Before the 2016 General Election, SONG members, comrades and staff collectively created the message of ‘Dream, Vote, Organize: Our Lives Depend On It’. Across the South, members placed thousands of yard signs in their communities with this mandate. Many of the signs remain, slightly tattered but deeply neon and deeply queer.

In the years since, families, chapters, sister organizations, and members have done just that. The repression continues to grow along with our resistance. Our morale is sometimes questioned, but by supporting our people’s unlimited dreaming and scheming, we have moved mountains together.

In these times, we struggle daily to fight cynicism, despair, infighting and cliquishness. We understand the electoral process comes with cynicism and the memory of broken promises, hollow words and so much state sanctioned terror.  We are people, not platforms. We demand leaders at all levels of society to be humble, brave and accountable for the people’s agenda. We believe in moving a vision that is not solely tied to policy wins. If we only measured success by policy wins, we would have shut down our organizing shop long ago. Our power and faith lies in our people, not candidates.

Criminal Justice reform is on the ballot.

Invest/Divest is on the ballot.  

Bail is on the ballot.

ICE is on the ballot.

Jail population is on the ballot.

Decriminalization is on the ballot.