Choose Democracy

Pledge and training materials on how to resist a coup

USA

Democracy is fragile. We have reason to worry that this fall we may see an undemocratic power grab — a coup. We also know that the people can defend our democracy. Nonviolent mass protests have stopped coups in other places, and we may have to do the same in this country. Elections work because the public agrees to honor the results. Similarly, coups work only if the public honors them. When the public refuses to accept the coup as legitimate, coups fall apart. Refusal looks like millions of people using nonviolent tools to delegitimize the coup by demonstrating, resisting orders, and shutting down the country until democracy prevails. That's why we are committing now to choose democracy: by voting, making sure all the votes are counted, and preparing to take the streets in the case of a coup. Together, we choose democracy.