Tuesday, August 5, 2025
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A View From the Ground
News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from URL Media's network of Black and Brown publishers.
Good evening. Have you been looking for some motivation to get into the political fray? Our partner WURD can help. Also, a DACA recipient wants to make political history in North Carolina. Plus, as always, we’re bringing you the latest updates at url-media.com as events unfold.
Credit: Pexels/Tyler Lastovich
Your small acts can topple big systemsDemocracy in America is hanging by a thread, and it's time to channel Bob Marley's wisdom: "If you are the big tree, we are the small axe." The threat isn't just Trump himself. It's the entire system that props up authoritarianism.
But here's the thing: small acts of resistance add up to massive change. This summer's No Kings rallies and Good Trouble Lives On protests proved that grassroots action works. History backs this up too. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to #DeleteUber to Black Lives Matter, ordinary people taking small actions have toppled systems and shifted culture.
Your everyday choices are political weapons. Where you spend your money, what you boycott, who you support — it all matters. Recent campaigns against American Eagle and Dunkin' Donuts show how quickly consumer pressure can force corporate accountability. Every dollar is a vote for the world you want to see.
The playbook is simple: Vote in every election, especially the small ones. Support Black-owned businesses and independent media like WURD Radio. Practice mutual aid. Boycott companies that enable fascism. Spend consciously, not conspicuously.
We can't wait for November or rely on courts to save us. Fascism thrives on our silence and complacency. The power is in our hands, our votes, our voices, our small axes. The time to sharpen them and use them is right now, before it's too late.
Quote of the Week
"Everyone is already tired of the hyper-partisan bickering and all the fighting, because we never get anything done. And they are creating a system that will reinforce that and make it even worse.” – Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, who is spearheading efforts by Democrats in that state’s legislature to stop Republican efforts at further gerrymandering that would eliminate districts with Democratic advantages.
Source: La NoticiaA potential political first, immigrant farmers and climate obligationsDACA recipient has his eyes on historic political win: Juan Diego Mazuera Arias is making history in Charlotte. The 25-year-old DACA recipient and son of Colombian immigrants just launched his bid for Charlotte City Council District 5, and if he wins, he'll be the first Latino and youngest person ever on the council. Born in Colombia but raised in East Charlotte since he was two, Mazuera went from undocumented to earning degrees from Queen's University and NYU. His platform hits hard on what young voters care about: affordable housing, better public transit, economic opportunities that don't require commuting across town, and transparent government that prioritizes people over billionaires. He's got congressional and nonprofit experience, plus serious community backing. East Charlotte called him to run, and he's ready to shake up a council he says puts private interests before people. – La Noticia
USDA cuts support for immigrant farmers: The USDA just eliminated the "socially disadvantaged farmer" designation, cutting funding for programs that help Black and immigrant farmers get started. This hits Minnesota's African immigrant farming communities hard, especially groups like the Sudanese Farming Group and Minnesota African Immigrant Farmers Association, who grow culturally specific crops like okra and African spinach. These farmers rely on nonprofits like The Food Group for resources, land access, and distribution networks. With only 61 Black farmers in all of Minnesota, this policy reversal threatens to make farming even less accessible for communities already facing huge barriers. - Sahan Journal
Small island, big victory: Twenty-seven law students from a tiny Pacific island university just changed the world. What started as a classroom project in Vanuatu became a six-year campaign that convinced 123 countries to ask the UN's highest court about climate obligations. The International Court of Justice ruled that countries must legally limit climate change and pay for damages. Now people can sue their own governments for climate inaction. Pacific youth proved that the smallest voices can create the biggest waves. - AsAm News
More recommended Reading:
10 things to know about Trump’s AFRICOM chief, Dagvin Anderson – The Africa Report
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