, the right to protest, and the tools of resistance. Attend town halls. Demand transparency. Refuse to normalize authoritarian behavior.

3. Organize in Your Community

Join or start a local resistance group. Partner with grassroots, nonpartisan organizations like Save Our Democracy Corps—a nonprofit of working-class people mobilizing to protect voting rights and push back against the rising tide of fascism.

4. Support Real People Running for Office

Corporate candidates won’t save us. Support grassroots, working-class candidates who actually understand our struggles and will fight for justice and equity—not just power and profits.

5. Refuse to Be Divided

Fascism thrives on “us vs. them.” Build coalitions across race, gender, class, and faith. Stand with the most vulnerable in your community—because when they come for one of us, they come for all of us.

6. Boycott Oppression, Fund the Resistance

Spend your money with intention. Divest from companies and politicians backing oppressive policies. Invest in independent media, mutual aid, and resistance movements. Donate to grassroots organizations like Save Our Democracy Corps, who are defending voting rights and building people power from the ground up.

7. Vote Like Democracy Depends On It—Because It Does

Authoritarians want you to believe voting doesn’t matter. That’s the point. Fight that lie with your ballot, and help others register, get educated, and show up.

The Truth: We Are the Frontline

Resisting fascism isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement. It’s a daily commitment to show up for each other, to speak truth to power, and to defend the freedoms too many take for granted.

This regime may be well-funded. It may control the airwaves. But we have something stronger: each other. Our communities. Our conviction. And our collective will to fight like hell for a future that includes all of us.

It starts with you. It starts now.

Join the resistance. Fuel the fight. Support democracy.