11/08/24 Reposted from pajiba.com
I do not come here to offer some searing insight or alleviating platitudes. In the face of an existential upset like the return of Donald Trump to the White House, it feels insulting and invalidating to claim “it will all be ok.” It will not, in fact, be ok.
We know the shape of what is to come, but the depth of it is compounded by the knowledge that America made the same bad choice twice and that this time, the cut will almost certainly be much deeper. That’s not ok. We’re not ok. America is not ok. This isn’t news, because America has been rotting for quite some time, but the urgency of it is renewed. I don’t deny that attempting to understand why this happened (again) is helpful and instructive for the future, but I have serious doubts we can pick out any single thread in the cord that led us here and call it the reason. America exists at the intersection of many dysfunctions that all feed into each other like a wheel of shit and it will take considerable time and perspective to grasp all the contributors to this situation.
It will also take some time to process and grieve. I have seen people around me offer apologies for sharing optimism during the election cycle, seeming to take some kind of blame for creating hopes only for those hopes to be thwarted. It’s understandable to feel that way, but investing in hope is not a fault. American voters made the choice they did with the options they presented does not make hoping for a different outcome wrong. It is not wrong to fight for the cause you want and believe it to be possible. We can’t be sure of what might have happened if this or could have happened if that, so let’s not choose to be unkind to ourselves for believing we could climb out of the hole we’re in.
What is sure, however, is that many communities will face further disempowerment and marginalization with tremendously renewed force. It’s a familiar sentiment, but take all the time you need to grieve and process, but be ready for action on the other side. We must, in ways many of us have not before, hit the ground running to protect the most vulnerable among us. Giving time, money, voice, and energy to the organizations and communities who will need it most in their efforts to survive under a fascist regime that openly swears to destroy them is not only a vital, worthy mission, but a great use of the agita, sadness, and rage many people are feeling right now. The worst thing someone could do would be to retreat and withdraw for the next four years because if we stand any hope of surviving (let alone thriving), we will need to be active. It’s time to circle the wagons and protect the people that stand the most to lose.
What follows is a selection of organizations that could use support of any kind in the coming fight against Trump’s second regime. It is far from complete, so I encourage anyone with a great suggestion to share it in the comments.
ACLU | “Abortion care, trans people’s right to live freely, people’s right to vote – our freedoms are at stake and we need you with us. Donate today and fuel our fight back in courts, statehouses, and nationwide.”
National Network of Abortion Funds | “NNAF is a network of nearly 100 abortion funds. Abortion funds are grassroots organizations that support people seeking abortion access. Together, we’re organizing at the crossroads of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.”
Muslim Legal Fund of America | “American Muslims present no significant threat in reality, and federal officials admit that Islamic terrorism is not even the greatest terrorist threat facing the United States: white supremacy is. Yet the federal government continues to promote this misconception in many ways, and codifies it into laws and official procedures with little to no transparency, like the Terrorist Watchlist.”
Trans Youth Equality Foundation | “The Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy and support for transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families. Our mission is to share information about the unique needs of this community, partnering with families, educators and service providers to help foster a healthy, caring, and safe environment for all children we serve.”
American Immigration Council | “The Council strives to strengthen the United States by shaping immigration policies and practices through innovative programs, cutting-edge research, and strategic legal and advocacy efforts grounded in evidence, compassion, justice and fairness. We collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, grassroots organizations, and immigrant communities, to advance results-driven solutions to the challenges facing immigrants and communities throughout the United States.”
People for the American Way | “We envision fundamental changes in our democracy that we will begin working toward today, so 20 years from now we and our children and grandchildren will never again have to fear living under tyranny. We will fight every attack on our freedoms by Trump and his willing sycophants with every bit of energy, passion, skill and resources we have, and need you to join us.”
Planned Parenthood | “Planned Parenthood Action Fund has never backed down from a fight, and we won’t start now. This loss doesn’t change the fact that millions of Americans turned out to support abortion access and reproductive rights champions. We know we are the majority, and we aren’t going anywhere.”
Southern Poverty Law Center | “The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.”
NAACP | “Structural discrimination and unjust policing, prosecution, and incarceration practices unfairly impact Black communities. Building a just system urgently demands reform.”
Americans for Immigrant Justice | “Since our founding in 1996, AI Justice has served more than 145,000 individuals from 160 countries. AI Justice fights for just and humane immigration laws and practices by publishing groundbreaking reports that provide evidence of civil liberties violations; testifying before Congress; filing lawsuits that change state and national laws; and media outreach.”
Sylvia Rivera Law Project | “The Sylvia Rivera Law Project works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence. We’re here for you.”
Lambda Legal | “Lambda Legal’s lawyers have won precedent-setting civil rights cases on everything from marriage equality to expressions of gender identity to health care discrimination. We have made legal history since day one, winning our right to incorporate. We then got to work using our knowledge of the law to fight for our community’s lives and dignity.”
