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.
Every action counts in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms. Today in Protect Democracy weâre featuring November 17, 2024 news and critical 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 Tell Congress: Overturn Citizens United
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
BONUS
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
Register to vote, vote, and help elect leaders that will ensure safe, secure elections and are committed to protecting democracy
Click here to signup for our next training: Stop Project 2025: Mobilize for Change
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Protect Democracy - News Briefs - November 17, 2024
The âsuper yearâ of elections has been super bad for incumbents as voters punish them in droves
Seattle Times By Jill Lawless, Nicholas Riccardi, David Rising
He noted that a Pew poll of 24 countries found that the appeal of democracy itself was slipping as voters reported increasing economic distress and a sense that no political faction truly represents them. ⌠Since the pandemic hit in 2020, incumbents have been removed from office in 40 of 54 elections in Western democracies, said Steven Levitsky, a political scientist at Harvard University, revealing âa huge incumbent disadvantage.â
How to survive the broligarchy: 20 lessons for the post-truth world | Carole Cadwalladr
The Guardian By Carole CadwalladrÂ
If Trump was seeking to destroy American democracy, the American state and American values, this is how heâd do it. 2 Journalists are first, but everyone else is next. Trump has announced multibillion-dollar lawsuits against âthe enemy campâ: newspapers and publishers.
Will the antitrust showdown launched under Biden turn into 'Let's Make A Deal' under Trump?
Washington Post
Election Reveals Right-Wing Shift of Social Media Platforms
New York Times By Sheera FrenkelÂ
Joan Donovan, an assistant professor at Boston University and the founder of the Critical Internet Studies Institute, which studies how the internet is used to disrupt democracy, said Ms. Harris and her campaign operated in a hostile environment on many of the platforms, including X.
How Indivisible and other liberal groups will protest Trump 2.0
MSNBC By Leah Greenberg, Ezra Levin
They want to do their part to protect their family, their neighbors and democracy. While Trump 2.0 and the world are different, weâve learned a lot from working with the Indivisible movement over the last eight years, so hereâs our advice to those Americans on where to begin.
How progressive Sen. Tammy Baldwin won in a state that went for Trump - The Washington Post
Washington Post
Sen. Tammy Baldwin talks about her reelection victory in Wisconsin.
Putin critics lead a march in Berlin calling for democracy in Russia and an end to war in Ukraine
ABC News By Markus Schreiber
Prominent Russian opposition figures led a march of at least 1,000 people in central Berlin Sunday, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine and calling for democracy in Russia. Behind a banner that read âNo Putin.
Protect Democracy - Video Highlights - November 17, 2024
Top 10 Ways to Unrig the System | Robert Reich
Looking Back: What Trumpâs Win Tells Us About the Democratic Party | New York Times
What is the John Lewis Voting Rights Act?
How the John Lewis Voting Rights Act Protects Democracy | Now This Impact
Donald Trump was elected President, but he is not a leader
Allowing leaders to escape the consequences of their actions sends a dangerous message that power, not justice, prevailsâultimately destabilizing society and giving rise to authoritarianism.
History warns us that unchecked power leads to corruption, oppression, and the silencing of our voices, threatening the freedoms we cherish.
Now, more than ever, we need everyone to step up and stand together. Join us and be part of a movement that demands accountability and justice for all. More resources are coming, but today, please join our Not Above the Law Rapid Response Team and sign on to our Freedom Over Fascism pledge.
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.