Resistance in the Face of the Government Shutdown
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Dear ASALH Family, As of today, we are 31 days into the government shutdown with no clear end in sight. As thousands continue to lose jobs and DOGE pushes for deeper workforce reductions, SNAP benefits for 42 million people might end on November 1, and many face rising insurance premiums. This is more than a policy dispute—it is a standoff shaping our nation’s future. Recently, over seven million people joined the No Kings Rallies, uniting new and experienced voices in opposition to government actions. Now is the time for action, not silence. Growing up, whenever things got hard, my Nana would remind me of who I was and where I came from. She would say, with a bit of pride and resistance in her voice, that I was the descendant of people who chose every day to survive and that that choice, to survive, was an act of resistance. ASALH, we know how to do this, even if you have never done it before; you come from people who chose to survive. This is a moment to lean on your community, your church, and your community organizations. This is a moment to reach out to ASALH and ask not what we can do for you but what you can do for us — our survival depends on you. I want to outline five things, pulled from and building on The North Star, that we need to do right now to resist: 1. Find the organizations, institutions, Black public radio stations, and newspapers doing the work that you agree with and defend them with everything you have — your time, your talents, and your treasure. 2. Create local communities of action and accountability where you can work together to demand justice and equality. This is the time to Speak Up and Speak Out. Do not let them think that your silence means that you are complicit. 3. Make intentional, thoughtful purchases as often as you can. Shop local, buy small, support Black and Brown businesses, and keep the money circulating within your community. 4. If you can, adopt a family for the holidays and provide them with the food they need to feed their family members during this difficult time. 5. Boycott the holidays: do not support this system until they start supporting us. Instead of purchasing holiday candy, consider donating non-perishable items to families in your local community. Instead of supporting big businesses on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Christmas, buy only from small, local businesses. We need to remind those in power that we are not invisible or expendable labor; we are Americans, and our voices, our dollars, and our votes matter. In solidarity, Karsonya Wise Whitehead ASALH President |
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