Dear ROPnet,
Last Thursday, ROP hosted our largest virtual meeting ever! 140 people joined our post-election gathering: Meeting the Moment. We are linking up across county lines as a way to refuse the tools of authoritarianism: isolation, fear, and despair. It doesn’t mean we don’t feel those things, but when we do, we reach out and join hands with the thousands of other human dignity advocates that make up our network. We ground ourselves in our connections and commitments and we find the path forward together.
In this ROPnet, we’re sharing conversation highlights and plans for what comes next. If there’s one thing you should know, it’s that folks were grateful to be with one another and so eager to continue being in community that we are planning another gathering. Click here to register for our next Meeting the Moment gathering, which will be on Monday evening, November 25th from 6-7:30 PM PST.
I couldn’t join the last Zoom! What did I miss?
- We greeted old friends and made new ones, and grounded ourselves in the strength of our ROP network that is drawing on over three decades of organizing experience and power building.
- ROP friends and mentors Suzanne Pharr and Scot Nakagawa joined us. Together we broke down this moment’s international and historical context, and what this moment is calling on us to do. Stay tuned on our social media for clips of Suzanne and Scot speaking!
- We broke into regional breakouts to discuss what we can protect, defend, and build between now and the Inauguration in each of our communities. Many groups began exchanging contact information and planning to convene in person in their county or region!
I’m thinking about joining the next Zoom gathering! What can I expect?
Register today to join us for Meeting the Moment: Monday, November 25th, to reconvene, connect with newly energized human dignity leaders in your region, formulate our plans for how we will prepare for Trump’s next presidency, and build movement power in the face of authoritarianism.
- We will be joined by additional movement leaders so we can make sense of this moment and our role in it as part of a broader statewide movement. Read what we’re reading to get a head start chewing on the discussion.
- Breakout discussions, round two! Are you eager to connect with other human dignity organizers in your county, or did you run out of time to get someone’s contact information or to finish a conversation about planning a local gathering or action? There will be time to pick up where we left off!
- We’ll be asking you what else you need from these ongoing gatherings. Do you need help building your group? Or a de-escalation training? Maybe you want breakout rooms with people from other parts of the state working on the same issue as you? We’ll use that feedback to shape this space moving forward to best meet the needs of you and your Human Dignity Group.
Talking is great but what are we going to DO together?
In the wake of the election, do you feel like there are a million things to do but at the same time, you don’t know where to start? You’re not alone! One piece that we read recently really landed for us: “10 ways to be prepared and grounded now that Trump has won”, from Waging Nonviolence. What do you think of this article?
We can all be part of building rural power between now and Inauguration Day as we move through these times together. Do you want one-on-one support for your group’s preparations or to figure out where to plug in? Reach out to your county organizer or email Emma at emma@rop.org!
Warmly,
Emma and the ROP Team
