INSIDE: Exclusive invite to a virtual party, the far-right SCOTUS and how lower courts are fighting back, the exploitation politics of Govs. DeSantis and Abbott, a new People For Book Club, and more! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
People For the American Way
September 2022
The American Way


A Party a Century in the Making

This Saturday at 6:30 PM ET (3:30 PM PT) we’ll be coming together to celebrate the incomparable life of People For founder and entertainment industry legend, Norman Lear, who turned 100 years old earlier this year. This virtual dance party will feature celebrity greetings from Kathleen Turner, Tyler Perry, Alyssa Milano and others, along with special messages from People For President Ben Jealous – and a greeting from Norman Lear for People For members!

So put on your (virtual) dancing shoes and sign up now to join us and listen to the music of award-winning musician and producer DJ D-Nice! RSVP now to save your spot! >>

Norman Lear 100: Celebration of a Century

Spotlight

Books on a shelf in a crowded library.

For the past few months, we’ve watched as far-right justices on the Supreme Court lay waste to longstanding precedents and other legal doctrines – many that protect some of our most cherished and fundamental rights. But even as they are poised to begin their upcoming term next week (where more rights will be on the line), all hope is not lost.

The new wave of high-quality, diverse judges on our federal courts stands out as an important achievement and work in progress of the Biden administration, the Senate, and activists around the country. In several key cases, their influence has made a profound difference in individual people’s lives and serves – we hope – as a harbinger of things to come.

Read more in two new People For reports released this month:

Brace Yourself: More Threats from the Supreme Court >>

Biden Judges: A Glimmer of Hope on the Lower Courts >>

We Have an Urgent Deadline to Meet in Just 48 Hours

Our fiscal year ends in just over 48 hours and we are still $68,189 away from our goal. We've never needed your support more to save our democracy from authoritarians and insurrectionists, take back our federal judiciary and fight back against the Supreme Court's assault on our fundamental rights, protect the freedom of all students to learn in our schools, and so much more!

Please make your end-of-fiscal-year donation without delay to help us close the gap by Friday! >>

Renew Now

This Month

Graphic: 2022 midterm elections and how you can get involved.

In an exclusive member briefing, People For’s team of experts, including Senior Fellow and Justice Correspondent for The Nation Elie Mystal, discussed the upcoming Supreme Court term and how members can press their elected officials to ensure that our courts become more balanced and protective of the American Way.

Watch

Interview still with artist Victoria Cassinova

In a new op-ed featured in the Chicago Sun Times, People For President Ben Jealous sharply condemns the cruel treatment of migrants at the hands of Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida. In recent months, both governors have been exploiting migrants as political pawns while seeking to elevate their status among the Far Right by relocating dozens of asylum seekers to traditionally “blue” or liberal-leaning parts of the country.

The lawless and dishonest scheme is as bad as we think it is – and likely to only get worse unless we continue to out-organize and overcome their cruelty.

Watch

Rally at the U.S. Capitol featuring sign stating: supporting choice is the American Way

Truth is a threat to authoritarianism. Reading is a path to truth. That’s why the freedom to read is essential to the freedom to learn. And that’s why the freedom to learn is often attacked by those who abuse power and those who cling to it. Every year, the American Library Association and partner organizations observe Banned Books Week to highlight and push back against these threats. This year’s Banned Books Week took place amidst a wave of book bans and other attempts to restrict what people can learn. These efforts have a long and dishonorable history.

Watch

Picture of the Supreme Court with ominous clouds above.

Throughout history we’ve witnessed the power that books and literature have to inspire, power movements, and indeed change the trajectory of nations. It also comes as no surprise that those who oppose progress and change often seek to limit the public's freedom to learn, and filter the information made available to the public – efforts much like those we’ve seen from far-right politicians across the country.

It is in that spirit of promoting literature and the freedom to learn and connecting our members with some of our movement’s most impactful authors, that People For is excited to announce the launch of our very own Book Club – debuting with Rep. Jamie Raskin’s book “Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy.”

Sign up now to join us for the first Book Club event with Rep. Jamie Raskin on
Tuesday, October 11 at 4:00 PM ET (1:00 PM PT) >>

Join Us For a Jan. 6 Justice Movement Call

Join People For Executive Director Svante Myrick and our partners at Public Citizen tomorrow, September 29 at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT) for a movement call that will include discussions focused on the January 6 investigations and learn more about nationwide mobilization efforts that will launch in mid-October – and how you can participate!

RSVP now to join us for this conversation and how you can engage in the fight to protect our democracy! >>

This month in the Courts. A photograph of the scales of justice in a court room.

Please click on the headline to read the full article...


More News & Analysis
Facebook   Twitter   YouTube

This email was sent to [email protected]. Reaching you over email is the best way we have to let you know about the ways you can take action to fight the Right Wing and defend our constitutional rights and values. If you have any thoughts, comments, or criticisms, or if there’s a better email address at which to reach you, please let us know. If you’d like to unsubscribe from our list, you can do that here. But know that if you leave, it will be harder for you to stay involved with People for the American Way and continue our crucial work. PFAW is able win policy battles and elections, and counters the Right’s extremism and hate, because of dedicated activists like you, and we're always eager to hear your thoughts. Thanks for your support.

PFAW.org  |  1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC xxxxxx-5002  |  202-467-4999

Privacy Policy  |  Subscribe  |  Contact Us