Some good news for your Friday
Is it too late to return 2026 to sender?
It’s the first full week of the new year, and the news has been anything but good. A mom murdered by ICE? The official White House website rewriting the truth of January 6th? We’re taking over Venezuela? It’s enough to make us want to pull a blanket over our heads and stay in bed until 2027.
But the terrible headlines aren’t the only story. Do you know who doesn’t make the news? The many women who have been out in their communities, making real change and building connections.
In Michigan, the Clarkston PerSisters have been holding weekly protests and collecting food for immigrant families in a neighboring city. They also held a candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good last night.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, residents came together after a library board was fired for refusing to ban a picture book.
After the Randolph County public library board refused to ban Call Me Max, a picture book about a transgender boy, county commissioners voted to dissolve the board, despite admitting they had followed policy guidelines. The move put the library under direct control of the Commissioners, who actually stated their intention to restrict access to an additional 40 books.
Red Wine & Blue’s local TroubleNation group, Troubled Waters Bridge, rallied together to host a Read-In to show their support for the library board. More than 125 community members from across the political spectrum came together to stand against censorship, proving that when neighbors organize and support one another, they can push back and be heard.
And if you missed this week’s podcast, we heard from Janice Robinson about how she partnered with Charlotte Area Liberal Moms, Siembra, and Carolina Migrant Network to protect students from ICE back in November. Equipped with a Signal chat and whistles, they not only shielded families from Border Patrol agents, they eventually drove ICE out of their city altogether.
If the national headlines are getting you down or you find yourself doom-scrolling, consider plugging in to a local group in your area. There’s power in community.
Speaking of community — if you’re having a hard time processing the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis, you’re not alone. We invite you to join us for a virtual call on Monday, Jan 12 at 7 pm ET to talk about what’s happening, support one another, and take concrete steps to protect our communities, stay safe, and demand action from Congress. You can learn more and RSVP here.