APRIL 1, 2026
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THIS WEEK:
- We Will Persist in Resisting
- Mark Your Calendar
- Good Reads / Good Watches / Good Listens
- This Week’s TO-DO List for the Good Trouble In Helena
“We must truly accept that participation in our system of government is not a part-time job or one that, like joining your town’s volunteer fire department, only calls for action when flames appear on the horizon. We must all recommit to being activists, and not just when organizers call. The only way the “No Kings” movement works, as it turns out, is if every day is No Kings Day … for all of us.” — David Rothkopf
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We Will Persist in Resisting
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Community, connections, and staying strong in resistance to the assault on our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness — were among the messages from Helena’s No Kings III rally.
Storyteller and poet Chris LaTray brought messages of connectivity, calling on us to recognize and act with an understanding of the interdependence of all people as we find our way forward to a sustainable and nourishing society — an outcome possible only if we work together.
Steve Bullock brought a high-energy message of “Don’t boo, organize!” and encouraged everyone to see the No Kings gathering as a battle cry to protect the right to vote — the bedrock of a democracy.
The “No Kings Singers” brought stirring a cappella performances, and high energy high school students led the crowed in chants. There were plenty of crowd-support volunteers — the rally was a peaceful event with one lone counter-protester who drove by one time.
Waking Giant provided snacks, water, and a special booklet with ways to take action and to connect with groups in the Helena area for everything from housing help to activism. Other partner groups tabled at the event, offering democracy-supporting information and petition signing.
The Moms Demand Action and Safer Communities Montana gave away 80 free gunlocks, had a drawing for two locking gun cases, and distributed nearly 1,000 info-fliers about gun safety and suicide prevention!
An estimated crowd of 3,500 attended the rally, a number based on the square footage totals that were occupied during the event.
Helenans said decisively that we want NO KINGS, are not afraid of persisting, and that the people’s voices will not be silenced.
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An Essential Watch
What’s the Plan with Ezra and Leah from Indivisible National and activist/organizer Ash Lee Henderson take a deeper dive into the logic behind the strategies of No Kings and moving forward. An incredible journey of where we have been, what we did, and what is coming. You can skip the first 12 minutes if you don’t want to watch the pre-No Kings rally segment.
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Mark Your Calendar
The Solidarity Calendar
If you want to publicize your event whose content advances the local resistance to an authoritarian takeover, submit your listing to indivisiblehelena@gmail.com. Include the who, what, when, where, why of your event listing as completely as possible, including an email address for more information—contact email address is mandatory. We will review your listing to ensure it meets the criteria above, or we’ll ask for clarification by email before publishing it.
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Good Reads / Good Watches / Good Listens
1
Marc Cooper
What No Kings Did and Did Not Accomplish
Substack
March 30, 2026
Marc Cooper argues that mass protests show real momentum and a weakening MAGA hold, but mobilization alone won’t be enough — lasting change requires sustained organizing and a clear vision for what comes next. The moment is promising, but the real work begins now.
Cooper quotes political commentator David Rothkopf: “If we can turn such hopes into hard work and embrace the right kind of leaders — a new generation of leaders — for a change, and if we are wise and lucky and resolute in equal parts, perhaps the years immediately ahead will see us introduce the kind of strength-from-within, future-oriented policies that start, like our salvaged government, to serve the many, as intended, rather than a coterie of oligarchs who represent the greatest enemy this country has ever faced. “The greatest enemy, that is, other than our own complacency.”
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2
Peter DiCampo
This Is What It Means to Be Minnesotan
ProPublica
March 26, 2026
Peter DiCampo documents how ordinary Minneapolis residents mobilized in response to ICE activity, offering a portrait of neighbors providing mutual aid, protection, and support. The piece underscores that this movement is community-driven — rooted in everyday people stepping up for one another.
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3
Bennett Carpenter
Turn the Tide Again
The New Liberator
March 27, 2026
Bennett Carpenter argues that mass protest can disrupt authoritarian momentum, but only if it scales and feeds into sustained organizing, coalition-building, and local action.
“We change it by bringing bolder and more militant demands into the streets —against war, against ICE, against the targeting of our communities. We change it by showing up and refusing to shrink ourselves. By making protest spaces Blacker, Browner, queerer. By asking who else is missing, and how they can be brought in.”
The call is clear: show up, then turn that energy into durable power.
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4
Join our “Democracy Reads Books” Group
You’re invited to join the first Indivisible Helena reading group: Democracy Reads Books for anyone who enjoys reading, learning, and thoughtful discussion. Our first book is On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder (2017).
This compact book — only 127 pages — looks at the rise of Nazism and, to a lesser extent, Communism, and discusses similarities with our current regime here in the U.S. The author writes, “Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, and communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.”
The book presents 20 concise lessons aimed at empowering citizens to defend democracy and freedom against the rise of tyranny.
The first 10 people to sign up will receive a free copy of the book (provided by a generous Indivisible member in Washington state). So if you’re interested, please send an email to indivisiblehelena@gmail.com with “Book Club” in the subject line. The first discussion will be on Thursday, April 9, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., L & C Library, small meeting room.
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This Week’s To-Do List
Make Good Trouble in Helena!
1. CONTINUE CALLING OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION
Senator Steve Daines: (202) 224-2651
Senator Tim Sheehy: (202) 224-2644
Representative Ryan Zinke: (202) 225-5628
Representative Troy Downing: (202) 225-3211
NO WAR!
NO OVERLORD!
NO ICE!
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2. HONK & WAVE
Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m.
11th and Montana Ave.
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3. STOCK THE PUREVIEW PANTRIES
Mondays – Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drop-Off at PureView: 1930 9th Ave.
or 630 N. Last Chance Gulch
The two pantries are always accepting non-perishable food and personal hygiene products.
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Get Your No Kings Yard Signs!
We’ve got ‘em, you want ‘em
Request by email, and we’ll get them to you. The No Kings sign campaign is here until we are sure there will be NO KINGS, EVER!
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Support Indivisible Helena
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.
Together, we’ll make sure the U.S. has NO KING.
