My friends, brothers, sisters, comrades, today we face a moment that will test us all. It’s the kind of moment that comes once in a generation. As you know, Donald Trump has won the presidency again, and there’s no sugarcoating it—things are about to get harder for working people, for women, for our LGBTQ comrades, and for every community that’s been pushed to the margins of this country.

And what have we seen from the so-called opposition? The Democratic Party—the party that was supposed to be for the people—has shifted so far right that they’re promising walls and advancing genocide. They’ve got no vision, no courage, and no heart for the people. They don’t want to fight for you; they want to fight over who gets to hold the reins of power. But let me tell you, folks: the people who hold that power don’t care about you or me. They don’t care about us any more than they care about the grass they step on or the wind that blows.

Now, I know that many of you—especially those who are young and facing this for the first time—might feel like the ground has been ripped out from under you. You’re worried, maybe even scared about what the future holds. Some of you may even be wondering if you’ll be safe here, wondering if you need to leave this country just to find security and a fair shot at life. But let me tell you this: you are not alone. You are not alone. There is an entire generation of people who have been where you are, who have felt that same fear, and they’re still here. And I’m telling you, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Let me tell you, my friends, DIY networks exist. Real, true communities exist—communities that don’t rely on politicians and their empty promises. You don’t have to depend on the person on your TV screen. You can depend on each other. And I’m asking you right now: reach out. Look to your left, look to your right. Connect with your neighbors, your friends, your comrades, because now is the time to build, and build strong.

In the words of the great revolutionary Thomas Sankara: “There is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of women’s silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt.”

And we’re going to take that message and put it at the heart of our movement. Because, folks, there is no liberation if women aren’t free. There is no justice if women’s rights, including the right to choose, aren’t protected. This is not a side issue—this is the issue. Women’s rights are human rights. And we’re going to make that clear in every corner of this nation.

We’re still in the first half of this new American century, and what we build now will set the course. Let’s remind ourselves of those words held by Lady Liberty herself:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

That’s the America we could be. And in that struggle for a better, freer future, women have always been the ones pushing forward. They’re not just part of this movement—they’ve been leading it, keeping it strong, giving it life. Women are the backbone of every fight for real change. And we’re here to say that if we want freedom, if we want equality, we have to start with them.

Because, let’s be real: what kind of country are we building if we don’t guarantee the basic rights of women? What future are we heading toward if half our population has to fight to be seen, to be heard, to be free? Fighting for women’s rights isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s how we build a country where everyone can live with dignity.

So let me put it plain: if we’re going to face these next two years with courage and strength, we need each other. We need connections that go deeper than the political rallies, that go beyond isolated protests on college campuses. We need a robust national network, built by us, for us. Not from the top down, but from the ground up, with every voice, every hand, every heart pulling together. I’m talking about a coalition that spans this whole country—local organizations, radical youth, labor unions, mutual aid groups—all of us together.

I believe it’s time to think big. It’s time to organize at a scale we haven’t seen in decades, a century even. So here’s what I’m proposing: December 20th, 2025, New Orleans. I want a national convention, a place where every corner of this movement can come together. I want to see communists, anarchists, democratic socialists, labor union leaders, Indigenous leaders, prison abolitionists, climate activists, creators, content makers, and organizers from all walks of life come together to build a plan, a strategy, a path forward.

This convention isn’t just some meeting on a calendar. It’s a starting line—a launch toward a future we choose, a future we build together. Because we’re already 25 years into this century, and we’ve seen where the current leadership has taken us. The crises of our time—climate change, economic injustice, systemic racism, the oppression of women, the attack on LGBTQ+ rights—are too critical, too urgent to be left to the whims of the powerful. This convention is where we draw the line and start shaping a new way forward.

Folks, this convention is where we’re getting down to the brass tacks. We’re not just looking to fill up seats; we’re looking to make real changes, to organize and strategize for a future we actually want to live in. If you want to help make this convention a reality, here’s what you can start doing right now:

1. Join a Group—Just Pick One and Start Showing Up

Look, it doesn’t matter if it’s Freedom Road Socialist Organization, PSL, the Green Party, the Socialist Alternative, Food Not Bombs, or a mutual aid group in your area. Just pick a group and start showing up. Get into their meetings, meet people, understand their goals, and make connections. Our aim is to have people embedded in all these organizations, and we need them all talking to each other. If there’s a meeting or event coming up, go. Bring up this convention. Even if they aren’t officially involved, open up the conversation.

2. Educate Yourself—and Pass That Knowledge Along

Not everyone has the time to sit down with a stack of books, and that’s fine. But if you do have that privilege, use it. Educate yourself, but don’t stop there. Bring that knowledge to others. Be a resource for your friends, family, and neighbors. Don’t talk down to them; we’re not here to preach from some high horse. We’re here to learn and build together. Remember, we are the masses. Share what you know in a way that’s practical, that connects with people where they’re at. If we want to see change, we have to make education and dialogue something real, something people can understand and see in their own lives.

3. Start the Conversations Where You Are

This is where it starts—right where you live, work, and spend your time. Talk to your friends and family, your coworkers, the people you already know. Bring up what’s happening around us, what we’re working toward. If you’re a community leader, even if it’s not a political setting, make space for these discussions. If we’re going to change anything, it has to start by opening up these conversations in our everyday lives. Get people talking, thinking, and, more than anything, ready to take action.

Now, why New Orleans? Why December 20th, 2025? New Orleans has faced it all—storms, floods, and years of being neglected by those in power. It’s a city that embodies resilience. But with climate change pressing down harder every year, there’s a real risk that it won’t be here in another 100 years. That’s why we’re gathering there: to make a promise, to take a stand, and to ensure that we don’t let this moment slip away.

I’m not alone in this vision. None of us are. This is something so many of us feel in our gut—that together, we can do something different, something real. And I want to make something clear before we close: the attacks on women’s rights in this country are attacks on all of us. We cannot build a free, just future if women are held back, silenced, denied their basic rights. Women hold up half the sky, and we will not stand by while they are pushed down. We need every voice, every hand, every heart in this fight.

So let’s take this energy forward. Let’s walk out of here knowing that we’re not alone, that this movement is growing every day.

This is our moment in history. I know we will rise to meet the occasion.

Thank you.

-Erik Houdini