In On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, Timothy Snyder shows that these lessons are less about predicting collapse and more about recognizing the steps we have already walked. Authoritarianism is not a distant threat. It advances through obedience, silence, isolation and the manipulation of language. We are not at the beginning of the story. We are somewhere in the middle. How it ends depends on whether we continue to comply or whether Americans remember who we are: a people built on courage, liberty, and defiance.

1. Do not obey in advance.

“Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.”
“Anticipatory obedience is a political tragedy… The first heedless acts of conformity could not then be reversed.”

Meaning

Authoritarian power often starts when ordinary people change their behavior to avoid conflict. They anticipate what those in power might want and act accordingly. This quiet compliance sends a clear signal: power can expand without resistance, without confrontation, and without new laws.

Historical Context

Austria 1938 — The Anschluss:
When Nazi Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, no formal orders were given to persecute Jewish citizens immediately. Yet within hours of Hitler’s arrival, crowds of ordinary Austrians, including neighbors, shopkeepers, and coworkers, forced Jewish people to scrub the streets of Vienna on their hands and knees. Many others gathered to watch, laugh, and join in. This public humiliation targeted people who just days earlier were respected members of the community. It showed the new regime that Austrians were already willing to carry out acts of cruelty on their own initiative. Youtube
Germany 1941 — Preemptive Obedience:
By 1941, the SS began carrying out mass shootings and deportations in Eastern Europe before they received any direct written orders to exterminate Jewish populations. Mass killings of Jews and other targeted groups were already taking place in the summer and fall of 1941, months before Hermann Göring authorized Reinhard Heydrich on July 31, 1941, to prepare plans for the “Final Solution,” and well before the Wannsee Conference in January 1942, where those plans were coordinated on a larger scale. Nazi leaders did not have to issue clear commands for every atrocity. Instead, they relied on what historians call “working toward the Führer,” which meant that local officials and paramilitary units predicted what their superiors wanted and acted to align themselves with that expectation. This willingness to act without being told accelerated the Holocaust and broadened the scope of state-sponsored violence through initiative from below.
The Milgram Experiment (1961) — Modern Psychology of Obedience:
Two decades later, Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram designed a study to test whether ordinary people would harm others when instructed by an authority figure. Participants believed they were delivering painful electric shocks to a stranger in another room. Even when the “victim” screamed or fell silent, sixty five percent of participants continued to the maximum voltage simply because an experimenter calmly told them to go on. Milgram’s findings revealed a disturbing truth: people often obey authority automatically, even when it violates their conscience.

Current

Journalists, teachers, and workers self-censoring → Anticipatory obedience

Teachers in Florida limited or skipped lessons on race, gender, and Black history after the “Stop WOKE Act.”
Schools preemptively pulled books before any official bans.
Librarians in some districts reviewed or temporarily removed hundreds of titles related to race, sexuality, and gender after political pressure.

Election workers → Resistance

Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss in Georgia continued their work despite violent threats following false claims of election fraud.

Election officials → Mixed

Some officials in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico resigned under threats → anticipatory obedience.
Others initially refused to certify results, requiring court intervention → resistance in defense of election integrity.

Corporate and institutional actors → Anticipatory obedience

Many companies paused political donations after January 6, then resumed contributions to politicians who opposed certification.
Federal agencies quietly removed or modified web pages highlighting contributions of women and Black people.
Universities scaled back public statements supporting diversity initiatives after political pressure.

Justice system → Resistance

Federal prosecutors pursued cases against January 6 participants, enforcing the law despite political and social pressures.

Militia networks → Anticipatory obedience within groups

Groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers continued recruiting and operating, taking advantage of gaps in enforcement.

These events show how tyranny rarely begins with a leader giving direct commands. It begins when ordinary people anticipate those commands, comply willingly, and teach power how far it can go.

2. Defend institutions.

“It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of ‘our institutions’ unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning.”

