Democracy is the cornerstone of our ability to affect change. In fact, people power is the only thing that shifts old ways of thinking into new ways of being. The promise of liberty and justice for all hinges on the collective power of people to hold our government accountable. As we celebrate 250 years as a nation, we must do better.

Our democracy is under threat. Black, brown, and Indigenous people are at the center of these threats. ICE is on the streets capturing and detaining innocent immigrants without due process. ICE agents shot people who were protecting their immigrant neighbors. Voting rights that took centuries to secure are being taken away. Politically-motivated gerrymandering threatens the right of people of color to have representation in government.

A War on the Environment

The federal government is also waging war on the environment. There are countless efforts to roll back environmental laws and fast track destructive projects.  Recently, the President has called environmentalists “domestic terrorists”. The federal government is trying to scare environmental activists and advocacy organizations.

This Administration is relentless in its efforts to mislead, sow division, and silence its critics. It can be overwhelming. On a daily basis, people are asking themselves, “What can we do?”

Fear and misinformation are their weapons. Courage and truth must be our response.

Holding the Line on Our Democracy

This moment is propelling us to double down. We know what it takes to achieve transformative change:

• Confront false narratives with clear evidence
• Bear witness to the atrocities
• Amplify the stories of those harmed
• Speak truth to those in power
• Engage elected officials

This is how we hold the line on democracy. This is how we hold the government and corporations accountable to the people. This is how we create a better world.

We must be in solidarity with those bearing the brunt of injustice. We know this works. Exposing what actually happens on the ground cuts through government propaganda and misinformation. This helps shift public opinion. It forces the government to respond. For example, regular people have shared countless videos that debunked White House efforts to downplay ICE’s violent and unlawful tactics.

As a result, there was overwhelming public disapproval of ICE. This led to congressional investigations and a change in leadership. The national conversation changed. The needle of public opinion shifted. The government had to act.

For 30 years, this same approach has worked to protect Southern forests and communities from industrial logging. Take the fight against biomass, for example. Governments and industries lost credibility when evidence on the ground proved that they’re lying. They say biomass is clean and green. But the evidence shows it’s dirty and destructive. Stories of people getting sick. Videos of mature forests being destroyed. The truth is that biomass pollutes the air and devastates sensitive ecosystems. There is clear evidence that the wood pellet industry targets low-wealth, Black communities across the South.

The more the truth came out, the more industry and government had to change. They had to backtrack and take action.

People Power is the Antidote

We must exercise our constitutional rights to publicly oppose injustice. Even when it’s hard or scary. Only when the undeniable truth comes to light is change possible.

At Dogwood Alliance, our work to protect Southern forests and communities helps hold the line on our democracy. We remain fiercely committed to working alongside the communities most harmed. Together, we’re exposing the truth about the Southern forestry industry’s impacts. We’re holding government accountable. Together we are driving community-led solutions.

People power is the antidote to authoritarianism. Courage, love, hope, and joy are the antidotes to fear, hatred, despair, and oppression. Diversity is our strength. Both in the woods and in our larger movement for a just country and a healthy planet. Together we are strong. Together we shall overcome. So, stay diligent. Stay focused. Stay engaged. And stay united.