RDI hosted our second annual Heroes of Democracy Gala at New York City’s Gotham Hall last Thursday evening. We celebrated public servants and ordinary citizens who have taken significant personal and political risks to defend democracy at home and abroad. Receiving RDI’s Hero of Democracy Award were Senator John Fetterman and Representative Adam Kinzinger, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (represented by H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, permanent representative of the Republic of Estonia to the UN), and Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.    

With freedom on the line at the ballot box and on the battlefield, we must approach our work with the seriousness it demands. But it is just as important that we feel pride in our vision of democracy and take time to celebrate those who are striving to realize this noble goal, whether in the halls of Congress or the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe; on NATO’s eastern flank or in Fulton County, Georgia.

Each of the honorees echoed this spirit, appealing to Americans and supporters of freedom worldwide. While Prime Minister Kallas was not able to join us in person, she sent us an important video message that we are excited to share with you:

“We are now living in a historical moment where more people around the free world are waking up to the fact that freedom and democracy are not a given.”

-Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas

“In Estonia, we are fully committed to supporting Ukraine as long as it takes by all means at our disposal. But to win this war, we need the same spirit across the entire Free World. I'm convinced that RDI’s award will reinforce the message of my prime minister and, I hope, inspire other leaders to follow her remarkable example.”

-H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar,

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Estonia to the UN

Senator Fetterman highlighted the struggles of democratic allies like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, each facing down authoritarian enemies, and criticized the politicization of US foreign policy:

“When I grew up, we all agreed that Russia was the evil empire and now we're arguing about if we are going to stand with Ukraine. Ukraine is not asking for American blood. All they want and what they deserve are the tools to beat, humiliate, and break Russia. And we need to deliver that.”

-Senator John Fetterman

Former Representative Kinzinger praised the alliance between moderates on the right and left against the political extremes:

“In the last couple of years, the one thing I have come to realize is there's not Republicans and Democrats anymore. It's really just people who love democracy and people who don’t.”

-Representative Adam Kinzinger

Freeman and Moss spoke about how democracy requires collective, community-wide involvement:

“The enemies of democracy are trying hard to divide us, working to undo all that we've worked so hard for. But you know what? They won't win. We won't let them.”

-Ruby Freeman

“Democracy is the system that says that we all matter and we all have a say. And powerful people don't just get to treat us like pawns in their game and there's nothing we'd rather be doing because democracy needs all of us working together.”

-Shaye Moss

RDI Chairman Garry Kasparov and Frontlines of Freedom Director Pastor Evan Mawarire highlighted the importance of individual action to confront authoritarianism and protect our freedoms:

"The right to choose your leaders is not just part of your birthright, it is a hard-won privilege you must fight constantly to protect. It is on us to put these words into action.”

-RDI Chairman Garry Kasparov

"Tyranny always thrives when people like you and me hope that someone somewhere other than us will do something about the problem."

-RDI Director of Frontlines of Freedom Pastor Evan Mawarire

Today, we are asking you for your support to help protect democracy. Your contributions directly fuel our fight for freedom: supplying essential, material aid to Ukraine; helping our network of dissidents bring their unique message to audiences across America in order to reinforce support for democracy; and taking the all-important information war straight to the dictators’ doorstep. We welcome you to learn more about our work over the past year and how you can get involved by reading our newly released annual report.

Please email [email protected] with any questions and to learn more.