Post Election Statement – November 2024
Dear Friends and Allies,
Today, we find ourselves reeling from a harsh and painful reality. Many of us are grappling with fear, anger, frustration, and a deep-seated uncertainty about what the future holds for our communities and our country. We at the Equity Research Institute (ERI) resonate with these emotions, and we recognize the trauma that is being and will be experienced by so many of the communities with which we work. We also recognize that this moment calls for a renewed commitment to the values that define us—equity, justice, and inclusion. It’s clearer than ever that our work must intensify, not just for the future of California, but for the future of a democracy that genuinely serves everyone.
Alongside our partners committed to racial, climate, gender, and economic justice, ERI stands in unwavering solidarity with communities across the state and nation to push back against powerful interests that seek to reverse hard-won rights and gains, stir animosity toward vulnerable communities, and lean on systems of exclusion and inequality. We will continue to provide research that supports initiatives to break down barriers to justice and uplift organizing efforts by Black, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented communities. Our work is inspired by a vision for a just, multiracial democracy that serves everyone. This moment calls for listening, healing, and amplifying strategies that continue to build our movement infrastructure for the long haul.
Today is indeed a setback for California and for our nation, but it is also a rallying point. We will turn our frustration into action, stand united, and defend the progress made by decades of multiracial movement building and community-driven efforts to create a state where everyone can thrive. By centering communities and strengthening alliances, we will press forward. Together, we will ensure that California remains a powerful force for justice, equality, and opportunity, showing the nation that collective power is the way forward. We will not only safeguard the California Dream, but redefine it so that it truly serves everyone, everywhere.
In unity and solidarity,
Dr. Manuel Pastor and the Executive Management Team
USC Equity Research Institute