By Black Votes Matter

National voting rights organization expands efforts to help Black communities protect and provide for each other while building lasting political and economic power.

On Aug. 20, Black Voters Matter (BVM) relaunched its We Fight Back campaign, expanding its mission beyond protecting the rights of Black voters to also supporting Black communities. As threats to democracy increase and intensify, Black communities are facing unprecedented rollbacks to civil rights, health access and equity, and environmental justice. While BVM continues to fight back through the courts, through advocacy and by mobilizing voters, BVM is not fighting just against this fascist regime and racist policies; it is building a campaign to reimagine democracy itself, one that is truly inclusive, equitable and rooted in justice for all Americans.

Launched in 2024, the We Fight Back campaign sought to educate and empower Black voters across the country, but as the political landscape continues to decline under the current administration, BVM is taking bold steps to reduce harm to our communities and continuing to build and strengthen mutual aid networks that serve as a safety net in the face of economic and political instability.

Under the “We Fight Back: Community, Power, Resistance” campaign, Black Voters Matter is continuing its key initiatives, including:

• Sick and tired – Advocating for better healthcare access and pushing back against harmful Medicaid cuts that impact millions of Americans, including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children.

• The block is hot – Addressing environmental racism and the host of issues that affect Black, rural and Southern communities, especially as federal climate policy stalls. 

• Warrant clinic – Helping people resolve outstanding warrants and reduce legal barriers that disproportionately affect Black communities.

• Take the field – Empowering and mobilizing high school and college students to take an active role in civic engagement.

“Black Voters Matter has always been about building power. While some say that Black folks are disengaged right now, the reality is that we’re meeting this moment with more strategy and more intention,” said Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter. “Our power is rooted in the people, and we’re using all of our tools to connect and mobilize communities across the country. From the fight for healthcare and D.C. statehood to community investment and challenging injustice in the courts. This isn’t just about resistance, it’s about building lasting power to protect our collective future.”

“Right now, Black communities are under attack. We’re fighting to defend our families, jobs, healthcare and financial security,” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter. In this moment of crisis, we’re also seeing a moment of possibility. This is when we double down, not just to resist, but to boldly reimagine what this country could be. Real change comes from ordinary people refusing to be silenced. We are not powerless in this fight; each of us has a role to play in shaping what comes next.”

Engaging Black voters in the political process is not the only way we build power; BVM works year-round using a diverse set of tools to provide better outcomes for marginalized, predominantly Black communities. Our toolbox includes grassroots organizing, raising public awareness, direct action, advocacy, education, capacity building, litigation and community investment. 

Later this month, Black Voters Matter will take to the streets on the Blackest Bus in America on tour to address the immediate concerns facing Black communities and help to draw a clear connection between civic participation and the resources that our communities need.

For more information on this and other news from Black Voters Matter, visit the website. Questions and Interview requests should be sent to media@blackvotersmatterfund.org.

Black Voters Matter, a 501c4, and Capacity Building Institute, a 501c3, are dedicated to expanding Black voter engagement and increasing progressive power through movement-building and engagement. Working with grassroots organizations, specifically in key states in the South, BVM seeks to increase voter registration and turnout, advocate for policies to expand voting rights/access, and help develop infrastructure “where little or none exists to support a power-building movement that keeps Black voters and their issues at the forefront of our election process. For more information, please visit https://www.blackvotersmatterfund.org/.