“If no one else will help us protect democracy, we know that the people in this room will.”
–Congresswoman Summer Lee
Imagine a year where Democrats control the Senate, the House, and the White House. Imagine a progressive caucus that has not lost but expanded its diversity. This is a real possibility that our movement partners, progressive champions in Congress, and our ecosystem of donor networks are fighting for. To get there, we’ll need to crest the “siege” coming from the right.
Women Donors Action co-hosted a Protect the Squad briefing featuring a coalition of other donor networks and progressive organizations. We heard inspiring words from Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal and Summer Lee about the stakes of this moment and the need for bold vision and action. Organizers on the frontlines of the fight for our democracy are calling on funders to:
- Understand the scale of the threats we are facing from the right. Elite interests and institutions are having an outsized influence on politicians and our democracy, silencing our movement partners and attempting to oust progressive champions with an unprecedented amount of money. Leaders who have stood for every progressive issue – from the Green New Deal to abortion access to the call for a ceasefire – are being targeted.
- Reach for a bold vision of the future. In step with our grantees, courageous elected leaders, and our partners in the ecosystem, we know that our movements can win. They are being targeted not because they have failed, but because they are succeeding. The progressive movement is the majority and if we invest now, we can build the future we all deserve.
- Invest early, and invest big. Our partners on the ground are activating to confront the backlash from the right; they need early resources in order to fully implement their plans and to protect the progress we’ve all fought so hard for. Understand why it’s critical to invest early.
