Make Good Trouble–Take Action
When we’re facing systems this large, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin.
Big change doesn’t happen all at once, but rather through small, sustained actions that build
momentum. By breaking a huge goal into manageable steps, we make it not only more
achievable but also more accessible. Many of the actions listed here can be done from home, without
any formal experience. Others require more visibility, coordination, or time, but all of them move us forward.
This guide offers a range of options.
Try these Free Apps
Goods Unite Us - Educate yourself on brand donations to political parties and make informed choices. Boycott the ones you don’t agree with. Share on social media to amplify.
Resistbot - Contact your elected officials via text on the issues you care about.
5 Calls - Automated calling to your electeds on the issues you choose.
Bookmark these Websites
Mutual Aid LA - A list of active mutual aid groups in the greater county area.
Los Angeles Immigration Resources Guide - A list of organizations, in 9 language options.
Protect LA - Resources to combat ICE in our communities.
Power in Numbers - Organization and civic engagement in the South and Southwest.
Freedom Over Fascism - Messaging toolkit, continually updated, from the Research Collaborative.
Tune In, Sign Up, and Learn
Research Collaborative - Weekly strategy and messaging briefings on zoom.
Grow a Spine Training - How to follow up with those calls to electeds via social media.
Americans of Consciousness Checklist - A weekly update online and emailed of actions to take. Subscribe and you also receive a link to weekly good news, which we all can use.
Democracy Docket - News, court cases, and voting rights information.
Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American on Substack -Posts and audio versions drawing comparisons to today's issues with history.
Suggestions for Making Good Trouble
-
Quick Tasks
- Email a short public comment to the Police Commission at policecommission@lapd.online
- Call the LA OIG to request an audit of the LAPD: (213) 893-6400
- Send a message to your City Council Member using our quick script (available at end of this document)
- Identify and avoid companies funding violent policing, surveillance, or anti-immigrant lobbying such as Geogroup, CoreCivic, Avelo Airlines,and Wayfair. Share boycott lists with friends or create visuals for social media to amplify impact.
- Report police misconduct or ICE sightings to trusted local hotlines.
- Complete one of 50501's postcards or write one of your own.
-
30-60 Minute Tasks
- Use your voice and skills to support pressure and visibility at local city council or school board meetings.
- Draft a focused public comment on one topic (surveillance, use of force, ICE collaboration, etc.)
- Send a letter to the city Controller asking for a full LAPD audit.
- Submit a California Public Records Act request using our easy templates
- Comment on city budget proposals or attend a virtual council session.
- Create/share a resource on protest safety, immigration rights, or non-carceral mental health support
-
2 Hour Tasks
- Help draft or edit campaign materials (flyers, guides, media kits)
- Host a small discussion or teach-in using our materials
- Reach out to an org, union, or community group to ask for support
- Build a short guide on an issue to share with the community (e.g. SB 627, CARE courts, protest policy).
- Translate materials into another language
- Create a budget breakdown or research tool (e.g. LAPD spending history).
-
1 Day Tasks
- Help shape a campaign within your community to bring people together.
- Coordinate a day of action (calls, emails, digital push) within your community.
- Organize a banner drop, art build, or public speak-out.
- Run outreach to aligned organizations and/or media outlets.
- Analyze LAPD or ICE-related spending and summarize findings.
- Facilitate a strategy session, campaign meeting, or community forum.
- Join or start a solidarity pod in your area for sustained involvement.
- Set up a table with pre-addressed, stamped envelopes, paper, and pens so people can easily write to elected officials on the spot.
- Prep mini kits (envelope, stamp, paper, instructions) to drop in mailboxes or hand out.
- Volunteer with a local organization. They need you! Here are some ideas.
-
On-Going Tasks
- Develop a city-by-city database of police/ICE collusion or protest repression
- Build a remote volunteer team (e.g., research, community outreach, mutual aid support)
- Launch a research-driven policy brief or audit campaign
- Represent the movement in meetings with elected officials or organizations
- Co-lead a regional or national solidarity initiative
- Train new volunteers in your skill area (eg. digital safety, medical, strategy)
- Help create a campaign toolkit for other cities to replicate this work
-
Get Involved in Local Governace
- Commissions, oversight boards, and advisory committees shape real policy, but many seats sit vacant or are filled without public input. You don’t need to be a policy expert; you just need a willingness to show up and advocate. Apply for help with Run for Something, which provides trainings, support, and tools for those seeking office.
- Look up current vacancies on City or County boards and commissions
- Apply to serve on a body related to policing, housing, transportation, youth justice, or public health.
- Nominate someone in your community or help them through the process
- Attend commission meetings to see how they work and build relationships
- Research who appoints members—many seats are filled by City Council offices, the Mayor, or the Board of Supervisors
- Offer public comment or written feedback to shape decisions even if you’re not (yet) a member
- Create a support pod to help each other track opportunities and navigate the process
Example Scripts
City Council example script:
Dear Councilmember [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [Your Neighborhood or Council District]. I’m writing with deep concern about reports of masked and unidentified federal agents operating in Los Angeles, who have been abducting people off the street, targeting immigrant communities, and undermining our city’s sanctuary commitments. I’m asking you to take the following immediate and concrete steps to protect Angelenos:
Co-sponsoring and fast-tracking the motions proposed by Councilmembers Hernandez and Blumenfield requiring law enforcement officers to display visible ID and badge numbers at all times, including federal agents operating in LA.
Supporting a comprehensive audit of LAPD’s data sharing with ICE, including the use of license plate readers, facial recognition, and “mutual aid” coordination during protests.
Ensuring full implementation of the immigrant protection package passed by Council in June—including actual funding for legal defense, enforcement of sanctuary policies, and public reporting on LAPD compliance.
These are achievable actions that reflect the values Los Angeles claims to stand for. We need more than statements; we need policy changes that prioritize safety, transparency, and real accountability.
Thank you for your time,[Your Name] [Optional: Your Zip Code or District]
You can look up the council member's email or address to send.
Public Records Act Request example script:
Email to cpra@lapd.online
Dear CPRA Unit,
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code § 6250 et seq.), I am requesting access to the following public records:
Records showing the quantity and type of less-lethal munitions deployed by LAPD personnel during protests between May 1, 2025 and July 10, 2025, including:
Chemical agent dispersal devices (e.g., CS gas, OC gas, smoke/CS grenades, aerosol irritants)
Distraction devices (e.g., flashbangs, stun grenades)
Kinetic impact projectiles (e.g., rubber bullets, foam-tipped rounds, bean bag rounds)
A breakdown by date, location, and quantity of munitions deployed, including any corresponding incident reports, after-action reports, or use-of-force logs.
Current LAPD policies or protocols governing the deployment of the above munitions at protest events, including any changes made during or after the stated time period.
I request these records in digital format, if possible. Please notify me in advance of any fees or delays. If any part of this request is denied, please cite the specific exemption and provide the factual basis for withholding.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
email your letter to cpra@lapd.online
