States at the Core is a small crew of organizers working with local folks across the country. Our mission is pretty simple - help everyday people fight authoritarianism.

STAC has worked to build community power not only through ICE Watch trainings but also by equipping allied organizations, elected officials, and activists across the country with the tools and information they need to effectively counter authoritarianism in their communities.

You probably know us through our training programs, but this is only a small part of what we do. Everything we offer - whether training or supporting people on the ground - is free.

Since 2025 we have:

• Trained over 45,000 people from all 50 states in ICE Watch and Community Defense trainings.
• Partnered with organizations, community leaders, and government officials working to promote a fully inclusive democracy and combat authoritarianism in: Arizona, California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.
• Equipped community leaders with media training and resources as they directly confronted neo-Nazi demonstrations, book burnings, and other hate incidents.
• Provided in-depth research and analysis of authoritarian threats to movement builders across the country.

Together, We Will Defend Democracy!