The Alliance to Resist Trump

 

$25,000 Total Raised
Silicon Valley Tech Leaders Speak Out on Responding to Trump

We will conduct a series of interviews with five tech leaders, from outspoken dissenters, to those with an understated response, discussing how the tech community can best stand up for its interests during the next four years. We'll draw from both the literal Silicon Valley and the metaphorical Silicon Valley (the broader tech community). The interviews, in audio/podcast form and/or written (transcribed) form, will be designed to help the Silicon Valley community settle on the best, most effective way to respond.

This goal, triggered if & when contributions total $25,000, would be implemented during Spring 2017, and completed no later than April 2017.

 

On Inauguration Day (Jan. 20, 2017), we will convene a coalition to speak out at a major joint press conference in Washington, DC, speaking out against Donald Trump and telling the media, the country, and the world that millions of Americans stand united behind core American values, norms, the constitution, and rule of law, and against hate and against potential excesses by Trump.

We have placed a hold on a press conference room at the National Press Club (pictured), and will host a press conference with prominent civil rights, political, and civic leaders joining us in speaking out. The purpose is to put Trump on notice on day one, and to signal to the nation and the world that even in this dark time, the light and hope of America -- the Shining City upon a Hill -- shall not be extinguished.  By convening the press conference, we will provide a platform for a broad range of groups to speak out. 

The press conference is planned for the morning of January 20, before the Inauguration ceremony begins, to have the best chance of capturing the most media coverage possible. 

Who Will Be Invited to Speak?  We will provide a platform for prominent civic leaders to speak out, and will also ourselves offer a call to action for Americans themselves to speak out over the coming four years. We will invite leaders from the nation's most prominent civic nonprofits, tech and other business leaders, prominent outspoken Republicans and Democrats both in and out of government, and perhaps a celebrity or two, too!      To be more specific, we'll invite leaders leaders from respected nonprofits like the ACLU, Federalist Society, 350.org, Amnesty International, NRDC, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Southern Poverty Law Center, National Council of La Raza, HRC, FamiliesUSA, and Reporters Without Borders. We'll invite prominent Democrats and Republicans both inside and outside of government (e.g. Sen. Bernie Sanders, David Frum, Van Jones, Ana Navarro, etc.), and celebrities such as Mark Ruffalo or George Clooney.  (No endorsement or confirmation is implied by any of those listed--invitations have not yet gone out; this list simply indicates the kind of speakers we plan to invite-- but if there's one thing we're known for at TechFire, it's success in attracting high-caliber speakers!) 

What kind of issues will be represented by the speakers? Fundamental American values of democracy, constitutional governance, rule of law, checks & balances,  the first amendment & freedom of the press and of dissent, civil rights & rejecting hate, civil liberties, anti-corruption, national security & rejecting foreign influence, climate change, healthcare/medicare, and protections for and equality for all. (With so much under potential threat, we can't guarantee there will be time for every issue, but we'll cover as much as possible!)

Why a joint press conference? To show a united voice, and to show to the nation, and the world that we’re in this together, and together, America’s values will survive and ultimately trump Trump!    We will also call upon Americans of all stripes to speak out in the coming weeks and years. The press conference should also help foster alliances between disparate nonprofits and activists who could benefit from working together in this unique and dangerous time in our nation’s history.

What Press will be invited?  All the major cable news networks, broadcast networks, national newspapers, radio, etc. will be invited.   We expect a large media turnout (while we can't guarantee who will be there, obviously, our founder has had success in the past driving press coverage by hosting a press conference on other issues). 

Note: Until funding is raised and the room is paid for, the hold for the room at the National Press Club could be lost. If for any reason we can't move forward with things there then, we would choose one of the numerous other suitable alternates in Washington, DC, or worst case another date soon into Trump's First 100 Days (very unlikely).  No endorsement is indicated by the National Press Club, nor by the press whose logos are shown only to illustrate the kind of outlets we'll invite (we can't guarantee coverage, but expect significant interest!)

This goal, triggered if & when contributions total $40,000, would be completed in January 2017.

 

 

$70,000 Total Raised
Fighting Back During Trump's First 100 Days: An Action a Day Keeps Trump at Bay (KEY INITIATIVE)

During the crucial First 100 Days of Trump's Presidency, we will provide a coordinating role for concerned Americans, with an email list offering the top single action item daily (weekdays) that Americans can implement to push back. Whether it's a quick call to put pressure on a decisionmaker, ways to help support a community hit by a hate crime (or to help a community activist who Trump targets with a tweet!), or highlighting nonprofits that are worth volunteering for or donating to, we will rally people around the one quick single action they can take daily to push back against Trump.

We will work with a wide range of respected nonprofits, advocacy groups, and political leaders to offer input into the action items that we send out.

This goal, triggered if & when contributions total $70,000, would be implemented during Spring 2017, and completed at the end of April 2017.

 

 

Help us blast past these goals, and we will unlock even more ambitious plans, which we will post here.  

