Today, after Thanksgiving, corporate America hopes to unleash an orgy of commercialism known as Black Friday. Today, I am feeling a profound sadness because Donald Trump—a sexist, racist, xenophobe—was elevated to the presidency. Despite our deep disappointment, we progressives cannot shrink from our responsibility to rise in loud and clear opposition to this very real threat. I have noticed that already some, perhaps many Trump supporters seem to believe that Trump's election (without even the most popular votes) gives them permission to devalue, dishonor, and disrespect other people. 

We cannot disagree more. If you want to stand up to Trump, Pence, and other conservative extremists, please support Progressive Democrats of America now. We hope you will donate $500, $50, or whatever you can now to support our organizing. Money tight? Sign up with Mike "Phone Guy" Fox to make calls from your home. And contact PDA Field Coordinator Judy Hess to launch or strengthen a PDA chapter.

Justice Or Bust! 

Will you stand with Progressive Democrats of America on the issues that matter to us—the climate emergency, improved Medicare for all healthcare coverage, and more? PDA had a pretty strong election night. 54% of our endorsed candidates won, including the incredible Nanette Barragán in California's 44th Congressional District. PDA stood with Nanette in large part because she stood with us on the climate emergency and our other issues. Many other Democrats backed her opponent, but we knew she was the most progressive candidate in the race so we were willing to challenge other Democrats. I am proud to lead an organization that stands unafraid for what we believe.

If you agree we must challenge Trump and corporate / neoliberal Democrats alike, PDA is the organization for you! Sign up with Mike "Phone Guy" Fox to make calls from your home. And contact PDA Field Coordinator Judy Hess to launch or strengthen a PDA chapter. Too busy to volunteer? Then please donate $500, $50, or whatever you can now to support our organizing.

Please join us as we mark the 10th anniversary and relaunch the Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign that is more necessary than ever leading into the Trump-Pence regime. We are planning to hold HNW vigils and other events across the country on Saturday, December 10th, 2016 International Human Rights Day. Please contact Mike Fox to help organize a vigil.

Join us for an organizing call this Saturday November 26 at 4pm ET / 1pm PT
Dial-in Number: (712)-775-7035 / Access Code: 124469#
Please RSVP to Mike Fox and include any questions you have about the vigils

All of our PDA-endorsed candidates made us so proud, win or lose. From Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii and Barbara Lee in California to Jamie Raskin in Maryland and Jim McGovern in Massachusetts, and John Conyers of Michigan and our pick for DNC Chair Keith Ellison of Minnesota in between, PDA has a track record of backing strong progressive women and men, and that will continue. Because we now enjoy several brand new chapters of Young Progressives Demanding Action (YPDA) on college campuses across the country, we expect an entirely new crop of progressive young women and men to rise into Progressive leadership.

So we had much to celebrate, as women and men who respect women, and we will hold our elected endorsees to high standards in their offices. We will now need to fully mobilize that strong majority of the American people who support an improved Medicare for all system as the only viable replacement, and we will need to stop the Trump regime from repealing the ACA until seamless transition into that Medicare for all program can be guaranteed. It is unacceptable to experiment with the health and the lives of millions of people.

This slogan that Bobby Kennedy used during his 1968 presidential campaign authored by George Bernard Shaw was written on a poster next to my bed , "Some men see things as they are and ask, 'Why.' Other men dream things that never were and ask, 'Why not'." Well, fast forward to 2016, and this woman still dreams and intend to demand to know, "Why not." Are you with me? Justice or bust.

Help PDA make needed progress. Please contact PDA Field Coordinator Judy Hess now to help launch or strengthen a PDA chapter in your state or locality. Sign up with Mike "Phone Guy" Fox to make calls from your own home. Too busy to volunteer? Donate generously now to support our unabashedly progressive organizing.

In solidarity,

Donna Smith for Judy, Mike F, Kim, Mike H, Janis, Deb, Dan, Teva, and Amos
Your Progressive Democrats of America National Team

P.S. We're here to help you make progress in your state and locality! If you need help organizing a new PDA chapter or energizing your existing chapter, please contact PDA Field Coordinator Judy Hess.

Follow PDA and share our articles on social media.
Contact PDA National Online Media Director Janis Kay. Click on the logos below: