After Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic held power for nearly a decade, a group of students formed the movement Otpor! (“Resistance”) to drive him out of office using civil resistance. By 1998, Milosevic’s power was heavily entrenched which left the students little space to dissent within the system. Instead, they redirected their energy towards the tool they understood was most important for lowering fear and increasing participation from their fellow citizens: humor.

When white supremacists tried to spread fear in Springfield, Ohio, the Haitian community and its allies refused to back down. Through public rallies, economic support, and legal action, they countered racist disinformation with solidarity and truth. The fight isn’t over, but Springfield’s resistance has sent a clear message—intimidation won’t work here.