We Will Not Back Down: America at a Crossroads

As we continue to contend with the day-to-day craziness witnessed by our people, our country, and now, the world, we find ourselves navigating chaos brought on by an administration with erratic concepts of leadership—plans that pivot from one extreme to the next, often within the same breath. This instability has left our country in disarray and the world in a state of confusion.

But we, the citizens of this country, will not—and have not—stood idly by while Project 2025, regressive policies, and a tariff tirade tear through the fabric of our democracy. We are rising. We are resisting.

How We Fight Back

•  We are staging a nationwide boycott—a Blackout Tour— to make our voices heard where it counts most: the wallets of corporations that support the anti-DEI movement and continue to bankroll those seeking to divide us. This financial protest targets companies that have remained complicit or outright supportive of legislation and rhetoric that undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion.
•  We are demonstrating in the streets, letting our legislators know that we are totally displeased with the direction our country is heading—and we are determined to do something about it. On April 5th, the “Hands Off” demonstrations mobilized tens of thousands of protestors in cities across the nation, united in one resounding message: Hands off our bodies, our rights, our history, our vote, and our democracy. These demonstrations were a coordinated show of resistance to authoritarianism, white supremacy, and the dismantling of civil liberties. From Washington, D.C. to Oakland, from Chicago to Birmingham, citizens of all backgrounds marched with urgency and purpose, reminding those in power that we will not sit silently as our freedoms are rolled back.
•  We are seeing courageous voices emerge from within the halls of Congress. Leaders like Bernie Sanders, Jasmine Crockett, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Maxwell Frost, and Hakeem Jeffries are using their platforms to demand accountability and amplify the will of the people.
•  We are preparing new leaders. Across the country, organizations like Run for Something, Emerge America, Win With Black Women and She Should Run are equipping ordinary citizens with the training and support they need to run for office and protect our democracy from the ground up.

And most recently—and impactfully—Senator Cory Booker stood on the Senate floor for 25 hours and 5 minutes, delivering the longest speech in Senate history. His marathon address was not just a filibuster; it was a clarion call to action and a stark contrast to the last person to hold that record—Strom Thurmond, who notoriously filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 in defense of white supremacy and segregation.

A Speech for the Ages

Senator Booker’s words struck deep, resonating across generations and drawing a line in the sand for what this moment in history demands of us:

“We must be the moral defibrillators of our democracy. We must shock the heart of this nation back to the beat of justice.”

“I am standing here not because I think I can do this alone, but because I believe in the power of the people to rise when democracy is threatened.”

“This is not about left or right—it’s about right and wrong.”

“The arc of the moral universe does not bend toward justice on its own. It bends because we pull it. And right now, we must pull with all our might.”

The New Jersey senator concluded by quoting civil rights leader and former Representative John Lewis (D-GA): "He said for us to go out and cause some 'good trouble, necessary trouble,' to redeem the soul of our nation. I want you to redeem the dream. Let's be bold in America." 

Watch Senator Cory Booker’s full speech here

“Word in Black” review of Senator Booker’s speech

The timing and contrast could not be more powerful. While Strom Thurmond stood for exclusion and racism, Senator Booker stood for inclusion, justice, and democracy.

We Will Not Be Silenced

We will not be oppressed.
We will not be bamboozled.
We will not be distracted or discouraged.
We will fight.
We will not back down.
We will not go back.

And those we’ve elected to fight for us must do their jobs and fight too—with courage, clarity, and conviction.

Emma Young, a Chicago-based writer and activist, spoke powerfully about this moment in her Facebook commentary on April 7, 2025:

“Please don't be discouraged by this man's ignorance. Don't think yesterday's nationwide massive protests were in vain because he, in his incredible ignorance, doesn't appear to understand they took place because the nation he's trying to undermine doesn't want his racist behind trying to be king of our country. And we don't want Elon Musk & his teenage minions taking our jobs & stealing our democracy. The marches weren't for him to understand. The protesters realize he doesn't get it—that's why they were protesting.”

She continued:

“The protests are directed at all freedom-loving American people who care about our democracy and respect the Constitution of the United States. The message is: come, join us. Let's fight for our democracy together. The protests are directed at the American Congress, and the message is: You can FAFO if you want, but if you continue to rubberstamp this wannabe king, all of Elon Musk's billions won't save your seat—just ask Wisconsin.”

Other Ways the Resistance is Growing

The movement isn't just in the streets—it’s also in courtrooms, classrooms, and boardrooms:

• Legal watchdogs like the ACLU and NAACP Legal Defense Fund are challenging unconstitutional policies and protecting voter rights in battleground states.
  
  
• Educators are defying anti-CRT mandates and working to preserve honest history in the curriculum.
  
  
• Faith leaders and interfaith coalitions are uniting to host civic engagement summits and voter registration drives.
  
  
• Tech workers and whistleblowers are exposing unethical algorithms and disinformation campaigns designed to manipulate the public.
  
  

From coast to coast, we are organizing, strategizing, voting, and holding each other accountable.

In Conclusion

This moment in history is not for the faint of heart. But it is for the brave. For the ones who know that democracy is not a spectator sport. For those who believe in justice, equity, and the promise of America.

We are not just reacting—we are rising.
We are not just watching—we are working.
We are not just surviving—we are mobilizing.

The question isn’t whether we will win. The question is how many of us are willing to stand up, speak out, and stay the course until we do.

Let’s keep showing up.
Let’s keep pulling the arc.
Let’s keep the faith—and the fire.