Sure. I participate quite frequently through calls, donations, and voting.
But I'm not sure if you've looked at the news lately... we're pretty far into "too late".
Non-violent protest movements have a great record of creating real, and sustained change. Whether that's in India, or the civil rights and gay rights and suffrage and abolition movements here, peaceful protest is a powerful way to send a message to the people in your governments what you and the rest of the people there support and expect of them.
It's a great way to meet folk, to get good energy, to get a message out, to get a little exercise and fresh air, and to support your causes in an effective and, relatively light time commitment manner.
From there, it opens doors to working with towns and eventually the state.
States have the power to override Federal laws in greater numbers.
This is by design. If you dont understand how your country works, the systems that run it, then you will fail.
Awareness helps, but it rarely changes things. Participating in the democratic process creates the potential for change before it's too late.