Activists are struggling. Despite a sense of urgency, the widespread reluctance to mobilize around strategies that feel hollow or ineffective reflects a deeper acknowledgment: our protest tactics need to change.
This moment of collective pause might look like passivity, but we see it differently. It suggests that people sense, perhaps more deeply than ever, that repeating the same performative gestures is not only draining—it’s unproductive. When seasoned activists decide not to protest, it can be a sign of wisdom, not apathy. Times of withdrawal can spark moments of clarity that lead to sudden strategic leaps forward.
In response to these challenges, we are adjusting how Activist School operates. From now on, membership will be available for $2 per month, and we’re adding a 30-day free trial. It’s easy to cancel before your free trial ends. That is a 90% discount and the lowest price allowed by our video hosting provider. We’re doing this to make sure that a new approach to activism—one that takes into account the lessons we’ve learned over the last decade—is within reach of those who need it.
If you find yourself in that space between wanting to act but feeling unconvinced about traditional protest, you’re not alone. Maybe together we can open up different pathways, or at least see more clearly why our conventional strategies have lost their edge. We look forward to continuing these conversations with you—and exploring, without pretense or promise, what “the next leap forward” might look like.
Get started at https://www.activistschool.org/browse
And please forward this email to anyone you feel might need a bit of activist inspiration in these times.
We’re also attaching the first class to this email. Enjoy!
— Micah & Chi
Share this post