In 2024, Sully Atheirne was a high school senior planning to go to college after they graduated. Then the unthinkable happened: Donald Trump was elected president for a second term. Though they’d participated in several climate demonstrations and Black Lives Matter protests, Atheirne didn’t consider themselves an activist. But now, instead of attending classes and studying, the 19-year-old spends their days fighting to save our democracy with the organization Refuse Fascism.
“As Trump took power, I started to get out there more and more,” Atheirne told 48 Hills. “I had a bullhorn and I was leading chants on a pole at one protest—I like to climb things. One of the Refuse Fascism volunteers zeroed in on me and was like ‘Let’s sign this person up!’”
Formed in 2016 by Andy Zee, Sunsara Taylor, Cornel West, and others after Trump’s first election, Refuse Fascism recognized the serious threat his divisive policies, insatiable appetite for unchecked power, and white supremacy agenda posed to democracy. The organization aims to unite people from all backgrounds and political beliefs to join in mass peaceful protest and resistance in the streets and throughout society. According to a statement on their website, the group’s ultimate goal is to “create such a profound political crisis that Trump cannot impose his fascist program or maintain his hold on power.”
After Atheirne’s first encounter with Refuse Fascism, they attended one of the Northern California chapter’s Zoom meetings for on-boarding new volunteers. They were all in. Participating in, and helping to organize Refuse Fascism events, soon became their full-time (unpaid) job. You may have seen and heard Atheirne at local protests—perhaps standing or sitting on top of something—bullhorn in hand, bellowing the group’s signature chant: “Trump must go now!”
Atheirne said many local Refuse Fascism volunteers are young people like them, compelled to take a more active role in removing the Trump regime after the last election. The Northern California chapter also has a number of older members who participated in the major protests of the ’60s and know the impact they can have. Atheirne added that the group coordinates with more connected, experienced individual activists and activist organizations such as Indivisible to try and build larger resistance networks and momentum to derail the Trump regime.
Like Atheirne, 43-year-old Justice Forál had joined protests prior to Trump’s second term but didn’t think of herself as an activist or someone with leadership skills. She learned about Refuse Fascism when she met Atheirne at an anti-Trump rally at the Civic Center last May.
“I’d been doing different protests around the Bay at that time and on that day, I did three,” she said. “And of those three, Refuse Fascism stood out the most to me in terms of actually taking action against what’s happening, not just voicing dissent.”
When we spoke, Forál was in Washington DC working with other Refuse Fascism members to plan activities for their most ambitious event to date: a sustained, anti-Trump movement that kicked off on November 5, the one year anniversary of his second term win.
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“It’s really important for all of us to converge on DC because it’s the current seat of power,” she explained. “And if we’re going to make any kind of impact, especially a lasting impact, it has to be here and it has to be now. Dissent across the nation is necessary in general, but if we’re really going to grind things to a halt as we’ve been saying, then converging on DC is the most feasible way of doing that. The plan is to always have people in the streets until this is done and we’ve accomplished our goal.”
Refuse Fascism members know that protests alone can’t put an end to the Trump regime. But they believe sustained, ongoing resistance activities in the nation’s capital—beyond a single day of rallies and marches—can lay the foundation for actions that can. Actions have included protesting outside the Supreme Court as it considers a challenge to same-sex marriage and a march to remove the Trump regime. They will continue planned events through November 15, finishing with a rally outside the White House.
“Protest can both compel and give cover to people in the halls of power to push through things like impeachment,” said Atheirne. “Those legal processes can only happen if there’s massive resistance from below. November 5 is just the beginning—it’s a launch pad for massive resistance.”
While Refuse Fascism would love to see millions of people flock to DC, they know that’s not realistic. Many folks don’t have the means to get there or can’t take a break from work and family obligations.
For those who can’t make it to DC but want to support the cause, there are plenty of ways to help: Make a financial contribution. Donate airline miles to fly people to Washington who want to go but can’t afford it. Send a winter coat to shipping centers that will be set up in D.C. for someone who doesn’t have one and will be out in the streets fighting for democracy when the weather turns cold. Call a local pizza parlor and buy lunch for the resisters. Organize a small fundraiser with your book club or running group. Spread the word about the sustained D.C. resistance movement to everyone you know.
Learn more about Refuse Fascism and how you can take action to remove the Trump regime here.
