Friends,
It’s been hard for me to come up with much more than expletives regarding the election of Donald Trump on Tuesday. I’ve been feeling a lot of things: Rage. Sadness. Despair. Guilt for not having done enough. I know that many of you are feeling the same things.
Feel what you’re feeling. But we have to be clear about what happened.
Trump’s 53 million votes came from people who’ve been hurt by our economy, which is rigged to favor the few. Clinton lost because the establishment has been disconnected from and failing the vast majority of folks across this country, who did not show up at the polls. We cannot ignore the economic reality of tens of millions of people who said no to a party that has abandoned them.
We can feel good that Illinois rejected Trump, but, while that was happening, Governor Bruce Rauner had a field day. He and the GOP gained four seats in Southern Illinois, ending the “supermajority” that has helped prevent the governor from implementing the worst of his agenda. It’s Rauner vs. Madigan. Tyrant Republican vs. Elite Democrat. Our local corporate Democrats aren’t saying the racist and xenophobic things that Trump is saying, but they are destroying our communities. Make no mistake.
The revolution starts at home.
We created UN35 to organize for change starting right here on the Northwest side of Chicago. This election makes it clear that our work is more important now than ever. Politics is not just a dirty game to be avoided at all costs, it is an essential path toward creating a city, state, country and plant that we can be proud to call home.
We’ve elected three candidates locally who share our vision and values. Three is not enough. The only way we’ll get more is to dive deeper into the work.
So what should we do now?
We have a Fall Fundraiser next week 11/16 @ 6:30pm. The election results are a reminder of the need for strong organizing in years to come. Funding this work is vital. Get your tickets today.
At our next Member Meeting we’re focusing on immigration policy and how we can support our undocumented sisters and brothers in the face of a Trump presidency. Please join us Saturday 11/19 at 10:30am
This Saturday 11/12 @ 4pm all UN35 members, friends and community members are welcome to be together, commiserate, reaffirm our commitment to one another, and talk about what comes next.
I look forward to seeing you there.
In solidarity,
Marta Popadiak
Executive Director | United Neighbors of the 35th Ward
773.744.9883 | marta@un35.org