Engaged Defenders for Democracy - ED4D

08/19/2026

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

We had 15 and a dog at our Visibility Bridge Brigade over I47 and Anderson. Nice breeze which helped keep our spirits high! https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/840890/

Jenny and Jack had 7 at Take a Stand Tuesdays: South Cary. Shelly, who we know from the Avelo protests, joined us which was a nice surprise. Drivers seemed especially enthusiastic and supportive this morning! Only a few negative responses and they were very subdued. Very curious to know how those few Trump supporters feel when they hear all the supportive honks around them. Hope it’s making them realize they are in the minority. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/900259/

Pam and Melissa had 3 steadfast defenders of democracy at Take a Stand Tuesdays: Raleigh. Highlight today was a woman who brought us 3 waters in ice and an amazing t-shirt. She saw us & went back home to bring us gifts. https://www.mobilize.us/citizensresistingtyranny/event/945765

Maureen had 12 at No Tyranny Tuesdays at Brier Creek. It was quite hot, but we did have the occasional Brier Creek breeze and ended with cloud cover and a few raindrops. Lots of waves and honks and thumbs up. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/843280/

Gabriel and Joel had 14 at Protect Democracy at East Club and Roxboro! https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/842822/

Sam and Kathy have been having excellent exchanges with folks on the Cary City Council about ICE. Great advocacy you two!!

I forgot to mention in Tuesday’s post that folks in Alamance attended the City Council meeting on Monday night, and thanks to the high attendance and the great speakers, like Bill, the City Council signed a one-year moratorium on data centers!! Way to go Indivisible Alamance County!!!
https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com/article/2026/08/alamance-county-commissioners-pass-one-year-data-center-moratorium

Please put these on your socials. Thanks, John for sending.

08/19/2026

Today I want to talk about the book that James talked to me about called, “Give and Take” by Adam Grant. The author categorizes people into three groups. There are folks who are natural givers. They give and give and give think about others above themselves most of the time. In the long run, these people tend to be successful. The only thing that can hurt them is if they give so much that they don’t take care of themselves and burnout. But in general, these people are happy and successful because they are giving.

Then, there are the folks who are takers. They take and take and take from others without reciprocating. And yes, they may be successful in the short term, but eventually they burn bridges as people tire of their taking. Takers end up losing.

Most people are in the middle as they are transactional. Think, “What’s in it for me?”They give when they think they will get something in return. They act, not when somebody else is suffering, but when they themselves or someone close to them are suffering. Their acting relies on reciprocity in ways that the givers and takers do not. Givers give without expecting anything in return. Takers take without feeling they need to give in return. Most in the middle are transactional, where reciprocity is the driving force. This might explain why so many people are not joining the movement. They are waiting for the time when they are affected. They are trying to see the reward that they will get for their efforts. Please do not judge these people. It can be so frustrating to see people living their lives as normal while we see the house on fire.

Most people need to understand how acting will help protect them. Until they are harmed or where they can see a reward for themselves personally, they likely will not act. Think about the Vietnam War demonstrations. We keep saying in today’s movement, “Where are all of the young people??” Well back in the Vietnam era, folks were getting drafted and dying. That triggered many to act as it was to protect their own safety.

So, our job is to help folks see the rewards for them and potentially the harms for them. We need to do this in a way that is not judgmental because when we judge, we can bring out feelings of shame. When people feel shame, they are not motivated to act. They are motivated to hide and hide from us, specifically. I learned this early on in this movement as many of my friends were not joining me in this movement. I got upset with them, and I am sure they felt my judgement (some even told me so, gulp!). I have learned to empathize as many have things going on in their lives that are stopping them from acting. And most people do things when they think their efforts will make a difference, and making a difference for their own lives drives most people whereas doing something to benefit the greater masses can be a harder ask.

So, if we just understand and not judge that most people will do things when there is some direct benefit for them or some direct protection for them, we can help them make those connections in a nonjudgmental way.

Like we have discussed in prior posts, you can first share why you are acting to see if that does anything. And we also must realize that people do things that are helping society that are unrelated to this movement. They may not be tooting their horn about it, so you don’t know what they are doing. The less judgement we have, the happier we will be and the more willing people will be to join us or at least have a conversation with us.

https://engageddefendersfordemocracy.substack.com/p/givers-takers-and-transactional-folks?

