The Power of "No": The Word That Can Change History
Every "No" is a stand against authoritarianism.
Some of the most powerful moments in history did not come from speeches delivered in grand halls or acts of heroism on the battlefield.. Instead, they came from ordinary people who refused to comply with injustice, who stood their ground when the easy choice was to submit. Sometimes, the most courageous word a person can say is “no”.
Saying “no” is an act of defiance. It is an assertion of moral clarity, a refusal to participate in wrongdoing. It is also dangerous. Many of those who have stood firm against injustice have faced consequences such as imprisonment, exile, even death. Yet, their defiance changed the world, inspiring others to challenge oppression and demand a more just society.
Viola Desmond: Canada’s Quiet Rebellion Against Segregation
Many Canadians believe that racial segregation was pure an American issue. But in 1946, long before the Civil Rights Movement took hold in the U.S., a black Canadian woman named Viola Desmond found herself in the centre of a struggle for racial justice.
Viola was a successful black business woman in Nova Scotia. One evening, while waiting for car repairs in New Glasgow, she decided to watch a film at the local movie theatre. Unaware of the theatre’s segregation policy, she took a seat on the main floor. When the usher told her that black patrons were required to sit in the balcony, she refused to move.
She was forcibly removed, arrested and fined. The charge? Not paying the one cent difference between the balcony and main floor…an obvious cover for racial discrimination.
Viola’s case became a rallying point for civil rights. Although she lost her legal battle at the time, her courageous stand helped expose the country’s racial injustices. More than 60 years later, Canada officially recognized her contribution and she became the first Canadian woman to appear on the $10 bill.
Viola Desmond’s “No” was not about seat in a theatre. It was a demand for equal treatment, one that helped lay the groundwork for civil rights progress in Canada.
Sophie Scholl: Defying the Nazi Regime with Words
Resistance to tyranny can come at a terrible cost. Sophie Scholl, a young university student who dared to speak out against Hitler’s rule, to me is the embodiment of courage and of moral clarity.
In the early 1940s, Sophie and her brother Hans joined the White Rose, a non-violent resistance group that distributed anti-Nazi leaflets. They called on their fellow Germans to recognize the atrocities being committed in their name and urged them to resist.
In 1943, while distributing pamphlets at the University of Munich, Sophie and Hans were arrested. Interrogated by the Gestapo, she refused to betray her fellow activists. In court, she remained defiant, telling her Nazi judges, “What we said and wrote is what so many people think; they just don’t dare to say it.”
At just 21 years old, she was sentenced to death by guillotine. As she walked to her execution she reportedly said, “Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go… What does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”
Sophie Scholl’s “No” was a challenge to an entire nation. She refused to stay silent in the face of evil and she paid with her life. Her story continues to inspire people who fight oppression today.
Dr. Phil Levin: Defying a Presidential Order on behalf of the people of America
The inspiration for this Substack post came from a story published today in The New York Times by Catrin Einhorn. It is about a scientist, Dr. Phil Levin, who had spent years leading a team of 150 experts to produce a critical assessment of America’s land, water and wildlife. It was to be an evidence-based report about the state of the nation’s environment. But just weeks before its scheduled release, Trump signed an executive order discontinuing the work.
Sr. Levin refused. “The country needs what we’re producing,” he was quoted.
With those words he joined the ranks of history’s courageous truth-tellers, those who stood up to power and said “No”.
Dr. Levin is doing his part. Now, it is our turn.
I write this not just as a concerned observer, but as a Canadian who understands that the fight against authoritarianism does not stop at any one nation’s borders. The rise of Trump’s MAGA movement, its global network of conspirators should concern everyone. He and his allies are working tirelessly to shape America into their vision. Science, history, democracy are seen as obstacles to their power. Their tactics are familiar:
They silence journalists and scientists.
They erase history.
They criminalize dissent.
They flood the public with disinformation to disorient and exhaust.
And now, burying a crucial environmental report because it does not serve their interests.
This is how authoritarianism tightens its grip by slowly eroding truth, erasing facts, and making people afraid to resit.
Dr Levin’s refusal to comply is a waring bell. His “No” reminds us thay resistance does not begin with grand gestures but starts with individuals choosing to stand up for what is right.
When Viola Desmond said “No” she helped change Canada.
When Sophie Scholl said “No” she became a martyr for truth.
And now, when Dr. Phil Levin says “No”, he is standing up for science, for truth and for the future.
What Can We Do?
Here’s how we can fight back:
Speak up! Share this story. Talk to friends and family. Authoritarianism thrives in silence.
Support Independent Journalism. Subscribe to local investigative journalists.
Hold Politicians Accountable. In Canada and the U.S>, demand transparency and truth. Call out censorship and disinformation.
VOTE. Every election matters. Every ballot is a chance to say “No” to those who seek to crush democracy.
Resist Disinformation. Fact-check. Call out lies. Refuse to engage in false narratives.
Now is the time to resist. Say “No” while you still can.
Thank you for so explicitly connecting the dots on Levin's push-back against the current administration and those who have taken a stand in the past.
Bravery to the tenth power! This is exactly what more people need to do in their personal and professional lives. Stand and say “no.” Thank you for sharing!