2025 will be a year that tests the resolve of the civil and human rights movement. Should the incoming administration make good on its campaign promises, we anticipate expanded attempts to erode our democratic institutions, intensified attacks on the rights of the most vulnerable people, and ill-informed policies that threaten the economic security of people who are already struggling financially. At a time when many are pinning their hope for a better future on a fresh start in the new year, acknowledging what is coming down the pike can feel defeating. But overcoming the obstacles that we will encounter this year requires facing them with our eyes wide open so that we can effectively prepare for what is to come.
In anticipation of the shift in political power, some politicians who profess to be champions of social justice and equality have already made a rush to compromise. But the Southern Poverty Law Center cannot sacrifice its values in order to find common ground, particularly if that common ground comes at the expense of the communities that we seek to serve. Now is the time to stand firm on our principles, and to allow our organization’s strategic commitments to guide every decision that we make.
Through litigation, advocacy, community organizing, public education and policy work, we will continue to help make the social landscape of the Deep South more just, fair and equitable. This means holding steadfast in our protection of voting rights and representation; remaining aggressive and innovative in reducing the wealth gap; protecting communities by pushing back against criminalization and mass incarceration; countering efforts to miseducate and undereducate our children; and defeating hate and extremism that threaten our democracy.
Moving our mission forward also requires reflecting on what the November elections told us about the state of this country and the needs of our people. Many voters justifiably feel left behind in this economy and chose to stay home or back the candidate who they believed would disrupt the status quo. Considering the high rates of poverty that have plagued the Deep South for generations, it is understandable that so many would feel frustrated.
However, we have serious doubts that the campaign promises of the incoming administration will manifest into policies that create economic opportunity for the most vulnerable. Tariffs threaten to raise prices on our everyday goods and food. Mass deportations will destroy families and create labor shortages that could wreak havoc on the economy. Many in Congress are seeking to chip away at social safety net programs that help those who are struggling the most in order to reduce the deficit and pay for tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. And shrinking our government institutions that are responsible for operating those social safety net programs could render them ineffective.
Anticipating these threats, the SPLC will work with officials and constituents to ensure a strong and responsive government that is committed to providing economic ladders to those who are struggling. In addition to holding the federal government accountable, we will also demand that state legislatures do more to help their residents in need. We see this moment as a crucial opportunity to align our efforts with the needs of people at the local level and to build strong bipartisan relationships with state legislators. We are committed to advancing policies that seek to deliver the resources needed by vulnerable communities across the Deep South.
The 2024 national election may be in the rearview mirror, but the fight for our future is on the ballot every year. While it can be tempting for communities to disengage from politics in nonpresidential races, it’s local elections that can bring about changes that have the biggest impacts on our day-to-day lives.
The South’s Got Now | Decidimos is not just a campaign slogan that we created to get people to the polls last year; it is an enduring message that communities of color throughout the Deep South have the capacity to transform our region by using the power of their votes. In 2025 and beyond, we will continue our civic engagement efforts to ensure that all eligible voters are making their voices heard in all local elections. And we will also continue to develop and support the next generation of leaders and advocates in the South who will carry the torch of the civil and human rights movement into the future.
2025 will be a test. But it is a test that we are prepared for. Our work to advance racial justice and equity is more crucial than ever. It will require strengthening coalitions with other advocacy and grassroots organizations in the communities that we serve so that we can respond swiftly to challenges as they arise. As we begin this new year, our resolution remains unwavering: Together, we will continue the fight to champion civil and human rights for all.
Picture at top: “The 2024 election may be in the rearview mirror, but the fight for our future is on the ballot every year,” says SPLC President and CEO Margaret Huang. (Credit: SPLC)