It’s personal. It’s painful.
It happened and I moved on.
I want better for "My Why" and I want her to always know that her rights matter, that her government is not corrupt, that her neighbors stood up for her and that one day she will need to stand up for them.
I want her to know that long before she came into my life I was gang raped but moved on. I did not need an abortion but I know that it was my right and was there if I needed to make that choice.
I want her to know that we are at this point in history because of greed and racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, anti-semitism, homophobia, misogyny, ageism, ableism, elitism, and bigotry but that we the people rose up and took back our power and advocated for a democracy with a freedom to have reproductive rights and abortion. And we advocated for so much more. I want her to know that people believed that progress was possible and they moved mountains to make it happen.
Lastly, I want My Why to understand the difference of between saying you believe in "liberty and justice for all" and actually standing up for those values every single day in your words and actions. It is harmful to all to be an imposter.
Why this, why now
I am sharing this to remind folks that even though radical republicans in Florida passed a 6-week abortion ban and Governor Ron DeSantis rushed to sign it into law, we can and must continue to push for progress. I share this because even with the assault on our freedoms and rights in states all across the country, I believe with all of my heart that we are better than our worst days.
What can I do? How can I make a difference?
As someone who knew nothing about politics or organizing a few years ago, I can only share my limited insight. I think the biggest piece of advice I can give, is to do something. Stop being afraid. It’s ok to make mistakes. Find an issue, then fight like hell to make people aware of the issue, and find ways to empower and inspire them to take action.
I hope you will join me at People Power United
I hope you will consider joining me and My Why to make a difference. Please consider subscribing to our People Power United substack. I am so grateful to our members and leaders who with ZERO BUDGET OR STAFF, who in the past few years have collectively:
Sent over 250,000 postcards to voters
Sent over 35,000 letters to voters
Sent over 1 million letters/petitions to champion progressive issues and civil rights
Dropped literature on 5000 doors
Made over 25,000 phone calls for issues/candidates
Onboarded over 1500 volunteers to take action on issues
Made over half a million social media impressions in one month with 25 percent engagement
People Power United champions progressive values, putting people over profits. We are a grassroots group committed to increasing voter registration and participation. Whether it's supporting a candidate, fighting to pass legislation, or working to change our culture, our members are committed to an inclusive and progressive future.
I would invite you to join us at our next event or take action on an issue with our calls-to-action.
Lastly, I will end this with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. to center our work for progress. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
Everyone deserves to vote and thrive,
Laurie Woodward Garcia
Volunteer organizer and mommy (Paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
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