📢 Together We Rise: People Over Party Politics
🗽 The movement for who we are and what we represent is happening now. To build power, you must inspire people to take action. You can’t expect progress with stagnant numbers, methods, or leaders.
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The Power of People: Building a Movement for Change
A while back, someone asked me, "Why people power and not Democrat power?" It’s a fair question, and as a proud Democrat, I see both as essential. There are things the Democratic Party could do better—like holding war criminals accountable or running more effective persuasion campaigns—but the essence of real change lies in people power. It’s the collective energy, inspiration, and action of everyday Americans that create lasting progress, and I believe both party and people power are worth fighting for.
The Democratic Party is evolving, but progress isn’t uniform. Some Democrats and Democratic organizations are leading the charge for change, while others are content with the status quo, even placating radical Republicans. If we find that local, state, or national leaders are unwilling to champion progress on the issues most Americans care about, it’s on us—the people—to advocate for accountability and push for progress in other ways.
Lessons in People Power
When Donald Trump first rose to power, I saw firsthand the dangers of MAGA’s influence in Florida. At that time, I volunteered for Bernie Sanders’ campaign and then Hillary Clinton’s, and what I experienced shook me to my core. I hosted volunteers for Get Out the Vote efforts in Miramar, a city in the bluest county in Florida. Despite assurances that I’d have support, within a week, my home became the only hub for Hillary’s campaign in Miramar. How could this be in a county with such a strong Democratic presence?
The truth was later revealed as I attended Democratic meetings in Broward County. Many of the local clubs and caucuses were stagnant. They weren’t growing, weren’t inspiring action, and weren’t power-building. They operated more like social clubs than engines for change, with the same faces showing up, doing the same things, and expecting different results. This lack of growth and inspiration was glaringly obvious during the 2016 election, and it became a pattern I would see again.
One pivotal moment came during Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign in 2018. The weekend before the election, I received a message from the Democratic chair asking if I needed literature for Get Out the Vote efforts. By then, I had already spent a month mobilizing over 100 volunteers to knock on doors and phone bank. The lack of urgency and coordination was disheartening. Another moment came when I was organizing a protest against Trump’s child separation policies. When I placed flyers on chairs at a Democratic meeting, a board member asked, “Who gave you permission to share these?” That question encapsulated the problem—an inability to see the bigger picture and the importance of grassroots action.
Building a Movement
These experiences taught me the critical elements of people power: inspiration and movement. To build power, you must inspire people to take action. You can’t expect progress with stagnant numbers, outdated methods, or leaders who lack vision. That’s why, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, our grassroots group organized protests that drew over 3,000 people1—twice—while the official Democratic rally mustered only 1502. The difference wasn’t just numbers; it was about showing up consistently, aligning with partners like MoveOn, Center for Popular Democracy, and others, and inspiring people to reclaim their power.
Protests are a powerful expression of values and unity, but they’re not enough on their own. Building a sustainable movement requires strategy, persuasion, and measurable growth. Unfortunately, many organizations—Democratic clubs, advocacy groups, and grassroots efforts—fail to understand this. They lose momentum and focus, splintering instead of uniting. I am proud to say our grassroots group has grown from those earlier days of door knocking for Hillary to now over 200,000 + members in all 50 states. In fact, from time to time I still have some of the old leaders from Broward Democrats reach out and ask me to send them volunteers for phone banks and door knocking. My answer is still the same: You can have all the volunteers you want if you invest your time and resources into building relationships and inspiring people to take action!
The Path Forward
We need both a strong People Power movement and a strong Democratic Party. They are not mutually exclusive but complementary forces that can uplift the majority of Americans. People Power is of, by, and for the people. It’s about holding leaders accountable, regardless of party, and ensuring our government truly represents us.
Our personal freedoms, rights, democracy, and rule of law are under attack. Too many have given up or given in, but we each have incredible power to shape our future. Government exists by the consent of the governed, and when politicians fail us, it’s up to us to rally, organize, and fight for progress. Together, we can build a movement that inspires action, holds leaders accountable, and ensures that power truly rests where it belongs—with the people.
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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Click here to signup for our next event: Building People Power in Remembrance of the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection. Details: 📅 Date: January 6th 🕒 Time: 8 PM Eastern 📍 Location: Via Zoom. RSVP today and bring your voice to the movement!
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You're invited: Building People Power in Remembrance of the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection
Mark the anniversary of January 6th by standing up for democracy and justice. While Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have failed to uphold their allegiance to the Constitution, we must rise up to protect our rights, freedoms, and future.
This event is more than a remembrance—it's a call to action. Together, we will build a resilient, people-powered movement to resist the threats of fascism and ensure that the voices of everyday Americans—not the wealthy elite—shape our nation’s course.
Let’s organize, educate, and mobilize to defend our communities and democracy. Be part of the change.
Details: 📅 Date: January 6th 🕒 Time: 8 PM Eastern 📍 Location: Via Zoom
RSVP today and bring your voice to the movement!
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, January 15th at 8pm 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.
Now is the perfect time to reflect and recommit to our values:
✨ Together we can inspire change!
People Power United is a grassroots group of over 200,000+ members in all 50 states-powered by people like YOU. We champion progress and power to the people.
We believe in change because we make change happen.
Here’s what makes us special:
💡 Grassroots energy: No fundraising, no constant emails asking for donations.
📢 Impact through action: We believe in the possibility of change and do the work to make it happen. We don’t just complain, we make change happen!
In this community, we will never stay silent in the face of hate or bigotry. We stand up and speak out against racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and every form of discrimination that seeks to divide and harm.
We believe:
Everyone deserves dignity —with access to housing, healthcare, and education.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive — regardless of age, race, sex, sexual preference, preferred pronouns, religion, or employment status.
Everyone deserves safety—clean air and water, and communities free from gun violence.
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.
The power is in your hands. Let’s fight for freedom over fascism—because our future depends on it.
Join us to build People Power! Together, we can 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)
Leader, People Power United
Representing America's largest grassroots organization with over 200,000+ members, driven entirely by the energy and commitment of everyday people. We are proudly 100% independent, powered by people—not 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! Check out our 2023 recap post to see how impactful our scrappy People Power United group is!
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people.
I am older and living in a rural community. There are not a lot of opportunities for community activism. I donate when I can and due a lot of clicking to show my support for congressional action.
Thank you for giving us all hope and incentive to continue. I am retired and living rural in a very red area of VA, and am trying to find my local people. I appreciate this community as it keeps me in the loop and motivated to push forward.