📢 The movement for who we are and what we represent is happening now
🗽 Our resolve is stronger than ever, our movement can not be silenced.
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Hi friends! A quick note about yesterday: I accidentally emailed two newsletters. My deepest apologies; one was intended to be an online post only—mea culpa.
As promised, I’m beginning to share some reflections on the last election cycle. This is only the beginning, as there’s so much to unpack, and having these conversations is essential for us to reflect, learn, and take steps forward.
Here’s the truth: I’ve known for quite some time that Kamala Harris wasn’t likely to win. In fact, I believed that most Democratic candidates would face an uphill battle, regardless of who they were. This isn’t about blaming Democrats entirely—there are many forces at play here, and in the coming days, I’ll dive deeper into why I feel this way.
Having lived in Florida for over 30 years, my gut told me Trump would win in 2016 and 2024, DeSantis would secure both of his gubernatorial races, and Democrats would continue struggling in state contests here. It was a bitter reality to accept, but I shared these thoughts with only two people in my life because I felt powerless to stop the larger forces already in motion.
Despite these challenges, I focused on what I could do: pull people together and work to mitigate the harm. And I couldn’t be prouder of our scrappy grassroots group! We have grown to over 200,000 members without bombarding our members with donation requests. In the last election, we wrote over 150,000 postcards to Florida voters, onboarded over 1,000 volunteers, and helped mobilize people to text and volunteer for candidates. Additionally our members have done thousands of letters, petitions, calls, and more to lawmakers to advocate on issues. That kind of impact gives me hope and reminds me that our collective efforts matter no matter how steep the road.
Today, let’s dive deep into the dangers of apathy—because I believe it is the first and most urgent challenge we must confront in our advocacy for freedom over fascism.
Apathy is one of the greatest threats to our rights, freedoms, democracy, the rule of law-and our families and communities.
On the surface, it might seem harmless to give up, but silence is complicity. It’s a silent capitulation to those who aim to erase the progress we’ve fought to protect.
History shows us that oppressive systems and leaders gain ground when people disengage. Whether it’s through voter suppression, the erosion of civil rights, or the silencing of dissent, apathy creates a vacuum where injustice flourishes.
The consequences of apathy are not abstract; they directly harm our families, friends, and communities. For instance, in Florida, years of political disengagement and resignation of the status quo have allowed authoritarian leaders to thrive. Having lived in this state for over 30 years, I’ve seen how complacency can lead to devastating outcomes: the rise of Trump, DeSantis’s victories, and the decimation of our rights, freedoms, democracy, the rule of law, and the harms that put on our families and communities.
These outcomes weren’t inevitable—they were enabled by a lack of collective action and the belief that nothing could change.
Here is how apathy threatens our rights, freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law:
Weakens Democracy: Apathy lowers voter turnout, undermines accountability, and gives authoritarian leaders more power.
Normalizes Oppression: Indifference allows discrimination, inequality, and systemic injustice to persist and grow.
Stalls Progress: Apathy halts social justice, environmental, and civil rights movements, preventing meaningful change.
Fractures Communities: Disengagement erodes solidarity, isolates individuals, and weakens collective action.
Fuels Misinformation and Corruption: Apathy enables false narratives to spread and allows unethical leaders to act unchecked.
Erodes Civil Liberties: Indifference gives leaders room to chip away at freedoms like speech, press, and assembly.
Increases Inequality: Apathy maintains power imbalances and undermines protections for vulnerable populations.
Threatens the Future: Disengagement leaves a legacy of diminished freedoms, weaker institutions, and despair for future generations.
As you can see from the list above, the danger of apathy isn’t just in losing elections; it’s in losing hope and agency. We forfeit our ability to shape the future when we convince ourselves that our efforts don’t matter. Yet, even in the face of daunting odds, grassroots action proves that engagement can make a difference.
They want us to give up. Let's not give them the satisfaction.
From saving the Affordable Care Act to ending Trump’s family separation policy and overturning the Muslim ban, grassroots action has consistently been the driving force for change and justice.
