Transcript
Transcript begins.
As a Jewish person, we know that Jewish safety in America has been contingent on the democratic norms, rule of law, equal opportunity, and core institutions.
This is a country that was built on the idea of religious freedom, and a country in which everyone—no matter what they practice, what they look like, who they are, what they believe— is able to live and work and pray and be, safely, is the very sort of system that’s at the core of an inclusive, pluralistic democracy.
The goal of extremism is to pit our communities against one another, to sow division and distrust and polarization. And the way that we counter that is to stay at the table, to build the sorts of relationships and cross-community solidarity that we know is necessary to the broader coalitions to protect our democracy.
The more we invest in a vibrant, inclusive democracy and the institutions like our universities, like our labor, our civic infrastructure, for voting rights, immigrant rights, and so many of the things that have helped build the safety many of our communities have found in this country.
A democracy built by the people requires all of us to recognize that our safety and rights depend on the safety and rights of our neighbors.
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End of transcript.
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“A democracy built by the people requires all of us to recognize that our safety and rights depend on the safety and rights of our neighbors.”
Amy Spitalnick
Additional By The People Voices
Dr. Darrick Hamilton
Dr. Darrick Hamilton, founding director of Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School, defines “democracy by the people” as the power to influence societal structures, arguing that democracy necessitates both political inclusion and the resources to thrive.
Judge J. Michael Luttig
Judge J. Michael Luttig, lawyer and former judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, urges Americans to summon the collective courage needed to protect democracy and the American promise for future generations.
Lori McGlinchey
Lori McGlinchey, Ford’s Technology and Society director, reflects on what AI “by the people” must look like—technology designed to protect fundamental rights, minimize harm, and elevate human dignity.
Alberto Ramos
Alberto Ramos, CEO of Veterans for All Voters, reflects on what democracy means as a veteran, urging citizens to safeguard voting access and create a system that honors the principles veterans fought to uphold.
Erica Smiley
Erica Smiley, executive director of Jobs With Justice, reflects on how workers’ ability to shape economic systems and conditions upholds democracy.
Chase Strangio
Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project, reflects on the legal system’s role and its constraints, suggesting that art serves as a pathway for envisioning a new future for the LGBTQ+ community.
Erika Wood
Ford Foundation senior program officer Erika Wood reflects on the critical need to strengthen the American democratic system to ensure full inclusion, robust participation, and true representation for all.
