Cape Ann Indivisible
Cape Ann Indivisible welcomes all who are called to safeguard our democracy, protect our most vulnerable communities, and care for our planet.
Aligned with Indivisible’s leadoff two-year mission to maintain representative government and achieve significant victories in the midterms, we are dedicated to the nationwide effort to resist authoritarian and divisive agendas and to build a democracy that works for us all.
Key findings on democratic backsliding and democratic resilience
(Source: Hardy Merriman, President of International Center on Nonviolent Conflict [ICNC] and an expert on fascist nations, how democracies fight back)
In any given year, a democracy only has a 2–3% chance of experiencing backsliding. When backsliding occurs, 75% break down into authoritarian rule. But all is not lost; 53% of democratic breakdowns result in democratic resurgences (U-turns).
While U-turns are reported to take an average of 10 years, note the following predicted probabilities of stopping democratic backsliding:
- With no civil resistance movement: 7.5%
- With a civil resistance movement: 51.7%
The 3.5% Factor:
When 3.5% of the population (approximately 11 million Americans) participate in the resistance to authoritarianism, the resistance is predicted to prevail. In some cases, even only 2% participation will suffice.
Note that beyond taking down the tyrant, one must have a vision that galvanizes widespread and diverse support. For example:
- By responding to the needs of ordinary people (a result of listening to them)
- By referencing and bridging shared values, histories, and identities
Last but not least, we must remain nonviolent if we are to make political violence backfire against those who would incite, threaten, and enact it.