Pritzker Calls for Mass Protests as Courts Continue to Strike Trump Down - Resistance Brief for 28 April 2025
Information, insight, and inspiration for resisting tyranny in America
Welcome!
Welcome to The Resistance Sentinel, a publication dedicated to documenting and amplifying the movement to defend democracy against authoritarian rule. As cracks widen in Trump’s authoritarian project, resistance is growing stronger. Today’s brief brings powerful reminders that organized citizens, brave leaders, and resilient courts still stand between us and tyranny. From the explosive rise of the 50501 Movement to courtroom victories and rare establishment calls for mass mobilization, momentum is building. But this is still only the beginning of the resistance — and the need for action has never been more urgent. Let's seize this moment to fight smarter, harder, and together. But first…
Daily Inspiration
Governor J.B. Pritzker this weekend called out “do-nothing Democrats” and urged a more aggressive response to the Trump regime’s destruction of the federal government and rapid consolidation of authoritarian rule. He urged mass protest and that “Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.” Governor Pritzker continues to be one of only a few voices among establishment Democratic leaders who seem to understand the danger and urgency of the moment.
Resistance Today
Civil Society & Publics
The growth of decentralized protest movements like 50501, along with escalated Earth Day resistance actions targeting Trump and Musk, marks continued mobilization of civil resistance, though risks remain from confrontational tactics that may backfire. The 50501 Movement’s rapid expansion across all 50 states demonstrates how grassroots organization can achieve scale and resilience, consistent with research showing that high levels of broad-based participation increase a movement’s chances of success. Meanwhile, Earth Day actions against billionaire-driven climate destruction, while raising visibility, reveal vulnerabilities: tactics such as vandalism, even when non-destructive, risk alienating key pillars of public support and may be exploited by the regime to justify repression, a danger long recognized in the study of nonviolent resistance.
Key Developments
The decentralized 50501 Movement, launched from a Reddit post, now boasts thousands of volunteers across all 50 states, organizing mass protests, mutual aid events, and planning a major May Day action for workers' and immigrant rights. (The Guardian)
Extinction Rebellion staged an Earth Day protest at a Tesla showroom, spray-painting anti-DOGE and anti-billionaire slogans; two protesters were arrested. (Euronews)
Environmental groups rallied across the country on Earth Day to resist Trump’s fossil-fuel policies, emphasizing the role of billionaire interests like Elon Musk and James Murdoch in environmental degradation. (Common Dreams)
Two activists were arrested for spray-painting anti-Musk and anti-DOGE slogans on a Manhattan Tesla dealership during an Extinction Rebellion Earth Day protest, using washable paint but drawing police attention. (AMNY)
Legal & Judicial
The courts delivered victories this week for the pro-democracy movement by ruling against key Trump executive orders and policies aimed at undermining elections, federal workers’ rights, and diversity protections. These rulings highlight that the judiciary remains a critical bulwark against authoritarian consolidation, even as Trump attempts to expand executive power. The ability of legal institutions to resist presidential power grabs helps sustain space for civil resistance and accountability.
Key Developments
A U.S. judge blocked federal agencies from enforcing major parts of Trump’s anti-voting executive order, preventing mandatory citizenship proof requirements for voter registration. (Democracy Docket)
Courts ruled against Trump in at least 11 different cases this week, covering immigration, elections, and anti-DEI efforts, demonstrating broad judicial pushback across ideological lines. (Democracy Docket)
A federal judge blocked Trump’s executive order stripping union rights from hundreds of thousands of federal employees, preserving collective bargaining protections. (Washington Post)
However, translating these rulings into meaningful roadblocks to Trump’s authoritarian consolidation is hampered by the regime’s increasing defiance of court orders. Administration officials unlawfully transferred asylum seekers to El Salvador despite explicit judicial injunctions. These actions deepen concerns about executive lawlessness and the erosion of the rule of law, intensifying the need for vigilant legal resistance and highlighting the dangers of unchecked presidential power.
Key Developments
The Trump administration deported four Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador using Department of Defense planes in a likely violation of a court order requiring safety reviews before deportation to third countries. (Just Security)
A Trump-appointed judge ordered the return of a Venezuelan asylum seeker wrongly deported to El Salvador in violation of a court settlement, the second such case in weeks. (The Independent)
Federal filings revealed that the Trump administration argued deportations to El Salvador were lawful because they were conducted by the Department of Defense, sidestepping a judicial restraining order against ICE. (ABC News)
Congress & Lawmakers
Some Democratic lawmakers are embracing more high-profile, confrontational tactics to challenge the Trump regime’s assault on constitutional protections and social welfare programs. By using public protest, direct advocacy for wronged individuals, and strategic media engagement, leaders like Senator Chris Van Hollen, Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, and Senator Cory Booker are shifting the information battleground and illustrating that fighting back in bold and visible ways can strengthen democratic resistance. Their actions model the kind of moral clarity and courage essential for successful civil resistance.
