friend,
In his State of the Union address last night, President Biden
addressed some of the most pressing struggles that have frayed the
fabric of our democracy in recent years.
We echo the president's call for Congress to "rise to this
moment" and implement policing reforms, improve oversight and
enhance accountability. We need to reimagine policing in this country.
Militarizing the police will not make us safer, it will just make life
more dangerous for Black Americans. It's time for lawmakers to
act and pass legislation that prevents the killing of Black,
Indigenous and people of color at the hands of police.
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We share the president's view that our democracy has been
threatened, attacked and put at risk. After more than two years, the
nightmarish images of white supremacists and violent far-right
insurrectionists parading symbols of hate through the U.S. Capitol
have not faded. Nor has
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the threat they pose to our democracy
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.
Extremist groups are growing in number and power. They have become
more brazen, more sophisticated, more dangerous. No longer hiding in
the shadows, their movement has gone mainstream
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. They have powerful allies now, from members of Congress who call
them "patriots" and "political prisoners" to
cable news stars and billionaire social media executives.
And violent groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, and their
enablers, are determined to "win" the 2024 election ... by
whatever means necessary.
There is no place for political violence in our communities, and we
must respond with courageous and principled resistance. To confront
the urgent threat facing our country, the SPLC developed a six-part
National Campaign to Protect Our Democracy.
* First, we're working to lessen the impact of extremism on
our election systems by providing no-cost resources for
community leaders and families that: a. help recognize voting
misinformation; b. interrupt the radicalization process of young
people
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; and c. facilitate a deeper understanding of antidemocracy
threats and center the importance of acting in defense of our
republic.
* Second, we're mounting a major legal effort to counter
anti-democracy laws that suppress the vote and continue to
maintain a minority rule in some municipalities. We know this
tactic will continue even as our nation grows more diverse.
* Third, we're fighting for fair election administration by
pushing hard in the Deep South for policies such as automatic
voter registration, same-day registration, no-excuse absentee
voting, vote by mail and the expansion or establishment of early
voting. We're ensuring that Southern states comply with
the requirements of federal laws like the National Voter
Registration Act and do not illegally remove voters from the
rolls.
* Fourth, we're increasing voter participation
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. In the run-up to last year's midterms, we ran voter
registration and mobilization campaigns to ensure that voters
have their voices heard. But we're not just organizing
around individual election cycles. This is a long-term goal to
continue registering more voters in marginalized communities and
get them to the polls in every election.
* Fifth, we're holding social media platforms accountable
for failing the American public and aiding a misinformation
campaign deliberately aimed at disrupting the democratic process
and driving a decrease in confidence in our political system.
* Sixth, we're fighting to restore the full power of the
Voting Rights Act. We are sorely disappointed at
Congress's failure to respond to the Supreme Court's
disastrous decisions gutting the landmark law, but we will NEVER
abandon this fight. Together, we will continue to rally voters
in defense of our democracy and fight the systemic attack on
representative government systems. Our voter registration and
mobilization campaigns ensure that voters will have their voices
heard in 2024 local, state and federal elections and beyond.
As Biden remarked last night, "We're not bystanders
to history." Will you make a special contribution to support our
work to defend voting rights, advance our vision for a strong, diverse
democracy and defeat hate and extremism?
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DONATE NOW
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Thank you for being an integral part of our movement - a
movement made possible by people who share a commitment to justice and
human rights and who are joined by shared resolve.
In solidarity,
Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center
The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond,
working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy,
strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of
all people.
, will you make a special gift to support our work
today?
DONATE
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