Be the Violets That Break the Rocks
How We Resist Authoritarianism Together
If the rise of authoritarianism in the United States has left you anxious, angry, or unsure where to begin—take heart. Authoritarianism may feel overwhelming, but history shows that it follows predictable patterns. And those patterns can be countered with strategy, solidarity, and endurance.
This isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon.
And we will outlast them—if we act with intention.
Understanding the Phases of Resistance
Movements against authoritarianism tend to unfold in phases.
They begin with awareness, grow into organization, build through mobilization and escalation, and—if sustained—reach a transition away from authoritarian control.
Every person joins this process at a different stage. Some are newly aware. Others are already organizing or exhausted from escalation. Wherever you are, you belong here. Resistance requires all of us—and it lasts long enough for each of us to find our role.
1. Nonviolence Is Strategic Power
The most effective resistance movements share one essential quality: nonviolence.
Nonviolence isn’t passivity. It’s discipline. It’s strategy. It’s the refusal to give authoritarians the one thing they crave most—chaos they can exploit.
Strongmen need violence to justify repression. They provoke it to rally their base and silence dissent. When we refuse to play that game, we strip them of their justification and reveal the weakness of their systems.
Researchers like Gene Sharp, Erica Chenoweth, and Maria Stephan have documented over a century of nonviolent campaigns. Their findings are clear: nonviolent movements are twice as likely to succeed as violent ones.
Nonviolence:
Denies authoritarians their narrative of fear and control.
Keeps coalitions broad and inclusive.
Makes participation safer and more sustainable.
Anger can be righteous—but giving it over to violence hands power to the very people who seek to use it against us. The real act of strength is restraint. Keep your anger. Channel it. Use it to build.
2. Mass Participation: Everyone Has a Role
Authoritarianism thrives when people feel powerless and isolated. Resistance thrives when participation becomes universal.
But participation doesn’t always look like marching in the streets. Some people protest. Others cook meals for organizers, write letters, make calls, or check in on vulnerable neighbors. Some watch children for friends attending rallies. Others share trustworthy news or help sustain mutual aid networks.
Each action matters. Each act of care or courage is a thread in the larger fabric of democracy.
Research shows that when just 3.5% of a population engages in sustained, nonviolent resistance, authoritarian regimes fail every time. Maybe that number isn’t magical—but the lesson is unmistakable: when enough people show up, they win.
Participation should be understood as a mosaic. Every piece, every person, every skill has a place. Together, they form the picture of a society that refuses to yield.
3. Coordination and the Power of Many Tactics
One protest may spark conversation. But a coordinated sequence of actions changes systems.
Think of a chain reaction:
A public testimony leads to a records request.
That request triggers an oversight hearing.
The hearing inspires strategic litigation.
The lawsuit fuels a boycott.
The boycott pressures policy change.
The change builds momentum for further reform.
When tactics interlock—when they build on each other—the pressure doesn’t pass like a storm. It becomes gravity: steady, unavoidable, inescapable.
For those organizing efforts, the work is to stack tactics, share credit, and keep the story alive. The public must see continuity, cooperation, and visible wins. Each victory, no matter how small, strengthens the whole.
4. Erode the Strongman’s Support
Authoritarians depend on enablers—financiers, media figures, legislators, and disillusioned citizens who once believed in their promises. Effective resistance doesn’t just attack; it creates exits.
People defect from harmful movements when the costs rise and the exits feel safe.
So make them safe. Offer dignity, not humiliation.
If a neighbor or colleague begins to question what they once supported, open the door. Let them rejoin the common project of rebuilding democracy. Say, “I understand why you hoped he’d fix things. But let’s go fix them—for real.”
Every defector weakens authoritarian control. Every act of welcome strengthens community.
The Violets in the Mountains
On the gravestone of playwright Tennessee Williams, the inscription reads:
“The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.”
That’s what resistance looks like.
Not bludgeons or fire—but persistence, roots, and cooperation.
The violets don’t destroy the mountain. They transform it. Slowly. Steadily. Together.
That is how we must think of ourselves. Not as warriors against the mountain, but as the living force that frees it.
The Work Ahead
Keep your power. Don’t give it away in rage or despair.
Choose your lane. Quiet, steady contributions win long fights.
Hold the door open. Let people rejoin without shame.
Coordinate and connect. Share stories, stack tactics, celebrate progress.
Authoritarianism depends on isolation, fear, and fatigue.
Democracy depends on connection, courage, and care.
We can engage safely.
We can engage wisely.
And together, we can be the violets that break the rocks.