Avoiding Political Fracturing in Your Resistance Group
Focus on the big picture
If you've been to a rally since the 47th president took office, you will have noticed a broad spectrum of protest signs. Some have been motivated to protest because they believe in a woman's right to choose. Others are passionate about transgender and gay rights. Some are concerned about due process for immigrants. A growing contingent is angry about corruption and economic issues.
You may not agree with all the signs you see at a protest. You may feel more passionate about some causes than others. That is fine. Everyone comes to the resistance with their own priorities, and if you are part of a resistance group, not everyone will agree on individual issues or policy concerns.
I've found it is a good practice to allow people to express themselves and voice their concerns. However, I discourage deep debate over divisive issues. Instead, I engage constructively, channeling that energy and passion into our common effort to resist authoritarianism.
The French Resistance attracted activists from a broad swath of people. In the book Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance, Robert Gildea notes that the resistance attracted everyone from conservative Catholics to communists, but they "agreed to postpone debates about France's post-war future until the fight against the German occupation ... had been won."
The resistance to authoritarianism in the United States had drawn a similarly diverse cross-section of society. As more people recognize the growing shift toward tyranny and choose to act against it, we want to be able to welcome them to our groups. In defending the space for disagreement, we defend democracy itself. Let’s stand shoulder-to-shoulder today so that we can argue freely tomorrow.
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