In 2024, Sully Atheirne was a high school senior planning to go to college after they graduated. Then the unthinkable happened: Donald Trump was elected president for a second term. Though they’d participated in several climate demonstrations and Black Lives Matter protests, Atheirne didn’t consider themselves an activist. But now, instead of attending classes and studying, the 19-year-old spends their days fighting to save our democracy with the organization Refuse Fascism.

“As Trump took power, I started to get out there more and more,” Atheirne told 48 Hills. “I had a bullhorn and I was leading chants on a pole at one protest—I like to climb things. One of the Refuse Fascism volunteers zeroed in on me and was like ‘Let’s sign this person up!’”

Formed in 2016 by Andy Zee, Sunsara Taylo

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