It’s been refreshing to see some Democrats stand up to the MAGA movement. I saw collective nods of  agreement and verbal amens when California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to the illegal gerrymandering scheme aimed at gaining additional legislative seats by stating, “We’re gonna punch these sons of bitches in the mouth.” While Newsom meant that figuratively, he was more literal when he pledged that he would fight fire with fire. His bold actions quickly generated an impressive $6 million in donations.

The wannabe dictator announced he was sending his goons to Chicago to bring some order. In a unified voice, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker said hell no. We hope it’s not a repeat of the Texas Democrats leaving the state to prevent a vote on the GOP’s illegal gerrymandering. After selling all the wolf tickets, they returned to the state to vote after a whirlwind of media opportunities.

The response by Democrats to the MAGA cannot be just idle threats, theatrics, and bluster. It appears that the MAGA bullying tactics are working — not just on corporations and academic institutions — but on the very lawmakers who have sworn to protect the U.S. Constitution and serve the American people.

The GOP is openly disregarding rules, ethics, protocols, traditions, and the rule of law. Under these circumstances, a fair fight is impossible. Democrats must be prepared to win by any means necessary. So far, they have been laying low, hoping that Trump will avoid targeting them or their special interests. However, the reality is that Democrats have been passive in defending their values, their base, and their ground. They lack a winning strategy for maintaining and expanding their power. The working class cannot afford to wait for them to summon some courage.

As I’ve stated before, the people are the fourth branch of government, and it’s time for us to exercise our power. We must take the lead in halting the rise of authoritarianism. By taking a clear stand in this fight, we will identify our true allies. We don’t need fair-weather friends or spineless supporters.

The people must unite the unorganized, the marginalized, and the nonbelievers around a strategy of resistance. We can draw inspiration from tactics used in other countries that support unions. Their resistance goes beyond mere marches in the streets; they actively disrupt capitalism. One example is the recent Tube strike in London. The RMT Union has initiated a rolling strike shutting down the city’s transportation system, demanding better pay and improved shift patterns. They are also holding city officials accountable for failing to honor previous agreements. While this strike may cause inconvenience for the public, citizens don’t turn on the union. Instead, they apply pressure on the city to comply with the workers’ demands.

As the oppressive weight of fascism increases, we must adapt our tactics in both scope and intensity. This is the key to achieving incremental change for relief. We need to first step out of our comfort zones of ignorance and complacency. This is not a battle that bureaucrats can win effectively without the fire of the people’s will driving them forward.