Meaning

Courts, the press, universities, and election systems survive only when people actively protect them. When citizens assume someone else will step in, authoritarian movements can quietly weaken, control, or dismantle these institutions from within.

Historical Context

Germany 1933: Many Jews assumed the legal system would protect their rights. Within months, the Nazis had neutralized courts, the press, and civil society.
Gleichschaltung: Nazi process of bringing institutions into alignment with the regime.
Referendums and elections confirmed the one-party state after institutions were weakened.

Current

- Local news disappearing:
  In 2025, closures of rural newspapers across states like Wyoming, including The Pinedale Roundup and Bridger Valley Pioneer, left entire regions with no local reporting. Without watchdog journalism, corruption and extremist organizing flourished in the shadows.
- Gerrymandering and voting limits:
  States such as North Carolina, Texas, and Florida pushed through aggressive redistricting plans and tightened voting rules, allowing one party to secure outsized power despite close elections. Ongoing cases like Louisiana v. Callais threaten to further weaken the Voting Rights Act.
- Supreme Court trust eroding:
  Confidence in the Court fell after justices ignored mounting ethics scandals and the Judicial Conference quietly removed key disclosure requirements in early 2025. Controversial rulings, including limits on voting protections, deepened the sense that the Court served political interests rather than the public.
- False faith in “checks and balances”:
  Many people believed the system would fix itself. But Congress failed to act on Supreme Court ethics, state-level power grabs accelerated, and institutions remained vulnerable to coordinated political pressure.

Institutional erosion occurred incrementally — often met with apathy rather than organized defense.

3. Beware the one-party state.

“The parties that remade states and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start. They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents. So support the multi-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. Vote in local and state elections while you can.”

Meaning

No dictatorship starts with total control. One party can slowly entrench itself through manipulation of elections, weakening of opposition, and rewriting the rules — until democracy exists only on paper.

Historical Context

Germany 1932–33: Nazis won elections, then eliminated rivals, establishing a one-party state in less than a year.
Czechoslovakia 1946–48: Communists won elections, then consolidated power.
Russia 1990: Democratic elections were followed by one-party dominance that endures.

Current

Gerrymandering and voter suppression have made it possible for one political party to dominate in several U.S. states.
Attempts to overturn or challenge election results have mostly gone unpunished, showing that rules can be broken with little consequence.
Voter cynicism and disengagement make it easier for those in power to stay in control.
Federal protections have not been strong enough to stop states from undermining democracy.

De facto one-party systems now operate inside parts of the U.S. — a precondition Snyder warns about explicitly.

4. Take responsibility for the face of the world.

“The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.”

Meaning

Symbols shape political reality. Public displays of hate such as graffiti, slogans, flags, and propaganda are not just decoration; they prepare the ground for action. Normalizing them signals acceptance.

Historical Context

Germany, early 1930s: Nazi banners, swastikas, and propaganda papered cities long before laws changed.
Neighbors and bystanders became used to hate symbols, desensitizing themselves to the growing threat.
By the time laws were passed, the cultural shift was already done.

Current

Confederate flags and swastikas have resurfaced at rallies and in communities, often appearing alongside the American flag, MAGA hats, and white face coverings worn as homage to the KKK.
Hate stickers, QR code propaganda, and neo-Nazi graffiti have spread widely on college campuses and public spaces.
A growing number of right-wing podcasters, debaters, and spokespeople exploit young audiences, teaching and normalizing bad faith discussions while promoting extremist ideas.
Many people “look away,” treating it as free speech or a fringe issue rather than active radicalization.
Online platforms host and algorithmically boost extremist content with little pushback.

Hate is re-normalized in public space, creating fertile ground for organized and chaotic extremism.

5. Remember professional ethics.

“When political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become more important. It is hard to subvert a rule-of-law state without lawyers, or to hold show trials without judges.”

Meaning

Tyrannies rely on the cooperation of professionals such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, and tech workers, who follow unjust policies or help build the systems that enable repression. Ethical refusals can slow or even stop authoritarian power.

