Today, we learned the results of the presidential election, and today, we recommit ourselves to the fight to stand up for justice.
We should take a moment to celebrate all that we did achieve – voters showed up and waited in rainy long lines and navigated newly enforced voter ID laws. An overwhelming majority of Nebraskans supported paid sick leave for 250,000 workers, another step in our effort to ensure that every person in the state can take care of themselves and their families. Many Nebraskans with a felony conviction voted after two decades of disenfranchisement, but not without barriers impeding their timeframe in which they could register to vote. Together we can celebrate our strong and growing democracy and the many community members who traveled across the state of Nebraska encouraging voter participation.
I know many of us right now are experiencing mixed emotions and uncertainty about what comes next. But we’ve been through moments like this before.
We chose to come together. We organized. We held the line and stopped things that needed to be stopped. We illuminated clear contrasts and held leaders accountable. And we still found ways to win meaningful change.
Appleseed is built for moments like this. We’re ready to fight against the largest, most formidable forms of systemic injustice in our state. The big problems that keep our neighbors in poverty and place barriers right in front of the path to justice and opportunity. As we move forward together after the election, our fight remains the same.
Many Nebraskans and their families continue to live with uncertainty in their day to day lives. We must update our federal immigration laws to create positive solutions that will address long standing issues and meet the evolving and future needs of our state. We must push for and invest in policies that prevent hunger, expand and improve health care coverage, provide housing stability, and create enforceable workplace safety protections. This type of support will give Nebraskans and our communities across the state a real opportunity to thrive.
Different administrations come and go, but even in the face of difficult circumstances, the voices in our communities will continue to grow stronger in order to focus on the work ahead. Being engaged community members is the way you can help light this path.
Together, we will rest and take the time we need to so we can continue the march towards justice. We will persevere and keep standing together. We will continue to hold our leaders accountable for the policy decisions they make. We will keep reaching out to our friends and neighbors to join in this work. We will keep lifting up the best ideas, and we will keep holding the ground on the progress we have made together.
Thank you for your work this election cycle. Together, we will continue to shape the future of our state. We will build a just, vibrant, and inclusive Nebraska where everyone can thrive.