Voting rights advocates urge Congress to realize John Lewis’ vision—that democracy includes everyone
Washington, DC — Thousands of advocates in 42 states across the country held more than 150 “Good Trouble Candlelight Vigils for Democracy,” yesterday to mark one year since the passing of Rep. John Lewis. The vigils celebrated his extraordinary legacy and called on Congress to pass critical legislation to protect the freedom to vote, end gerrymandering, and get money out of politics to realize Rep. Lewis’ vision for a democracy that works for all of us.
As part of this, in Washington, DC, the Declaration for American Democracy, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, DC Vote, and the Transformative Justice Coalition, hosted a vigil with members of Congress, including Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-Del) and Joyce Beatty (OH-3), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), in addition to leaders in the faith community and the movement to transform our democracy. The vigil featured a march from Black Lives Matter Plaza to St. John’s Episcopal Church, where advocates laid a wreath to pay tribute to Rep. Lewis’ incredible life.
“Yesterday, America witnessed more than 150 Good Trouble Candlelight Vigils affirming that John Lewis’ spirit lives on,” said Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition. “In his tradition, we must marshal all of our commitment and resolve to engage in concerted direct action until passage of the For The People Act, DC Statehood and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act! We will invoke the legacy of John Lewis as we march, protest, conduct peaceful civil disobedience and call on the Senate for urgent action to protect all of our nation’s voters.”
“Voting is the language of democracy. It impacts every aspect of our lives today, and the lives our children will lead tomorrow. But the right to vote is in peril as some politicians are trying their hardest to take us backwards by creating barriers for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and new Americans. We are at an inflection point in our nation — one that requires urgent action. Congress must come together to protect the freedom to vote for all Americans by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the For the People Act, and the Washington, DC Admission Act,” said Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Six months have passed since the failed attack on our nation and our democracy on January 6th. Since that day, anti-voter laws have been passed in states all over the country and the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings have made clear that it will not act to protect the sacred right to vote. This Summer, Congressional districts risk being redrawn in a way that will allow politicians to choose their voters – rather than the voters fairly choosing who represents them.
“We’re encouraged by the real momentum in Congress to work towards passing sweeping legislation to protect the freedom to vote, but the clock is ticking,” said Jana Morgan, director of the Declaration for American Democracy. “To achieve a political system that is inclusive for all, Congress must delay the August recess until the For the People Act is the law of the land—and Congress cannot let the Jim Crow filibuster stand in the way.”
The Good Trouble Candlelight Vigils for Democracy were hosted by the Declaration for American Democracy, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Transformative Justice Coalition, in partnership with local organizations and advocates on the frontlines of the fight to protect the freedom to vote.
This drive contains downloadable public use photos and videos from the event.
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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
