It’s early November. Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election. Like many people, I have countless questions, concerns and thoughts. I have read and watched copious amounts of news coverage to the point of a lasting headache. This moment is melancholic for millions and millions of people. It is frustrating and saddening for many communities, but we must remember that this moment is as powerful as it is painful, and it will serve us in our continued fight; for women, for people of color, for queer and trans people and for justice.
We have the power to take action, and we must do so, despite facing so much uncertainty, fear, anxiety and disappointment. It is important that we use this period as further inspiration. Additionally, it is crucial that we recognize this is not a reflection of our ‘radical’ beliefs or the qualifications of our democratic candidate, but rather as a stark indication of how far some will go to undermine the rights of others. It also exposes those who succumb to greed and ignorance.
Personally, this is one of the deepest disappointments I have ever felt. Nov. 6, 2024, will forever remain etched in my mind as the day I realized that I can no longer assume that others think with the same empathy and logic that I do. I am extremely fortunate to be a young, white queer woman in a protected state, and I can only imagine a fraction of the pain that others face today across the country. Those who have fought for so long with so much bravery and tenacity have been repeatedly shut down by racism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia. The many communities who have worked tirelessly only to be continuously dismissed and disrespected. The women in states with no reproductive rights. The people who have long sought the same respect, dignity and equality as the white man.
In many states across the nation, felons cannot vote. Furthermore, one of the key arguments put forth by right-wing groups is that felons should be barred from entering the country. Yet this felon, Trump, can somehow become the nation’s president in the same year that he has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts brought against him. There’s a recent adage that has followed Trump in his last three elections. Not everyone who supports him is a rapist, but they all decided that rape was not a dealbreaker. Those who voted for him all decided that 34 felony counts of fraud was not a dealbreaker; that attempting to throw a coup d’etat was not a dealbreaker; that hateful, vile rhetoric was not a dealbreaker; that the rights of the women, POC, queer and trans folks in their lives were not a dealbreaker.
The truth is that while I may not believe wholeheartedly in all of Kamala Harris’ policies, I believe in women’s rights. I believe in justice for our Black and POC communities. I believe in LGBTQ+ rights. I believe in character and morals. I believe in equal treatment and equitable opportunities for all. I believe in progress.
This moment may hurt so many of us, yet it can still serve and motivate us.
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal,” Toni Morrison said in 2004 following George Bush’s presidential re-election. “I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.”
This experience will help us grow, reminding us not only of the challenges we face but also of the good news that emerged today. For the first time in history, two Black women will serve in the Senate at the same time – Angela Alsobrooks became the first Black person from Maryland to be elected to the Senate and Lisa Blunt Rochester became the first woman and first Black person elected from Delaware. Andy Kim made history as the first Korean American to be elected to the Senate.
Sarah McBride became the first trans person to be elected to Congress. Julie Johnson became the first LGBTQ+ representative from the south. Keturah Herron became the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Kentucky State Senate. Rashaun Kemp became the first openly gay Black man elected to Georgia’s state legislature. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar won re-elections and will continue their careers as the first Muslim women in the U.S. Congress.
California, Colorado and Hawaii voted to protect marriage equality. Measures to protect abortion access in Arizona, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Missouri, Montana and Nevada will pass, according to CNN.
Measure E will likely pass in Sacramento, which will help generate funds for Sacramento library services. Measure L appears that it will pass in Orangevale, which will enhance parks and recreational spaces in the area.
Propositions 2 and 4 are currently passing in California, authorizing bonds for public school infrastructure and safe drinking water, wildfire prevention and protection from climate risks.
In many ways, history was made today. I am immensely grateful for the steps made toward progress, and I remain committed on this path in the face of attempts at regression. We must be proud of our wins and inspired by our challenges.
We must continue to be active in our communities and be part of change. I’d recommend joining grassroots organizations in the area like NorCal Resist, Punks With Lunch Sacramento and 350 Sacramento to keep up the fight on local issues and policies that have an effect on our daily lives.
Additionally, we can boycott corporations that support the MAGA agenda. The iPhone app, Buycott, runs a boycott campaign focused on informing consumers of the issues that different companies support. Participants can use the app to check if the products they purchase are linked to Trump-affiliated businesses, for example. It can help us make informed purchasing decisions, allowing us to vote with our dollar and support more inclusive companies.
Show up for your communities. Make connections. Engage with others in positive ways. And remember to breathe. The Current recently published an article with resources and support for students, faculty and staff at ARC who may be anxious about a second Trump term.
Reach out to your loved ones. Hug someone. Tell someone you love them. Remind them that you are here for them. Be kind. Don’t ever lose hope.
At her concession speech on Wednesday, Harris offered reassurance and encouragement to those feeling the pain of her loss and the fear of Trump’s gain.
“To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it’s going to be okay,” Harris said. “Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power. And don’t you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.”
Harris was the first woman and first person of color to be elected to the positions of California district attorney, attorney general and vice president of the United States. She was the first vice president to visit a reproductive healthcare clinic, and she officiated some of the nation’s first same-sex marriages. She has made it clear that while she may have been the first to do many things, she will absolutely not be the last.
There are so many more firsts to come for all of us. Progress is not forgotten, and it will not halt. Our actions do not just matter on election day – our fight goes far beyond the ballot box. Today, we grieve. But tomorrow, we continue, determined in securing the rights of every single person in this country. We continue with love, empathy, care, dedication and sheer grit.