Historical Context

Nazi Germany: Lawyers rewrote laws to legalize persecution. Doctors participated in eugenics programs.
Soviet Union: Professionals enabled show trials and political purges.
Many never considered themselves “political,” just “doing their job.” For example, during the Nuremberg Trials after World War II, Nazis repeatedly claimed they were only following orders when participating in Nazi atrocities.

Current

In 2025, lawyers and officials supported attempts to overturn the 2020 election, including Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani filing lawsuits in Michigan and Georgia based on false claims of voter fraud.
Tech companies profited from surveillance and data profiling, such as Meta and TikTok enabling targeted political ads that exploited personal data to influence young voters.
Teachers and librarians faced gag orders or restrictions without widespread resistance, like the bans on teaching Critical Race Theory in Florida schools and challenges to LGBTQ+ books in public libraries.
Journalists were pressured to “both sides” disinformation, including coverage of COVID-19 misinformation and election fraud claims that gave false narratives equal weight to verified facts.

Professional compliance normalized and accelerated undemocratic practices.

6. Be wary of paramilitaries.

“When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh.”

Meaning

When violence shifts from state control to unofficial paramilitary groups loyal to political movements, democratic order unravels. Paramilitaries intimidate the public and erode rule of law.

Historical Context

Germany: SA (Brownshirts) and later SS began as paramilitaries, intimidating political opponents before becoming official.
Italy: Mussolini’s Blackshirts paved the way for fascist rule.
Paramilitaries often appear before formal authoritarian takeover.

Current

Some law enforcement agencies, including ICE, have acted like a paramilitary force, carrying out armed raids, breaking into homes, kidnapping people, harassing citizens, shooting civilians, and even brutalizing other officers. These operations go beyond standard policing, projecting fear and control over communities while blurring the line between state authority and political enforcement.
Paramilitary-style groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers acted as political enforcers during protests and elections, including coordinating security for rallies and confronting protesters in Portland and Washington, D.C.
Armed civilians showed up at polling sites in states like Georgia and Michigan in 2020, attempting to intimidate voters.
January 6th, 2021, demonstrated the destabilizing power of private violence tied to political goals, when armed rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol to block the transfer of power.

America is facing both democratic erosion and domestic terrorism carried out by government actors.

7. Be reflective if you must be armed.

“If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no.”

Meaning

Police, soldiers, and armed agents are often the front line of authoritarian enforcement. If they follow unlawful orders, democracy can collapse in days. Personal reflection and lawful refusal are essential.

Historical Context

Europe in the 1930s–40s: Ordinary police forces enforced Nazi orders, from deportations to executions.
Many who participated in atrocities were not fanatics—just “following orders.”
Democracies often fall with the cooperation of their own armed forces.

Current

Chicago, Illinois – Operation Midway Blitz (Sept–Oct 2025)

Military-Style Raids: On September 30, ICE, FBI, ATF, and Border Patrol agents conducted a pre-dawn raid in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. The operation involved Black Hawk helicopters, flashbang grenades, and forced apartment entries. TIME
Civilian Detentions: Federal agents detained U.S. citizens—including children—without warrants. Some were zip-tied and held for hours before release.
Journalist Arrested: WGN-TV video editor Debbie Brockman was forcibly arrested by masked federal agents while documenting the raid. She was later released without charges. The Guardian
Tear Gas Used: ICE deployed tear gas in violation of a federal judge’s order, affecting both protesters and local police officers. The Guardian
Unlawful Arrests: A Cook County judge issued an order barring ICE from making arrests at courthouses, citing unlawful detentions of U.S. citizens.

Franklin Park, Illinois – Fatal Shooting (Sept 12, 2025)

Unjustified Killing: ICE agents shot and killed Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a father dropping his child off at school. Body camera footage contradicted DHS claims, showing the agent’s injuries were minor. Youtube

Law enforcement is enforcing political agendas, not the law, putting democracy at risk.

