Hi John,
The authoritarian threat is not hypothetical. It is unfolding in the federal takeover of our streets, book bans, extremist violence, voter suppression, and rollbacks of bodily autonomy.
In the middle of this crisis, the grassroots organizers defending our democracy are being asked to do more with less. Philanthropy is pulling back from movement infrastructure just when we need it most.
That is why Karundi Williams is offering an alternative in her new op-ed in The Forge: “We Say We Want to Save Democracy. So Why Aren’t We Funding the People Who Can?”
In this piece, Karundi lifts up a path forward: invest not only in the resistance but also in the future we are fighting for. She points to liberatory organizing, the long-game work of training, political education, and leadership development, as the foundation that sustains movements.
In her words, “Grassroots organizers cannot fight authoritarianism if they are running on empty.” With real investment, organizers do more than protest. They govern, they heal, and they build lasting power.
At re:power, we see this every day. When organizers are resourced with skills, relationships, and strategy, they transform communities and create the conditions for democracy to thrive. That is the promise of liberatory organizing, and it works.
