Dr. Jennifer Krauel speaking at the No Kings Rally on June 14, 2025
Watch the speech on YouTube here.
Hey Portland, great to see you all out here today! I’m Dr. Jennifer Krauel, and I’m an ecologist. I study bats and insects and animal migration, and it’s just as fabulous as it sounds! But those systems are super affected by climate change and it was just too sad documenting the end – for bats, for moths. So, in the past few years I’ve switched from sciencing to being a climate activist. And now I simply call myself a justice activist. Climate justice is social justice is political justice, you know it’s all the same. That’s why you’re here.
Today I want to talk about how we win. I’m bringing the science for you: we know how to do this. We just have to do 2 things. It’s like on an airplane: First you have to put on your own oxygen mask, and then you help others with theirs.
Your oxygen mask in this fight is your resistance tribe. We can’t face this alone. Science shows that groups based on strong social connections are much more effective and durable [1]. Also more fun! There are so many groups here today – check out the tables and find one that speaks to you and join them. Show up for meetings! Look for opportunities to work with others and make friends. I’m excited to share the ones that I consider my resistance tribe.
Scientist Rebellion is my primary tribe – it’s the group of friends and colleagues I hang out with to understand how to speak out as a scientist in this moment. I know that research and voting and policy aren’t enough, that non-violent direct action is the only way to achieve the kind of social and political change we need right now, and that’s what SR does.
If you’re not a scientist, let’s talk about Extinction Rebellion. Like Scientist Rebellion, XR uses non-violent direct action to force people in power to face a moral dilemma and pick sides. Like planting a garden on the railroad tracks used by oil trains going to Zenith Energy. Maybe you’ve seen our World on Fire truck, or seen some of our street theater? If you’re frustrated by simply signing another petition, check out our XRPDX table here today.
If you are enjoying today, check out 50501! – I joined 50501 because mass collective action is crucial and this group is Portland’s best at bringing out amazing crowds like this safely and effectively. It’s a fabulous group of people and there are so many ways to contribute. Just stop by the info desk and say hi!
And, Working Families Party is my political home – because the democracy I’m fighting for will be the multiracial feminist party of my dreams, and WFP is already working to build that today. Stop by the WFP table and join our wolf pack!
Do you have a resistance tribe yet?
Once you’ve joined your resistance tribe, you’ll have the oxygen you need. You’ll have the connections and confidence and resources to get through what is to come. So the second part is to help others to join in. Scientists suggest that movements that bring at least 3.5% of the population together at the same time are likely to win [2]. We are going to need a bigger boat! And that happens when YOU help others with their oxygen.
If you’re like me, you have different parts of your life that don’t usually overlap. I’m in a band, so I hang out with my fellow musicians a lot. I am part of my neighborhood gardening club. In this moment, think of each of those sets of relationships as opportunities to help others put on their own oxygen masks, to bring people out here with us. I’m queer, and this process feels a lot like coming out. It can be scary to be vulnerable by sharing your whole self and sometimes it doesn’t work that well. To be honest, I’m not allowed to organize my garden club directly any longer, some of them weren’t ready for oxygen, but that’s OK. It’s so liberating to stop pretending things are all right, and to be able to really connect with people by showing up for them with love. Come out as your whole selves, everyone! Freedom is fabulous! And contagious!
So that’s how we win. We win by joining a tribe based on strong social connections (to sustain us), and then by bringing everyone possible into our movement. If you’re here today, you’re a leader, and I call on you to bring all of these parts of you to the game. If you don’t have a resistance tribe yet – don’t leave today without signing up for something. Then, talk to people about what you did today. If they weren’t here, ask how they are doing, tell them how it feels to be here, and let them know that we need them in order to win.
The one word takeaway I have for you, how we win, is: Together! How do we win? Together! How do we win? Together! How do we win? Together!
References (because I’m a scientist):
- Han, H. (2014). How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 21st Century, New York, NY, Oxford University Press.
- Chenoweth, E. (2021). Civil resistance : what everyone needs to know. New York, NY, Oxford University Press.
