Listen

To this story on our podcast

Watch

Velshi on civic courage

Get Involved

Engaged citizens strengthen democracy

One of the founding tenets of The Philadelphia Citizen is to get people the resources they need to become better, more engaged citizens of their city.

We hope to do that in our Good Citizenship Toolkit, which includes a host of ways to get involved in Philadelphia — whether you want to contact your City Councilmember about the challenges facing your community, get those experiencing homelessness the goods they need, or simply go out to dinner somewhere where you know your money is going toward a greater good.

Find an issue that’s important to you in the list below, and get started on your journey of A-plus citizenship.

Vote and strengthen democracy

Stand up for marginalized communities

Create a cleaner, greener Philadelphia

Help our local youth and schools succeed

Support local businesses

Listen

Ali Velshi On How Everyday Citizens are Defending Democracy

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member highlights ordinary Americans displaying civic courage and engaging in small acts of resistance

Listen

Ali Velshi On How Everyday Citizens are Defending Democracy

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member highlights ordinary Americans displaying civic courage and engaging in small acts of resistance

BY Ali Velshi

Sep. 08, 2025

Print

A citizen resistance has developed over the last several months against Donald Trump‘s grasp on authoritarian power and complicit congresspeople. These are small acts of resistance, far from the halls of power, lining bridges on the weekends with signs and showing up at town halls. Ali Velshi reminds us that Trump’s power is not inevitable, and the real danger is not in losing, but in doing nothing.

These small groups of citizens have grown into much larger groups, consistently reminding their neighbors that democracy is under threat. These are not the big marches that make the news, but they are persistent and growing, with the goal of community building. Small acts of resistance stop the encroachment of authoritarianism.

The resistance has also gone beyond quiet protest. Ordinary Americans are showing up at courthouses to protect immigrants diligently following the law from being kidnapped by ICE, and at town halls where they are taking their elected representatives to task. Citizens are willing to break the law when the law is wrong, just as Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

“This is how power shifts,” Velshi explains. “Through individual acts of courage. Through the audacity of crowds that drive the powerful out the back door.”

LISTEN: VELSHI HIGHLIGHTS SMALL ACTS OF RESISTANCE 

 

WATCH: ORDINARY CITIZENS RESIST AUTHORITARIANISM

 

MORE FROM MSNBC’S ALI VELSHI

Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi On PragerU, the Disturbing Replacement for PBS
By Ali Velshi
Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi on Removing Slavery From The Smithsonian
By Ali Velshi
Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi Asks Who is paying the Trump tariffs?
By Ali Velshi
Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi on What Items Trump's Tariffs Make Pricier
By Ali Velshi

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility.

Photo and video disclaimer for attending Citizen events

By entering an event or program of The Philadelphia Citizen, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with The Philadelphia Citizen and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.