To Our Beloved Community,
Donald Trump has been re-elected. Amid the many emotions this statement evokes, we bravely face this dangerous new reality with clear eyes: Trump is an aspiring fascist with a disastrous environmental and human rights record. There is no doubt that his administration will try its best to make the lives of our community members materially worse.
But as we process our grief and plan for the future, we are called to remind one another that together we can fight back. Just as powerfully as we always have. During Trump’s last term, CA environmental justice communities’ determination and grit culminated in historic environmental justice protections and the election of more progressives to office at the local, state, and federal level than ever before. We are braced to meet that challenge once again.
CEJA is doubling down on our unwavering commitment to justice in the face of the threats posed by another Trump administration. The billionaires and industrialists who funded this election are trying to take our power, and we will not give it up. We will not bury our heads in the sand and pretend this is business as usual. It’s time for a real progressive platform built by the people.
We know that those closest to problems are those closest to solutions. The only way to build an environmentally just future is through amplifying our greatest assets: the wisdom and power of our communities. And during this election, we saw a flood of support for progressive candidates and measures at the local level, and strong showings from CEJA-endorsed candidates for the state legislature. Environmental justice communities in California have spent generations building power and grabbing more seats at the table. We will not stand down, and they will not kick us out.
The call to action now, perhaps more than ever before, is to deeply engage in organizing our communities and strengthening the movement for democracy and justice. Take time to volunteer. Connect with your neighbors. Don’t let despair win. Stand in your power. Please also keep an eye on CEJA’s updates as we share opportunities to get more involved in direct action and healing spaces with our members and partners.
We are building a world where all Californians are free from pollution and poverty, where everyone has the unalienable right to determine their own future. Join us.
In Solidarity,
Diana Vazquez Ballesteros, Co-Executive Director
Denise Glaze, Co-Executive Director