The time to fight for democracy is now

The power of the people is what holds our country together and what moves our country forward. And in the wake of ongoing efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to subvert our elections, the people are turning out to be heard and stand up for justice.

On Nov. 3, 2020, the people did just that. Voters showed up in record numbers to send a clear and unwavering message that they wanted new leadership for our country. Trump had spent four years in office attacking our freedoms and breaking down our democracy. And on Jan. 6, 2021, he nearly succeeded in breaking it all the way down.

The bipartisan investigation led by the House Select Committee Investigating the Jan. 6 Attack on the Capitol proved what we’ve known all along: Trump knew he lost. Nevertheless, he and his allies engaged in a violent conspiracy to overturn a free and fair election. They not only ignored the results of the election, but also spread lies and sowed distrust in our political system. The big lie, still being told today, sets a dangerous precedent for our democracy.

As Judge Amy Berman Jackson said, “It is not standing up for America to stand up for one man who knows full well that he lost, instead of the Constitution he was trying to subvert.”

We’ve seen the lengths they will go to in order to keep power and make no mistake: They will not stop unless we stop them.

We are in a crucial moment for our democracy. We have an opportunity to put a stop to the injustice that continues to plague our country in the name of Trump and MAGA Republicans.

Jan. 6 was not just about one day. The conspiracy to overturn the election began before the attack on our Capitol, and this attack on our country continues today with efforts to pass anti-democracy legislation in state houses, run election-denier candidates for office and intimidate election officials.

Across the U.S., state houses are passing anti-democratic laws that will make it harder for our votes to count. At least 244 bills introduced in 33 states would interfere with election administration, and many of them have become law — smoothing the way for partisan actors to say they won elections that they actually lost.

Election officials have been harassed and intimidated for doing their jobs and trying to make sure people can exercise their right to vote. Recent polling shows that 1 in 6 election officials have faced threats because of their job, and 77% say they feel these threats have increased in recent years.

What’s more, many allies of the former president who still repeat the lie that the 2020 election was stolen are on the ballot in states across the country. In fact, half the country — 55% of the population living in 27 states — has an election denier running to oversee their elections. Election deniers are on the ballot in 50% of the races for governor and more than onethird of races for secretary of state and attorney general. In Alabama, Arizona and Michigan, election deniers are running for all three top statewide positions.

Is this the kind of country we want to live in?

I want to live in a country that upholds democratic values, one that truly represents and serves all people, not just a select few. And for that to be possible, we need to stand up. That is why people are organizing rallies across the country to protect our freedoms and defend against these ongoing threats to our democracy. We can’t afford to be complicit. The time to speak up is now.

At more than 75 events across the country last month, people lifted up what we learned from the Jan. 6 hearings, and rang the alarm over the ongoing threats to our freedoms and our vote. The fight for democracy counts now more than ever.