Hundreds of SURJ members answered the call to bring our people together in the midst of this challenging week. So many of us are feeling angry, discouraged, and afraid. At these gatherings, we’ll come together in a supportive community to get clear on why Trump won, white people’s role in the years ahead, and our next steps for organizing.
There are now more than 70 SURJ meetings happening across the country this week. Find one near you!
If there’s no meeting in your area, you can get trained to host a meeting in your community.
What does a meeting look like?
It’s a two-hour gathering of 5+ people at a location like a library or community center. Hosts will receive a template agenda, 1-hour training, and a coach to support you in organizing– plus next steps for moving attendees into action with SURJ. Ahead of the inauguration, we’ll be coming together to get trained and educated, deepen relationships, and take action all so we are stronger and more prepared for January 2025 so we can face whatever comes, together.
Social justice movements throughout history have used “mass meetings” to build power and move into action– from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) in the Civil Rights Movement to labor unions since the 1920s.
We call these meetings “mass” not because they need to be huge numbers of attendees, but because collectively, we’re organizing large numbers of people across the country under a shared vision.
The struggle ahead will be challenging, but when we join together to build relationships and take collective action, we’re stepping into the long legacy of organizers who have gathered 5 people around their living room to start something new.
