In defeating the TPP trade agreement, we had to take on corporate America, the pharmaceutical industry, a majority of Congress and the president of the United States. We won because we stood strong, were smart in our tactics and fought for what the American people wanted.

In defeating the Dakota Access Pipeline, we had to take on the entire fossil fuel industry and, once again, a majority of Congress. When faced with a strong grassroots movement, led by the Native American community and environmentalists all across the country, President Obama did the right thing — and deserves credit for it.

These are lessons that must not be lost as we enter the Trump era. Whether the issues are economic justice, climate change, women’s rights, immigration reform, health care, education, campaign finance reform, criminal justice reform and many other struggles, when we stand together we can accomplish great victories. This is not a time for despair. It is a time for being smart and going forward in building a strong and victorious grassroots movement.