A group of Black women leaders and activists gathered on Capitol Hill to protest the Trump administration and the Republican Party’s recent actions, which they argue will have devastating effects on Black communities. The rally focused on budget cuts, the elimination of critical programs and departments, and the mass firing of federal workers.
The group, made up of Black women leaders from all over the country and joined by newly elected Black women U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks, gathered outside the Capitol building on March 13. Afterward, they met with Congress members to urge them to reverse policies they say will disproportionately harm Black communities.
Although many Black women leaders had planned to take a break from politics after the tough 2024 election—especially following the defeat of former Vice President Kamala Harris by President Donald Trump—they’ve made it clear they’re back in action, ready to fight to “save democracy.”
Melanie Campbell, co-convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, which organized the rally, explained why they needed a rest after the exhausting election season. “It was really, really grueling,” she said. “But now, we’re back…we had to regroup.” Campbell noted the 2024 election sent a message that “Black women weren’t worthy of being in the highest position in the land,” but emphasized they’re ready to push forward.
Campbell and other Black women leaders, including young women still in high school and college, spoke out against the continuing resolution bill passed by Republicans in the House. The bill, which is set to be voted on in the Senate, includes billions in cuts and would fund the government until September 30. The activists also called attention to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, nearly eliminate the Department of Education and USAID, and roll back civil rights and environmental protections.
Senator Blunt Rochester, the first Black woman elected to the Senate from Delaware, highlighted the dangers of these budget cuts, especially to Medicaid. “We know that Black women are dying at three, four times the rate as our white counterparts,” she pointed out. “And today, I heard about rollbacks on rules for clean drinking water and clean air…these are basic things.”
Despite the challenges, Blunt Rochester remained determined. “No weapon that’s formed against us shall prosper!” she declared.
Senator Alsobrooks, the first Black woman U.S. senator from Maryland, slammed Republicans for their failure to deliver on their promises to ease economic burdens. “They’re busy doing the exact opposite,” she said. “Instead of boosting anti-poverty programs, they’re proposing cuts to SNAP. Instead of investing in education, they want to cut Pell Grants, blocking Black men and women from pursuing their dreams.”
Alsobrooks also condemned the Republican budget for slashing $880 billion from Medicaid and other crucial programs. “They’re even laying the groundwork to attack Social Security,” she said. “Imagine being told your health care and Social Security don’t matter as much as cuts to benefit billionaires.”
As Republicans push for deep federal spending cuts to fund President Trump’s economic agenda—including extending tax cuts that favor the wealthiest Americans—activists like Maya Wiley, president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, vowed to resist. “We won’t let billionaires like Elon Musk take our money out of our communities,” she said. “Nobody voted for this. We voted for solutions for our communities.”
Wiley reminded the group that the U.S. Capitol was built by enslaved Black people and emphasized that Congress would soon decide whether to take funding away from schools, healthcare, and veteran services. “This is about whether our children get an education, whether we can see a doctor when we’re sick, whether veterans who look like us get the support they earned.”
Campbell expressed concern that these actions could destroy the middle class, but she remained confident in the resilience of the movement. “We’ve never seen this before, but you know what? We’re built for this.”
Despite the tough political landscape, Campbell found a silver lining in the historic election of two Black women to the Senate. “In the midst of rollbacks, we’re also breaking barriers,” she said.
Reflecting on the significance of these victories, Senator Alsobrooks told the crowd, “The idea that Black women were defeated in the 2024 election is a big fat lie.” She reminded them that their activism has led to the largest number of African Americans ever serving in the Senate at one time. “Your activism and your dedication matter. You are victorious and undefeated in so many ways.”
