Uncut Gems

These Uncut Gems are my muses when it comes to protest groups! They are all mainly very grassroots, but since my original edition there needed to be an update.

GSUS (General Strike United State)- This group to me is a very overarching group, national and international, I think. They have been active for three years trying to raise awareness for a ‘General Strike’ across America. This group is an overarching strike that is waiting to get 3.5% of the population (11 million) to band together, before giving marching orders. All the groups below are the ones who help to give the marching orders. These aren’t going to be violent orders, it is going to be a boycott order, which will shut down the government. It will set a date and time and then we go! The groups below are to help you when the time comes to survive the boycott.

Shutdown 315 (Shutdown, March 15th)- This is like GSUS but on a certain nearby day. They are focused on shutting down the economy for a day to show the government we have unity. The overarching goal is to prove we CAN do something this big. Some people are able to stay shut off after one day, but others have just asked for the day off. This author has major dental surgery that day so she will be out of commission. I do wish good luck to every participating though and I hope we get to make the wave we want. There have so far been at least one mainstream media article covering the strike, which adds to its credibility. 

50501

50501 National (Fifty States, Fifty Capitals, One Day)- This is another national group that combines all 50 states and was responsible for the 50501 marches we saw across the country. This group is newer than GSUS but still offers the nationality you may want in a group. If you are a ‘boots on the ground’ type person this one may be for you, as they organize many safe peaceful protests. You may have seen this group get some heat from the Nazis for threatening to bring the heat- pun intended- but they are a non-violent group. Bad actors happen and can be handled but we don’t want to start a Red Scare in the activism world, it was handled by the organizers very well. 

UVOTN (United Volunteers of Tennessee)- This is my favorite group because of how local it is to me. Every time I check their discord I get a little bit of hope and so I am in there quite a bit. This group focuses on grassroots efforts in the Tennessee area, and is adjacent with 50501. They are not the same but a branch off that is more local. This group has been very thorough with their communication, privacy, and planning. If you are local then I would recommend this group as they also offer volunteer opportunities. I found a great editor who is incredibly smart along with some very helpful tech brains. 

Political Revolution- They deserve their own category because they are a special bird. We were skeptical at first (when is this newsletter not) but their mission statement seems kosher. The objectives laid out explain a world of true democracy with no republicans or democrats. Their three pillars are universal healthcare, better public transportation, and a stronger economy. This group also aims to break corporate power which leads us perfectly into our next one. The discord for this group is set up like a house, with channel divisions resembling known domestic common areas. I enjoy checking into it every so often and if I were to buy political merchandise, it would be theirs! 

S.M.A.S.H The Coup (Separate Musk And State Halt The Coup)- This group is probably the newest on this list. They are aiming to separate Musk and his governmental influence. The hope is by getting one Nazi out we can aim for the others. They have a BlueSky presence primarily but are expanding as soon as they have enough volunteers. This group hosts weekly lunch strikes to encourage low effort activism for people who may need some place to begin. Being new to activism is a difficult thing but this group is so new, you can still get in on the ground floor. Their striking method is also incredibly low risk and helps you build up connections in your community.

(VM) Voice of Magnolia

This is a similar group to the United Volunteers of Tennessee, but located in Mississippi. These activists are attempting to help bond their state to fight against fascism by community building and mutual aid. Their goal is to help make the people of their state feel less alone. They do not have the luxury of being screwed by the Federal government like Tennessee did back in 2024, so they are working extra hard to build their community. 

While I do play personal favorites all or none of the groups can be perfect for you! Every person is different in where they can focus their energy and efforts. You do not have to have your hand in all the cookie jars to be making a difference. That being said, don't be afraid to be in the know about a group! They want you to join their discord, share the link and follow their socials. When you are grassroots is when ‘any exposure is good exposure’ can sometimes really matter.