Hi, MoveOn member!
This is Nick Berning, MoveOn's Chief Communications Officer. I don't write you emails very often, because I spend most of my time working to get our message out through the media.
I'm writing you today to talk about our rapid-response mobilizations in the age of Donald Trump and the media coverage that they get—media coverage that helps stiffen the spines of Democrats, hold Republicans accountable, change the conversation in newspapers and on TV and in social media, and influence the national debate.
When news broke that Trump would become president back in 2016, MoveOn and our allies organized vigils less than 24 hours later. This rapid mobilization allowed us to be front and center in the news and establish a narrative of resistance that powered us through the Women's March, the airport protests against the Muslim Ban, and our successful campaign to save Obamacare.
When news broke that, because of Trump, crying children were being ripped out of their parents' arms at the border, MoveOn, along with a different coalition of groups, organized more than 700 massive demonstrations—which took place while the issue of family separation was reaching a fever pitch in the media. Our "Families Belong Together" events were a big part of the overwhelming groundswell that forced Trump to end his grotesque family separation policy. While too many families remain separated, the fact is that without this mobilization—and the impact it had on the media narrative—things would be worse for far more families.
When news broke that Trump installed a crony to oversee special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, crossing a red line in a brazen attempt to obstruct the investigation, more than 100,000 MoveOn members and other concerned Americans flooded the streets less than 24 hours later (and only two days after the 2018 midterm elections). These immediate protests were able to show the media and lawmakers that there was strong grassroots resistance to Trump's attacks on the rule of law, and they helped to embolden the new Democratic majority in Congress, who have now begun investigations.
And this past week, when news broke that Trump declared a fake national emergency in order to advance his anti-immigrant agenda, MoveOn and our partners in a crisis response network joined with immigration groups and other allies to organize 277 rapid-response events in 48 states, with at least 50,000 attendees. Our demonstrations took place just 72 hours after Trump announced his fake state of emergency.
Eddie, events like these make news—and show America what progressives stand for. Coverage of this Monday's actions was viewed 48 million times on TV—including on the "NBC Nightly News," "The Rachel Maddow Show," multiple CNN shows, and more. NPR mentioned our protests on "Morning Edition" and throughout the day. Over a million more watched the livestreams provided by MoveOn's in-house Video Lab. And our mobilization was covered in more than 700 print and digital outlets. I'd like to claim that this was because of great press pitching—but the reality is: it's because of people power. Once again, we helped show that the people of this country oppose Trump's fake emergency and attacks on immigrants—by showing up in the streets at the peak of the news cycle.
MoveOn is one of the only organizations that can launch rapid-response national actions like these and get news. We're able to pull off these events because of MoveOn's monthly donors, who give us the financial independence to spring into action immediately—as soon as news breaks—without having to ask for money first.
Will you chip in $5 a month to help keep MoveOn strong and ready to mobilize the moment the next crisis arises?
No, I'm sorry, I can't become a monthly donor right now.
We need to keep doing big mobilizations like these over the next two years to make sure that issues such as family separation, Trump's cruelty to immigrants, and his reckless disregard for the rule of law stay front and center in the national conversation.
Right now, we're doing these events on a shoestring budget. Progressives have far, far less money than the right wing. Still, we're able to get a great deal of news coverage. That's because we have people power: We're able to mobilize huge masses of people on very short notice—something the right just can't do. However, we still need funds to pay for organizers, Facebook ads, livestreams, signs and banners, a communications team to help spread the word, which includes Karine Jean-Pierre (whom you may have seen on the news!) and more.
For years, the right has tried and failed to build an organization like MoveOn. If you value MoveOn's always-on, rapid-response organizing—and the incredible results that this approach gets in the media—then I hope you'll become a monthly donor today. Will you chip in $5 a month, or whatever you can afford?
Not able to become a monthly donor? Click here, because MoveOn still needs your help.
Thanks for all you do.
–Nick Berning, MoveOn's Chief Communications Officer
Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on February 21st, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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