We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness. 

This sentence from the Declaration of Independence has inspired heartfelt patriotic feelings in certain quarters for centuries. It shouldn’t. This country’s founding ideals of justice and equality were a lie when they were written in 1776 and are still false today.

For Black America, freedom wasn’t ringing in 1776. We have fought, marched, revolted, begged, and died for the recognition of our humanity, for our rights to education and to vote, for fair housing and jobs, to not be murdered by the police, and more. So much more.

Standing alongside us and building upon our fight are so many other oppressed groups: Women, Indigenous people, the Latinx community, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and more. Our challenges may be different but there is one common truth that connects us all: we are suffering under the thumb of a racist and patriarchal system that threatens our lives and livelihoods.

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For too many groups in this country, the government has long been and continues to be destructive: State-sanctioned murders of Black men, women and children. inadequate and biased healthcare and education systems. The separation of migrant children from their families. Active campaigns against the rights of the LGBTQ community. The continued assault on women’s bodies and choices. The attacks on our safety and happiness continue.

Reimagining how our government and economy work, and redefining who holds power, is critical to aligning this country’s purported values and the reality of life for the people who live here. We have to challenge any would-be leader whose policy platforms don’t focus on a true rebuilding of this country’s power structure. And we can’t be afraid to tell them: if your policies don’t serve us all, then you aren’t for us and we aren’t for you. Most importantly, we must continue to organize, block by block, city by city. We have to build power locally and nationally, ensuring our leaders reflect our experiences and our needs. And we have to come together to rethink what power looks like beyond election cycles. We have to put our values in action every single day, building on the work of our ancestors and expanding the space that we take up in our communities and the larger society.

We’re ready and committed. Join us. Help build the capacity & sustainability needed for this fight, our fight, by donating to re:power today.

In solidarity,

Karundi and the re:power team

P.S.: Please remember to keep practicing social distancing and taking extra precautions (masks, hand washing etc.) whenever possible! COVID-19 is still here and multiple states are seeing a surge in cases as folks "relax". Take care of yourselves.