Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 12h

NEW lesson from abroad: How Zimbabwe’s democratic forces continue to take a stand — even as they face a daunting environment for dissent. Dig into this latest edition of Democracy Atlas: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/remember-autocrats-are-not-invincible

Rule 6: Remember — autocrats are not invincible. But be careful.
How Zimbabwe’s pro-democracy forces expose autocratic weaknesses →

Public backlash diminishes the autocrat, but proceed carefully.
Call out their cruelty and hypocrisy. The suffering they cause and their failure to deliver on promises provide an opening for pro-democracy voices to shift public opinion.
Stay activated. Autocrats want to shut out any opposing voices. Don’t fall into their trap of disillusionment — even entrenched rulers are vulnerable to public backlash.
Guard against division. Autocrats commonly infiltrate opposition groups to sow discord and dismantle them from within. Beware of efforts to split or shut down the opposition party or civil society.
Protect sensitive information. Use caution with sensitive information to help keep the pro-democracy movement secure and intact.

Lesson Learned:
Zimbabwe is a reminder that even the most entrenched authoritarians are susceptible to backlash when they don’t adequately respond to the needs of the people. When pro-democracy forces seize on windows of opportunity to shift public opinion, all while remaining exceedingly careful in their approach, they can weaken the autocrat’s grip on power.

19 38

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 22h

We’re proud to stand with our partners in this fight.
@loevy.com, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois.

1 6 28

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 22h

This order protects people like Pastor David Black, who was shot in the head with projectiles while praying, and journalists from outlets like Block Club Chicago who were gassed while covering the protests.

Protecting Protesters and the Press from Unconstitutional Federal Force in Illinois

Protect Democracy is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment in Northern Illinois.

protectdemocracy.org

2 11 44

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 22h

The First Amendment contains the most cherished and fundamental rights of our democracy — it is vital that we defend it. In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis affirmed that the government cannot use violence as a means to silence dissent. ⬇️

Whatever lawlessness is occurring is not occurring by peaceful protestors. That the actions taken by some federal agents at this point and on this record clearly violate the Constitution. Individuals are allowed to protest. They are allowed to speak. That is guaranteed by the First Amendment.
judge sara l. ellis
us district court, northern district of illinois

1 6 25

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 22h

VICTORY: Today, together with our partners, we won an emergency order stopping federal agents from using violent force against protestors in Illinois. Federal ICE/DHS agents are now blocked from using tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse lawful assembly. protdem.org/474KWsA

Court Halts Unlawful Suppression of Speech by ICE

DHS ordered to stop violating First Amendment rights of press, clergy, and protesters in Illinois

7 92 240

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Count Every Hero @counteveryhero.org · 1d

To date, thousands of troops have been deployed in at least five American communities over the objection of local leaders, with the promise of more. These rising domestic deployments run afoul of our history and traditions.

Read the brief: counteveryhero.org/wp-content/u...

7 25

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Count Every Hero @counteveryhero.org · 1d

Nine former service secretaries + retired four-star admirals and generals filed a brief in federal court in Illinois today challenging the administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago as a dangerous trend of politicizing the military, and militarizing society. 🔗 bit.ly/48gA25b

“Over the short period of only the past several months, the Administration has abandoned the American tradition against domestic deployment of the military, embracing instead what the District Court of Oregon described as ‘martial law,’” they wrote. “The Administration has suggested it plans to use United States cities as ‘training grounds’ for the military, turning our troops on the ‘enemy within’ – the very people they have proudly sworn to protect, with their own lives if necessary. Thousands of troops have been deployed in at least five such communities over the objection of local leaders, with the promise of more.”

4 90 270

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 1d

WATCH Sen. Schiff on the Trump administration’s politicization of the DOJ and the 1000+ former DOJ officials who have joined together to decry a democracy-threatening abuse of power that must be opposed. Read their full statement: protdem.org/3ITOo0Y

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 2d

Sen. Adam Schiff: "The DOJ has become President Trump's personal sword and shield to go after his ever-growing list of political enemies and to protect himself, his allies, and his associates."

15 42

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 1d

In his crackdown on blue cities, Trump is dangerously and perversely fusing the roles of the U.S. military and domestic agencies. Amanda Carpenter connects the dots: 🔗 https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/federalism-at-a-breaking-point

What we are seeing now is the worst of both worlds: domestic agents adopting military tactics, and the military itself is being drawn into domestic political conflicts. Neither the military nor federal agents are trained or legally intended to perform each other's roles.

2 12 53

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 1d

🌍 New edition of the Democracy Atlas coming out tomorrow. 🌎 Looking for lessons and inspiration from others who have navigated authoritarian threats across the world? This is for you.

