Don’t ever stop
"If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going."
-Harriet Tubman
The vote to protect the filibuster over protecting our democracy is devastating. Worse, Krysten Sinema and Joe Manchin betrayed their constituents along with an entire country by siding with Republicans who consistently betray their electorate and their oath to the United States Constitution.
With that said, we encourage you to ignore the news, the "news," and dis/misinformation on social media.
Instead, we want you to remember that dark day back in November of 2016 when we felt so much terror and hopelessness. Remember what you did? Remember what you did against all odds? Why did you do it? What kept you going? Close your eyes for a moment and remember that.
In January of 2017, The Republicans had the White House, The Senate, and the House. We could have thrown up our hands (and many Democratic politicians did by saying things like "Well, what can we do?" with a shrug of acceptance) And what did we do? We fiercely rejected that kind of thinking and defeatism and got to work against every odd. . . .except one. . . .our collective power.
We got involved in grassroots groups across the country; many of us started a group with no experience or savvy in the political arena. The key here is we got in the arena. We decided that America is worth fighting for. We didn't know the outcome of our efforts and we weren't doing it because we knew we were going to win; we did it because we knew we had to win, and win we did; and we can win again.
Along the way, we had some losses and we had some wins, some very big and substantial wins that changed the destructive trajectory we were on. By relentlessly using our collective power we:
• Saved the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• Overwhelmingly took back the House in 2018
• Registered millions of Democrats to vote nationwide.
• Kept turning out in record numbers all over the country for elections across the board.
• Organized and engaged our own communities.
• Talked with millions of voters to ensure they were able to cast their ballot and have it counted.
• Took back the White House
• Took back the Senate
• Kept the House
• . . . .and more. . . .
Many people said we couldn't do it and laughed at us. We did it anyway.
It would be easy to look at the impressive list of accomplishments above and criticize each one; you can certainly do that but we will ask you one question: are those criticisms giving you hope and power or despair and defeatism?
If we did all the things listed (and we did), can you image what our collective power can achieve this year? We are more knowledgeable, more organized, and more determined. The answer is, we can do anything; with one caveat; we must lock arms with our brothers and sisters who believe in and support democracy no matter how left, right, center our beliefs are, no matter our religion/no religion, no matter our color, no matter our age, or background and we must turn that collective power toward crushing the MAGA militant faction that has engulfed the Republican party who is doing everything they can to silence our voices by destroying democracy to hold onto power without the support of the majority of the American people.
We will not let the MAGA fascists win by relinquishing our collective power. We're going to strengthen it.
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.
Join Indivisible's Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Ezra Levin, this Monday, January 24th at 5 PM (PT) / 8 PM (ET) to strategize about next steps.