Key Developments
Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongfully deported immigrant, generating major media coverage and highlighting Trump's lawlessness, despite centrist criticism from within the Democratic Party. (The New Republic)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Cory Booker led a sit-in protest on the Capitol steps against GOP budget cuts, framing the proposed reductions to Medicaid and social programs as a moral crisis. (NBC News)
State & Local Governments
The call for mass protests by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, coupled with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s vow to sue the Trump administration over AmeriCorps cuts, represent continuing resistance from state and local governments. Pritzker’s demands for street mobilization and confrontation challenge complacency among Democrats, while Newsom’s legal threats demonstrate how state governments can use institutional mechanisms to counter federal overreach.
Key Developments
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker urged Democrats to engage in mass protests and disruption against Trump’s agenda, calling out “do-nothing Democrats” for their failure to respond aggressively. (The Daily Beast)
At a New Hampshire Democratic dinner, Pritzker delivered a keynote speech criticizing Democrats’ timidity and calling for mass mobilization to resist authoritarian threats. (AP News)
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California will sue the federal government over the dismantling of AmeriCorps, framing the move as an attack on public service and volunteerism. (Office of Governor Gavin Newsom)
International Resistance
Costa Rica’s decision to grant special status to 85 migrants deported by the Trump administration is a small but significant act of international resistance against Trump’s authoritarian immigration policies. Though the tiny country initially agreed to take deportees from Trump, by refusing now to force repatriation and instead affirming migrants’ freedom of movement, Costa Rica pushes back against the U.S. regime’s efforts to externalize and extend its harsh immigration enforcement beyond its borders. This action by the Central American nation comes after humanitarian groups threatened to sue over its treatment of the remaining deportees from the United States.
Key Developments
Costa Rica granted 85 migrants deported by the Trump administration a special status allowing free movement within the country and access to their passports. (NBC News)
Resistance Tomorrow
Vulnerabilities & Exposures
Deepening disarray within Trump’s Department of Defense and plummeting public approval ratings highlight growing vulnerabilities in the regime’s efforts to consolidate power. Major infighting, leaks, and chaotic management under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reveal critical fractures within one of the most important pillars of support for authoritarian rule. Meanwhile, new polling shows Trump's approval collapsing across key demographic groups, especially independents, suggesting that public legitimacy may be eroding rapidly.
Key Developments
Wall Street Journal commentators described deep accountability failures and mounting chaos under Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, warning of serious vulnerabilities at the top levels of the Pentagon. (Media Matters)
A CNN poll found Trump’s 100-day approval rating at just 41%, the lowest for any president at this point in at least seven decades, with steep declines among women, Hispanics, and independents. (CNN)
Reporting revealed that infighting, leaks, and investigations into mishandling classified information have crippled the Pentagon’s leadership team under Pete Hegseth, intensifying regime instability. (Wall Street Journal)
Actions This Week
💻 While mass street protests are vital, there are also powerful ways to resist authoritarianism online by creating disruption and forcing the regime to waste time and resources. Resistance Kitty offers creative tactics like overwhelming agencies with real DEI demands, targeting DOGE employees with strategic emails, and flooding ICE with fake tips. Every act of digital friction matters — find a method that works for you!
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🛠️ Resistance takes many forms — organizing, disrupting, and building alternative systems all matter. Resistance Kitty’s Day 99 Agenda and the Resistance Directory offer practical ways to stay active, find groups near you, and make sustained contributions to the fight for democracy. Now’s the time to pick a project and dive in!
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📚 One of the most powerful ways to strengthen resistance is to study the strategies and creativity of past and present movements. Learning from the successes and innovations of others, like Turkey’s mass protests, can spark new ideas and inspire more effective action today. Knowledge is fuel for the fight!
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✊ Opportunities to resist can appear at any moment — being ready to act is critical. Learning bystander intervention techniques can turn everyday situations into powerful moments of solidarity and protection. Equip yourself with the skills to step up when it matters most!
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🗓️ With major protests planned for May 1, now is the time to get informed, make a plan, and show up ready to take action. May Day has long been a day of resistance and solidarity — and this year’s mobilizations are more important than ever. Let’s make it count!
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Love this !!!! Yes!! Call them out and us out - we need to be much more active - period. Enough of the bullshit! It’s a little better but NOT enough!
Love JB