Trump Threatens to Invoke the Insurrection Act - January 16, 2026
Plus: this weekend's protests and a stand against Hilton, becoming a legal observer, GOTV in Middle Georgia and more
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A WEEK OF RESISTANCE AND NONCOMPLIANCE AHEAD OF US
It’s been an exhausting, heartbreaking and deeply inspiring few weeks, with the worst and best of America on full display. More and more people are saying no to the abuses and hatred of the Trump regime, and putting themselves on the line to get in their way. Many are getting engaged for the first time.
In the coming days, we will have daily opportunities to participate in mass movements - protests, walkouts, and economic actions. This is a chance to grow and deepen our commitment to the movement for American democracy and progressive values, and to bring new people in. Let’s make a commitment to doing our part in as many of these efforts as we can, and making the ask to at least two people who haven’t been involved before to join us.
(New additions to the calendar are in italics!)
TODAY (AND ONGOING): SHUT DOWN HILTON
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: #NOICENOWAR PROTESTS
May Day Strong has dozens of protests demanding peace at home and abroad organized this weekend. We can find one near us here.
MONDAY: #CUTTHEFUEL #STRIKETHEPUMP GAS STRIKE, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Rising Majority is holding its second consumer gas strike - avoid filling up today! Spread the word about this effort with this social media kit.
The King Center is calling on folks across the country to make this a day of service. We can see suggestions for organizing a service project in our community and register with the center here.
The Movement 4 Black Lives has issued a call to action to reclaim the radical legacy of Dr. King, to defend Black History, and to protect Black futures. Please check with local organizations for #ReclaimMLKDay actions.
TUESDAY: #FREEAMERICA WALKOUTS AT 2PM LOCAL
To mark one year since the beginning of Trump 2.0, folks across the country - everyone from middle schoolers to retirees to dogs - will be walking out of school, work, and commerce at 2:00PM. Learn more here, find more than 600 events nationwide to unite with fellow participants at here, and use this social media toolkit here to promote.
WEDNESDAY: MAY DAY PLANNING KICKOFF CALL
Last year saw the largest May Day protests in American history… and we’re going to beat it this May 1st! Get involved in building it starting with a kickoff on Wednesday at 7:00PM ET - sign up here.
FRIDAY 1/23: DAY OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM SHUTDOWN
Minnesota faith leaders, union representatives and community advocates are calling for a total shutdown on January 23rd - no work, no school, no commerce. Folks across the nation can join the shutdown in solidarity.
TRUMP MENACES US WITH INSURRECTION ACT THREAT
Donald Trump has already used our troops in unprecedented ways to stifle political dissent, and he is now threatening to cross yet another line. He’s suggested yet again that he will invoke the Insurrection Act, sending in the military to crack down on protesters against the continued terrorizing of Minneapolis by ICE.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has already promised legal action if Trump takes this step. But this would be a watershed moment for our democracy, and more of our elected officials would need to rise to the occasion. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress with a clear and unambiguous message: our president is threatening to use our troops against our people because they are peacefully protesting his policies and upholding the Constitution. This is incredibly dangerous and fundamentally un-American. They need to be prepared to act immediately if he moves forward, using whatever tools are available to them.
We can find scripts and language here, or send this email via Resistbot by texting SIGN PQPGDI to 50409.
We can also do some reading to get up to speed on what comes next, starting with this Indivisible guidance on how the Insurrection Act might use and how we might respond, this article from Daniel Hunter on possible tactics we might employ, and this explainer from the Brennan Center on the law, along with specific recommendations for how it should be reformed to prevent abuse.
HONOR ICE VICTIMS WITH ACTION: BECOME A LEGAL OBSERVER, DEMAND JUSTICE
As if the brutality we’re seeing in Minnesota weren’t bad enough, the evidence is mounting up against ICE in another killing. An eyewitness reported seeing guards choke to death Geraldo Lunas Campos at the ICE detention facility at Camp East Montana in Texas on January 3rd. Now the Washington Post is reporting that the El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner is likely to classify his death as a homicide. This is the second reported death in the space of 31 days at the camp, which ICE’s own inspectors have cited for failing to meet federal detention standards and where migrants have reported repeated physical abuse. It is also the fourth reported death in ICE custody in the first nine days of 2026.
Let’s reach out to 34th Judicial District Attorney James Montoya and push him to hold those responsible for Lunas Campos’ death accountable (scripts here).
Meanwhile, it is clear that one way or another Trump intends to continue siccing his masked thugs on our communities, and it will be up to us to protect each other. What better way to honor Renee Nicole Good than to take up the work she was doing as a legal observer of ICE activity? Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL) has posted a handbook we can read to get a better sense of this responsibility and what it might require of us. And if we’re interested in moving forward, we can check out our local immigrant advocacy organizations and state National Lawyers Guild chapters about getting the required training.
GOTV WEEKEND FOR GEORGIA STATE SENATE SPECIAL (PART #1)
If it’s Tuesday, it’s Election Day somewhere. This coming Tuesday, LeMario Brown, a farmer, small business owner and former city councilor, is the sole Democrat competing in the first round of a special election in Georgia’s State Senate District 18, trying to advance to the February 17th runoff. Brown has been running hard on the affordability crisis, hospitals closing and the failure to invest in small communities like his. It’s an R+25 district, but the kind of rural area the Democratic Party has too often ignored even as Republican leadership has failed to improve the lives of ordinary people, and we need to make sure they’re offered a real choice.
Let’s do our part to get out the vote and help LeMario Brown get to the runoff. We can sign up for phonebank shifts throughout the day today through Monday here.
CLOSE THE VOTER AGE GAP
Nationally, under 30% of 18-year-olds are registered to vote compared to 75% of voters 45+. Teens have the power to close the gap and fight for a government that cares about their future. The Civics Center has prepared this great resource for planning a high school voter drive during September or October. Everything we need to put together an event to get more 18 year olds to vote! Let’s prepare and share so we’re ready for the November elections.
My ResistBot letter for today: Congress Must Act Before the Insurrection Act Is Abused
Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act despite no insurrection and continued enforcement of federal law. Congress must act before invocation to impose guardrails and prevent abuse. Use this link to send letters to your members of Congress.
Text SIGN PHREQU to 50409 or go to: https://resist.bot/petitions/PHREQU
If the pedo-protector invokes the Insurrection Act, does that mean citizens can legally shoot back(Stand Your Ground)? . . . asking for several million friends.