8. Stand out.

“Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom.”

Meaning

Authoritarian movements rely on everyone going along. Resistance can take many forms. Some people stand out by refusing to follow unjust rules, while others stand out with wild clothes, bright colors, or spunky haircuts. All forms of visible difference can break the illusion of consensus and inspire others to push back.

Historical Context

Rosa Parks (1955): Her single act of defiance ignited mass resistance.
Czechoslovakia 1968: Small acts of public dissent became sparks of larger movements.
Germany 1930s: Many citizens were shaped by an authoritarian culture that valued obedience, conformity, and deference to authority. This personality and social conditioning made them unlikely to question leaders or speak out, so very few resisted Nazi consolidation early. Their silence was not coincidental; it was the predictable result of years of social and psychological priming, which made organized resistance far more difficult later.

Current

Disinformation Ignored: In October 2024, Brad Raffensperger’s office uncovered a video falsely claiming a Haitian immigrant had voted multiple times in Georgia. The video, likely part of a coordinated effort to sow division, went largely unchallenged at first, allowing disinformation to spread.
Whistleblower Harassment: Those who attempted to expose election disinformation faced severe retaliation, including online harassment, doxxing, and threats of violence, with minimal institutional protection.
Pentagon Press Suppression: In 2025, the Pentagon implemented a restrictive press policy under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Major news organizations—including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, CNN, and NPR—refused to comply and returned their press credentials. The policy limited journalists’ access and reporting, threatened expulsion or prosecution for routine newsgathering, and effectively silenced independent oversight, allowing government-aligned narratives to dominate.

Early chances to define moral and political limits are wasted as people stayed silent.

9. Be kind to our language.

“Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking. Read books. Subvert the cliché. Authoritarians turn words into slogans, and slogans into weapons.”

Meaning

Authoritarianism flattens language, reducing complex issues to slogans, insults, and binaries. Clear, independent language keeps critical thought alive and resists manipulation.

Historical Context

Nazi Germany: Words like “the people” were redefined to exclude Jews and minorities.
Soviet Union: Political language was hollowed out into meaningless slogans (“peace,” “justice”) to justify violence.
Orwell warned of this in 1984 with “Newspeak.”

Current

Phrases like “fake news,” “deep state,” “woke agenda,” “election theft,” and “illegals” dominated political and social discourse in 2025, frequently divorced from facts and used to delegitimize opponents, dismiss evidence, and mobilize fear.
Book Bans and Censorship: During the 2024–2025 school year, PEN America recorded 6,870 instances of book bans across 23 states and 87 public school districts. Florida led the nation with 2,304 bans, followed by Texas with 1,781. Books by authors such as Stephen King and titles addressing race, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues were among the most banned. This widespread censorship reflected a concerted effort to control the narrative and suppress diverse perspectives PEN America+1.

Political vocabulary has narrowed, weakening shared understanding and making manipulation easier.

10. Believe in truth.

“To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.”

Meaning

Truth underpins accountability. If the public no longer believes in objective facts, authoritarian figures can define reality for us.

Historical Context

Nazi Germany: Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels perfected mass disinformation.
Soviet Union: State-controlled media rewrote history in real time.
Postwar totalitarianism relied on controlling shared reality.

Current

- Widespread Acceptance of Election Lies: Even in 2025, polls showed roughly 40% of Republican voters in swing states still believed the 2020 election was stolen, despite multiple audits and court rulings confirming its integrity. Fox News viewers, in particular, continued to express doubts even after the network paid settlements and acknowledged the election claims were false.
- Fox News Settlement and Admission of False Claims: In April 2023, Fox News settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, one of the largest media settlements in U.S. history. Dominion alleged that Fox News knowingly broadcast false claims about election fraud to retain viewers. As part of the settlement, Fox News acknowledged the court’s ruling that certain claims about Dominion were false. However, the settlement did not require Fox News to apologize or admit wrongdoing. Despite this acknowledgment, Fox News continued to promote similar narratives, and its viewership remained high, indicating that the network’s audience largely accepted these false narratives as truth.
- Trust in Journalism at Record Lows: Surveys from the Pew Research Center in 2025 reported that only 28% of Americans trusted major news organizations like CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post “a great deal” or “a fair amount,” reflecting growing skepticism fueled by partisan attacks on journalists and Pentagon press restrictions under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Truth Has Become Partisan: Statements of fact are increasingly interpreted through a political lens. COVID-19 statistics, climate reports, and FBI investigations into election interference are accepted or rejected depending on party affiliation, rather than objective evidence.

