It’s been just over 70 days since this President came to power. His administration has unleashed chaos upon the country and the world, but we are still fighting. Trump, Musk, and their supporters are reacting to our strength in numbers.
They are afraid of losing power, so they are trying to instill fear in all of us. They increase policing, criminalization, and poverty. They demonize DEI programs, Palestinian resistance, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities or with any trait they deem different from them. It’s all part of their plan to maintain what they perceive as safety: control and money.
While we need to keep fighting back we also need to remember we were winning. And we can't just resist; we need to keep fighting for that world that is possible. Part of building a new world will require repair.
SURJ NYC supports reparations for slavery, and currently, there are many ways to get involved in this cause.
Here in New York, a State Reparations Commission is meeting and holding public hearings. The next one is on April 10 in the Bronx. SURJ NYC is devoting our April 3 Chapter Meeting to discuss reparations; you can register to join here.
In New York City, the Commission on Racial Equality passed Local Laws 91 and 92 to publicly acknowledge the history and harm of slavery and to study how the New York City government contributed to slavery. The first draft of the report will come out on July 1, 2025.
Nationally, lawmakers and citizens alike are pushing for reparations. HR40, a bill to study reparations for slavery, has been reintroduced to Congress. On May 17, the National Reparations Network is holding a rally in Washington, DC, on May 17.
Come join us to learn more about the history of reparations work and to get involved in the current activism.
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC