Hi,

The American people can't wait any longer for change and relief from this pandemic and the economic crisis. But Republican Senators continue to vow to use the filibuster to frustrate Joe Biden's plans. 

And some conservative Senate Democrats are trying to preserve the filibuster, despite its racist history, even though it means giving McConnell the power to stop everything.1 This is totally unacceptable. Can you help put a stop to the filibuster before it undermines Biden's presidency?

Sign the petition: Stop Mitch McConnell and end the filibuster! 

The filibuster is rooted in slavery, grew up as the protector of Jim Crow laws, and is now used to stymie a progressive agenda.

It's not in the Constitution. Instead, the filibuster was created in the 1830s by Southern slaveowners in the Senate to preserve white supremacy. The filibuster was used most often in the 20th century to stop civil rights legislation.2

Here in the 21st century the filibuster doesn't apply to installing federal judges or Republican tax cuts. Under existing Senate rules, however, it can apply to civil rights, voting rights, and economic stimulus.

Mitch McConnell is determined to preserve the filibuster so he can block key legislation like HR 1, the bill that would provide a crucial expansion of voting rights. It passed the House in 2019 but died in the Senate. We can expect McConnell to try and use the filibuster to block the federal response to COVID and frustrate economic relief to help millions of suffering Americans.

We cannot afford to wait any longer. We cannot let Senate Democrats allow McConnell to undermine progress. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Add your name: Tell the Senate to end the filibuster NOW!

Thanks for taking action,

Robert and the team at Demand Progress

Sources:
1. Washington Post, "Fight over the rules grinds the Senate to a halt, imperiling Biden's legislative agenda," January 25, 2021.
2. New York Times, "Joe Biden May Have Only Two Years to Get Things Done," January 20, 2021.

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