What if Trump actually does refuse to leave and commands his supporters to revolt?
By
An armed protester wearing a mask stands at the Michigan capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, on 30 April. Photograph: Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg/Getty Images. From the Guardian
Our president has openly said he might not respect the outcome of
our election. Is it a sign of things to come, or just tough talk? Either way,
it’s good to plan ahead.
I’m part of an effort called Choose Democracy,
which is preparing people to stop a coup attempt — or prevent one altogether. These guidelines are drawn from the many countries
that have experienced a coup since World War II.
1. 1. Don’t expect results on
election night.
Many mail-in ballots may not be counted
until days or weeks after Election Day.
Wayward state officials may try to exclude
these ballots. We may even see governors or state legislatures try to send
different results to the Electoral College than their voters chose.
As election results start coming in, the
message needs to come through loud and clear: Count all the votes and honor the
result.
2. 2. Call it a coup.
One reason to use the language of a coup is that people know it’s wrong.
We know it’s a coup if the government
stops counting votes, declares a winner who didn’t get the most votes, or
allows someone to stay in power who didn’t win the election. These are sensible
red lines that people can grasp right away.
3.
3. Know that coups have been stopped by regular folks.Most coup attempts have failed —
especially when there is an active citizenry. The moments after a coup are
moments for heroism among the general population. It’s how we make democracy
real.
4. 4. Be ready to act quickly — and
not alone.
People who stop coups rarely get a warning
that one is coming. This time, we do. To start preparing, talk to at least five
people who would go into the streets with you. Get yourself ready to act.
5. 5. Focus on widely shared
democratic values.
Don’t just go out with a list of
grievances against a vilified leader. Instead, exalt our widely shared core
democratic values. This invites people who wouldn’t normally join movement
causes into the process.
6. 6. Convince people not to just go
along.
In all the research on preventing coups,
there’s one common theme: People stop doing what the coup plotters tell them to
do. They refuse orders, go on strike, and close airports and shops until the
coup ends.
7. 7. Commit to nonviolence.
The uncertain center has to be convinced
that “we” represent stability and “the coup plotters” represent hostility to
the democratic norms of elections and voting.
It’s a contest of who can be the most
legitimate. Historically, whichever side resorts to violence the most tends to
lose.
8. 8. Yes, a coup can happen in the
United States.
Unfortunately, it can happen here. In 1898
in Wilmington, North Carolina, white racists organized a violent coup against
newly elected Black officials, with white squads killing 30 to 300 people.
9. 9. Center in calm, not fear.
Fearful people are less likely to make
good decisions. Breathe deeply. Play out scenarios, but don’t become captured
by them. We’re doing this to prepare, just in case.
1010. Prepare to deter a coup before
the election.
Get people into the mindset of taking
action so they don’t freeze. Sign and circulate a pledge saying “If it comes to
this bad thing, then I’ll act.” Here’s ours:
1. We will vote.
2. We will refuse
to accept election results until all the votes are counted.
3. We will
nonviolently take to the streets if a coup is attempted.
4. If we need to,
we will shut down this country to protect the integrity of the democratic
process.
You can sign the pledge at
ChooseDemocracy.us. These public commitments ahead of time increase the
political cost of attempting a coup — because the best way to stop a coup is to
deter it.
is a trainer and organizer with Training for
Change. This op-ed was adapted from a longer piece at WagingNonviolence.org and
distributed by OtherWords.org.
