Hello Friend,

A public radio station host asked listeners to describe how they are coping with the onslaught of terrible news each day. Many callers described feeling: “depressed,”“fearful,” and “afraid of what will happen next.”

Their calls echoed what we hear often from people who are already feeling pandemic-weary, and now are further worn down by the ongoing lies about election fraud, an attack on our Capitol, state-enacted policies that make it harder to vote and easier to marginalize others, and a Supreme Court that is issuing inconsistent rulings that seem to adhere to a pre-existing agenda.

But this American state of exhaustion is itself a threat to democracy. It risks enabling a retreat from action not as a respite, but permanently. Our democratic institutions require more vigilance than ever.

We must all find the strength to determine where and how we will become involved over the coming months to speak out, write, donate, challenge, run for office, volunteer, sign our Democracy Commitment, and otherwise engage. We must work with leaders who have a vision for a country that can face its 21st century challenges looking forward, instead of with a backward, regressive lens. Rights must be enhanced, not lost.

LDAD will continue and accelerate its efforts to galvanize the legal profession to do more than it has done these past years.

Recently, LDAD Board members Lauren Stiller Rikleen and James McHugh addressed the loss of trust in the Supreme Court in a Bloomberg Law article. LDAD counsel (and prolific opinion writer), Dennis Aftergut, recently wrote about new allegations from the January 6 Commission of witness intimidation and, along with Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe, sounded the alarm on a case the Supreme Court agreed to hear that has the potential to upend the right to a free and fair election as we know it.

Please stay active with us. Take breaks, of course, and ice cream is always good for the soul. But then return to doing the work that is needed so, when the history books are written about this traumatic time, you can take pride in knowing that you did your part to help save American democracy.

Please feel free to reach out with your thoughts and suggestions. In addition, your ongoing financial support is needed and appreciated.

Lawyers Defending American Democracy

Lawyers Defending American Democracy
303 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
United States
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