Quaker Call to Action: Prepare for What Might Follow the Midterm Election

Dear Friends,

We on the Quaker Call know that many Friends are deeply concerned about what could happen following the midterm elections. It appears quite possible that the Trump administration and its allies will refuse to accept the results of the elections, if they do not retain control of the U.S. House and Senate. There are many ways that they could do this; all of them unconstitutional. Thousands of national and local organizations around our country are preparing to resist if such an attempt occurs.

Indivisible is taking the lead to prepare for a massive nonviolent mobilization. We encourage Friends to go to their website to keep up with their latest plans and to be prepared to act, if it becomes necessary. To start, see the Indivisible page, NO KINGS Election Defense Attendee Pledge.

We believe that we, as Friends, can be examples of a nonviolent presence, which will be extremely helpful, if there is anxiety and turmoil. We commend to you this excellent article by Friend Eileen Flanagan “How to combat fear at the polls this November.”

Be sure also to see this action alert from Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): Protect Elections from the Federal Government.

Extensive research on coup attempts in other countries shows that a key element of all successful efforts to resist and stop such a coup is a massive outpouring of public resistance. Specifically, researchers have determined that, if 4% or more of the population engage in NONVIOLENT protests, the attempted coups generally fail. Given the U.S. population of 343 million people, that means we will need at least 14 million people out in the streets.

Thank you all for your faithfulness. The Living Presence is always with us.

For more information, videos, resource lists and more, visit our website at https://quakercall.net