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John,
Many of us hoped for and fought for a different 2025.
One with a different president, with different priorities, with a different view of what “progress” really means.
We have not, and will not, be defined by that definition of progress. We have always, and will always, fight for our own progress.
That progress has included our community coming together and investing dollars and time in advocating for policies that benefit Black people.
As we move into 2025, we wanted to uplift three critical priorities we’ll be working on:
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The People’s Response Act, a critical piece of legislation that seeks to redefine how we respond to crises and emergencies, invests in community care, and deprioritizes the carceral system. Our ongoing fight to End Qualified Immunity is a testament to our commitment to dismantling oppressive systems that shield those who perpetrate harm. We will not rest until justice is served.
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Student Debt Cancellation, a critical step to recognizing the burden student debt places on Black people and communities striving for education and economic empowerment.
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Reparations, which remain central to our mission, as it addresses the historical and ongoing injustices upon which this country was built and that have and continue to marginalize Black communities.
Our work is never focused on struggle, though it is there. For us, our progress is in our joys. Our victories are in our solidarity.
We’re not going to get caught up in the day-to-day of Trump and what he stands for. We’re looking far beyond his presidency. We continue to center the world that we’re fighting for even if it doesn’t happen in our lifetime.
A world where Black people can thrive, and not be defined by their struggles. We’re working together to create a future where Black people are free from oppression and able to thrive in all aspects of life.
This involves dreaming big and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, while also knowing that for us to thrive, basic needs must be met.
We need food on the table. Financial security. A roof over our heads. Clean drinking water. Safe communities, free of state-sanctioned violence against unarmed people.
We need a world with ample access to art, community, and all the essential intangibles of life. That’s what it means to thrive, and why we must rebuild. This world is possible, no matter who tells us it isn’t.
We need to keep this future in mind, and we need each other, more than ever. In 2025, it will be our foundation.
You can invest in that work with your time, your money, or whatever resources you can spare. That work also happens right at home, at your kitchen table—and it is just as critical as the work happening in cities across America.
We embrace the words of Ta-Nehisi Coates as we begin this new year, with new challenges: “I don’t ever want to forget that resistance must be its own reward, since resistance, at least within the lifespan of the resistors, almost always fails.”
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter
Our grassroots movement is pushing for Black liberation every single day. We are striving to create a world where Black people do so much more than just survive. It’s time we thrive.
As an organization one of our biggest hurdles is consistency.
A recurring contribution of anything you can afford goes a long way as we plan for the months, years, and even decades ahead. This is the most effective way for small-dollar donors (like you) to power our Black liberation work.
Will you make a recurring contribution of $5 or more today so that we can keep building momentum for our movement?
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