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The inspiration for the Democracy Initiative (DI) was extreme frustration that the path to achieving CWA's goals of secure, sustainable jobs, health care, retirement security and bargaining and organizing rights was blocked by a concerted attack on our democratic process. Workers' rights were eroding and contract bargaining was harder than ever.

The NAACP's "Journey for Justice" began this August, 50 years after the Voting Rights Act was signed. From Selma, Ala., to Washington, D.C., thousands of civil rights, religious, union, student and other activists joined actions, rallies and teach-ins as marchers made their way to the endpoint, a rally and advocacy day at the U.S. Capitol.

The Democracy Initiative was formed in December 2013 by four core organizations, the Communications Workers of America, the NAACP, Sierra Club and Greenpeace, with the goal of mobilizing millions in a fight to save our democracy.

Since the Supreme Court's Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions, the richest of the 1 percent have been able to put their mark on our election process and our democracy. Not only are the values and interests of the wealthy - which are very different from those of everyday Americans - now center stage, their mega-dollars diminish the votes and power of the rest of us.

The Citizens United and McCutcheon Supreme Court rulings are enabling wealthy and corporate interests to control our election process and public policy at every level. Coupled with the Supreme Court's Shelby decision, which dismantled critical voting protections, the result will likely produce a government of, by and for the 1 percent, unless we act.