After so much anticipation and build up, it is some relief that the election is here. It is likely to be a day or two until we know the outcome. Whatever the results and reactions, we will turn and face it with the same commitment that the NLG has held for eighty years - defending human rights over property and people over profit. The right to vote and respond to whatever further, more explicit authoritarianism Trump has in motion, is important to defend. In the past week, Jalil Muntaqim, released two weeks ago after 49-years in prison as a political prisoner, is being threatened with reincarceration for filling out a voter registration card. It reflects the centuries-long depth of commitment to attacking the political power of those who know injustice most intimately. Below is more on this. That the margin for this election is so close speaks to the work we have to do and defend. And, regardless of who wins, the long-term struggle to secure true democracy based in political, economic, social, civil and human rights continues. The question will be the level of brutality and disregard for human life and dignity and the planet that we are pushing against as we do. Elections often end up pausing the steady and constant work of social justice. Many grassroots groups have used it to build and engage people in political processes as they also are trying to stop the immediate brutality that Trump is accelerating. We will need enormous people power to create the truly viable alternatives needed to curb the course of this acceleration towards the devastation of basic human needs, survival, public health, dignity of all life on the planet. Regardless of the outcome, this work continues. We will need strong and genuine solidarity across diverse social justice movements and a broad range of strategies and tactics. Below is a Pledge of Solidarity that the NLG has signed onto and is gathering signatures as of this week. Here is an excerpt: "We recognize that there are different threats and risks that our communities and movements face, and we recognize that oppressed peoples have differences amongst ourselves. Therefore, we commit to building our collective power and bolstering existing forms of community and movement self-defense that have been developed by those historically and most consistently targeted in the U.S. and abroad. We show up for each other through solidarity, communication, and accountability for our words and actions."
For this week and as needed, our mass demonstrations team is geared up for both planned and rapid response needs for legal support. Our amazing hotline team has already secured coverage from 9am to 11pm for the first two weeks of November and our fantastic Legal Observer Coordinators are working daily and have a team of over thirty legal observers ready to be deployed as needed. Today, Wednesday, November 4th from 12-5pm, the NLG-SFBA will be at Oscar Grant Plaza providing Know Your Rights information and consultation and providing a rest booth for those gathering as we await the results and regroup for the social and environmental justice work and community resilience building ahead. Hope to see some of you there later today. Sara Kershnar, Interim Executive Director |
