Defining True Justice
Don’t Take the Bait
At our team retreat earlier this year, we spent a significant amount of time exploring our values and defining what they truly mean to us. The pillars of our work are rooted in freedom, safety, justice, and joy, and developing a shared definition for each of these took a great deal of intention and care. This month, we’d like to share our definition and centering of justice with you.
Justice is the process of confronting harm in ways that heal, not destroy. It’s a commitment to centering love, fairness, and equity in how we respond to harm. If we truly seek justice, we must create a world where we don’t give in to our worst fears.
But as we all know, the world’s elite power brokers benefit when we give into fear. They scapegoat immigrants, transgender people, Black and brown folks, or whoever their narrative fits in the moment, to create division that they can use to distract us from their attempts to grab more and more power over our lives. And so many of us have fallen for it that we often unknowingly end up baiting ourselves, believing that the only way to protect ourselves is by punishing those they’ve labeled as “other.” This false narrative of fear and control keeps us divided, keeps us from realizing the power of true justice rooted in restoration, compassion, and community. This month’s newsletter is how to stay rooted in true justice without giving into your own fears.
Stop Baiting Yourself
The reason fear is the oppressors’ emotion of choice is because it’s easier for us to fall into a mindset of us vs. them when we’re scared. By labeling certain entire groups of humans as a threat, we are allowing the villains of the world to manipulate us into believing that our safety comes from the suffering of others. We start to believe that we can only be safe if we push people down, lock them up, and isolate them from the community. But that doesn't bring about true safety, it just creates a cycle of harm.
Recognize the Bait:
The first step is recognizing when you’re being baited by fear. Whether it’s a political narrative, campaign ad, or a pundit’s rhetoric, ask yourself:Is this meant to make me feel afraid?
Is it asking me to view a large group of people as a threat?
Challenge Divisive Narratives:
When you hear harmful narratives, challenge them (use these guides to help you!). Call out the scapegoating that drives fear. Ask yourself:Who really benefits if I am fearful of an entire grouping of people?
Who makes money or gets more power if the current systems and cycles of harm stay activated?
Don’t Let Fear Dictate Your Actions:
Fear can cloud our judgment, making us act in ways that go against our values. When in doubt, take a step back. Reflect on how your actions align with your vision of justice. Justice isn’t about a quick punishment or the easy path; it’s about long-term healing and collective transformation.Create Pathways for Healing, Not Punishment:
When harm occurs, don’t think first about who deserves to be punished.
Instead, ask:How can we heal? What needs to be done to restore balance and help everyone involved move forward?
What support or resources are needed to help those harmed rebuild and thrive again?
How can we create a world where accountability leads to transformation, not just blame?
If we want to live in a society where we are all rooted in freedom, safety, justice, and joy, we cannot allow ourselves to be baited by narratives that pit us against one another. The more we focus on restoration and care, the less we fall into the trap of retribution and the more we build a community where justice is a force that breaks the cycles of harm, not one that perpetuates them.
EVERGREEN GUIDANCE
LEAD with shared values — such as community, safety, prosperity, equity, justice, or fairness — in a way that names race and class while bringing people together.
FOCUS on the creation of good — delivering jobs and healthcare, funding schools and communities, creating a process where every Wisconsinite can safely and freely cast our ballot, etc. — tangible positive outcomes, rather than the amelioration of harm (e.g., “provide for every child so they can achieve their dreams” instead of “fix our broken system”)
CAST ‘we the people,’ everyday Wisconsinites, as protagonists: Only by acting together can we move Wisconsin forward — in contrast to how our opposition is trying to hold us back. We turned out in record numbers to elect leaders to care for us and act in our interests. We pulled together throughout this pandemic, to deliver meals, support neighborhood businesses, support our kids and care for loved ones. That’s why it’s so important that we bring our neighbors and communities into the story, as its main actors and as active agents who can and will change the outcome.
CHARACTERIZE the opposition: Who is violating our values? How are they doing it? What is their motivation? What role does race play? These are all questions we need to answer clearly (without jargon!) in our messaging.
DEFINE + DELIVER: define this moment as a pivotal crossroads, and deliver a positive, inspirational vision for the future we will create together for a Wisconsin where we all can thrive. We believe that we will win.
AVOID the opposition frame (e.g. crime, riots, government waste, freeloaders) and PIVOT to our frames of freedom, safety, community, etc. They want us to use their language- even if it’s a lie- so that the narrative fights stays in their frame of fear.
DO NOT REPEAT accusations, even to refute. (e.g. do not say “crime is....”)
AVOID the 'recipe': as always, say the brownie, not the recipe. The freedom to vote, rather than the abstraction of democracy. The ability to see a doctor when we need, rather than simply saying expand healthcare.
DO NOT start with or get stuck in despair: people know something is wrong already. The job of a good narrative is to remember that we are not in a facts fight– we know the truth is on our side already (and if facts were all we needed, we would already have the world we want). Our job is to pull people out of despair and into a shared feeling of hope and potential.