With no shared baseline of fact, authoritarian narratives spread unchecked.

11. Investigate

“Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Real information is costly — but it is worth it.”

Meaning

Democracy relies on informed citizens who seek out real information, not passive consumers who absorb whatever is most convenient. Investigating for yourself protects against manipulation.

Historical Context

Totalitarian regimes from Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union depended on controlling information. Independent newspapers were among the first institutions silenced or absorbed.

Current

Collapse of local journalism has created massive “news deserts,” particularly in rural areas of the U.S.
Conspiracy outlets like Infowars and influencer-driven channels fill the vacuum.
Many Americans share stories on social media without verifying them, allowing lies to dominate.

When we stop investigating, lies become the loudest truth.

12. Make Eye Contact and Small Talk

“This is not just polite. It is a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, to break down social barriers, and to make sure you are noticed and trusted in your community.”

Meaning

Authoritarianism thrives when people are atomized, isolated, and afraid to connect. Community bonds create resilience.

Historical Context

French Resistance (WWII): Members relied on daily interactions with neighbors and trusted contacts to share intelligence, hide Jews, and coordinate sabotage. Ordinary social routines—going to markets, chatting in cafes—helped transmit coded messages without raising suspicion.
Polish Underground State (WWII): Secret schools, local councils, and community networks allowed citizens to communicate and organize covertly, maintaining social bonds despite Nazi occupation.
Dutch Resistance (WWII): Families and local networks coordinated hiding Jewish neighbors, distributing underground newspapers, and assisting Allied forces, all relying on trust built through everyday social connections.
Contrast – Nazi Germany and Occupied Territories: Totalitarian authorities intentionally isolated individuals, controlling social life through curfews, mandatory reporting, and fear, aiming to break trust networks and prevent organized resistance.

Current

- Deepened Social Isolation: Extended COVID-19 lockdowns and remote work in 2020–2025 reduced casual neighborly interactions, weakening local community bonds.
- Severed Neighborly Ties: Political polarization has made it difficult to engage with neighbors across ideological lines. Many Americans report knowing social media influencers or online personalities better than the people living nearby.

Strong communities resist tyranny; fragmented ones are consumed by it.

13. Practice Corporeal Politics

“Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.”

Meaning

Digital engagement is not enough. Authoritarian power thrives when dissent is reduced to scrolling. Showing up in physical space is an act of democratic strength.

Historical Context

U.S. Civil Rights Movement: Mass marches like the 1963 March on Washington and local sit-ins depended on physical presence, community organizing, and coordinated action in public spaces.
Solidarity in Poland (1980s): Workers’ strikes and street demonstrations in Gdańsk and other cities built momentum for the pro-democracy movement, relying on face-to-face coordination and mutual trust.
Anti-Fascist Resistance in Europe (WWII): Groups in France, Italy, and the Netherlands carried out sabotage, protected persecuted citizens, and shared intelligence, actions that required in-person collaboration beyond clandestine communication.