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

08/18/2026

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

Mike had 4 at his Visibility Bridge Brigade over 540 and Carpenter Fire Station. Lots of honks, waves, and light flashes. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/921787/

Wendy had 7 in the am, and 9 at her double duty Mobilization Mondays: Chapel Hill. We got to experience the whole of NC summers today: the am had extreme mugginess, then the afternoon had crazy heat and an even crazier thunderstorm. Eleven of us then met up at The Casual Pint to learn about lit dropping with Flip NC in Orange County. Love your activism Wendy!! https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/881591/ | https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/881592/

Robbie had 12 at his Mobilization Mondays: Durham (Dacian Nation). We were grateful for the cloud cover and the rain holding off. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/881585/

Margaret had 4 fried ‘taters at her Prison Vigil at Central Prison. Can’t wait to see her tonight at the vigil to celebrate 20 years of not executing anyone in NC. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/950720/

Here are the Durham Resistance Singers in Fuquay-Varina and the Marco’s Pizza delivery brought to us. How sweet!!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcI6--isDN6/
For those looking for ways to plug in in Durham, please check out Mindy’s amazing Durham Dems Substack, with so many opportunities. https://substack.com/

Please share this image on your socials!

08/18/2026

Today I want to present a great guide for how to talk to folks who are either still in MAGA or you are just leaving. I thank Hope for posting this. We posted about this about a year ago about tips to talk to MAGA, but rather than have you go back and look at old posts, I thought it would be good to post again. There’s a great website called leaving MAGA that talks about why people get sucked into the cult and how they get out. I highly recommend we look at this to see how people who are not that dissimilar to us found themselves in MAGA. I hope it helps you have empathy for folks, as we need more empathy in this world. This is why I don’t like the phrase “MAGA morons” as it is judgmental. I find it unkind to call people names in general. Please check out the website.

Robert Hubbell suggested signs for our demonstrations that say, “Having doubts? You are not alone. LeavingMaga.org.” Thanks, Patti for pulling that quote out for me.

https://leavingmaga.org/

How we talk to folks is important as we’ve mentioned in prior post shaming is counterproductive. This is a long video about how to have these conversations. If you don’t have time to watch the video, I am also including the slides. Almost all of us know folks who at least one person who is all in and hardcore Trump. Hope these tips help if you decide to have conversations with folks.

https://www.joinsmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Smart-Politics-Intro-Slides-6-7-26.pdf

https://engageddefendersfordemocracy.substack.com/p/tips-for-talking-to-folks-who-have?

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

08/17/2026

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

Thank you, Laura for volunteering to help coordinate March to the Polls for Durham. Anyone else able to help? Please email me at [email protected]

We had 97 on the 17 bridges on Saturday, better than last month! Thanks, Beth for coordinating and our many Bridge Captains: Barbara & Dick, Betty & Clark, Mark & Cheri, Hope, Jackie, Jan, Shelly & Jim, Joanna, John, Leanna, Lib, Mary, Mike, Susan, Wendy, and Cynthia!

Robbin & Andrew had 9 hotties at their Sundays for Peace: Garner. We sure did have a lot of honks and waves with a couple shout outs... “we love what y’all are doing,” and mixed in with a few one finger salutes. Overall a great day and thanks to everyone coming out despite the heat. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/921667/

Tara & Claudia had the lucky 7 at Sundays for Peace: Creedmoor. Started out super hot and ended with a rain shower which was much appreciated! Many enthusiastic honks and an amen screamed out the window! https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/954023/

Liz & Lyndsay had 13 happy defenders at their Sundays for Peace: Oxford. We had 247 honks! It was exciting to be joined by 4 new folks; 3 of them being teenagers visiting their grandma who made 3 great signs for them. She came at the request of Phillip, our newest person. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/949454/

We had 5 folks canvassing for the Triangle Resistance United Phase 1: Voter Listening and Empowerment: John, Trey, Christine, & Tiffany. We had a super fun time! We registered 2 voters, including 1 who said she normally doesn’t vote in the midterms, but then found out that we have an important US Senate race and an important judicial race and wanted to register! We also registered somebody who thought they were registered, but then when I looked him up, couldn’t find him. Lots of great conversations and 2 of us got new people in our Adopt-a-Voter family. I added a 21-year-old who said he’ll make a TikTok video when he votes and share it with his friends! Christine also joined us from the Durham Dems to help us spread the word about the Durham Dems Help Hub. They have a team of navigators that connect people with resources if they’re having issues with housing, healthcare, food insecurity, etc. Thank you, Christine for joining us!

