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What Do We Do from Here? A Five-Part Series by Rep. Ron Reynolds

“The time for despair is over. Now is the time for action. Resistance is a movement—mobilizing, voting, and holding power accountable. Every voice matters. This is our moment to fight for justice and change.”

Published

3 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Part Two: The Resistance Begins

The time for despair is over. The time for action is now.

We have seen what this administration is willing to do in just a matter of days. We have watched as the foundation of our democracy is chipped away, as families are torn apart, and as justice is twisted into something unrecognizable. We have seen the pardons, the policies, and the attacks on our most vulnerable communities. But we have also seen something else—something more powerful than fear, more resilient than oppression.

We have seen resistance.

Resistance is not just a word; it is a call to action. It is refusing to accept injustice as the status quo. It is the courage to fight back even when the odds are stacked against us. And make no mistake—this fight is not just about politics. This is about survival. This is about ensuring that our children inherit a country where democracy, equality, and justice are not just empty promises but lived realities.

So, what must we do?

Mobilize at Every Level

Change does not start at the top. It starts in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our local governments. If we want to push back, we must organize. We must show up—to city council meetings, to school board elections, to state legislatures. We must make our voices heard in the places where policies take shape. Grassroots movements have always been the backbone of progress. Now, more than ever, we must use our collective power to demand change.

Vote Like Our Lives Depend on It—Because They Do

Elections have consequences. The last election proved that beyond a doubt. Now, every single race matters—local, state, and national. We cannot afford to sit this out. We cannot afford to think our votes don’t count. Voter suppression efforts are ramping up, targeting marginalized communities with surgical precision. That means we must be relentless in making sure every eligible voter is registered, informed, and ready to cast their ballot. We must protect our right to vote as fiercely as we protect our families, because, in many ways, they are one and the same.

Hold Corporations Accountable

Many companies have profited off our communities while remaining silent in the face of injustice. Others have actively contributed to the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We cannot allow this hypocrisy to stand. Our dollars are powerful tools of resistance. Where we spend our money, where we invest, and what we choose to support sends a clear message. If corporations refuse to stand with us, then we must refuse to stand with them. Economic resistance has long been a strategy for change, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to today’s targeted boycotts of companies that fuel injustice.

Support and Protect the Most Vulnerable

Communities under attack cannot fight alone. Immigrants facing deportation, families torn apart, and Black and Brown communities targeted by systemic racism—we must stand in solidarity with those most affected. That means donating to organizations providing legal aid and resources. It means showing up at protests, volunteering at community centers, and using whatever platforms we have to amplify the voices of the marginalized. When one of us is under attack, all of us are under attack. We will not abandon our own.

Stay Loud, Stay Relentless, Stay Unified

This administration thrives on division. It seeks to wear us down, to exhaust us into submission. We cannot allow that to happen. We must continue to speak out, to share information, and to challenge the lies and propaganda that seek to distort reality. Social media, independent journalism, and community organizing—these are our weapons in the fight for truth. Silence is complicity, and we refuse to be complicit.

The Road Ahead

This is just the beginning. The resistance is not a moment; it is a movement. It will not be easy. It will not be quick. But it will be necessary. Our ancestors fought against oppression with fewer resources, with less support, with greater dangers—and they did not back down. We will not be the generation that gives up. We will be the generation that fights back and wins.

In Part Three, we will discuss the role of leadership—who we must look to, who we must hold accountable, and how we can cultivate new leaders who truly represent the people. Resistance alone is not enough. We need leaders who are ready to fight alongside us, push for real change, and stand firm in the face of injustice.

This is our moment. This is our fight. And we are just getting started.

Oakland Post

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#NNPA BlackPress

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

19 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

3 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: