The democracy this nation was built on is not guaranteed. We can stop an undemocratic power grab, but only if we prepare and together, choose democracy.
When we started Choose Democracy, we promised we would close shop on January 21st.
This will be our last tweet thread. We hope to explain that decision.
We're well aware that Democracy has not been unequivocally Chosen — so we can't exactly say "mission accomplished."
Letting organizations die is a gift for the future — just like a crowded forest needs the space for old trees to clear out so the new can arise.
We love and thank you all for journeying with us. With that we say farewell 👋
When we started Choose Democracy, we promised we would close shop on January 21st.
This will be our last tweet thread. We hope to explain that decision.
We're well aware that Democracy has not been unequivocally Chosen — so we can't exactly say "mission accomplished."
Many organizations stick around well past their time to keep fundraising, sucking attention, rewriting strategy plans, and following the times rather than leading on the times.
That's not who we want to be.
We didn't avoid a successful coup by focusing on the negative — we did it by shoring up systems of democracy: voting, organizing, pressuring officials to act right, counting votes, debunking myths, preparing if things got worse, & being strategic about when we act.
Yesterday we saw the transition of power in the form of a ritual known as Inauguration Day. It was a moving day for a moving moment. For many of us, it was a moment to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
There is a severe breakdown of our country afoot. It's not going to get better without effort. We certainly can't fix it by staying in reaction mode to each act of violence — which may grow dramatically. We have to handle our fear so we can keep working on the big issues.
"While threats from anti-democratic right-wing elements of terrorism and other acts of violence is real and ongoing, the risk of a successful coup is actually quite small, especially if the American people are willing to fight nonviolently to preserve our freedoms." - @SZunes
We are honored to be included in @SZunes analysis about how Choose Democracy and other groups did our parts to oppose Donald Trump's coup.
https://t.co/tZg2gmTDYn
"The preparation by activists throughout the country also underscored the widespread commitment to preserving, however serious its contradictions and limitations, democratic representative government in the United States." – @SZunes
We encourage folks to find local groups where you can make a meaningful difference.
This includes the fight for greater voter access, work to transform the media landscape, & pressuring politicians to reform the electoral system, ending gerrymandering, and more.
Last week's coup attempt has backfired. Rather than changing the election results, it spurred an impeachment process.
We are watching sweeping reforms by social media, with Trump excluded from Twitter and Facebook.
What now? Keep reading 👇
We discourage constantly reading news to see what else there is to be fearful about.
Instead, find your steady ground to prepare for the long fight ahead. https://t.co/IHsf2BXRx5