I now have 7 in my Adopt-a-Voter family (almost half-way there to the goal of 15!). Two people I added in July and the last 5 have been in August. I texted them the day I canvassed them and am starting to send my reminders because it’s been about a month. The beautiful thing is that they’re texting back because they remember having the conversation with me. This is what the relational canvassing is all about! In just a few more weeks, we’ll transition to Phase 2, the values matrix where we ask people about their values and then show them the voting records of the Republicans and Democrats on those values. Please join us for canvassing this Sat and Sun:

Saturday, Aug 22, 3-5pm: Triangle Resistance United: Phase 1: Voter Listening & Empowerment in Northern Durham. https://mobilize.us/s/81Kec9

Sunday Aug 23, 3-5pm: Triangle Resistance United: Phase 1: Voter Listening & Empowerment in Northern Durham. https://mobilize.us/s/LJXRzz

Please consider joining the Art Build for the Prayer Vigil for the ICE Detention Center in Winton, NC. The Art Build is on Wednesday Aug 19, 3-5pm. The Vigil is on Friday Aug 21, 2-4pm. https://mobilize.us/s/QPTtUC

08/17/2026

Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18, March 20 anniversary of not executing anybody in North Carolina. I have incredible admiration for Margaret and her crew who have been demonstrating every single Monday for two decades. There is a 20 Years With No Executions: Bearing Witness event on Tuesday evening at 6:30-8:30pm that starts at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and ends at central prison. I plan to attend after my girls’ tennis match. But even though we haven’t executed anyone, still 60% of those on death row in North Carolina are African American even though only 30% of North Carolina’s population is African American. The death penalty just took over for lynching (and lynching is still happening in the US). There still is a racist history of using the threat of death to incarcerate blacks and to oppress them. Thank you for taking the time to watch this video (linked in the post). And if you can attend the vigil tomorrow night, that would be amazing.
https://engageddefendersfordemocracy.substack.com/p/lynching-turns-into-the-death-penalty?

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

08/16/2026

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

The Triangle Unified Bridge Brigade was on 17 bridges; we will have our count tomorrow! https://mobilize.us/s/kt679U

Love Joanna’s signs in Chatham! And welcome Bill & Debbie who converted from Durhamites to Chathamites!

Cynthia and her Raleigh Bridge Brigade continue with clever signs!

Love the story from Mark & Cheri in Durham: We had 5 defenders on the 15-501-Hillsborough Bridge today. A policeman stopped to say someone was agitated by our signs. He said everything was fine and to call if the person stopped again to agitate us. Our signs said: protect our freedoms of speech, press, & assembly, peace and your vote matters. Inspiring-yes, annoying -no.

And Betty & Clark on their bridge on Washington St!

Melissa & Mike had 9 demonstrators at Defend Democracy: Morrisville. This Morrisville demonstration was in memory of MARY JO HOLMES who recently passed away from cancer. Mary Jo was a regular, perky personality & a unique laugh. We are missing her. Starting next week, they will move to 9:30-11. https://mobilize.us/s/00IlrQ

Lib & Diane had 9 people across 2 corners at Defend Democracy: Apex. https://mobilize.us/s/qkXpuk

Diane & Lani had 4 at Defend Democracy: Durham. Lots of great support from folks passing by! https://mobilize.us/s/gcoi3h

Gary & Durbin had 10 folks at Defend Democracy: Youngsville, including 2 new folks, 1 of whom came b/c she saw the “Join us every Saturday” sign. I also had a wonderful conversation with a remorseful former MAGA voter trying hard to see the world in a new way. We were informed we need an amplified sound permit to play music; I will look into that. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/976015/

Bob & Robbie had 51 warriors and 3 dogs at Defend Democracy: Hillsborough. Lots of exuberant motorists expressing their support for democracy, and only a few expressing their support of the people allowing our sailors to live in squalor. https://mobilize.us/s/vlvFnF

Anne & Keith had 32 defenders, 4 doing double duty from the bridge brigade at Defend Democracy: Pittsboro. https://mobilize.us/s/xBHikx

Diane had 3 volunteers at Voter Registration: Robin, Brigid, & Diane. We had lots of people expressing an eagerness to vote! Diane registered 1 at the DT Durham demonstration. And Robin has volunteered to help Melissa start a voter registration event in Raleigh. Stay tuned!

08/16/2026

Today, I want to highlight another Demonstration Leader, Pam, who is one of the Demonstration Leaders for Take a Stand Tuesdays: Raleigh. Thank you, Linda for inspiring these spotlights and for helping with this interview.

Pam leads with Melissa. Pam has lived in NC for more than 40 years and has a Masters in Business Administration. She worked as an organizational change manager in tech and pharma. She divides her time between Raleigh and Western NC.

Her parents instilled liberal values and were involved with bringing JFK’s campaign for President to her hometown of Libertyville, IL in 1960. Pam was not involved in politics for many years, but when Trump came down the escalator, she knew it was time to engage. After his reelection, she ramped up even more and then decided to become a Demonstration Leader. “I was looking for more opportunities to influence people who might be on the fence or beginning to question whether they made the wrong choice. All our signs are meant to make people think - none of them are inflammatory. Shout out to Jenny, of the Cary Take a Stand Tuesdays for many of our sign ideas!”

Pam can see the connection between her change management work and her activism to promote change. “You have to meet people where they’re at, and provide the awareness, resources and support to make change successful.”

