Stacey Abrams's Anti-Authoritarian Campaign Gains Momentum as 'Force Multiplier'
In a bid to combat authoritarianism in the US, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has announced that her campaign, 10 Steps, has attracted dozens of new partners representing millions of voters. The coalition, which includes prominent activists and organizations like Democracy Forward and MoveOn, aims to build a national infrastructure for resistance and reclamation.
Abrams's initiative was launched last year in response to the growing threat of authoritarianism under Donald Trump's presidency. She defines competitive authoritarianism as a regime that demotes democracy and abides by rule of law only as a premise. The US has seen at least nine out of 10 steps towards this, according to Abrams.
"We know there are people who are angry, afraid, and uncertain," Abrams said in a statement. "But now they need to take action, and the challenge is finding them and understanding how you fit in." To address this, Abrams serves as both a wayfinder – guiding individuals to their next steps – and a force multiplier, connecting and building momentum.
While big acts of resistance like general strikes are important, groundwork must be laid first. "A general strike is just one tool; we need to remember that those tools are parts of what has to happen," Abrams said. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of infrastructure pieces – local community engagement and civic groups with lower public profiles.
The coalition includes a wide range of organizations, from familiar activists like Democracy Forward and Indivisible, to lesser-known groups such as New Disabled South, Red Wine and Blue, UnidosUS Action Fund, and Gen-Z for Change. "Gen Z rejects the idea that we have to sit by and watch our country descend into authoritarianism," said Cheyenne Hunt, executive director of Gen-Z for Change.
Abrams's 10 Steps campaign aims to bring together organizations spanning various issues to form a national framework for resistance and reclamation. By doing so, it seeks to ensure local community involvement and prevent the reliance on just resistance alone. "The campaign is to bring these organizations together so that we can form this national infrastructure – not just for resistance, but for reclamation," Abrams said.
As Abrams continues her fight against authoritarianism, she emphasizes the importance of grassroots engagement and coalition-building. With dozens of new partners joining her cause, 10 Steps seems poised to become a significant force in shaping the US's response to the growing threat of competitive authoritarianism.
In a bid to combat authoritarianism in the US, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has announced that her campaign, 10 Steps, has attracted dozens of new partners representing millions of voters. The coalition, which includes prominent activists and organizations like Democracy Forward and MoveOn, aims to build a national infrastructure for resistance and reclamation.
Abrams's initiative was launched last year in response to the growing threat of authoritarianism under Donald Trump's presidency. She defines competitive authoritarianism as a regime that demotes democracy and abides by rule of law only as a premise. The US has seen at least nine out of 10 steps towards this, according to Abrams.
"We know there are people who are angry, afraid, and uncertain," Abrams said in a statement. "But now they need to take action, and the challenge is finding them and understanding how you fit in." To address this, Abrams serves as both a wayfinder – guiding individuals to their next steps – and a force multiplier, connecting and building momentum.
While big acts of resistance like general strikes are important, groundwork must be laid first. "A general strike is just one tool; we need to remember that those tools are parts of what has to happen," Abrams said. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of infrastructure pieces – local community engagement and civic groups with lower public profiles.
The coalition includes a wide range of organizations, from familiar activists like Democracy Forward and Indivisible, to lesser-known groups such as New Disabled South, Red Wine and Blue, UnidosUS Action Fund, and Gen-Z for Change. "Gen Z rejects the idea that we have to sit by and watch our country descend into authoritarianism," said Cheyenne Hunt, executive director of Gen-Z for Change.
Abrams's 10 Steps campaign aims to bring together organizations spanning various issues to form a national framework for resistance and reclamation. By doing so, it seeks to ensure local community involvement and prevent the reliance on just resistance alone. "The campaign is to bring these organizations together so that we can form this national infrastructure – not just for resistance, but for reclamation," Abrams said.
As Abrams continues her fight against authoritarianism, she emphasizes the importance of grassroots engagement and coalition-building. With dozens of new partners joining her cause, 10 Steps seems poised to become a significant force in shaping the US's response to the growing threat of competitive authoritarianism.