This action alert from Akilah Sanders-Reed, Oil Free Organizer, Power Shift Network:
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of us took to the streets as part of hundreds of actions from California to Ireland to say #NoDAPL.
My heart is so full of gratitude as I write this. It’s been an intense and challenging week for everyone, and yet so many people found the strength and defiance to take their grief, resilience, and inspiration to the streets to make it clear: we are not backing down. We are fighting harder than ever.
2016 has permanently changed what it means to be fighting for a livable future. Pipeline resistance, grounded in indigenous rights and youth leadership, has leapt into the public consciousness in an unprecedented and inspiring way. Simultaneously, we’re facing the daunting prospect of four years with a bigoted, sexist, racist man controlling the Oval Office. It’s never been more critical for us to reach across the miles, and strategize together for what Trump-era resistance to the oil industry will look like.
We now live in a political reality where the federal government is diametrically opposed to protecting our communities, resources, and liberties. That makes it all the more critical for our movement to organize at the local level to win where we can in our regions and communities.
That local organizing starts now. Working in our communities to take on oil companies like Energy Transfer Partners and Enbridge is more important than ever.
Each digital town hall will bring together young people, community members, and leaders in local pipeline and oil infrastructure resistance movements to identify the most urgent battles, build resilient networks based in relationships, and brainstorm strategies to defend our rights and beliefs against a Trump administration.
I won’t sugarcoat it: it’s going to be a tough four years. We will need to hold each other, our communities, and our work with as much love, defiance, determination, and courage as we can muster. We are bold and beautiful beyond measure, and a Trump presidency is going to test that in a way most of us have been scared to imagine.
We will need to more strength and unity than ever—and we have it. We are strong enough to make it through this together.
With love,
Akilah Sanders-Reed
Oil Free Organizer
Power Shift Network
PS: Want to be a part of critical organizing conversations over the next few weeks?. If you aren’t on the Power Shift Network’s Slack—an online communication platform that is the hub where we’re building a huge, connected network of climate justice activists—you should be. Click here to join the network on Slack, and be sure to join the #pipeline-resistance channel once you’re there!