Over the weekend, I read “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times,” by Skye Perryman. It’s the best book I’ve read on how we citizens can respond to what’s happening to our country.
I hope you’ll be able to read the book (it’s a fast, 200-page read) and will tell your family and friends about it.
I wasn’t familiar with Skye Perryman until the legal responses to President Trump’s actions began last year. She’s the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nearly 200-person nonprofit law firm. Its website says:
“Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education, and regulatory engagement. In towns and cities across America, we provide legal representation and expert counsel to the people and communities who make up the very fabric of American democracy — free of charge.”
This “towns and cities” reference might make the work of Democracy Forward seem small-scale, but it isn’t.
Democracy Forward’s 2025 Impact Report says: “This year, we have filed more than 150 lawsuits against the executive branch, launched more than 250 investigations, and submitted more than 1,500 detailed records demands across federal agencies. We have secured nearly 100 positive court rulings, including many that provide for relief to people across the nation. As the administration’s autocratic playbook becomes more accelerated, you will find us accelerating our efforts and continuing to meet the moment.”
Here is Perryman’s bio, and here is the long list of awards and recognitions she and her team have received.
Here is the video of Perryman’s interview about the book at D.C.’s Politics and Prose Bookstore.
There are several things I particularly appreciate about this book:
— Perryman reminds us that it’s the collective actions of all of us citizens that will defeat this autocrat.
— She gives us this how-to book, full of tip sheets and to-do lists, and a website with more explainers and action guides that she says will be updated.
— She pumps up our courage:
“Fearing the consequences of standing up to threats to democracy can lead to underestimating the cost of inaction. Because autocratic movements and leaders make the price of not conforming to their whims so visible, conventional wisdom suggests that it is risky not to capitulate to their demands. This can lead people and institutions to take actions that are inconsistent with their values as well as ultimately, detrimental to their long-term well-being. People may decide not to take part in marches or protests because of the fear of arrest. Or they may rubberstamp presidential orders instead of questioning their legality out of a fear of being fired. But people and institutions in a backsliding democracy fail to realize that often the cost of capitulation is higher than the cost of standing up for your values.”
We’ve seen this. Law firms, universities and media that capitulated to President Trump’s demands have lost money and respect. Those that refused to capitulate often have prevailed. (And, of course, the ineptitude of the Trump administration and its tendency to back down in the face of opposition also have boosted public courage.)
Perryman offers us eight steps to build courage. One of my favorites is “ground your actions in gratitude for our courageous friends and ancestors.”
— Perryman talks about finding joy in this moment.
“It may seem counterintuitive to be joyful while people are being shot in our streets and the very government that is supposed to protect us instead harms us. But humans across the world and across time have found ways to experience joy even in the darkest circumstances — joy has fueled movements for justice and freedom. Indeed, it sustains us on a long and difficult journey. We must challenge ourselves to find joy.”
— She urges us to keep going:
“And so, we come to the final action in this book — and perhaps the most important: As ordinary people living in an extraordinary time, our task is to keep going. Every day, do the next thing. Do not let the size of our task deter you from pushing through, from taking the next step, from finding the next stone of hope and taking action.
“We do this in our lives every day. We find ways of persisting through tragedy, the death of loved ones, the loss of jobs, the breaking of relationships, the betrayal of friends. We are resilient and powerful, and we must bring our strengths to the work of our communities and our nation. This is the work of our lives. It is what our children and their children will inherit.
“And you are not alone. You stand alongside so many people who came before you and who are here with you now. I’m with you, as is our team at Democracy Forward, and so are countless lawyers, advocates, and policymakers who are working for positive change along with so many other concerned individuals working in their communities. You are with every other person reading this book.”
Yes! I can feel this sense of community. I hope each and every one of you can, too.
The next No Kings event is Oct. 17; you can learn more on Sept. 10
“No Kings: Vote Early” on Oct. 17 will be a nonpartisan action to make sure “every eligible voter has a plan to vote early (where possible), knows their options for how to vote, and is ready to make their voice count by casting their ballot,” says Public Citizen.
A virtual “kickoff call” is being held on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. You can sign up here.
Groups organizing the No Kings events across the country include the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Black Voters Matter Fund, 50501, Indivisible, MoveOn, Public Citizen, State Voices, Voto Latino, and more.
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You can call the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and be connected to the offices of your representative and senators. To email your House member and your two senators, you can connect to their websites at Congress.gov. Most lawmakers seem to only accept emails from their constituents, but these leaders accept emails from Americans nationwide, at:
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
Senate Majority Leader John Thune