AUGUST 25, 2025
Call In Hope. Refuse Despair.
While it has been a tough week for democracy, Indivisible Helena members are working hard alongside our partners to resist the many horrors the current regime is imposing on our country and people. In this moment, let’s take a long, deep breath and reflect on the words of beloved civil rights activist and politician John Lewis:
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year — it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Indivisibles might also find support in the work of activist, academic, and feminist Loretta J. Ross and her calling-in practices. Calling-in is a tool for turning difficult conversations into productive ones — a skill we all need to stay in this work.
Learn More About Loretta and Her Work
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Indivisible Helena wishes a happy Labor Day to the workers in every field! The world runs on your contributions, and you all deserve respect, recognition, and a day to relax.
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This Week’s To-Do List
Make Good Trouble in Helena!
1. Protest
Saturdays at 11th and Montana Ave.
Noon to 1 p.m.
Bring a sign related to the issue that speaks most to you right now: loss of voting rights, ICE, Medicaid reductions, undermining the courts, rigged gerrymandering. Or, bring one that focuses on policy impacts from Trump’s Big Bad Bill, which will kick in after the mid-term elections: cuts to food assistance (SNAP), the end of cancer research, loss of public lands.
Point out that senators Daines and Sheehy and Congressman Downing voted for these policies — be creative, but be non-partisan.
Our partners from Waking Giant will join us each week with a wagon to collect food items for those in need. Bring a food item if you can.
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2. Make Calls
A Daily Practice with the 5Calls App
Our congressional delegation has been enjoying a break from constituent calls as they hide out from addressing the Epstein mess on their extra-long break. We can’t let that happen!
Making calls with the 5Calls App is an easy way to call our congressional delegation every day, even for the introverts among us. Many of us have an early morning routine. We might walk the dog, take in some news, then eat our oats. Whatever yours might be, build your calls into that routine.
It’s easy to do, since 5Calls staff members research issues, write scripts, and provide one-touch dialing to Montana’s congressional delegation. The App tracks your impact by counting the cumulative number of calls you have made.
Watch your impact grow day by day! Please download the app and start your daily practice tomorrow morning.
3. Host a Community Resistance Gathering
If you haven’t taken the One Million Rising training yet, it’s not too late. You can still learn how to host a Community Resistance Gathering.
These gatherings bring together friends, neighbors, and family members for lively conversations that increase awareness about Trump’s authoritarian breakthrough and reveal ways each of us can resist with peaceful non-cooperation.
Encourage your guests to sign up with Indivisible Helena, stay connected, and help grow the local/national movement.
Catch Up with One Million Rising Trainings
Note: This training link does not always get you directly to the library section. You may have to scroll to find the trainings.
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4. Receive Coaching to
Host a Community Resistance Gathering
Tuesday, August 26
Lewis & Clark Library, Large Conference Rm.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Indivisibles Barbara Barnes and Anita Bangert will walk you through a “mock” Community Resistance Gathering. You will learn how the agenda flows, feel prepared to answer questions, and receive tips and tools on how to make a gathering comfortable, lively, and informative.
This may be just the support you need to get over the proverbial hump and schedule your gathering!
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5. Join Indivisible Helena’s
Monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, August 27
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
512 Logan St.
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Join fellow Indivisibles for an evening of community and discussion. Topics will include acts of non-compliance you can take right now, ideas for education programming, establishing a daily practice of calling your congressional delegation, and an upcoming national day of action (spoiler alert): No Kings 2!
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6. Condemn Trump’s Attacks
on Washington DC
Last week President Trump ordered the federal government to seize control of the DC police department. The National Guard and federal law enforcement have taken to the streets, some without identification, wearing facemasks, and using dangerous tactics designed to stoke fear and create chaos. Yet, crime is at record lows.
This is a power grab to make DC residents feel like they aren’t safe in their own homes, suppress dissent, and divert attention from how Trump’s policies are leaving people worse off.
Lawmakers have introduced resolutions in the House and Senate to put an end to this hostile takeover. Demand your members of Congress act immediately and pass these resolutions.
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Good Watch
Five Ways to Fight Fascism
Robert Reich
8/15/25
Between now and the 2026 midterm elections, here are five practical steps you can take to make a difference.
Good Reads
GOOD READ #1
Substack
Heather Cox Richardson
8/19/25
Letter from an American
Heather Cox Richardson discusses how Texas Republicans are forcing Democratic lawmakers to attend votes on gerrymandered maps by placing them under police surveillance, with Rep. Nicole Collier refusing to submit to what she called “illegal confinement.” Her protest, and the broader use of law enforcement to enforce Trump-backed redistricting and a show of military force in Washington, D.C., highlight an accelerating authoritarian power grab under MAGA leadership.
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GOOD READ #2
Choose Democracy
8/15/25
5 Things Free DC is Teaching Us
Donald Trump’s takeover of DC’s police and National Guard sparked swift resistance from Free DC, a grassroots network that had prepared for this moment with trainings, role-plays, and community organizing. Emphasizing values, non-cooperation, and long-term movement building, Free DC is modeling how communities can resist authoritarian power grabs through disciplined action, solidarity, and clear steps for involvement.
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Solidarity Calendar
We’re often asked to help publicize events related to our mission that are hosted by our allies in the Helena area. For the sake of efficiency, we’ve created a single source for sharing them: The Solidarity Calendar.
If you want to publicize your event whose content advances the local resistance to an authoritarian takeover, please submit your listing to indivisiblehelena@gmail.com.
Include the who, what, when, where, and why of your event listing as completely possible, including an email address for more information.
A contact email address is mandatory.
We will review your listing to ensure it meets the criteria above and will ask for clarification, if necessary, before publishing it.
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NO KINGS Signs Available
If you’d like to support Indivisible Helena in pushing back against fascism, please consider a donation via this link to the Indivisible Helena ActBlue donation portal or use the QR code below. Your information will remain private — neither IH nor ActBlue shares or sells personal data.
AND, if you want a NO KINGS yard or window sign, email indivisiblehelena@gmail.com with your name, street address, and cell number. We want to see NO KINGS signs across the Helena area. Until our democracy is safe, keep them up.
Together, we’ll make sure the U.S. has NO KING.
