Hi John,
A lot of people feel like they’re shouting into the void. I hear it from friends, from family, and from people beyond the human rights field who care deeply about what’s happening but feel like they can’t get any traction. I understand that feeling.
But one thing that’s kept me going lately is realizing we’re not alone in this.
I’ve been astonished to see how much attention WOLA’s work is garnering. I’m hearing from more reporters, more policymakers, and more people in the field than ever before. The number of readers of WOLA’s work has tripled in the past year. I’m averaging 20 media interviews per week! And those Border Updates we started five years ago, originally just a way for us to stay on top of the news, have become a daily go-to for reporters, litigators, and advocates trying to make sense of the chaos. At least a thousand people are downloading them daily.
Even as so many feel powerless, they’re looking for information, for context, and for ways to act. Knowing that people care, and that they’re finding our work more than ever, gives me a huge reason to keep going.
One recent experience has stuck with me. After some of my social media posts on the Abrego Garcia case gained traction, a veteran human rights investigator—someone I’ve long admired but never worked closely with before—reached out to talk. She was alarmed by the patterns of enforced disappearance emerging in the US, patterns that mirror some of the darkest moments in Latin America’s history. Within days, we pulled together a public webinar with renowned experts from the region. More than 800 people registered for this webinar, a WOLA record and a powerful reminder that people aren’t just paying attention, they are hungry to understand what is happening and how to fight it.
It matters to be consistently present and credible in these moments. I’ve had more meaningful conversations with more new people than ever before, because they’ve sought us out. They’ve followed our work, and they connect to what we are saying. And while I don’t know how long this window will stay open, I intend to make the most of it.
If you believe this work matters too, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to WOLA today. Your support helps us stay visible, connected, and ready for the next fight.
Thank you for standing with us. It means more than I can say.