Catch up on the series here and share with other democracy defenders. ⬇️

Eight rules of antiauthoritarianism

Introducing the Democracy Atlas

www.ifyoucankeepit.org

13 34

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 1d

Protect Democracy’s new AI for Democracy Action Lab will work toward two mutually-enforcing goals: accelerate democracy-enhancing uses of the technology while mitigating its abuse through regulation and other guardrails. Learn more and how to connect ⬇️

The AI for Democracy Action Lab - Protect Democracy

The AI for Democracy Action Lab (AI-DAL) is a place to join together with tech innovators, legal and policy experts, software engineers, nonprofit leaders, and others to not only defend against the da...

protectdemocracy.org

1 16

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 1d

"If federal forces can make citizens afraid to exercise their First Amendment rights on the street, they can make them afraid to attend a rally, support an opposing candidate, or cast a ballot in upcoming elections,” new from @amandacarpenter.bsky.social. 🔗 https://protdem.org/48hnc6N

HED 1: Federalism at a breaking point
SUBHED 1: When red state troops police blue cities

9 41

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 2d

NEW: @amandacarpenter.bsky.social offers four essential questions (and answers) to understand what’s really at the heart of Trump’s troop surge to blue cities — and why the unjustifiable military deployments must be stopped, in her latest briefing for The Entrenchment Agenda. Read and subscribe:

Federalism at a breaking point

When red state troops police blue cities

www.ifyoucankeepit.org

2 56 190

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Center for Ballot Freedom @centerforballotfreedom.org · 2d

New episode of #ThisOldDemocracy. New insights. New reasons to listen. 🎧 Out now! Get a fix of @msifry.bsky.social and @jrdresden.bsky.social from @protectdemocracy.org discussing the history of fusion voting, minor parties, and their impact on USA history. centerforballotfreedom.org/this-old-dem...

2 7

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 2d

How can those of us committed to protecting democracy — AI skeptics and boosters alike — work to ensure that the technology does not become predominantly a tool of autocracy? Ian Bassin and tech expert Nicole Schneidman explain: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/democracy-in-the-time-of-artificial

Democracy in the time of artificial intelligence

Announcing the AI for Democracy Action Lab

www.ifyoucankeepit.org

8 24

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 2d

Protect Democracy is pushing back against efforts to politicize federal workers and cut crucial services. Learn more about our litigation, communications, policy, and other advocacy efforts to protect federal workers: https://protectdemocracy.org/work/safeguarding-a-nonpartisan-civil-service/

Safeguarding a nonpartisan civil service - Protect Democracy

A list of resources for civil servants navigating attacks on the federal workforce, including actions to take ASAP, knowing your rights, and where to find legal or other support.

protectdemocracy.org

2 25

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 4d

We are proud to stand with our partners in this lawsuit: Loevy + Loevy, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois. protdem.org/437OR6z

Protecting Protesters and the Press from Unconstitutional Federal Force in Illinois

Protect Democracy is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment in Northern Illinois.

protdem.org

2 13 85

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 4d

We’re seeking an emergency order to stop the violence. A court in LA recently ruled against these suppressive tactics, stating that "federal agents’ indiscriminate use of force… will undoubtedly chill" free speech. The First Amendment demands better.

"Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale, or usurped states' police power by directing federal agents to carry out an illegal mission against the people for its own benefit." From plaintiffs in the official complaint filing.

2 23 91

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 4d

We're proud to represent brave plaintiffs, including associations and unions representing every major media outlet in Chicago,clergy like Rev. David Black, and protesters like 67-year-old William Paulson, who federal agents targeted for speaking out.

1 3 42

Reposted by Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 4d

BREAKING: Today, we're suing. Federal forces in the Chicago area are brutally suppressing free speech with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash grenades. Journalists, clergy, and demonstrators have been attacked for peacefully protesting against the government. This is an unconstitutional assault.

BREAKING: Lawsuit challenges violent Illinois ICE enforcement. Press, clergy, and protesters sue DHS for violating First Amendment

7 210 910

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 3d

Attn. civil servants — For a curated list of resources for current and former feds to help navigate attacks on the federal workforce by visit our resources page below: https://protectdemocracy.org/work/resources-for-civil-servants/

Resources for civil servants

If you are still employed as a federal civil servant, there are some initial steps you can take to make things slightly simpler if you are separated from employment.

protectdemocracy.org

30 55

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 3d

Fusion voting can be a pathway to proportional representation. Our own @jrdresden.bsky.social joined @msifry.bsky.social at @centerforballotfreedom.org to discuss how:

“What fusion would do is create the space and the ability for more minor parties to grow, to flourish, to build skills."

How Could Fusion Voting Create a Path to Proportional Representation?

open.spotify.com

5 17

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 3d

The AI race is here and pro-democracy actors have a mandate to shape it. That’s exactly what our new AI for Democracy Action Lab will do. Learn more about it: https://protectdemocracy.org/data-technology/ai-democracy-action-lab/

The AI for Democracy Action Lab - Protect Democracy

The AI for Democracy Action Lab (AI-DAL) is a place to join together with tech innovators, legal and policy experts, software engineers, nonprofit leaders, and others to not only defend against the da...

protectdemocracy.org

2 5 17

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 3d

AI has the power to enhance our democracy or erode it. We identify 3 pathways it will work through either as a tool for civic good or ill.
👁️ Surveillance || Privacy
📰 Propaganda || Trust
⚖️ Replacing || bolstering checks-and-balances
Join us to shape the path:

Democracy in the time of artificial intelligence

Announcing the AI for Democracy Action Lab

www.ifyoucankeepit.org

2 6 21

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 4d

We are proud to stand with our partners in this lawsuit: Loevy + Loevy, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois. protdem.org/437OR6z

Protecting Protesters and the Press from Unconstitutional Federal Force in Illinois

Protect Democracy is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment in Northern Illinois.

protdem.org

2 13 85