Institute of Politics

Before the Trump Administration had moved into the West Wing, liberal activists across the country began calling themselves The Resistance, determined to oppose the incoming president’s agenda. But what, practically, does it mean to resist? What advantages or disadvantages does a defensive agenda have compared a positive one? And how do organizers balance larger expressions of protest with smaller day-to-day actions? Join the IOP as we welcome Leah Greenberg, one of the founders of Indivisible, for a conversation on organizing a political movement. Inspired by the grassroots activism of the Tea Party, Indivisible founders produced the first drafts of their viral “Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda” in late 2016 by collaborating with other former congressional aides over Google Docs. Within months, their strategies had motivated the formation of nearly 6,000 local groups, whose voices have since informed public debates on policy issues from healthcare to immigration. Moderating the discussion will be Dr. John Mark Hansen, Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago.