Summer & Political Heat

Summer's just beginning but it's already so hot. As the temperature and the political climate soar, we’re witnessing significant escalations that feel overwhelming if we are paying attention. This week's ICE raids in Los Angeles and others that have been happening across the country for years; the deployment of National Guard and Marine troops under federal authority for the first time since 1965; and, even discussions of martial law are happening under the guise of controlling dissent…the situation is changing by the minute but here's what's happening at the time that I'm writing. It’s not hyperbole to say our freedoms are under threat. Politicians and activists are being arrested. It feels like no voice of dissent is safe.

What This Means for Us

1. Freedom of speech is fragile. Actions once protected by the First Amendment are now being criminalized.

2. Community surveillance is on the rise. Federal agents are operating unchecked—even prowling everyday spaces.

3. Public protest is becoming perilous. Despite rising pressure to respond in kind, experts indicate that heavy-handed tactics often escalate—not de-escalate—conflict. 

What Small Groups Are Doing to Resist

Amid this climate, everyday working people are taking pragmatic, peaceful stands:

• Legal defense circles: Communities in California are forming rotating legal “rapid response” teams to observe arrests and provide legal aid at protests.

• Mutual aid pods: Parents and neighbors are organizing "ICE-watch" networks that check-in on immigrant families, ensure resources, and provide shelter-watching support.

• Civic training workshops: Small groups convene to learn about knowing your rights, de-escalation techniques, and recording best practices.

• Letter-writing brigades: Parents are writing together—from kitchen tables—to their representatives, using stories and templates to demand Congressional oversight.

• School-based town halls: Neighborhood parents and teachers partner to host forums teaching non-violent civic engagement for youth.

What You Can Do

1. Join or start a legal observer group. Many local ACLU chapters already facilitate training.

2. Create or support mutual aid networks. Even small contributions of time, food, or rides help.

3. Get civically trained and stay informed. Simple rules like recording protests from a safe distance can make a difference.

4. Use your voice—journaling letters or storytelling. Your local reps respond to constituent stories more than polls.

5. Model empathy for children. Have brave but calm conversations with your family about civic duty and resistance.

We’re living through a defining season of political tension. While it’s tempting to retreat out of fear, history reminds us: your presence, your story, your resistance matters.