Current

No Kings Protests (June 14, 2025):
A nationwide movement with over 5 million participants across more than 2,000 U.S. towns and cities, including major demonstrations in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, opposing President Trump’s policies and perceived authoritarianism. Center for American Progress
People’s March on Washington (January 18, 2025):
An estimated 50,000 individuals gathered in Washington, D.C., advocating for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, and democracy, organized by groups like the Women’s March and ACLU.
Hands Off Protests (April 5, 2025):
Over 1,000 protests occurred across all 50 states in response to new tariffs announced by President Trump and Elon Musk, with significant participation in cities like Hollywood, Florida. Brookings
Portland, Oregon Immigration Protests (June 4, 2025–present):
Ongoing demonstrations in Portland against mass deportations, involving civil disobedience, traffic obstructions, and activism by groups such as Abolish ICE and Portland Contra Las Deportaciones.
Day Without Immigrants (February 3, 2025):
A nationwide protest where businesses closed to highlight the contributions of immigrants, occurring in multiple cities across the United States.

Key Lesson: These movements succeeded because people showed up together in physical space; online agreement alone would not have been enough to challenge entrenched power.

14. Establish a Private Life

“Authoritarianism works as a kind of pre-emptive bribery. If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear. But if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to protect.”

Meaning

Protecting privacy is protecting freedom. When everything is surveilled, control becomes effortless.

Historical Context

Stasi Germany: The East German secret police maintained extensive files on citizens, using informants to monitor private life; expressing dissent privately could lead to arrest, imprisonment, or social ostracism.
Soviet Union: Citizens’ letters, phone calls, and workplace behavior were routinely monitored; private thoughts or conversations critical of the state could result in harsh punishment.

Current

Peer Surveillance: Individuals are reported to employers or social media platforms for expressing political views about Israel, Charlie Kirk, or other contentious topics like “Free Palestine”. Many have been fired, suspended, doxxed, or publicly shamed.
Amplified Algorithms: Platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram make it easy for neighbors, coworkers, or strangers to monitor, flag, and weaponize posts.
Corporate and Government Data Fusion: Private online behavior, location data, and communications can be combined with official databases, making self-censorship a survival tactic.

This ecosystem of peer monitoring spreads fear, enforces conformity, punishes dissent, and normalizes ordinary people policing each other online and offline to uphold ideological and political loyalty.

When privacy disappears, the space for resistance vanishes.

15. Contribute to Good Causes

“Pick a charity or cause you like, then give them a little time or money, because then you will have made a free choice that supports civil society.”

Meaning

Strong civil society—independent unions, organizations, nonprofits—stands between citizens and authoritarian power. Supporting these groups strengthens democracy.

Historical Context

Fascist regimes dissolved or co-opted unions, charities, and civic associations. Stalin and Hitler both neutralized civil society before consolidating power.

Current

Independent Unions Under Pressure:

Boeing Strike: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing over 3,200 Boeing workers in St. Louis, filed an unfair labor practice charge against Boeing after rejecting multiple contract offers. The union demands a contract similar to that secured by Boeing’s Seattle-area employees, with better retirement benefits. Boeing has indicated it will not increase its offer and intends to replace striking workers by year-end.
Federal Worker Rights: Under the administration’s Project 2025/DOGE agenda, federal workers have been fired, rehired, and fired again. They’ve been stripped of their collective bargaining rights and union contracts.

Nonprofits Facing Financial Strain:

Washington, D.C. Nonprofits: Local nonprofit leaders report that inflation and the high cost of living are driving even employed individuals to seek assistance. For example, the Capital Area Food Bank has distributed 5 million more meals than anticipated this fiscal year due to increased food insecurity.
Anti-Human Trafficking Organizations: A coalition of over 50 anti-human trafficking organizations filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The lawsuit claims these policies constitute unlawful censorship and violate the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), hindering efforts to support trafficking survivors.

Civic Engagement and Protests:

No Kings Day Protests: Millions of Americans are expected to participate in the second “No Kings” day protest on October 18, 2025, in over 2,500 locations across the U.S. and internationally. Organized by Indivisible and a coalition of labor unions and activist groups, the demonstrations aim to oppose what they describe as President Donald Trump’s authoritarianism and expansion of executive power during his second term.
Illinois Protests: More than a dozen “No Kings” protests are scheduled across the Chicago area on Saturday, continuing a wave of demonstrations that organizers claim marked the largest anti-President Trump protest during his second term. The events are supported by numerous national organizations including the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, SEIU, and MoveOn.

