From Barb Maynard, AveNew's Grieving Co-Founder and Anya's Mom
Today, America feels different. Trump’s return to power comes with fresh threats and a blatant disregard for democratic principles. For many, it’s a painful reminder of our nation’s unhealed wounds – from the rollback of rights to the relentless attempts to silence voices demanding equality. But we won’t let fear divide us or push us backward. This moment isn’t just about one man; it’s about who we are and who we aspire to be.
The struggles of previous generations show us that America’s progress has always come through resilience and unyielding courage. Many of our parents and grandparents faced intense bigotry and cruelty, from segregation in the Jim Crow South to brutal anti-immigrant policies that stifled dreams and diminished lives. These individuals built our path forward brick by brick, fighting not only for themselves but for the promise of a more inclusive America. Today’s challenges echo those darker chapters of our past – yet they also remind us of the strength within us to resist a return to oppression.
And here’s the truth: progress cannot simply be erased. LGBTQ+ individuals, women, people of color, immigrants, and allies have fought tirelessly for visibility, justice, and dignity. The barriers they’ve broken are not easily rebuilt. Our resistance lies not just in words, but in our very existence. To relegate us to a lesser status isn’t just morally wrong; it’s a historical impossibility. We’ve faced these ghosts before, and we’re stronger now, knowing that democracy depends on our vigilance.
This moment is a call to action. We must rally to defend the democracy that generations before us sacrificed to protect, finding strength not only in the legacy of those who fought before us but in our belief that we are building a country that truly belongs to all. The future may feel uncertain, but the way forward is clear: we must fight, for ourselves, for each other, and for the soul of America.
“The time to treat these toxic daydreamers as if they’re simply misinformed is over. We know what we’re up against, and it’s America’s torturous, racist, sexist, nativist, Confederate past. We’ve fought these ghosts before. But if the past is prologue, the Confederacy only lasted four years and three weeks. And the civil rights and women’s rights movements shaped the world we live in today. The long moral arc of the universe still bends toward justice, just as Dr. King said. If we have to relegislate all this and fight these fights all over again, we will. Because there is no alternative. There is no other option. So lace up your shoes and get ready to dig in.”
– Danielle Belton, Editor-in-Chief, HuffPost, 11/6/24