 

WHO WE ARE

DAVID C. MURPHY, Founder 

  

David C. Murphy is the Founder & CEO of TechFire, and has experience successfully leading high-profile advocacy campaigns to fight for the public interest. With a background spanning tech, advocacy, government affairs, events, entrepreneurship, and community organizing, David believes we must not just curse the darkness, but must be a force for change for the better. So he is leveraging his position as Founder & CEO of tech conference producer TechFire to do what he believes is a civic and moral duty for our beloved country -- to speak out.

A tech leader. David founded TechFire in 2013, which he currently runs as CEO singlehandedly building it into a tech conference & events powerhouse in Los Angeles, featured in Techmeme's list of nationally & internationally significant tech events alongside events like TED, SXSW, TechCrunch Disrupt, and Web Summit. TechFire has hosted more than 22 events, from conferences, to fireside chats hosted by the likes of Google and Microsoft. Speakers have ranged from venture capitalists from leading Silicon Valley venture capital and Founders & CEOs of startups that have gone to be acquired for / go public for a billion dollars or more. David's events at TechFire have attracted, and more than 4000 registrants. To learn more visit techfire.co.

An experienced advocate. David previously led a high-profile outreach and advocacy campaign tackling the most infamous, intractable problem in America's second largest city -- Los Angeles -- as President of Angelenos Against Gridlock. 

His work drew exceptionally widespread press coverage, including the New York Times, Good Morning America, Los Angeles Times front page, Bloomberg, NPR / NBC / CBS / ABC stations, the Associated Press, The Next Web, Ars Technica, Wired, and much more (see media highlights at right). David's work attracted high-profile funding from prominent tech billionaires and other prominent backers, as well as event sponsors like Google and Uber. Over the years, David's activism has helped lead voters to pass a $40 billion ballot measure that will transform LA, and the pressure created by the near-blanket press coverage he generated helped lead the Mayor of L.A. to appoint a czar to speed up progress.

Political & policy chops. David has a strong political and-and policy acumen, having previously handled public affairs and government affairs for one of Los Angeles' leading business advocacy 501(c)(4) nonprofits.  He has repeatedly been called on by Democratic campaigns for president as a volunteer for key presidential fundraisers and rallies for the Sanders, Clinton, and Obama campaigns.  David graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a B.A. in Government (with Honors) and interned for the U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee, and for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Kiev, Ukraine.

A passion for protecting American exceptionalism. Having spent significant time living, working, and traveling on a Fellowship in developing countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia, David has seen first hand the dangers of corrupt, undemocratic, abusive government leaders, and he believes we must all do our part to push back against the erosion of good governance in America. Having grown up dividing his time between the US and countries around the world, David feels passionately in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and is deeply concerned about incidents of hate and efforts to stroke fears and divide us in America. Believing we must all come together to speak up for American values and Americans of all stripes, David is spearheading this campaign, which he can only do with your support.

 
David (top right) protesting Trump on Nov. 9, the night after the election.

 

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Risks, Challenges, and a Few Thoughts

We don't claim to be able to block the Trump Administration from taking actions history may judge harshly, or to stop all hate. All we can do is speak up and push back and have whatever effect possible! But we believe it is our moral duty to try. We will do our part to stand up and tell our fellow Americans, President Trump, and the world, to be a voice for the millions of Americans who reject Trump's offensive, extremist campaign promises, and who reject hate. 

All plans of course have the potential for setbacks including speaker cancellations, venue conflicts, etc., (and in the worst case we will do our best to find alternatives), but we have years of experience producing events and running outreach campaigns, and are familiar with how to avoid common pitfalls. 

Note: contributions are not tax deductible. 

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Words of Inspiration

New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow put it eloquently on speaking back to Trump (emphasis added):

I have not only an ethical and professional duty to call out how obscene your very existence is at the top of American government; I have a moral obligation to do so.

I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything, but rather to speak up for truth and honor and inclusion. This isn’t just about you, but also about the moral compass of those who see you for who and what you are, and know the darkness you herald is only held at bay by the lights of truth. 

... I’m thankful that I have the endurance and can assume a posture that will never allow what you represent to ever be seen as everyday and ordinary.

No, Mr. Trump, we will not all just get along. For as long as a threat to the state is the head of state, all citizens of good faith and national fidelity — and certainly this columnist — have an absolute obligation to meet you and your agenda with resistance at every turn.

 

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Let's stand united together. Thank you for your support!

--David

 

Photo credits:  
National Press Club sign by Flickr user Maryland GovPics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdgovpics/22697822748/ (CC BY 2.0 license) .
US Constitution (video placeholder image) by Flickr user Travis Wise: https://www.flickr.com/photos/photographingtravis/15077691387 (CC BY 2.0 license)

 

The FAQ (below) and the terms and privacy policy from techfire.co are incorporated herein.   Contributions are non-refundable. Must be a US citizen or green card holder to contribute.