Supporting independent civic institutions—through time, money, or participation—is a direct act of resistance against authoritarian encroachment.

If we stop supporting independent institutions, only political machines remain.

16. Learn from Peers in Other Countries

“Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends abroad. People elsewhere have experienced what you have not. They know how things can go wrong and how they can be put right.”

Meaning

Authoritarianism is not new. Other nations have lived through—and fought through—what Americans are now experiencing. Their lessons matter.

Historical Context

Europeans who lived through fascism and communism understand democratic erosion intimately. International solidarity movements helped resist authoritarian regimes.

Current

Warnings from abroad about democratic backsliding in the U.S. have been met with complacency. Americans often assume “it can’t happen here.”
Our exceptionalism is blinding us to familiar patterns.

17. Listen for Dangerous Words

“Be alert to the use of the words extremism and terrorism. Be alive to the fatal notions of emergency and exception. Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.”

Meaning

Authoritarian leaders weaponize language, especially around fear and patriotism, to justify repression. The word emergency becomes a pretext for power grabs.

Historical Context

Hitler’s Reichstag Fire Decree suspended civil liberties under the guise of “emergency.” The Soviet Union routinely labeled dissent as “terrorism” or “counterrevolution.”

Current

In 2025, the U.S. government has increasingly invoked the language of “emergency” to justify actions that expand executive power and limit civil liberties. For instance, President Trump declared multiple national emergencies, including those related to immigration, energy, and drug control, often without clear evidence of an actual crisis. These declarations have enabled the administration to bypass traditional legislative processes and implement policies such as tariffs, deportations, and federal troop deployments, actions that critics argue pose serious risks to democratic norms and constitutional checks on presidential power. The Washington Post

18. Be Calm When the Unthinkable Arrives

“Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power.”

Meaning

Crises, especially violent or shocking ones, are moments when authoritarian actors move quickly. Staying calm prevents fear from becoming a weapon against us.

Historical Context

The Reichstag fire, staged or exploited, allowed Hitler to suspend democracy. 9/11 led to rapid expansions of U.S. state power with little resistance.

Current

In 2025, the federal government sent National Guard troops, ICE agents, and other federal forces into cities like Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago during protests and unrest. These actions were justified as keeping the peace or responding to emergencies.
Protesters and organizers were often treated as threats to national security, with arrests, detentions, and heavy surveillance becoming common.
Federal forces controlled streets, blocked transportation, and used show-of-force tactics that intimidated communities and limited people’s ability to gather.

Since we can see what they are trying to do right now, claim a state of emergency to expand power and limit our freedoms, we must stay calm and vigilant. Understanding their strategy is how we resist and protect our rights.

19. Be a Patriot

“Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.”

Meaning

True patriotism means defending democratic values, not pledging loyalty to a single leader or faction. It is about preserving ideals, not idolizing individuals.

Historical Context

Authoritarian regimes co-opted patriotic symbols to demand obedience. Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, and fascist Italy all fused nationalism with control.

Current

In 2025, American patriotism is being used by some leaders and groups to demand loyalty and justify harmful actions, rather than to uphold democratic values. Symbols like the flag and references to national heritage are sometimes invoked to attack critics, suppress protests, or excuse power grabs. True patriotism, in contrast, is about defending democratic principles, holding leaders accountable, and setting a positive example for future generations. Recognizing the difference between genuine patriotism and its misuse is essential to protect both our freedoms and our ideals.

True patriotism challenges the power that betrays the people.

20. Be as Courageous as You Can

“If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.”

Meaning

Courage is the lifeblood of democracy. It doesn’t always look grand; often it’s quiet refusal, steady resistance, or small acts of bravery.

Historical Context

From German resistance fighters to civil rights activists, those who stood up against repression often did so at great personal risk.

