Stories of resistance (6/30) – 2025 Summer Intern Joey Deignan
What Does Resistance Mean in Today’s Political Climate?
In a time when political discourse is constantly evolving—shaped by social media, performative activism, and stark ideological divides—the term “resistance” has become both a rallying cry and a point of contention. But what does resistance really mean in 2025? Who gets to claim it, and who is left out of the narrative?
World Wide Web: The Home of Resistance
Social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram have become digital arenas for modern resistance. Whether it’s videos from Gaza circulating on TikTok, hashtags demanding justice for missing Indigenous women, or fiery takes on Supreme Court decisions, the internet has created an open forum where global conflicts, domestic legislation, and controversial political figures are debated in real time.
But with this openness comes complexity. While one person’s TikTok thread might be hailed as truth-telling, another’s can be flagged as disinformation. The algorithms that fuel our timelines often reward outrage over nuance, creating echo chambers instead of shared understanding. Still, these platforms have democratized who gets to speak—and who gets to lead movements—shifting the traditional power dynamics of political resistance.
Protests and Boycotts: The Actions of Resistance
Protests are not new, but their visibility and frequency have increased. From global climate marches to pro-Palestine rallies and abortion rights demonstrations, organizing in the streets is now as common as going viral online. The recent boycotting movement of Target in response to the company’s perceived alignment with anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-immigrant policies showed how communities of color are using economic pressure as a tool for political dissent.
Boycotting isn’t just about withholding dollars—it’s about asserting dignity and making companies and institutions confront the harm they cause or ignore. These movements are proof that resistance today isn’t limited to policy critique; it’s also about cultural accountability and systemic disruption.
Who Is Remembered: The Faces of Resistance
Here’s where the picture becomes complicated. Not everyone who resists is seen or celebrated equally. Movements led by marginalized people are often dismissed as divisive, even dangerous. Meanwhile, forms of resistance rooted in white feminism or palatable liberalism are more readily platformed and praised.
The term “resistance” became mainstream during the Trump administration, when many white liberals adopted it to describe opposition to his presidency. But for many communities, resisting state violence and systemic injustice long predates 2016. Movements like Black Lives Matter or the water protectors at Standing Rock were acts of resistance that received little institutional support and, in many cases, were met with militarized force.
Defiance as Patriotism: The Threat of Resistance
There’s a stark contrast in how resistance is interpreted based on who is resisting and what they’re resisting. The January 6th insurrectionists have been described by some on the right as patriots defending democracy, despite violently storming the Capitol in an attempt to overturn an election. Meanwhile, events like “No Kings Day”—a recent anti-monarchy and anti-imperialist protest—have been treated as radical or un-American by certain media outlets and politicians, despite being peaceful and historically grounded.
This double standard reveals how resistance is not only political but also racialized, gendered, and shaped by class. Whiteness often affords protestors the benefit of the doubt; others must fight for the right to be heard, let alone respected.
Conclusion: Resistance Reimagined
In today’s political climate, resistance is not a monolith—it’s a tapestry of voices, methods, and lived realities. It’s a teenager posting infographics on Instagram. It’s a worker walking out of a factory. It’s a grandmother hanging a banner in the lawn. But to truly understand and honor resistance, we must ask: Whose resistance do we uplift? Whose do we ignore? And how do we build a future where the right to resist is not just preserved but protected?
– 2025 Summer Intern Joey Deignan