Message from our President, Ritu Pancholy

As the election season swings into high gear, I wanted to share some thoughts about how we reached this critical moment in our history, and more importantly, what we can do in the weeks ahead to secure a healthier, more equitable, and more peaceful future.

This year has been full of ups and downs. Across our nation, people are struggling under their new circumstances due to COVID19. There has been no proper federal guidance from the White House on how to handle COVID19 and no mandatory safety precautions in place. In short, we've had no meaningful leadership at the federal level. As a direct result of this incompetence, we'll soon pass an unbearably tragic milestone: 200,000 deaths in our nation due to COVID19. 

Now we're faced with the most critical election of our generation, at a time when so many of our lives have been upended by COVID19. Even for the most committed activists, it's tempting to want to sit this one out. 

But if you're reading this message, it means you already understand what's at stake. You know that this is not the time to rest. Fortunately, SOMA Action was built for this moment. We've spent the past 3 1/2 years since our formation learning how to harness the energy and passion of this community and turn it into meaningful action. 

Since 2017, SOMA Action members have marched, called, written, rallied, protested, and stood up to a President who disrespects our democracy at every turn. Along with progressive activists across our country, we helped turn the electoral tide in 2018, flipping the House of Representatives and avoiding - or at least putting off - some of the worst instincts of this administration. But everything we've accomplished will mean nothing if don't send Trump and the GOP packing in November.  

With less than two months left until the election, we are asking all of our members (and if you're reading this message, consider yourself a member) to dedicate one hour per week minimum to volunteering. We've made it simple to get involved. 

For example, you could join one of our Vanquish the Villains teams. Vanquish the Villains is a campaign we launched in August focused on helping to flip 3 vulnerable GOP-held Senate seats: Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina. More than 200 volunteers have joined a team and are taking weekly actions to reach voters in those critical races. Just click here, pick a team, and get to work!

Vanquish the Villains is just one option. Thanks in large part to the amazing, year-round work of our Political Action Committee, we've assembled multiple other options for helping to make a difference in the election. In fact, our last weekly newsletter offered a half-dozen different options for action, including phone banking for Tom Malinowski, signing up to protect voter rights in PA, texting PA voters to encourage turnout, and texting and phone banking for Reclaim Our Vote. Learn more and sign up here. 

If you've got a specific issue that arouses your passion, we've got a committee for that. Get involved with Climate, Racial Justice, Voting Rights or any of our other issue committees.

Watching this community come together to fight for our democracy has been one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. I've met so many incredible people and seen the incredibly powerful things we can accomplish when we're engaged in the process.

Now is the time to use the muscles we've been building since 2016.

Now is the time to find that extra hour to invest in the fight.

Now is the time to invite our friends to join us in this effort (if they haven't already). 

This is what democracy looks like. Let's fight like hell to keep it going.