NIH Vigils Newsletter 11/30/2025
Updates for the Week of November 29
Gratitude and Hope Edition
Despite the many harms that we point to each week at the Vigils and many more that we don’t cover, there is still a lot to be grateful for and many things that give us hope. The Harvard long-term Nurses’ Health study has recently show that gratitude is associated with social and emotional well being, better sleep, lower depression, and biomarkers of heart health. While correlation is not causation, practicing gratitude certainly can’t hurt.
We are grateful for
Our Vigil community
Our federal resistance community
The greater resistance community
Judge Young and others who continue to uphold justice and the rule of law
NIH police who have been wonderful to work with
Our Senators and Representatives Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Raskin
Good weather
Signal
Journalists willing to tell our stories
Free speech
Collective wisdom
Vaccines and medical providers who still make them available
Science
Art and music that lift us up and keep us going
Unions
Civil rights activists who paved the way
What gives us hope
Our vision of the systems that we will rebuild that will truly serve all the people
The outcome of the last election
The next generation of leaders and citizens now on the rise
“Hope doesn’t preclude feeling sadness or frustration or anger or any other emotion that makes total sense. Hope isn’t an emotion, you know? Hope is not optimism. Hope is a discipline… we have to practice it every single day.”
— Mariame Kaba
Mariame’s father was an activist from Guinea who told her that “Everything worthwhile is done with other people.”
World AIDS Day Cancelled
Every Dec. 1 since 1988, The U.S. has observed World AIDS Day to commemorate those who have died, honor those who fight, and raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic more generally. The State Department has quietly instructed staff not to use any department funds to celebrate World AIDS Day or to even communicate any messaging about it. World AIDS Day is also when the State Department sends data to Congress from PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief. It is unclear whether this data will still be sent as mandated.
Fundraiser for 27 uNIHted
Join us in a fundraising event for 27 uNIHted on December 12, 2025, 7-11 p.m. at Chacho Bar & Distillery (6031 Kansas Ave NW). The Burger Coach will sell food and Allstrike, The Laterals, and Ammonite will provide live music. Please note that the event is on the second floor but there is no elevator.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with people and groups you think would be interested.
Keep up the good trouble, and stay safe out there.
In solidarity,
NIH Vigils
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Medical Center Metro Station in front of the NIH Visitors Center.
Accessible parking is available at the Park and Ride. We recommend taking the Metro in. There is ample free parking at Grosvenor/Strathmore station one stop away.