 |
|||||||
Election Night proved something I've always known to be true. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. John, my life has been shaped by standing with people who refuse to accept injustice. When we think back to the Civil Rights Act, the eight-hour workday, protections for women in the workplace — these victories didn’t feel inevitable. They felt impossible. But I know from experience that the impossible becomes possible when people refuse to fight alone. In the late 60s and early 70s, I marched against police brutality targeting Black Americans. I stood with Indigenous peoples demanding sovereignty. I watched communities risk everything to dismantle oppression. No single person could have achieved this. But together, we moved mountains. The anti-war movement in the 70s taught me that collective action can challenge even the most powerful forces. I stood with millions of people to demand an end to an unjust war. Alone, none of us could have stopped it. Together, we did. The early 80s showed me that organizing can take many forms. My workout tapes weren’t just about burning sweat in leg warmers or leotards; they became a tool for change. 17 million people bought those VHS tapes, and every dollar helped fund the Campaign for Economic Democracy — the organization my then-husband Tom Hayden and I created to protect our environment and strengthen our democracy. And now, in ACT III of my life, I’ve witnessed what’s possible when people unite to challenge an entire industry determined to put profit over our future. Together, we've elected over 200 climate champions who refuse to be bought by Big Oil. These are leaders who will make a tangible difference in communities ravaged by cancers, poisoned water, and diseases we can barely pronounce. In each of these movements, the lesson never changed. The impossible became possible because people came together. And on November 4, 2025, I saw that truth all over again. Twenty-two victories in Virginia. History made in Georgia. Pennsylvania transformed. Climate champions elected from city councils to state legislatures and beyond in places desperate for change. I am so deeply grateful for what your support made possible, John. These results happened because thousands of people like you decided that going far together matters more than going fast alone. And we’re just getting started. We have a runoff in Texas and a special election for Congress in Tennessee. The 2026 midterms. A climate and democracy crisis that demands everything we have. And a big bully in the White House. But I'm not worried. Because I've learned that when people truly come together, with courage and commitment and love for each other and this planet, we become unstoppable. This is the work I will be doing for the rest of my life. And every morning, I wake up hopeful knowing I’m part of something bigger than one person. If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
Thank you for being part of this movement. ✊ In solidarity, xx Jane |
|
