Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 30/01/2025People are confusing a lack of mass rallies with a lack of action. People are pushing back on harmful policies and authoritarianism. Every act matters. 010
Reposted by Melissa SpatzBend the Arc: Jewish Action @bendthearc.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Last week, we said it wouldn’t be long before Trump did something that *looks* like it's good for Jews but really threatens all of our safety. Today, we'll get an executive order to address antisemitism…by deporting people. We strongly condemn this. 🧵 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...bloomberg.comTrump to Sign Executive Orders on Antisemitism, School ChoicePresident Donald Trump will sign education-related executive actions that aim to combat antisemitism on campuses, ease money for school choice programs and cut funds for public schools that teach crit... 316979
Reposted by Melissa SpatzMother Jones @motherjones.com · 23/01/2025"I won’t take a pardon—because it would be a slap in the face to the Capitol Police, the rule of law, and to our nation.motherjones.comMeet the insurrectionist rejecting Trump’s pardonTaking a pardon, Pam Hemphill told Mother Jones, "would be a slap in the face to the Capitol Police, the rule of law, and to our nation." 29977150
Reposted by Melissa SpatzAlliance for Justice @afj.org · 23/01/2025A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order redefining birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional” during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order. #CourtsMatter www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...huffpost.comFederal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Executive Order Ending Birthright CitizenshipSeveral states sued the Trump administration over the order, arguing the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship. 0103
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 21/01/2025This. And so we will need to continue to engage the public in understanding what unfolded and what the threats ahead are. The record, on its own, will not be enough. 010
Reposted by Melissa SpatzTaniel @taniel.bsky.social · 21/01/2025Die Zeit, a prominent German publication, titles its article: 'A Hitler salute is a Hitler salute is a Hitler salute.' 432043663
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 17/01/2025Really good challenges for philanthropy in this piece 000
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 17/01/2025"In reality, change is a process of successfully building an entire ecosystem, not just one thing, to compete with and replace the entire existing ecosystem...How to fund and build this ecosystem strategically is the question." www.thenation.com/article/soci...thenation.comLeft Organizing Is in Crisis. Philanthropy Is a Major Reason Why.Progressive philanthropy lacks good strategy, so too many of our organizations are hollow—and that left us unable to prevent a second Trump term. 110
Reposted by Melissa SpatzDemocracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 17/01/2025Throughout the confirmation hearing for Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general, one question was asked numerous times: who won the 2020 election? She never gave a straight answer.democracydocket.comPam Bondi, Trump’s Attorney General Pick, Refuses to Say Who Won 2020 ElectionRead more here. 3330777
Reposted by Melissa SpatzNonprofitAF @nonprofitaf.bsky.social · 14/01/2025“our sector often falls into the third group: the leaders and organizations who say they are for equity and justice, but whose words and actions continue to advance injustice. These are the white moderates that MLK warned us about, and our sector is full of them.”nonprofitaf.comNonprofit and philanthropy and our white moderate tendency to obey tyranny in advanceNext week, because the universe has a perverse sense of humor, we have MLK Jr. Day on the same day... 2247
Reposted by Melissa SpatzCREW @citizensforethics.org · 13/01/2025Trump's inauguration will be entirely privately funded, allowing it to avoid disclosing which people or corporations are donating. The lack of transparency creates the opportunity for him to pay them back in favors with no public knowledge of it.politico.comThe troubling secrecy around who funded Trump's transitionDonald Trump's transition will be funded entirely by private donors. His move to reject federal funds typically allocated to presidential transitions allows him to shield the identity of donors. 27483207
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 06/01/2025"America's democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it." 020
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 13/12/2024Are they running on the ice?? What is happening here? I cannot wait to share this with my German family. 000
Reposted by Melissa SpatzAnat Shenker-Osorio @anatosaurus.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Authoritarian regimes don't give you cookies for appeasing them. They give you more kicks to the head: you've signaled to them you will take it without fighting back. Being conciliatory to an abuser doesn't halt or forestall the abuse. 19857274
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 10/12/2024For organizers who might be tired right now - Windcall residency applications open Dec 13 - offering retreats & support to experienced grassroots community & labor organizers. I cannot say enough good things about this program. windcall.org/residency/windcall.orgWindcall Residency – Windcall Institute 011
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 10/12/2024Literally was going to reach out to you for this, also on behalf of Alex 😂 000
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 07/12/2024If we needed another reminder that US and European democracy groups should be working together 110
