The Opposition IRL: FEMINIST, Emerge & Persist Bring Storytellers Together in DC
On November 6th in Washington, DC, FEMINIST joined forces with Emerge and PERSIST for "Rewriting the Opposition Playbook"—an event that gathered storytellers who are meeting the moment on the front lines of the opposition to this administration.
At a time when democracy, bodily autonomy, and truth itself are under siege, we convened women leaders who are using their platforms to share personal stories, shape public opinion, mobilize action, and defend what we refuse to lose. The afternoon brought together storytellers, organizers, lawmakers, and creators at The Henri for an interactive mixer and fireside conversation—part of our ongoing work to develop the Opposition Playbook.
Celebrating Tuesday's Victories: Women Running and Winning
The room was electric with joy as A'shanti Gholar from Emerge kicked off the evening by celebrating Emerge alums' wins across the United States from Tuesday's elections—a powerful reminder that one of our best lines of defense is to run and win offices in government.
Michelle Wu was re-elected as Mayor of Boston, serving a second term as the first woman and first Asian-American mayor of the city. Erika Evans, the former DOJ attorney who resigned in protest of Pam Bondi and the unethical DOJ of the Trump administration, won her race for Seattle City Attorney, defeating a MAGA Republican incumbent to become the first Black woman to hold the position. Naren Briar won her race for Bellevue City Council, becoming the first Kurdish American woman in the country elected to office—ever—and knocking out a 32-year incumbent who has been in office longer than Naren has been alive. Erica Deuso was elected as Mayor of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, becoming the first out trans mayor in the state. And in Virginia, Emerge women swept 8 of the top 13 red-to-blue flip seats for the House of Delegates, flipping every single one from R to D.
These wins usher in a new era for women in positions of power—a testament to what happens when we show up, run, and refuse to back down.
The Conversation: Embodying the Opposition
U.S. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), an Emerge alum and former Newark City Council President, sat down with lawyer and creator Elizabeth Booker Houston for a raw and necessary conversation about what opposition work actually looks like when the stakes are this high.
On the Reality of Standing Up
"It's hard as hell is what it is," Congresswoman McIver said when asked what it means to stand in opposition to the current administration. "Courage is not easy for folks. If it was, a lot of people would be standing up every day to what is happening."
She continued: "People in leadership definitely would be standing up 10 times more if it was easy to do. But it's necessary. And somebody has to do it."
Protection as an Act of Resistance
The conversation shifted to the moment that put Congresswoman McIver in national headlines: when she physically placed herself between ICE agents and 80-year-old Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman during a congressional visit to inspect ICE facilities in Newark. The visit—part of her constitutional duty as a member of Congress—turned violent when law enforcement became aggressive with the lawmakers doing their jobs.
"In the moment, I kept thinking like, oh my God, these people are bone rushing us," McIver recalled. "I saw how they were interacting with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. And I was like, oh my God, this is really, really bad."
She described going into what she called "protection mode"—the instinct that so many women know intimately. "That's what women do, right? We go into protection mode. I'm a mom. I have a 9-year-old, so I just automatically will like, let me just keep everybody together... don't touch us."
Now, Congresswoman McIver faces federal assault charges for protecting herself and a fellow member of Congress from aggressive law enforcement.
The Bigger Picture: An Attack on Democracy Itself
"While this is happening to me, it's not about me. It's bigger than me," McIver emphasized. "It's about what can he get away with doing to this leader, this young Black woman leader, that will shake everybody up, that will make everyone think twice before stepping up to do their job."
She laid out the stakes clearly: "If we can have the executive branch stopping members of Congress from doing their job, disregarding their authority—what's the purpose of Congress then? What's the purpose of the Senate?"
On the administration's weaponization of federal agencies: "This president believes that he's untouchable. He is above the law and he can do whatever he wants to whoever he wants to. And that is what that means right now. And we need to take that serious."
The Human Cost
When asked about the impact on her district, McIver didn't hold back: "Too many. Look, we're in the middle of a government shutdown. Thousands and thousands of people are not getting paid... Over 800,000 people in New Jersey, no SNAP benefits."
She shared a story from just the day before: "I walked out my house yesterday morning and my neighbor stopped me. She's like, 'I got this letter—my premium's going up.' Someone paying $500 that they were paying, now owing about $2,000. She's like, 'Well, I guess I ain't gonna have healthcare.' I'm like, 'Oh no, you gotta have healthcare.' But these are the types of decisions that people have to make. These are real people, these are real lives."
"This election means life or death for people I represent," she said plainly.
Finding Hope After Tuesday's Victories
Despite the darkness, there was light in the room—especially after the Democratic victories on Tuesday, November 5th. McIver was visibly energized:
"My hope bank has been filled a lot since Tuesday. I was feeling hopeless a little bit, you know? Not every day I wake up and I'm like, 'Ooh, come on, let's do it.' Some days it is hard. But after Tuesday, literally, it was like the one time in so long that I had chill bumps from the wins."
She framed Tuesday's results as a turning point: "Tuesday for me represented the first day of the last days of this terrible president."
What You Can Do Right Now
When asked what everyday people can do to make a difference, Congresswoman McIver was direct:
"We have to be engaged. We have to be informed on the basics. To say that 'I'm not wrapped up in that,' or 'I don't do that'—no. They want you to have that attitude because they're gonna do everything that they want to you."
She urged people to bring others along: "You gotta bring them back in the group chat. It doesn't have to be about politics all the time, but let me tell you about something really serious that is happening and how it's gonna impact you. Sprinkle in there just a little sprinkle. You gotta bring them along with you."
And she emphasized the importance of factual information: "There's a lot of people out here who got their little TikToks creating content and they do not give factual information. Factual content creation is important."
TAKE ACTION ‼️
→ We're building something, and we need you in it. Join the opposition at feminists.co/oppositionplaybook
→ If you are thinking of running for office or are ready to, visit @emergeamerica for more information
→ For a network of women making change, visit @persistnetwork
