Don’t Get Mad, Get Organized
Building on the momentum of the No Kings protest, I find myself reflecting on the aftermath—what transpires once the rallying cries subside? Is there a coherent set of demands to which the protesters are fully committed, or does the march diminish into a kind of performative display? And don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the competition of who can wield the most provocative and entertaining sign.
That being said, I don’t want to undermine the significance of such demonstrations. The act of physically showing up, marching, and voicing dissent is a vital exercise in democratic engagement. It sends a powerful message to both domestic and international audiences, signaling that though we the people voted in Trump, we’re not all on board with his policies and agenda.
During my second year of graduate school at Harvard, the October 7 attacks unfolded. I vividly recall seeing the news and sensing almost immediately the far-reaching consequences—politically, socially, emotionally, and physically—that are still happening today.
While I personally felt a mixture of anxiety and overwhelm, I witnessed something remarkable on campus: a swift and strategic mobilization.
Almost overnight, students and faculty organized with impressive precision. They set up tents, articulated clear demands both to the university and the broader community, coordinated shifts, established a food delivery system, and even constructed a media tent to facilitate calm, orderly interviews with journalists. The logistics were meticulous.
At Harvard Kennedy School, much of our focus was on theoretical frameworks—on understanding how systems change, how institutions react, and how movements scale.
One phrase that I encountered during this time, and which has resonated with me ever since, was: “Don’t get mad, get organized.” This adage, attributed to labor activist and songwriter Joe Hill (though I’m open to learning more about its origins if this is incorrect!), captures the essence of what I observed on campus: that organization itself can be a potent form of resilience.
Insights from Ganz and Chenoweth on Effective Organizing
The importance of structured, strategic organizing was repeatedly emphasized at school, especially by professors Marshall Ganz and Erica Chenoweth. Ganz emphasizes that successful movements are often rooted in a combination of personal narratives and collective purpose, a theme that mirrors what I witnessed in the campus mobilization. His model of public narrative—the integration of story, strategy, and action—provides a useful framework for understanding how to build meaningful and enduring movements.
Chenoweth’s work on nonviolent resistance further deepens this understanding. She argues that the effectiveness of social movements is often not measured by the size of the protests but by the ability to maintain disciplined, nonviolent actions and to engage in sustained organizing efforts.
Real-World Examples of Rapid Response
I’m seeing these principles echoed in Chicago, where ICE raids have sparked swift local responses. Neighborhood networks, mutual aid groups, and activists have mobilized quickly and decisively—organizing everything from blocking ICE agents from using public facilities to creating citywide ICE-free zones. For example, The Oak Park community's toolkit, designed to offer tangible steps in response to the raids, is a prime example of this kind of strategic, organized action.
Similarly, during COVID-19, the pandemic presented a unique set of challenges, but organizations like TechSoup adapted rapidly, offering critical technological resources to nonprofits struggling to pivot. By providing guides on remote work and policy adaptation, they empowered nonprofits to navigate the crisis efficiently and effectively.
The lesson here is clear: the capacity to mobilize with precision and purpose often dictates the trajectory of a crisis response. A single day march can be powerful, but what is even more powerful is systematic and organized approach to dismantling systems in the name of change.
How to Organize: A Few Key Takeaways
In reflecting on these examples, it’s clear that effective organization is about more than just reacting to events; it’s about laying the groundwork for a strategic, sustained effort. Here are a few insights to consider when thinking about how to organize in response to a crisis:
Develop a Clear, Unified Vision: What are your demands or goals? Ganz’s public narrative framework suggests that the power of a movement often lies in its ability to align individual stories with a collective mission.
Create Systems and Infrastructure: As the Oak Park toolkit demonstrates, effective organizing often requires logistical infrastructure. This might include communication channels, coordination of resources, and creating safe spaces for media and legal support.
Engage in Nonviolent Action: Following Chenoweth’s research, movements that maintain nonviolent discipline often fare better in terms of broad support and long-term success. This doesn't mean avoiding confrontation, but rather ensuring that actions are strategic and focused on building, rather than alienating, support.
Use Technology for Coordination: Technology can enhance the speed and reach of your organizing efforts. Nonprofits like TechSoup and grassroots efforts alike have shown the importance of quickly adapting tools for coordination, whether that’s through digital toolkits, remote working solutions, or online forums for discussion and action.
Sustain the Effort: Organizing doesn’t end with the first rally or protest. It’s about creating sustained action that can outlast the initial wave of enthusiasm. Building structures that allow for continuous engagement, such as mutual aid networks or local organizing committees, ensures that momentum doesn't fizzle out.
There’s certainly no shortage of reasons to be angry, but perhaps organizing is a reminder that we have the power to channel that anger into something more powerful.