đ˝Protect Democracy
đ˝Stay informed with daily news updates to hold our leaders accountable and protect democracy. A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
Today in đ˝Protect Democracy, weâre featuring: November 8, 2024 news briefs, video briefs, Brief on the Freedom to Vote Act, and calls-to-action.
Together, we can realize a democracy that represents, reflects, and responds to all of us.
For far too long, special interests, ultra-wealthy donors, and vote suppressors have dominated our politics and attempted to silence the voices of everyday Americans, especially in Black and Brown communities.
America's democracy is under attack as the MAGA agenda seeks to undermine our democratic institutions, erode the rule of law, and strip away the rights that ensure every voice is heard and every vote counts. Join us to champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Together we can Protect Democracy
Click here to Sign the Petition: Abolish the Electoral College
Click here to Tell your member of Congress to co-sponsor and support the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Call your member of Congress today (202) 224-3121 and ask them to support the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Click here to Tell Congress: Overturn Citizens United
Register to vote, vote, and help elect leaders that will ensure safe, secure elections and are committed to protecting democracy
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Protect Democracy - News Briefs - November 8, 2024
Video Democracy activist on the spread of online hate
ABC News
Democracy activist on the spread of online hate ABC Newsâ Phil Lipof speaks with YaŃl Eisenstat, a senior policy fellow at Cybersecurity for Democracy, about the spread of hateful rhetoric online and how perpetrators seek their targets.
Trumpâs Supreme Court agenda is likely to include legal U-turns
Seattle Times By Adam LiptakÂ
âAll of these legal disputes are taking place within the context of the democracy that weâre supposed to have,â he said. âAs part of that democracy, elections are supposed to have consequences for policy, including legal policy.
Did Democrats lose the 2024 election because of âbadâ policies?
Vox By Rachel CohenÂ
This critique quickly gained traction, with commentators arguing that Harris and the Democrats had lost touch with working peopleâs needs, prioritizing issues like democracy and abortion rights too much.
The Democratsâ three big mistakes - The Washington Post
Washington Post By Fareed ZakariaÂ
Democratic strategists mishandled immigration, identity politics and the pileup of Trump prosecutions.
Chris Hayes: Trump may have won, but Americans have not surrendered themselves to Trumpism
MSNBC By Chris Hayes
Thatâs not going to persuade a lot of people in the pro-democracy coalition. I do not necessarily agree that we are going to be OK, or that the American experiment is going to endure. We have to act to protect it and ourselves.
Warren Says Senate Must Use 'Every Minute' Until January 3 to Confirm Federal Judges
Common Dreams By Julia ConleyÂ
"While still in charge of the Senate and the White House, we must do all we can to safeguard our democracy," wrote the Massachusetts Democrat at Time magazine.
Progressives Urge Senate Dems To Confirm All Of Biden's Court Picks In Lame Duck
HuffPost By Jennifer BenderyÂ
Another group, People For the American Way, launched a new platform called Resist Project 2025 for mobilizing activists against Trumpâs efforts to undermine democracy. Its first priority is to organize around resisting the Trump administrationâs efforts to revamp the courts.
Judge strikes down New York law intended to protect minority groups' voting power
ABC News By Michael HillÂ
âWe are confident that the New York Voting Rights Act is constitutional, and that on appeal that belief will be vindicated,â attorney David Imamura said. The lawsuit, which was filed in March, was one of at least four lawsuits filed under the stateâs voting rights act.
4 Big Questions Kids Are Asking About The Election Outcome â And How To Answer Them
Huff Post By Kelsey BorresenÂ
âYou can say, âAn important part of our country is that it is a democracy â every citizen gets a vote, and sometimes your candidates win, and sometimes they donât.
Who's really the 'puppet'? Jimmy Kimmel returns Elon Musk's 'propaganda' shade
LA Times By Alexandra Del RosarioÂ
âIt was a terrible night for poor people, for the middle class, for seniors who rely on Social Security, for our allies in Ukraine, for NATO and the truth and democracy and decency. And it was a terrible night for everyone who voted against him. And guess what?
Protect Democracy - Video Highlights - November 8, 2024
âIt doesnât make senseâ: See Obama vet on Trumpâs decisive, baffling 2024 win | MSNBC
What is the John Lewis Voting Rights Act?
How the John Lewis Voting Rights Act Protects Democracy | Now This Impact
What is the Freedom to Vote Act?
With the Freedom to Vote Act, we can finally take action against some of the largest issues plaguing our democracy. It will protect the right to vote, end partisan gerrymandering, combat election subversion, and decrease the power of big moneyed special interests. Together we can realize a democracy that represents, reflects, and responds to all of us.Â
TOPLINES
Freedom to Vote Act and Voting Rights:
Since the 2013 Shelby v. Holder SCOTUS decision, we have less federal voting rights protections than in the decades before.
We must ensure the freedom to vote for all Americans to have our vote counted and voice heard.
The Freedom to Vote Act will modernize our voting system and prevent blatant attempts to silence our voices so that we all have the freedom to vote
The Freedom to Vote Act helps dismantle barriers erected to keep Black, Indigenous, young and new Americans from voting, including long lines and eliminated polling places, targeted restrictions to registration, and overt voter intimidation.Â
Freedom to Vote Act and Money in Politics
We must build a campaign finance system that ensures our elected leaders listen to every American â not just the rich and powerful.Â
Our current pay-to-play system silences the voices of Black, brown, young, and new Americans and gives unchecked power to the wealthy few.Â
The Freedom to Vote Act tackles corruption by ensuring that our government works for us by reducing the influence of big money in politics and increasing ethical standards for our elected officials.Â
In order to make progress on the issues that Americans care most about such as, health care, racial justice, reproductive rights, and environmental justice, we must build a system that serves the people, rather than the interests of the rich and powerful.
Freedom to Vote Act and Election Sabotage:Â
The Freedom to Vote Act would set new national standards for voters to safely and freely cast our ballots, ensure that trusted local election officials count every vote, and prevent partisan politicians from sabotaging our elections.
State Anti-Voter Bills
With states across the country working to pass bills that attack our freedom to vote, we need national standards to ensure that we all have equal access to the ballot.
These restrictive voter policies are designed to disenfranchise black, brown, and indigenous communities, as well as people with disabilities, college students, low income voters, and more.Â
We need federal government action to ensure that the will of the people prevails.
Rights Restoration for Felony Disenfranchisement
Restoring the freedom to vote for formerly and currently incarcerated Americans would allow them to fulfill an important civic duty, help those released to successfully re-integrate into their communities, and make us all safer. (Additional Talking points from Stand Up America)
Disenfranchisement disproportionately impacts the vote of Black and Brown communities.Â
Progress has been made on the state level, but we need to enact federal legislation securing every Americanâs right to vote.
People Power Unitedâs Statement on Protecting Democracy
In response to recent MAGA shenanigans to suppress votes and stop voting rights bills like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from passing, People Power United - a progressive grassroots group - issued the following statement:
âAmerica's democracy is under attack as the MAGA agenda seeks to undermine our democratic institutions, erode the rule of law, and strip away the rights that ensure every voice is heard and every vote counts. There is no power like that of the people, and People Power United stands ready to protect our communities against any and all injustices,â said Laurie Woodward GarcĂa of People Power United.
People Power United will continue to oppose such harm to our community and champion civil rights for all.
Join us to build People Power! Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry! Check out our 2023 recap post to see how impactful our scrappy People Power United group is!â
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people.