As John Lewis said: ‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part…’ President Obama is right that the filibuster is a ‘Jim Crow relic’ that stands between us and the future John Lewis called us to continue working for.
Today, Stand Up America issued the following joint statement with Common Cause, Fair Fight Action, Indivisible, Let America Vote / End Citizens United Action Fund, MoveOn, Public Citizen, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights demanding that the Senate immediately approve additional election assistance funds allocated by the House in the HEROES Act.
The problems facing our democracy are systemic and deeply ingrained in our systems, but today's vote for D.C. statehood is a monumental first step toward justice, equality, and fairness for the 700,000 people who live in the District. Today we saw firsthand just how terrified and hostile Republicans get when it comes to granting political power to D.C., specifically to the Black people and people of color who live here. We know that the road ahead for statehood won't be easy, but Indivisibles across the country are ready to fight for what's right.
For the hundreds of thousands of residents in the District, this vote is about the promise of an equitable democracy, but it is also about justice. A historically-Black city, D.C.’s lack of statehood is a remnant of Reconstruction when racist white politicians sought to prevent the District’s majority-Black residents from gaining political power. GOP Senators are echoing this history even now in their pathetic opposition to D.C. statehood.
This country is facing an unprecedented crisis. Our communities need Congress—and the Democrats who control an entire chamber of Congress—to fight for them. This COVID 3.5 package is nothing close to what families and workers need right now.
This vote is a slap in the face to the American people—the overwhelming majority of whom wanted a fair impeachment trial that included relevant witnesses and documents. In every other impeachment trial, not to mention every other trial that's ever been conducted in United States history, there have been documents and witnesses. This impeachment trial is an absolute sham and was rigged from the beginning by Mitch McConnell and Trump himself.
This measure is critical to making New York a leader in voting rights nationwide, during a time when voter suppression and election security are national concerns. Indivisibles are at the Capitol celebrating today, and tomorrow we will get back to work to ensure the Assembly follows suit and passes this crucial legislation. We urge the Assembly to pass this measure immediately to further voting rights in New York State.
While the articles of impeachment do not include every deplorable action taken by Trump, the charges do include serious offenses that prove he cannot be trusted with the powers of the presidency. The House must impeach him as soon as humanly possible, because our elections are precious and our democracy is too fragile to survive his corrupt leadership.
Bill Taylor’s testimony confirmed what Trump himself already admitted to on camera: that there was a direct link between withholding foreign aid to Ukraine and Trump’s demand for 'a favor, though.' Trump is a crook who will stop at nothing to enrich himself from the Oval Office, even if it means destroying a democracy in the process.