Rise and Resist is a left-of-center activist group formed in early 2017 in response to the first election of President Donald Trump. The group is known for organizing protests and demonstrations against prominent conservative figures, particularly in New York City. ¹ While Rise and Resist began primarily as part of the anti-Trump “resistance” movement, it has broadened its focus to include protests against immigration enforcement, policing, Fox News, healthcare policy, Israel, Tesla, and Elon Musk. ^{2 3 4}

The organization was formed a 501(c)(4) advocacy group, commonly referred to as a “dark money” group, but Rise and Resist also operates a charitable sister organization housed within the AJ Muste Memorial Institute, which contributed $14,588 to the Rise and Resist 501(c)(4) wing in 2023. ⁵

Background

Rise and Resist was formed in early 2017 by several left-wing activists. Founding board members included Ivy Arce, Martin Quinn, Jamie Bauer, Jay W. Walker, and Stuart Waldman. ⁶ Arce and several other founding board members were longtime activists in the ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) coalition, a militant AIDS advocacy group prominent in the 1980s and 1990s. ⁷

Activities

In 2018, Rise and Resist organized a protest on Liberty Island at which one of its members was arrested for climbing the base of the Statue of Liberty while others unfurled a banner calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ⁸

Rise and Resist has staged weekly protests dubbed “Truth Tuesdays” outside the Manhattan headquarters of Fox News since 2018, accusing the network of being “an extremist right-wing disinformation machine.” ⁹

In 2025, Rise and Resist participated in the “Tesla Takedown” a multi-city protest campaign targeting Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, over the activities of the second Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On March 3, eight members of Rise and Resist were arrested for trespassing at a Tesla dealership. ^{10 11} Rise and Resist also offers and “Tesla Takedown Tool Kit” with printable fliers, posters, talking points, and resources for individuals and groups to use at Tesla protests. ¹²

Funding

Rise and Resist is registered as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit social welfare organization. It has no full-time employees and largely raises funds from small-dollar donations. In 2017, the group reported approximately $33,800 in revenue and $27,300 in expenses, with less than $50,000 in revenue during all subsequent years. ¹³ Rise and Resist also accepts tax-deductible donations through a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with the AJ Muste Memorial Institute, which contributed $14,588 to Rise and Resist’s 501(c)(4) wing during 2023, but labeled the donation as going to a 501(c)(3) charity. ⁵

1. Rise and Resist. “Mission Statement.” Accessed April 1, 2025. https://www.riseandresist.org/about.
2. ​Bordoff, Molly, Colette Holcomb, and Spencer Davis. “Protester Who Was Struck by Driver at CUAD Picket Responds to Dismissal of Charges Against Perpetrator.” Columbia Daily Spectator, December 22, 2024. https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/12/22/protester-who-was-struck-by-driver-at-cuad-picket-responds-to-dismissal-of-charges-against-perpetrator/.​
3. ​Rise and Resist. “Past Actions.” Accessed April 1, 2025. https://www.riseandresist.org/past-actions.
4. ​Guardian staff and agencies. “Woman Who Climbed Statue of Liberty in Immigration Protest Given Probation.” The Guardian, March 19, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/19/statue-of-liberty-probation-therese-patricia-okoumou-protester.​ 
5. IRS Form 990. AJ Muste Memorial Institute. 2023. Schedule I, Part II, Line (2). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237379088/202443209349302894/IRS990ScheduleI.
6. IRS Form 990. Rise and Resist. 2017. Part IV. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/822188628_201712_990EO_2019022616128399.pdf.

7. ​Green, Alicia. “A Woman’s Journey.” POZ, March 28, 2022. https://www.poz.com/article/womans-journey.
8. ​Associated Press. “Statue of Liberty Climber Charged with Trespassing.” PBS NewsHour, July 5, 2018. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/statue-of-liberty-climber-awaits-court-appearance.
9. ​Truth Tuesdays. “About.” Accessed April 1, 2025. https://www.truthtuesdays.org/about.
10. ​Rise and Resist NYC. “UPDATE: Eight Members of Rise and Resist Were Arrested at Our Peaceful Protest.” Instagram, March 3, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/risenresistnyc/reel/DGwNRs2urJT/.
11. ​New York Daily News. “Nine Arrested at Anti-Musk Protest at Tesla Showroom in Manhattan.” New York Daily News, March 1, 2025. https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/03/01/nine-arrested-anti-musk-protest-tesla-showroom-manhattan/.
12. Rise and Resist. “Tesla Tool Kit.” Rise and Resist. Accessed April 1, 2025. https://www.riseandresist.org/tesla-tool-kit.
13. IRS Form 990. Rise and Resist. 2017. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/822188628_201712_990EO_2019022616128399.pdf.