Freedom in this country has never been handed freely to communities of color—it has always been fought for. Every right we hold today has been won through decades of organizing, sacrifice, and courage. And every step forward has been met with powerful, coordinated backlash.

From the long road to emancipation to the hard-fought victories of the Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements—during which people marched, sat in, and demanded the right to vote, to live, and to simply be—one thing we’ve learned to be true: we must protect what we’ve won.

Today, we are at a new crossroads. Fundamental freedoms are once again under attack. The right to speak out. The right to assemble. The right to live freely in our communities. The right to question authority. The right to racial justice.

In recent years, racial equity became a rallying cry, a policy agenda, and in many places, a commitment at the highest levels of government and business. But now, that progress is being targeted—misrepresented, restricted, and even criminalized.

This is not just backlash. It is a deliberate move toward authoritarian control, fueled by fear and disinformation.

Join leading voices from the racial justice movement in this urgent webinar as we speak truth to power, share proven strategies for resistance while charting a path to fortify our movement to be resilient, defiant, and unstoppable.

Together, we will stand not just to defend what’s under attack—but to build a future where freedoms are real, protected, and for all of us.

Featured Panelists:

• Glenn Harris, President, Race Forward
• john a. powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute
• Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director, Advancement Project

Moderator:

• Karla Bruce, Chief of Staff, Race Forward