Women, immigrants, people of color,
Muslims, LGBTQ people, and others likely to suffer
Women, immigrants, disabled people, activists, people of color, journalists,
and LGBTQ people are fearing for their rights—and
in some cases, for their lives—as they face the coming Trump administration
backed by a right-wing dominated U.S. House and Senate.
Indeed,
as reports of
hate-motivated attacks spike
mere days after Donald Trump's shocking win, two open documents filled with
survival tips for members of embattled communities are being shared countless
times on social media, urging action before the January 20 inauguration.
The
Google Drive documents—"Concrete
Suggestions in Preparation for January" and "Oh shit! The what
should I do before January guide"—were collectively created by
rights advocates and members of these communities.
The
tips and information range from the practical to the heartbreaking.
Both
documents urge those insured by (the now threatened)
Obamacare to visit their doctors for a wellness check-up.
One lists resources to learn about community-based conflict resolution while recommending the police be avoided, as many groups fear calling on an already militant police force that will only be further emboldened under Trump.
The
advice taken all together paints a frightening picture of the potential
ramifications of Trump's far-right administration, and the havoc it will wreak
on vulnerable communities.
For
example, one document urges people to "make
copies of your passport,
ID, etc and have them in a secure place outside of your apartment (friend,
family, safe deposit box) should you need to leave your home quickly."
Both documents also warn that
public benefits will likely be cut, or requirements to take part will become
more stringent.
Readers are recommended to research options to take part in
community-supported agriculture programs from local farms, community gardening,
food pantries, and to organize informal networks to share food.
"Now is a good time to seal,
expunge, or otherwise clean up criminal records in preparation for more
stringent benefits laws and federal programs," one document notes.
Women in particular are urged to
arrange for long-acting birth control before the Obama administration—and Obamacare—ends.
Some recommend getting IUDs, which can last as long
as ten years, and people are also urged to purchase emergency contraception
(such as Plan B) to have on hand before January 20.
Activists are encouraged to
remove themselves from platforms such as Facebook ("Facebook is a known collaborator and conspirator
with the FBI," the one document says), and to research communication apps that use end-to-end encryption,
fearing the massive
surveillance apparatus that
Trump is about to inherit.
The documents also list extensive
resources—on local and national levels—for suicide prevention, rape and sexual
assault hotlines, and legal and civil rights groups.
People who don't belong to these
threatened communities but want to support them are urged to offer emotional,
logistical, and financial support to those who are facing particular oppression
under a Trump presidency.
Some have offered to take care of the costs associated
with passport processing, for example, as having a passport makes it much
easier to get other forms of ID.
"People in neighborhoods
with large immigrant populations: ask your neighbors what you can do to make
them feel welcome," one document reads.