Current

Greta Thunberg’s Defiant Stand Against Israeli Detention

Background: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in June 2025.
Action Taken: During the voyage, the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces. Thunberg was detained for five days under harsh conditions, including physical assault, humiliation, and unsanitary confinement.
Result: Despite the mistreatment, Thunberg publicly denounced the actions, highlighting the brutal treatment of activists and prisoners. Democracy Now!

Angie “The ICE Chaser” Vargas: Confronting ICE Agents

Background: In Los Angeles, Angie Vargas, known as “The ICE Chaser,” actively tracks and confronts ICE agents during immigration raids. Tiktok
Action Taken: Vargas livestreams ICE activities, documents their actions, and provides real-time updates to the community, often intervening to prevent deportations. The Daily Dot
Result: Her actions have garnered significant attention, with her videos reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers, empowering communities to resist unjust immigration practices.

Mexican Students Organizing Emergency Protests

- Background: On October 9, 2025, Mexican Students de Aztlán (MeSA) at the University of Illinois Chicago organized an emergency protest after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement kidnapping of two women on campus. Workers World
- Action Taken: Students and staff watched as ICE agents dragged the two women out of a car, slammed them onto the pavement, and kneeled on their backs as they bound their arms.
- Result: The protest highlighted the aggressive tactics used by ICE and the community’s commitment to resisting such actions.

The Inflatable Frog Protester

Background: A 24-year-old Portland resident, known as the “Inflatable Frog Protester,” donned a frog costume and began attending daily protests outside the ICE facility.
Action Taken: Despite being targeted with chemical sprays aimed directly at his costume’s air vent, he continued his peaceful demonstrations, symbolizing resilience and defiance.

1. ICE Agents Shoot Pepper Spray into Protester’s Frog Costume Air Vent

2. YouTube

University of Washington Classroom Defense

Background: On October 1, 2025, during a human sexuality lecture at UW’s Kane Hall, an intruder entered the classroom, making Nazi salutes and shouting slurs at the professor and students.
Action Taken: The professor and students stood their ground, refusing to be intimidated by the extremist threat. Together, they escorted the intruder out, demonstrating quick thinking, solidarity, and bravery under direct threat.
Result: Their courageous actions protected the learning environment and each other. The intruder was subsequently tackled and arrested by campus police, highlighting the effectiveness of collective courage. KUOW

Naked Bike Riders Against Federal Troops

Background: In October 2025, Portland activists organized an impromptu edition of the World Naked Bike Ride to protest the deployment of National Guard troops to the city.
Action Taken: Participants, many in whimsical costumes or completely nude, cycled through the city, passing by the U.S. ICE building, to express opposition to federal intervention.
Result: The protest drew national attention, symbolizing creative and fearless resistance to authoritarian displays. AP News

Comedian Arrested in Giraffe Costume

Background: Comedian and performance artist Rob Potylo, known as Robby Roadsteamer, was arrested outside an ICE facility in Portland while dressed in a giraffe costume.
Action Taken: He was performing satirical songs critical of immigration enforcement when he was allegedly shot with pepper-spray balls by rooftop DHS snipers. Despite the arrest, he announced plans to sue ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, vowing to continue his protest work.
Result: His actions highlighted the risks faced by activists using art and performance to resist oppression and drew attention to abuses by federal authorities. The Daily Beast

Courage is American. Obedience is not.

Closing Thoughts

Every act of courage moves the needle. Every refusal to obey in advance, every defense of our institutions, every stand against intimidation—these are the bones of democracy. In 2025, Americans are proving it again. Stand tall. Speak your truth. Protect your communities. Act with integrity. Courage is contagious, and it is the only way forward. Rekindle your fire. Reclaim your audacity. Remember who you are: Americans. Born with the right to claim and reclaim what is ours. Americans. Born to resist. Born to defy.

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On Tyranny pdf

On Tyranny By Timothy Snyder Full Audiobook