John is the chair of two volunteer teams at the North Star Chapter: the Clean Energy Team and the Legislative Team. We asked him about his work with the chapter in fighting the Trump regime as it attacks the rule of law and our democracy.
Why are you so passionate about the need to stop the abuses of the Trump regime?
My primary concern is to protect and save the environment for future generations, but Trump’s attempted dictatorship will take away the legal protections we need to do so. To slow climate change and limit pollution, we need good government: the constitutional protections of our democracy, including the rule of law. What we are seeing now, from ICE to climate change and pollution, is a dictatorial mob boss ignoring the norms, laws, and constitutional provisions that have guided our nation.
What is the Chapter doing to fight ICE?
We are using our grassroots advocacy power to keep the pressure on elected leaders to stop the abuse, like by sending emails to our federal senators and representatives. We also are using our people power to spread the word about resistance events led by trusted partner organizations, like the January 23rd rally and general strike, and other volunteer opportunities. The Chapter also participates in a coalition to defend Democratic rights and institutions, and fight authoritarianism.
What are you seeing from the Trump regime that concerns you?
He has signed hundreds of executive orders, many of which are contrary to established laws of our country, and in a rapid-fire manner that makes it difficult to challenge them in court. Worse, the Republican Congress and the Supreme Court have abdicated their roles and allowed him to decide issues reserved for Congress, or condoned policies that benefit him and his billionaire backers, like the Big Beautiful Bill and its huge tax cuts.
His ICE thugs have violated the Constitution, he has used his office for personal gain, weaponized the Department of Justice, pardoned the January 6 rioters, pushed large tax cuts for the wealthy, made significant cuts to safety net programs, undermined confidence in vaccines, and undercut freedom of speech and the press. On the environment he has gutted the fight against climate change, opened federal land and water to mining and drilling, attacked renewables while propping up coal and gas, and turned the EPA into the Environmental Pollution Agency.
What have the teams that you lead been doing to resist?
The Clean Energy Team has been active at rallies, obtaining signatures on petitions, and has presented educational sessions on combatting authoritarianism. We send articles and information to the team describing further opportunities to get involved, including specific actions they can take. We advocate for Minnesota environmental laws and regulations to counter what Trump is doing nationally. For example, this session we aim to improve Minnesota’s laws on hyperscale data centers which pollute air and water.
Legislative team members have also been involved in some resistance actions, but they focus on environmental laws in the state legislature.
Why can’t I just wait for the 2026 and 2028 elections to fight Trump?
The risk is that he could get so far along in the march toward dictatorship that only extreme action could stop him. If no institutions will stop him, it will be up to all of us to take to the streets to restore our government. Before we get to that point, we must act to highlight and fight his abuses. You cannot ignore what he is doing. This is causing irreparable harm to our country.
But we do need to look forward to the elections and plan to participate in them. We need to fight Trump as he tries to tamper with the electoral process. We must elect senators and representatives who will work on behalf of the people. And a new president must restore the primacy of our constitution and the rule of law, as well as fix the damage done by the Trump regime.
How can someone get involved with the Chapter to help fight the Trump regime?
You can go on the Chapter’s website and register for our Defending Democracy initiative. We expect to offer information on action opportunities, upcoming rallies, educational webinars, discussion sessions, and updates on actions leading toward more authoritarianism.