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A Network of Networks
People need to be reminded that they are not alone in an era of institutional collapse, and that sense of solidarity makes them more likely to act. We cannot do this alone. A single individual has limited power, but en masse, people can move mountains.
Standing Armies Are a Threat to the Constitution
It is tragically ironic that these deployments are happening as we celebrate the 238th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, which happened Wednesday, September 17th. This is because these actions recall a threat that the Constitution was designed to protect against: the presence of standing armies and the resulting encroachment on civil liberties.
Perspectives Series: Drug Access
In this Perspectives Series, we redirect people to these important narratives, directly hearing from everyday Americans about their struggles. This week, we hear from a resident of Massachusetts, a research scientist by occupation, whose everyday life is impacted by the business-focused healthcare landscape of the United States, and whose ability to afford medication has been impacted by recent administrative actions.
Boston Is a Union Town
As we face continued and escalating federal overreach into our communities, the lessons of the labor movement are more important than ever: they may claim to have power over us, but there are more of us than there are of them, and they need us to comply to retain their position. As long as we stand together, we can overcome any opposition they turn on us.
Whose America? Domestic military occupation and a nation on the brink
At the core of the administration’s current and proposed domestic military occupations is one of our nation’s most enduring questions: whose America is this? As a despicable despot attempts to turn a say in our nation’s future into a favor to be withheld at his pleasure, now is the time to recommit to standing up for our liberties and resisting attempts to divide and conquer us.
Labor Day Parade Sneak Peek
This year, Boston will be the scene of a Labor Day Parade hosted by the Greater Boston Labor Council, and Mass 50501 will be joining the march! Read on to learn more about the significance of the locations the unions have chosen to set up their demonstrations along our parade route!
Cafe ICEcadrille: The Power of Direct Action
District Ave—formerly known as Executive Park Drive—is a quiet, dead-end road nestled between an iconic mall and a world-class hospital. Its occupants are modern restaurants and cute cafes, a Residence Inn hotel, and several unassuming office buildings. Inside one of those office buildings is ICE.
The Flyering Toolkit: How to Get Your Message Seen, Remembered, and Acted On
Flyering is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective ways to put your message in front of people. It works because it’s physical, it’s visible, and it can’t be hidden behind an algorithm. A flyer in the right place can reach hundreds of people a day. Do that in dozens of places and you’ve built a steady, visible drumbeat that people can’t ignore.
Trump Dissolves Congress in Response to Epstein Inquiry
In the heat of August’s summer, we can only imagine where and when the descent to authoritarianism will come next as it approaches bottom. See our satirical dispatch of an article next month in the New York Times.
What’s going on in D.C.?
The administration frequently seeks to amass power by “flooding the zone” with a multitude of authoritarian measures in the hope of overwhelming those of us who stand together for liberty, and diverting attention from its own vulnerabilities. As we endeavor to protect the liberty of our communities, our first priority is following the lead of communities directly affected by the administration’s attempted authoritarian takeover.
The Time Has Come to Be Petty
We are the good guys but we should not refuse to use this tool on some high-minded principle. “When they go low, we go high” is no longer the rule. Instead we should meet them in the gutter and humiliate them at every opportunity.
What’s Your Why?
During Rage Against the Regime, people turned a backdrop of vines into a blooming montage of answers to the question: “Why do you resist?” I read through all of them, and certain themes emerged.
Growing the Movement through Street Chalking
For the movement to grow, we need to reach people who aren’t looking; if we’re everywhere, we can’t be ignored. Mass 50501’s Street Art Team tested the best ways to create chalked messages in a scalable way. Find out how to make your own stencils and join this creative resistance tactic.
Channeling our Rage into Action
Authoritarian regimes, like the one in the White House right now, control through oppression. They want us to be poor, sick, desperate, and left feeling hopeless and helpless. When we come together in joy and uplift our communities we are actively engaging in resistance.
ICE Raids Have Far-Reaching Effects on the Human Services Industry
The Trump regime has terminated the protected status of half a million immigrants from Haiti, many of whom serve essential roles in Boston’s Human Services industry, leaving the most vulnerable people in our communities at risk of neglect.
A Quick History of the Tesla Takedown Movement
The protests brought together all kinds of people to share in their fury at Elon Musk. Protest art flourished, with thousands of homemade signs created.… Despite the heaviness of the purpose, there’s often a sense of joy at the protests. Seeing dozens to hundreds of people coming together to fight fascism revives our collective hope for a better future.
Thanks for making Good Trouble with us
Thank you all for braving the heat to make Good Trouble with us last Thursday! We made our voices heard marching down Boylston Street. Once we got to the Common, we danced to the music of the Good Trouble Brass Band. Then, we got down to business with speakers from multiple organizations sharing what they think Good Trouble means to them.
A Movement’s Search for Meaning
The real enemy of this movement is existential; a dreadful fear for the future that grinds us down to the nub as each insult irritates the yawning chasm that leaves us unable to rest. The force of this dread is something we must learn to endure. Your self-care toolkit shouldn’t be just rest and relaxation, but also a healthy understanding of the mind's weaknesses and limitations, and taking deliberate action through a thoughtful framing of the day’s events to improve it.
We Still Build Hope When Everything Feels Lost
Hope gives our movements energy. It keeps us showing up. We’re not just fighting to survive. We’re fighting to live. Fully, joyfully, collectively.
Stand Up, Speak Up, Speak Out: Remembering the Legacy of John Lewis
Until the end, Lewis inspired many across the world to engage in the kind of good trouble that had moved mountains in the American South. May he inspire all of us to do the same.