This week, we're seeing incredible results from our protests and activism. With students walking out of classrooms, governments finally declaring violence against women is a national disaster, and scientists creating technology that protects female bodies, our collective movement is creating real change.
If you've been feeling restless, activated, or a need for big change, you're tuned into the same frequency that's reshaping our planet.
Let's dive into the good news that's been happening this week.
Friendsgiving Dinner Protest: Activists staged a guerrilla theater protest at Union Station called "Israel's Friendsgiving Dinner," where people in oversized masks of political leaders sat at a table covered in fake blood, eating dismembered doll parts. Using shocking performance art to draw attention to the genocide in Gaza, this protest brings attention to the war, making it impossible to ignore.
Charlotte Students Walk Out: Over 30,000 students across Charlotte schools walked out of class to protest the presence of Border Patrol and ICE agents in their city. The walkout is particularly significant given that more than 44,000 students in the district identify as Hispanic, showing how immigration enforcement is directly impacting school communities.
Jesse Welles Performs "Join Ice" on Colbert: Four-time Grammy-nominated Jesse Welles performed his protest song "Join Ice" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, using irony to critique ICE and the Trump administration's immigration policies. The performance came alongside his EP "No Kings," released the day before the No Kings movement took to the streets in opposition to Trump. Artists with platforms are choosing to use their visibility to speak truth to power, showing that music is evolving to meet this moment of resistance.
South Africa Recognizes Gender Violence National Disaster: South Africa declared gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster following massive protests where women wore black and lay down for 15 minutes at noon to honor the 15 females murdered in the country every day. The declaration came after over one million people signed a petition and participated in the "G20 Women's Shutdown," with the government finally acknowledging that the rate at which women are killed is five times higher than the global average. Survivors and activists refused to accept the government's inaction, and their persistence forced the country to confront the violence against women.
Malala Fund Investment: The Malala Fund announced $4.8 million in new grants for 21 organizations advancing girls' education in Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, with 66% of funding going to young women-led organizations. The grants will address barriers like child marriage, conflict, hidden school costs, and systemic discrimination in countries that are home to 31 million out-of-school girls.
Australia Eliminating Cervical Cancer: Australia is on track to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035, with rates dropping to 6.3 per 100,000 and zero cases diagnosed in women under 25 for the first time since 1982. The success comes from early HPV vaccination adoption and the switch to cervical screening, plus the game-changing self-collect option that's increased access for underscreened communities.
US Female Crash Test Dummy: The US Department of Transportation unveiled the THOR-05F, the first crash test dummy modeled specifically on female anatomy, which will be incorporated into federal vehicle crash testing. Unlike the 1978 Hybrid III dummy based on a 5'9" 171lb man, the new dummy has over 150 sensors and can assess risks for brain injury, facial fractures, internal organ damage, and pelvis injuries—all areas where women face higher risk in crashes. Women are 73% more likely than men to sustain serious injuries in comparable crashes, and this long-overdue change finally addresses the gender disparity.
Mamdani Meets Trump: NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump at the White House in a surprisingly cordial meeting focused on affordability and cost of living. The meeting covered housing, public transit, child care, and immigration enforcement, with Mamdani maintaining his criticism of Trump while establishing a working relationship to deliver for New Yorkers.
Wicked: For Good Box Office Records: "Wicked: For Good" opened with $150 million domestically and $226 million globally, becoming the biggest debut for a Broadway adaptation of all time. The sequel earned the same "A" CinemaScore as the first film and set records as the second-highest-grossing opening weekend of 2025 and the third-best launch for any musical ever.
This week proves that when we show up, speak out, and refuse to back down, systems shift.
With Charlotte students protecting their immigrant communities and South African women forcing their government to acknowledge femicide as a disaster, we're watching collective action create undeniable results. The wins we're celebrating didn't happen by accident. They happened because people like us demanded better and didn't stop until we got it.
Every time you speak up, organize, or refuse to accept injustice, you're adding your energy to the wave that's reshaping our world.
How will you shift this week?
