This press release was originally posted on the United for Democracy website
After a devastating Supreme Court term that saw the rollback of affirmative action, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protections, and more – new partners will serve as integral contributors to United for Democracy in exposing the extreme justices’ assault on legal precedent and fundamental freedoms.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, United for Democracy — a new nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the impact of today’s Supreme Court on their lives — is proud to welcome ten new members to the Coalition. These partners include American Humanist Association, Bend The Arc: Jewish Action, Courage CA, Face the Music Collective, FFRF Action Fund, MPower Change Action Fund, New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising, Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund, and Rise.
These organizations join United for Democracy’s Coalition in the face of another devastating Supreme Court term that overturned long-standing precedents, shattered judicial norms, and eliminated fundamental freedoms favored by the majority of Americans. As part of the Coalition, these organizations will highlight how the Court has consistently dismantled bodily autonomy, voting rights, civil rights, educational equity, and core tenets of American democracy – all in service of the wealthy few.
United for Democracy is unprecedented in its size and scope. With this new wave of support, the campaign representing tens of millions of Americans continues to harness growing outrage at extreme justices to mobilize the American people, advocates, experts, and political leaders – demanding that Congress rein in the Court.
“Two weeks ago, the activist majority on the Supreme Court continued its effort to impose its extreme agenda over the will of the people, dismantling decades of progress for us all,” said Stasha Rhodes, Campaign Director of United for Democracy. “Now more than ever, we are reminded why we need a Court that works for the American people. That is why we are proud to welcome American Humanist Association, Bend The Arc: Jewish Action, Courage CA, Face the Music Collective, FFRF Action Fund, MPower Change Action Fund, New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising, Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund, and Rise, into our effort. Each of these organizations has been a leader for their communities and their voices are critical for the road ahead. We are seeing a dangerous, unprecedented rollback of fundamental freedoms, and we are grateful to have more voices join the chorus of those calling for Congress to act.”
“Separation of church and state is a bedrock constitutional principle but far right religious fundamentalists who have overtaken the highest court in the land have shown us their hostility toward precedent and revealed their agenda to gut our secular democracy for the sake of dark money interests. The American Humanist Association (AHA) is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United for Democracy Coalition and partners as we fight to rein in a dangerously out of control Supreme Court to save our fledgling democracy and all of the values we hold dearly as progressives,” said Lily Bolourian, Legal and Policy Director of the American Humanist Association.
“The ancient prophet Isaiah taught that to devote oneself to justice is to aid those who are wronged and to defend the rights of the most vulnerable in society. The current court is doing the opposite – aggressively remaking our society to be one that is even more biased towards the wealthy and powerful. This should be no surprise, as the majority of justices were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote. We must address the crisis in the court for the United States to have any chance of finally becoming a multiracial democracy where everyone can thrive,” said Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Washington Director of Bend The Arc: Jewish Action.
“When we suppress the right to vote for some, we deny the freedom to vote for all and in the decade since Shelby County v. Holder we’ve seen the dangerous truth to that, a reality brought forth by a dangerous Supreme Court,” said Pete Kronowitt, Founder, Face the Music Collective. “Face the Music Collective is joining United For Democracy because we recognize that when the Supreme Court weakens our most sacred Constitutional right, they're silencing the majority's voice and substituting minority rule by a wealthy few, because all rights *depend* on voting rights.”
“Courage California is joining forces with the United for Democracy Coalition to ensure that the United States Supreme Court — like every branch of government — truly represents the people of California and the nation in its decision making and diversity,” said Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California. “Our 1.4 million members have long fought to hold our leaders and corporations accountable, expose corruption, and expand rights and protections for all communities, including pursuing justice through our court systems. This Coalition presents a powerful opportunity to take action against a court dominated by a right-wing, billionaire-funded majority intent on undermining our decades of progress.”
“We’re excited to join forces with United for Democracy, and our allied partners, to shine a spotlight on the impact of the extremist Supreme Court on our freedoms, communities and families. We unite with this diverse Coalition, representing tens of millions of Americans, to urge Congress to rein in the extreme Supreme Court and restore power to the people. Together, we will work toward a society where reason, secularism and the will of the people prevail,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, President, FFRF Action Fund.
“As the first and only regional disability organization in the country, we have a responsibility to ensure our community in the South – a community of primarily multiply-marginalized disabled people – is represented in our democracy. Sadly, an extremist Supreme Court puts that in jeopardy,” said Dom Kelly, Co-Founder, President and CEO of New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising. “From the stripping away of reproductive rights to ending affirmative action to the rubber stamping of legal discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks, disabled people are impacted by every decision that harms marginalized people because we live at every intersection. We are thrilled to be a part of this powerful Coalition and represent the disability community in the South – the region that contains a third of the disabled people in the entire country – as we collectively work to hold those in power accountable in all branches of government.”
“Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund fully endorses the United for Democracy campaign. We are tired of the extremist conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court whose decisions make it harder for Ohioans to live happy, safe, and prosperous lives. We know what’s best for our communities — and we will always take care of us — but it’s time that the U.S. Supreme Court be held accountable for the damning decisions they are making that directly harm Ohioans and all Americans,” said Rhiannon Carnes, Executive Director for Ohio Women's Alliance Action Fund.
“At the end of its term, the Supreme Court handed down decisions aimed at undoing decades of progress that opened the doors to equitable educational access. The Court again sided with a wealthy few intent on gaining more power for themselves, instead of millions of students seeking relief and opportunity,” said Mary-Pat Hector, CEO of Rise. “That is why we at Rise, on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of students we represent, are proud to join United For Democracy and work alongside our partners to rein in this Court. Our students deserve the promises of progress, and we won’t stop until they are realized.”
Founding members of United for Democracy include the American Federation of Teachers, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters, Giffords, National Education Association, Fair Fight Action, SEIU, NARAL Pro-Choice America, MoveOn, March For Our Lives, Black Voters Matter Fund, Alliance for Justice, LUCHA, Wisconsin Faith Voices For Justice, Advance Carolina, UltraViolet, and more.
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United for Democracy is a diverse and growing Coalition of more than 100 grassroots organizations, labor unions, and advocates for reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, the environment, workers’ rights and more, all representing tens of millions of Americans. The new nationwide campaign launched to educate Americans about the impact today’s Supreme Court is having on their lives, freedoms, and democracy — and call on Congress to rein in its unchecked powers.
