On the occasion of the third anniversary of the public launch of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, I ask for — and we need — the financial support of as many of you as possible. The threats to democracy and the rule of law are, if anything, more serious today than when we launched with our Open Letter three years ago. In that seminal document, we stated:
As lawyers, we have the responsibility to defend the underlying constitutional values and norms of political behavior on which our democracy depends. These core values and principles include: the rule of law; institutional checks and balances; separation of powers; press freedom; truthfulness to the public; and the integrity of our system of justice. … This effort to energize and mobilize our legal profession is emphatically NOT about disagreements over Republican or Democratic policies, liberal or conservative ideology, or political party advantage. The values and principles threatened here go much deeper, and are much more important than politics, policy differences and any politician’s self-interest. They’re the bedrock of our American, constitutional, democratic form of government.
During the past months, we have hired an interim executive director and launched the Democracy Commitment to recruit lawyers throughout the country to use their voices, skills, and influence to: elevate public discourse through civility; reject threats and intimidation against public officials or the media; and protect the right to a free and fair election that includes unfettered access to voting. The Democracy Commitment offers a direct blueprint for action and we urge you to sign onto it here.
Since last summer, we have filed ethics complaints against Texas Attorney General Kenneth Paxton, former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, and attorney John Eastman. We have written opinion pieces on critical topics that include the Supreme Court vacancy and the rule of law. And we have developed a monthly feature to accompany our newsletters focusing on Democracy Heroes and Democracy Threats, as a way to shine a light on those who are helping to save – and those continuing to assault – our democratic institutions.
We have a number of other projects under development and we are also developing a volunteer corps to assist us in our work.
Our mission has always been to reawaken and renew our commitment to preserve and protect our country’s foundational democratic principles, especially among those of us who had the privilege of taking an oath to preserve and protect the constitution and laws, not as republicans or democrats, but as lawyers, public officials, and citizens.
The silence of our civic, public, and legal profession leaders has been stunning with regard to the break-down of these foundational pillars. This cannot stand if democracy is to prevail.
For this reason, we ask for your financial support —and your active engagement with us in this non-partisan patriotic cause. We cannot remain on the sidelines. Democracy, as John Gardner said, is “not a spectator sport.” If not now, who? If not us, when?
Thank you for your contribution, made via our fiscal sponsor, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
As always, I urge you to keep the faith!
Sincerely,
Scott Harshbarger
Co-founder, Lawyers Defending American Democracy