These efforts remind us that change is possible when we refuse to give up. Imagine what we could do if we had two-thirds of the country united in purpose and determined to ensure everyone who calls America home can thrive. Why two-thirds of the country? Because two-thirds represents the number of people who did not vote for Trump.
Lastly, please stay connected to this scrappy, grassroots, boots-on-the-ground organization. More actions are coming!!
It is important, during these most difficult times in our democracy, to not give into apathy.
The day we give up holding our leaders accountable to the will of the people is when we give up our rights and freedoms, and we will not let that happen.
United, we hold the power—and the responsibility—to protect what we cherish and create a society where fairness and respect are ideals and a reality where everyone can thrive.
Apathy may feel like a refuge from frustration and fear, but it’s a betrayal of our values and our communities.
The only antidote is action—because our future depends on it. Together, we can rise, resist, and reclaim what matters most.
This is our moment to stand together, to lead with courage, and to show America and the world that hope is not just a feeling—it’s a force for change.
Together we can champion Progress and Power to the People
People Power United members are committed to championing progress and power to the people. We don't just complain; we do the work to make change happen.
Friends, this is a plea for help with our People Power United efforts. With our membership growing, we're building momentum, but we need your help to reach even more people—every bit of assistance counts. Together, we can make a difference!
People Power United is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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You're invited: Stop Project 2025
Are you concerned about the direction our country is headed and the far-right agenda threatening our future?
Now is the time to stand up and take action! We invite you to our one-hour training, "Stop Project 2025: Mobilize for Change," presented by People Power United. By joining this training, you'll learn about the real and urgent threat of Project 2025 and why it's essential to mobilize now to stop it. ✨ Join us:
Wednesday, November 27th at 7pm Eastern or Sunday, December 1st at 7pm Eastern, click here to signup:
Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
In a democracy, the principle that "no one is above the law" is non-negotiable.
Allowing leaders to escape the consequences of their actions sends a dangerous message that power, not justice, prevails—ultimately destabilizing society and giving rise to authoritarianism.
History warns us that unchecked power leads to corruption, oppression, and the silencing of our voices, threatening the freedoms we cherish.
Now, more than ever, we need everyone to step up and stand together. Join us and be part of a movement that demands accountability and justice for all. More resources are coming, but today, please join our Not Above the Law Rapid Response Team and sign on to our Freedom Over Fascism pledge.
People Power United Updates
Our group is growing by leaps and bounds! Folks understand that with love in our hearts and hard work, we will reclaim our nation from cruelty, chaos, and confusion. We are having fun making impactful changes in our community! In case you missed it, this past week was busy:
We joined a group effort to encourage the Senate to move forward with confirming Head of Office of Government Ethics (it worked!)
We sent out several updates and news briefs on our newsletters:
Stay connected, get People Power United on the Substack app
Additional updates can be found here.
Laurie’s Post-Election Message
After living in Florida for over 30 years, I've witnessed firsthand how easily rights, freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law can erode in a red state.
I share with many of you the feelings of deep disappointment in seeing the election of former President Trump and convicted felon to the highest office of President, the loss of the U.S. Senate, and the precarious hold on the U.S. House. This is not just a matter of politics—it's personal.
The day we stop advocating fiercely for our families, friends, co-workers, and communities is the day we surrender to authoritarianism—and that day is not today.
There will be endless analyses, explanations, and debates about what happened and why. I'll share my thoughts when the time is right, but remember this: our voice remains strong.
No one can silence us from speaking out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
No one can take away our resolve to demand accountability from our leaders to uphold the people's will.
And no one can extinguish our movement for progress and empowerment for every American to thrive.
This experience, like many others, is an opportunity to rethink how we protect and expand the principles we believe in.
We must come together, address this setback, and build a stronger, more resilient movement for the future.
Together with you, I am looking forward to turning this disappointment into a driving force for accountability, justice, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that brought us here.
- Laurie Woodward Garcia
Join us to build People Power! Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people.
Thank you for the links where we can engage and act. Now is the time to do whatever we can to make positive things happen! I, too, upgraded to paid!
Great work you do. I upgraded to paid few weeks back. I was also on your Project 2025 Zoom call 11/17.