[Read on Generation Progress’ website.]
June 21, 2021, Washington, D.C.—Today, advocacy groups Generation Progress and the Declaration for American Democracy coalition are announcing the launch of the DFAD Youth Working Group to ensure that the voices and perspectives of young people are heard in the fight for a fair and representative democracy. The working group, which will be part of the broader DFAD coalition, will bring together youth-led and youth-centric organizations to collaborate on efforts to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act—two pieces of legislation that would greatly impact young Americans. The pro-voter reforms included in the For The People Act, such as automatic voter registration and pre-registration for 16- and 17-year olds, would make voting simpler and more accessible for young people, and the bill’s provisions to end partisan gerrymandering and reduce the influence of big money in politics would pave the way towards action on the issues that young people care most about, like climate change and gun violence prevention.
In response to historic turnout in the 2020 election, lawmakers in 47 states have introduced or passed over 360 bills that would restrict voting access, particularly for people of color and young people. For this reason, it’s more important than ever that young people and students have a space in the pro-democracy movement. This working group will amplify and support youth-led democracy work that is happening on the ground in key districts and create opportunities for young people to engage in and lead this work.
“Young people are disproportionately impacted by the current flaws in our democracy, and we recognize the significance that legislation like the For The People Act could have on our lives,” said Edwith Theogene, the director of advocacy at Generation Progress and leader of the Youth Working Group. “Beyond protecting our freedom to vote, which is of critical importance, the For The People Act would also ensure that the will of the voters carries more weight than the priorities of big money interest groups, paving the way towards action on the issues that young people care about.”
Initial projects for the working group include spearheading digital days of action, authoring and circulating a youth sign-on letter in support of the For The People Act, and coordinating multiple lobby days.
So far, organizations that have signed on to the youth working group include March for Our Lives, Blue Future, Next Gen, and Un-PAC.
To learn more about the working group or to speak with Generation Progress about the launch, contact Emily Leach at eleach@americanprogress.org.
Building a Government For and By the People
America is at a crossroads. For the past decade, we’ve seen a shift away from government representation for the people to representation for the billionaires and corporate interests.
Voter suppression laws have silenced the voices of voters and entire communities, while billionaires and corporate interests continue to spend big to influence our elections and advance their agenda. This administration is pushing the limits of executive power to the brink, normalizing rampant corruption, disregarding the rule of law, while attacking the pillars of civil society itself.
From this broken political system, we have the opportunity to build something new, where everyone has a meaningful say in decisions that impact their jobs, housing, health, and safety.
This is our Declaration for American Democracy:
A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
A true democracy is one in which the people choose the representatives who make the critical policy decisions that guide the direction of our country and communities. A democracy requires that its cornerstones, from a free press to our right to protest to access to justice, to our right to free speech, remain intact. It requires that our basic human and civil rights be protected under the law, where no concentration of power is allowed to threaten the people’s rights.
Ensure our freedom to vote.
A Democracy for the People must ensure every eligible voter can participate in our elections without barriers, confusion, or intimidation. Our electoral system must be designed to ensure all voices are heard. We must eliminate discriminatory voter suppression policies, realize fair representation through enfranchisement and fair districting, and enact national standards for our elections to ensure every eligible voter can easily cast their ballot and trust that their vote will be accurately counted.
Protect against government corruption.
A Democracy for the People serves all of us, rather than the self-interests of those who govern. This requires government transparency and binding rules for Congress, the President, and the courts to root out conflicts of interest. In addition to oversight, we must have enforcement mechanisms to hold individuals accountable – regardless of who they are or what position they hold. Our democracy requires comprehensive safeguards that prevent self-dealing and ensure no one in power, whether a President, judge, or Member of Congress, can use public office to advance their own personal or financial interests.
Empower the voice of the people.
A Democracy for the People responds to the needs of people and their communities. The voices of the people should not be drowned out by billionaires or corporate interests who use their wealth to buy access, curry favor, and shape policy and elections. We must root out the corrosive influence of big money in politics and address the various ways special interests work to influence Members of Congress and government officials – whether through campaign cash or funding pet projects. A true democracy amplifies community voices and makes it possible for everyday people to run for office.
Maintain checks, balances, and the rule of law.
A Democracy For the People depends on a system of checks and balances. We must add safeguards and accountability mechanisms to prevent government overreach and to reinforce the powers allocated to each branch of government by our Constitution. We must stop abuse of power from the executive branch and ensure other branches have sufficient means to hold an administration accountable. This includes putting protections in place to ensure nonpartisan civil servants can do their jobs as mandated by Congress without purges or politicization, and preventing the weaponization of independent government agencies. The courts must pursue equal justice under the law, not partisan political agendas. Whether a president, a judge, a member of Congress, a CEO, or anyone else, no one is above the law.
What is the Declaration for American Democracy?
A Coalition of 260+ Member Organizations
The Declaration for American Democracy is an anti-oppression coalition working together to make the promise of democracy real for all of us.
We believe our democratic systems, institutions, and leaders must reflect, represent, and respect the diverse, multicultural nation that we are and have always been. For democracy to work for all of us, it must include all of us and address the deep systemic, institutional challenges that continue to block meaningful progress to this day. As America’s diversity continues to grow, so must our democracy.
Our Mission
Today our democracy faces crises on multiple fronts -- compounded by a deeply problematic history that has held us back from achieving an inclusive and equitable multiracial nation since our founding. Powerful corporations and wealthy special interests use their money and influence to shape public policy priorities. Extremist politicians are putting up deliberate barriers to block access to the ballot box and silence the voices of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, low-income, LGBTQIA, disability, and other marginalized communities. State legislatures are manipulating Congressional maps to allow politicians to pick their voters and hoard power for their political parties. And our government has failed to respond after four years of a corrupt administration and Supreme Court decisions gutting voting rights protections and anti-corruption laws.
Working together, we are committed to passing national standards, including the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and DC Statehood, to transform our political system and move our country closer to realizing the true promise of democracy. However, we will not be satisfied with any single reform and will continue to press for the structural changes necessary to rebalance power for the people and undo the historic harms that have barred communities that have been marginalized and denied political power since the founding of the United States.
We believe people of color, young people, people with disabilities, language minorities, and other historically disenfranchised communities should have equal access to the ballot and be equitably represented in government. We believe everyday people should have a stronger voice in elections than wealthy donors and special interests. And we believe our government should be transparent and accountable to the people.
Together we must ensure the freedom to vote is a fundamental American right and that the people -- regardless of our color, our background, or our zip code - hold the power, not the wealthy and corporations.
Our Vision
Therefore, we, the Declaration for American Democracy, are committed to working together to achieve this vision and model our values in how we work together. As a coalition, we will invest in each other and treat each other with respect. We will acknowledge and learn from our past, including the legacy of racism and white supremacy in our movement and democratic institutions. In decision making we will center Black, Brown, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, LGBTQIA, people with disabilities, language minorities, as well as other impacted communities. And we will invest in each other through professional development, collaborative grantmaking, and shared projects.
Our 260+ Member Organizations
To make progress on the issues that we care most about, such as health care, racial justice, reproductive rights, and the environment, we must build a system that serves the people rather than wealthy donors. Congress must pass the #FreedomToVoteAct. pic.twitter.com/lg3kmym7b1— Declaration for American Democracy - (@DFADCoalition) July 27, 2023