Thank you, Pam for spreading positivity to many in Raleigh where we need a HUGE turnout for the midterms. The location you and Melissa chose at Six Forks and Millbrook is perfect for helping drivers remember what is at stake!

https://engageddefendersfordemocracy.substack.com/p/demonstration-leader-spotlight-pam?

08/15/2026

Good morning Engaged Defenders for Democracy!

We are now up to 47 of the 50 states on this Substack ! Nebraska is in the house! Thank you, John, as I think you might have helped get those 2 subscribers! And now we have Idaho! Wow! We are now missing just 3 states: South Dakota, Mississippi, and West Virginia. Anyone who knows folks in those states, please send them the ED4D Substack in hopes they will sign up! Yahoo! And we have a few states who only have 1 subscriber: Idaho, Alaska, Wyoming, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Please encourage folks from those states to subscribe too. Would be awesome to reach all 50! Wow!

John and Mary had 7 regulars at Freedom Fridays: Durham: Eric, Colleen, Mary, Judy, John, Natalie, & Mike. Great response today! https://mobilize.us/s/VUglUq

Zoe had 8 with the BEST breeze and clouds to keep us cool at Freedom Friday: Sanford. 5 thumbs down and a few head shakers. One “get a job!” But all the other reactions were positive 💕💕 https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/925827/

Sarah had 12 on both sides of the street at ICE is not Welcome demonstration outside the ICE office in Cary. Lots of supportive honks and thumbs up from passing drivers. Thanks to everyone who braved the heat to show up today! https://mobilize.us/s/HRijyx

Cynthia had 12 with her Raleigh Bridge Brigade near the NCMA.

Catherine had 3 at Freedom Friday: Clayton. Lots of honks and waves, a young Hispanic lady thanked us with tears in her eyes and gave us cold water. We gave her hugs, support, ED4D card, a button that said, “No human is illegal.” We also saw a wife slap her husband’s hand down. Haha. We had a visit from a police officer. He said he had a call that we had a baby in the stroller in the heat. We all laughed because Catherine was using a stroller to carry a speaker and cooler. I had a sign clipped in the front of stroller and I guess someone thought we had a baby. Lol - and a few more people yelling but that is par for the course. The Durham Resistance Singers cannot wait to join there in 2 weeks! https://mobilize.us/s/E20ANG

Becca had 4 at Freedom Friday: Wilson, cooling it with ice and cold drinks in the humidity and heat that felt like 106 degrees. Much appreciated cloud cover with a little breeze showed up shortly after 5. It was mostly the usual stuff of positive honks, waves, and peace signs out of the windows. We saw some folks who continue to look away or flip us the bird, but also saw a wife push her husband’s middle finger down. Proud to be hanging with Christina, Carol, & Tammy today. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/842492/

Ellen and Cathy had 20 people today in sweltering heat, at Freedom Friday: Cary, including some new faces 🥸. Lots of honking, waving, and thumbs up . After the demonstration we met with council member Brittney Richards and had a frank discussion about ICE in Cary. https://mobilize.us/s/PpTIeC

Betty and Clark hosted and had 25 at Freedom Friday: Brier Creek. The honks were almost nonstop when the lights changed. The most heartwarming responses were from young children waving from the back seats. It was very hot, so we were thankful for the cloud cover 1/2 way through. A nice lady stopped by with a case of water for us and thanked us for being out in the heat. And Joy had had 3 sign up for literature drops for FLIP NC Raleigh turfs, 1 for Wake Forest, and 1 request a special turf. She has 10 more turfs for folks at Brier Creek to pick up next week. Thanks, Joy for coordinating! https://mobilize.us/s/9ClzMd

Miranda had 3 at her Freedom Friday: Cameron! Mike Who is Everywhere came and Helena from the Fayetteville Resistance Coalition came. A guy came up and talked to Helena close to the beginning though and they were in a discussion most of the time. Nothing negative. She said she will try to come again. We had lots of honks and a couple of middle fingers-it’s a win in my book. When we were gathering our stuff, a couple came up to thank Mike for having the Ukraine flag b/c the woman was from there. She was very happy people still cared. https://www.mobilize.us/engagedefendersfordemocracy/event/921544/

David had 11 at F-cubed Freedom Friday: Fuquay-Varina. The Durham Resistance Singers joined. A heartfelt thanks to all the Durham Resistance Singers who endured the trip and heat to ensure ol’ man didn’t drop dead alone today. Their enthusiasm and singing was clearly contagious as evidenced by the noticeably greater number of honks and waves. https://mobilize.us/s/Is2GhN
https://youtube.com/shorts/5S4oauwVNS0?is=fMsUDRzwgcaXOTBB