The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund believes deeply that all children, and all people, deserve security, safety, human rights, and freedom. Together with our partners, we are working to create a vision of a future that is just, thriving, and liberated for all.
However, every day, we are experiencing shocking expansions of authoritarianism, both nationally and internationally. This is lethal for so many, including our young people, and a direct challenge to that vision.
We are witnessing our partners working to sustain communities AND build for more equitable futures. In fact, it is because of their bold actions to fight injustice right here in CT while calling out injustice anywhere and everywhere – often at great cost to their persons and organizations – that we must get louder in our opposition to the rise of authoritarianism and genocide.
We are seeing:
- affronts on immigrant communities and ICE abductions,
- the swift roll-back on hard-won civil rights,
- numerous ongoing acts of political violence and governmental weaponization of the law to attack freedom of speech and the freedom to give,
- the attempts to dismantle access to key institutions and services, and
- the catastrophic impacts of the U.S. budget
We know these are forerunners to the kinds of authoritarian regimes and genocides we are witnessing in Gaza, Sudan, Congo, and elsewhere globally.
We stand in solidarity with all those resisting the state-sanctioned destruction of the networks of education, health, food, shelter, and fundamental human rights that sustain communities, nationally and globally. We believe that the children of Connecticut, the United States, Gaza, Sudan, Congo, and all people impacted by the actions of oppressive systems and regimes deserve security, safety, human rights, and freedom.
To ensure these rights, we urge:
- All people to support community-led and movement campaigns and policies that invite us into shaping a more inclusive and functioning democracy while creating sustainable futures in which all children and young people can thrive.
- Philanthropic partners to deepen the work of divesting from harmful holdings that perpetuate structural inequity and to release more funds and resources during this critical moment in our nation and the world. We are inspired by those who are standing up, speaking truth, and modeling bold actions beyond usual philanthropic practice. We have examined our own holdings and are working to invest in mission-aligned companies that are also committed to creating a just, vibrant, and sustainable future for all of us. Over the past several years, we have also increased our current spending rate (currently at 10.3%), allowing us to show up and do more, though we know it is still not enough.
- Our legislators to act in line with what the majority of Americans across political and religious divides have already expressed — that we do not support violence, genocide and war. We implore them to uphold the Constitution and protection of human rights.
We unite with those calling for an end to genocide and the systems of oppression that fuel genocidal policies at all levels of government and business. We remain committed to the messy work of building a democracy. We know that a future that actually works for the people, justice, and liberation is possible. And we know the time for action is now.