10 Ways to Resist With Mobility Issues
February 11, 2025
Let’s face it. Many of us are old. Others are sick. Still others are disabled. We aren’t all able to march as we once did. We want to be an active part of the resistance but have physical or emotional limitations that prevent some forms of resistance and civil disobedience. So it is reassuring to know that resisting the policies and authoritarian tendencies of Donald Trump’s government and the GOP does not require physical participation in marches or demonstrations. While public protests are powerful, there are many effective ways to resist that can be done from home, whether due to mobility issues, personal circumstances, or other constraints. Resistance is not just about being visible on the streets, it is about persistent action in any form. Every effort counts, and every voice matters. Here are ten impactful ways to make a difference, regardless of your physical, or emotional, limitations.
1. Contact Elected Officials: One of the most direct and effective ways to influence policy is by contacting your representatives. Politicians take note when their offices are flooded with calls, emails, letters, and faxes. If you are unable to call due to anxiety or disability, services like Resistbot allow you to send faxes and emails easily by texting your concerns. Some key points when reaching out to representatives
2. Support Advocacy Organizations: Many organizations are actively working to counter Trump’s policies and protect vulnerable communities. Donating money, if you can, is one way to support these efforts. However, even if you cannot contribute financially, you can volunteer remotely, help with outreach, or share their content online to raise awareness. Groups such as the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and Indivisible play significant roles in resistance efforts.
3. Stay Informed and Educate Others: Misinformation is one of the most dangerous threats to democracy. Staying informed and ensuring others receive accurate information is crucial. Seek out reputable news sources, fact-check articles before sharing them, and engage in discussions to counter disinformation. Tools like Snopes and FactCheck.org help verify claims. Educating yourself also helps when discussing issues with family and friends who may be misinformed.
4. Engage in Local Politics: While federal policies get the most attention, local politics often have more immediate consequences. School boards, city councils, and state legislatures make decisions that affect daily life. Engaging locally can include:
5. Support Independent Media: A free press is fundamental to democracy, yet it is constantly under attack by Trump and his allies. Supporting independent journalism helps ensure accountability. Ways to do this include:
6. Participate in Boycotts: Consumer power can be a powerful tool. Corporations that fund Trump’s policies and GOP extremism should not receive our money. Websites like Grab Your Wallet help identify businesses that support Trump, allowing you to boycott them. Conversely, supporting ethical businesses (buycotting) helps fund companies that align with progressive values. Examples include:
7. Engage in Online Activism: Social media has become a battleground for political discourse, and using it strategically can be highly effective. Even if you cannot physically attend protests, you can:
8. Educate Yourself on Policy: Beyond just staying informed through news sources, taking time to deeply understand policy helps you become a more effective advocate. Reading books and policy papers, attending online seminars, and listening to expert analysis strengthens your ability to argue against harmful policies. Some accessible resources include:
9. Build Community Networks: Grassroots organizing is one of the most effective methods of resistance. Even if you cannot physically attend meetings, you can still contribute by:
10. Practice Self-Care: This cannot be stressed enough. Sustaining activism over the long term requires taking care of yourself. Trump’s policies create an environment of stress and anxiety, and burnout is a real concern. They want you burned out. They want you to be fed up. Strategies to stay engaged while preserving mental health include:
The Importance of Action Regardless of Physical Limitations is clear. Resistance is not defined by one’s ability to physically protest. Those who have disabilities, chronic illnesses, caregiving responsibilities, or other life circumstances that prevent them from marching or demonstrating are just as essential to the movement. The notion that activism is only valid if it involves direct confrontation is a misconception. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger fight for democracy and justice. The most important thing is just do something. Doing nothing is the enemy and helps them win.
The GOP and Trump rely on the exhaustion and division of their opposition. Their strategy is to overwhelm the public with relentless attacks on democracy, hoping that people will become too discouraged to fight back. The most effective response is sustained, collective resistance. If everyone contributes in the way they can, whether by making calls, educating others, financially supporting organizations, or engaging in policy discussions, the movement becomes too large to ignore.
No single act will stop authoritarianism, but millions of small acts combined create an unstoppable force. It is critical to remember that change does not happen overnight, and victories may be incremental. However, history shows that when people persist, they win. The only way Trump and his allies triumph is if good people become discouraged and disengage.
While the road ahead is uncertain, one thing is clear: the fight for democracy is far from over. Resistance is a long game, and it requires endurance. Those who cannot physically march in the streets still have countless ways to make a difference. By engaging in these actions, staying informed, supporting one another, and refusing to be silenced, we can stand against Trump’s government and the GOP’s harmful policies. The future is shaped by those who refuse to give up, and as long as we keep fighting, there is hope.
