Hey there John,

My name is Charlie. I’m a student at AU, and last week, I joined the student walkouts across DC. For over a month, the National Guard has been patrolling DC, harassing civilians, performing illegal arrests, and creating an environment of fear in the city.

That’s why I joined thousands of other students in joining the walkouts. I’ve read too much in my classes and seen too many dystopian movies to know that when the government puts military boots in its own cities, worse is on the way. When we study history or watch movies, we always find ourselves asking “how do everyday people let this happen?”

The answer is fear. I felt fear too, when I first thought about joining these protests last week. Will I get kicked out of my school? Will I be arrested?

I won’t say those fears have fully gone away, but from the first moment I saw the crowd gathering, I felt something else: relief. Relief that I wasn’t alone.

That’s why I’m asking you today to become a sustaining donor to Sunrise Movement.

We are building a durable youth movement that can stand up to authoritarianism in our country, and it’s going to take all of us to succeed.

Anxiety comes from paralysis and inaction. It’s easy to get stuck in your head, wondering what you can do. It’s a lot harder to be paralyzed by those thoughts when you’re doing something.

We all have a part to play in fighting back against authoritarianism, and we can’t do it alone. Political movements have been central to breaking authoritarians’ power throughout history, and youth movements have led the way.

Take the next step and become a monthly supporter of Sunrise today.

You get access to all of our trainings and member resources, and can help determine the future of our movement, one step at a time. We all have a part to play in taking down fascism, and I know you can find yours.

In solidarity,

Charlie