For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016
Contact: Donna De La Cruz,
[email protected] (202) 339-9331

Community Change and Community Change Action Vow to Protect the Most Vulnerable Communities

(WASHINGTON)—The results of last night’s election show that the country is drastically divided along class, racial and economic lines. Community Change and the Center for Community Change Action vow to work with our grassroots partners to protect the most vulnerable communities from any inhumane and unjust policies that emerge from a Republican-controlled Congress and Presidency.

Community Change and Community Change Action have worked tirelessly, and will continue to do so, on issues that the majority of Americans have shown they support including immigration reform that keeps families together, said Deepak Bhargava, the executive director for both organizations.

“Our first step will be to address the terror in our communities.  We will be there for people who have questions and fears – we are setting up hotlines and information sharing circles,” Bhargava said. “It is important to remember that Donald Trump does not become President until Jan. 20.  During the interim, we will be putting in place protective steps to make sure our families are safe from any threats to their safety.

“We will block attacks on our communities wherever they may come from: executive action, witch hunt investigations, legislation, attacks by hate groups,” Bhargava added. “Over the coming days and weeks we will be convening with grassroots leaders, activists and families to process the results and determine not only our strategy of resistance but our long-term vision for how to reshape the arc of history to point back toward justice.

“In the midst of bleak results, we had key moments of victory last night. Community Change Action was decisive in electing the first Latina to the U.S. Senate in Nevada,” Bhargava said. “We helped pass two child care initiatives in Ohio. Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County’s notorious anti-immigrant sheriff, went down to defeat in Arizona, a state we have been building power in for the last five years.

“Progressive minimum wage initiatives were passed by our partners in Maine and Colorado,” he said. “Pramila Jayapal, a fierce immigrant rights advocate and leader and former Community Change Distinguished Taconic Fellow was elected to Congress in Washington state.  Washington state also passed a huge transportation investment and a minimum wage increase that includes paid leave.

“Finally, it is important to note that our causes and issues were not rejected last night.  Hillary Clinton will win the popular vote in this election. The Republican policy agenda will have lost the popular vote in 6 of the last 7 presidential elections. There was no ideological realignment in this election,” Bhargava said. “Polling clearly shows that Donald Trump will take office as the least popular American President in history.  Immigration reform which keeps families together polled as strong as ever in the exits.  Both candidates agreed America must make bold investments in infrastructure to address inequalities.

“There is much work to be done ahead and we will be stronger and united in our efforts to build an America that works for everyone,” Bhargava added. “While we organize and prepare for the worst, we hope Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to unite the country and be the President of all of us.  If we chose the path, this country can still be stronger together.”

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Community Change builds the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to lead movements to improve the policies that affect their lives. For more information, go to www.communitychange.org and follow us on Twitter @communitychange.

Community Change Action empowers the people most affected by injustice. Community Change Action uses training, political advocacy and electoral tools to help low-income people build political power and push for policy changes that improve their lives. For more information, go to www.cccaction.org and follow us on Twitter @CCCAction.