We’re appalled by the bombing at the US embassy in Oslo Sunday morning a week ago, but grateful that no one was injured and that the physical damage at the consular entrance to the embassy seems to have been minimal. Although we’ve seen loads of speculation in the press and on social media, we don’t yet know much about the alleged perpetrators or their exact motives and we won’t add to the speculation. 

What we do know is that this heinous attack has struck fear in the hearts of many Americans who are feeling increasingly vulnerable, not just here in Norway but elsewhere abroad. That – creating fear and a sense of insecurity – is the intent of terrorists whatever their underlying motives and objectives may be. Yet we, as Democrats Abroad Norway and globally, are undaunted and even more resolved to carry out our fundamental mission of securing our democracy at the ballot box, one vote and one voter at a time. So that starts with you and your friends and families. 

Here are some simple things you can do even from the safety and comfort of your homes to fight back against terror here and the kleptocracy back in the U.S.A. We know that Trump and his minions, using the unconstitutional SAVE Act and executive orders, are trying to put their greedy thumbs on the voting scale, and it’s up to us and our representatives to stop them. First, go to votefromabroad.org to make sure you’re registered for all elections in 2026 and register if you haven’t yet done so. Second, check your eligibility to vote in the state in which you’re registered and request your ballot for all upcoming 2026 primaries and elections. You can do both at votefromabroad.org. Don’t delay!

Third, we need many more volunteers to help get out the vote (GOTV) at all levels–federal, state and local–in this critical year. DA Norway has punched way above its weight in terms of the number of GOTV calls and texts we’ve made to DA members abroad, but the burden for that has fallen on only a few active DAN members/callers. We need to increase our phonebanking capacity massively across DA. And it’s much better if we have 20 DAN members making 50 calls each than one making 1000. It’s easy, collegial and fun and you are only calling DAN members through an online software that doesn’t use your phone number. Please go to https://www.democratsabroad.org/phonebanking_training or email DAN at [email protected] to learn more about how to participate in GOTV or call campaigns.

There are critical elections coming up all across the ballot just in the next month – to secure the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed current Governor Mikie Sherrill in the House of Representatives (NJ-11) and to pass the redistricting referendum in Virginia that may secure as many as four House seats. Those of you who vote from Wisconsin have already heard from us and we will be nudging those who vote in Virginia and New Jersey 11 shortly. There will be many more calls to come this summer and beyond.

We also have two upcoming events in Oslo. Stay tuned to our social media and the DAN website for more information on the next No Tyrants rally/protest from 1-3pm in Frogner Park by the Lincoln Monument on March 28th. This event will be low key compared to others, as it is the Saturday before Easter break, and in keeping with the current state of affairs. We also have Pub Night tomorrow night so come out to Brygg at 5pm if you are in Oslo!  

We are undaunted and we hope you are too. More to come soon. Let’s do something together!