What a day, John! Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking action with the youth-led Climate Strike movement (and it’s not too late to join them if you can). And whether you can afford to strike today or not, we all can and should find ways to support and honor the originators of what we now call climate justice: the constantly threatened, always resilient indigenous communities who hold generations of knowledge of how best to coexist with the air, water, and land that supports all life.

Honoring Latinx Heritage Month

“Latinx people like to pride ourselves on our resilience, but this is a double-edged sword. We are resilient because we have survived colonization and are still here. We know how to endure through unimaginable tragedy. But what can get lost in the pride in resilience is the firm, unbending conviction that we shouldn’t have to endure these attacks in the first place. We should be able to live free from fear and discrimination. We should be able to simply live.”

Latinx Heritage Month, which began on September 15 and runs until October 15, is a celebration of the history, culture, and contributions of Latinx people. And rather than side-stepping the intense social, economic, and political realities Latinx people face in this historical moment, we’re making the connection between heritage and healing. As Noelia Rivera-Calderón — Tom Steel Fellow and lead author of the We Are Not Invisible report we released this past spring — declares in the blog quoted and referenced above, “This Latinx Heritage Month, we are not putting aside our pain. But we are drawing on our deep heritage of healing to take us through this time so we can fight for something better.” Be sure to read and share this powerful piece in its entirety (it’s also available in Spanish), and keep in touch with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more content and events centering Latinx history and well-being.

Featured: Beating the Trump Administration, One Comment at a Time

The Trump administration continues to try to sneak through some of its most harmful actions through the federal rulemaking process. But did you know those rules have an over 90 percent LOSS rate in court? It’s true! That’s why we fight this administration in the courts, and it’s why we organize comment drives with activists like you, John. The comments you submit are an important part of the public record, and the administration is legally required to read and account for every single one. And the more unique they are, the better, so please customize the draft starter text we offer in the campaigns below with your own thoughts, stories, and facts if you can!

• Funding tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of hungry families is unconscionable. Tell the Trump administration to keep its hands off SNAP!
• Donald Trump’s history of discriminatory real estate practices is repeating through his administration’s policies at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tell the administration that housing discrimination should have no home in America.

Must-Dos:

• Here’s just one of many reasons we know Eugene Scalia would be a terrible choice to lead the Department of Labor: he thinks it should be easier for companies to cover up sexual harassment and get away with discrimination. Tell your Senators to vote NO on his confirmation.
• We’re still getting loud to ensure all workers can BE HEARD! Tell your members of Congress to support robust protections against workplace harassment and discrimination.

Must-Reads:

• Shaming girls for their bodies should have no place in our schools, period.
• Need to know how you can get low- or no-cost birth control, with or without insurance? You should read this.

Your Feminist Moment of Joy

Hey, John! Today is actually my very last day here at NWLC; it’s been an honor to write and persist with you for the last two and a half years. Stay hopeful and committed to gender justice, and always remember the wise words below from the queen, Beyoncé. Know your power and use it at every opportunity. See you ‘round the movement!