Reposted by Melissa SpatzMovement Law Lab @movementlawlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024🌟 Movement Lawyers, Organizers, and Justice Advocates—We’re Here! 🌟 🌌 We’re building community with: ⚖️ Lawyers who defend & flank social movements ✊ Organizers fighting for dignity, justice & liberation 💡 Advocates countering authoritarianism & reimagining democracy 1177
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024And within that, a starting point to understand the landscape: www.icnl.org/post/analysi...icnl.org10 Major Legal Threats to U.S. Civil SocietyA growing array of legal threats make it harder for nonprofit organizations and activists in the U.S. to do their work. This article covers 10 major legal threats to U.S. civil society. 000
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024One really good source for learning about threats to civil society even beyond HR 9495 is the Int'l Center for Not for Profit Law. Library of US resources here: www.icnl.org/resources#re...icnl.orgResourcesExplore ICNL's collection of resources on a diverse range of issues relevant to civil society – from our US Protest Law Tracker to our Civic Freedom Monitor. 110
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 27/11/2024If there was ever a time for philanthropy to move gen op $$$, surely that time is now. Threats will evolve quickly, and organizations will need to be able to pivot just as quickly. Gen op dollars provide that flexibility. 020
Reposted by Melissa SpatzDemocracy Fund @democracyfund.bsky.social · 26/11/2024Deepak Bhargava of JPB Foundation, @joegoldman.bsky.social, and Laleh Ispahani of Open Society Foundations, outline a strategy for how philanthropy can stand with the pro-democracy field and take on the challenges that lie ahead. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/facing-...insidephilanthropy.comFacing Uncertainty Together: How Philanthropy Can Stand for Democracy in Challenging TimesAs authoritarian threats emerge to target civil society, guest authors Deepak Bhargava, Joe Goldman and Laleh Ispahani say funders “must not back down or act out of fear.” 061
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 24/11/2024We've been in this conundrum for years, and unfortunately have treated it as a messaging problem rather than a vision problem. 010
Reposted by Melissa SpatzTeddy Wilson @reportbywilson.bsky.social · 13/11/2024New to Bluesky? If you want to understand the far right, violent extremists, White Supremacists, and Christian nationalists, these are the journalists, researchers, academics, and other experts that monitor, research, and provide analysis on all the flavors of the far right and extremist movements. 1571424586
Reposted by Melissa Spatz@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 21/11/2024I wrote a column earlier this week that included a list of news outlets & journalists meeting this critical moment. I promised to expand that list so here it is: my FEARLESS MEDIA starter pack. ⤵️ I think you'll find everyone here is up to the challenges ahead. go.bsky.app/MjqCB1i 106927
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 21/11/2024If you're trying to figure out how you can have real impact in this time, you can't do better than starting with this workshop series @prisonculture.bsky.social is holding over the next two months.prisonculture.substack.comHow Do I Take Action Where I Am?A Workshop Series for Grounding Ourselves in the Fight Ahead 26522
Reposted by Melissa SpatzDove Kent @dovekent.bsky.social · 21/11/2024Well done, friends. 55 national + local Jewish organizations speak out against jeopardizing constitutional protections or stifling free speech under the guise of combating terrorism. No to HR 9495 or any other threats to democracy. rac.org/press-room/r...rac.orgThe Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism Rallies More Than 55 Jewish Organizations in Opposition to H.R. 9495The Religious Action Center, the Union for Reform Judaism and dozens of prominent Jewish organizations speak out against H.R. 9495. 0155
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 19/11/2024Concrete strategy and words of hope from Maria Stephan, who has studied #authoritarianism here and around the world. Well worth a read.wagingnonviolence.orgHow we can meet the challenges of authoritarianismThis is not our first rodeo with authoritarianism. Americans have collectively risen to seemingly impossible challenges in the past, and we can again. 120
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 18/11/2024Important action to take today to defend civil society 021
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 18/11/2024The risks are certainly far greater than in 2017 but we are also far stronger, more strategic and better prepared. We have all learned from the first go-around on how to defend our people. Do not despair, get involved. 020
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 17/11/2024Local level will be critically important now. 050
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 17/11/2024The work now: (1) Find your lane and your people. What are your skills, connections, passion? Find the thing that will make a difference and determine how you can be most helpful. (2) Be kind, tearing each other down won't build a just society. (3) Live with joy. It doesn't do to forget to live. 116435
Melissa Spatz @melissaspatz.bsky.social · 16/11/2024Hi! Just migrated over here 👋 and hoping you are well 000
Reposted by Melissa SpatzIndivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 16/11/2024Please contact your representative (especially if it’s one of these Democrats who supported the bill earlier this week!) and tell them to vote no on H.R. 9495: indivisible.org/resource/tel... 31186167