What to do if the Insurrection Act is invoked
Originally published by Daniel Hunter on Waging Nonviolence (April 4, 2025) Summarized, remixed, and recharged by Alicia — because democracy deserves both a plan and a punchline.
With President Trump inching closer to invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, it’s time to trade in confusion for clarity — and maybe sprinkle a little ridicule along the way. In his brilliantly strategic article, Daniel Hunter lays out what this dusty old law could mean for everyday Americans, especially activists, immigrants, and anyone not in Trump’s fan club.
What is the Insurrection Act?
It's an old-school law that lets the president deploy the military inside the country during “insurrections” — which are vaguely defined and conveniently open to interpretation. If invoked, it overrides normal limits on military involvement in civilian life. Not quite martial law… but it’s giving strong martial law energy.
Why It’s Suddenly Relevant
Trump has asked federal agencies to report by April 20 on how to “secure the southern border” — with one of the tools on the table being the Insurrection Act. That means troops, tanks, and ICE agents in communities, potentially door-to-door. Think less “orderly policy,” more “authoritarian improv.”
What Could Actually Happen?
In a simulation run by the Brennan Center (yes, like political Dungeons & Dragons but terrifying), Trump tries to go full strongman:
Military leaders hesitate to carry out civilian enforcement.
Trump leans on ICE and even deputizes private militias (because what could possibly go wrong).
Violence breaks out. Chaos ensues. The courts take their sweet time showing up.
Moral of the story: the danger is real, but so is the dysfunction.
What Can We Do?
Hunter gives us three power moves: Refusal, Resistance, and Ridicule.
1. ✊ Refusal
Governors in blue states can preemptively activate their National Guards to block federal takeover. And people with military ties can encourage legal foot-dragging and ethical objections within the ranks.
2. 🚩 Resistance
Peaceful protest is powerful — especially when smart:
Know your rights and film everything.
Keep the message simple: “We are peaceful. Trump is the threat.”
Governors can reframe the issue by deploying state troops to help with real crises (housing, healthcare, FEMA cuts), not political theater.
3. 😂 Ridicule
This is where we shine. Authoritarians crumble under the weight of mockery.
Options include:
Toy protests (Lego lives matter!)
Clown army recruits showing up at military offices
Satirical press releases applauding Trump for “finally going after the real insurrectionists — like himself”
The more absurd, the better. Humor keeps us sane, unites our message, and knocks authoritarianism off its fake-golden pedestal.
The Real Game Plan
Trump’s chaos machine thrives on fear. Ours runs on creativity, calm, and collective action. As Hunter notes, we may not be able to stop bad things from happening, but we can shape the narrative, rally public outrage, and inspire people to act.
So be brave. Be weird. Be wildly ungovernable — but in a nonviolent, well-documented, and meme-worthy kind of way.
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