Democracy Initiative Sets 2016 Course

The Democracy Initiative's 58 endorsing organizations this week adopted a strategic action plan for 2016, calling for a major grassroots mobilization and setting a national innovative strategy for joint action to build a democracy where the voice of every American is heard and counted, with a government that is of, by and for the people.

Democracy Initiative Chair Larry Cohen said stopping the deluge of money that has warped our political process and the wave of voter suppression laws across the nation will need all the organizations working together.

In fact, two member organizations – Public Citizen and the NAACP – have begun coordinating their campaigns at the highest levels, to take on the linked consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court's assaults in recent years on voting rights and campaign finance reform. The organizations are committed to working together to restore the Voting Rights Act and to stop the flood of big money into politics unleashed by the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision. Voter suppression and the wholesale purchase of the political establishment by the wealthy in this country are destroying democracy for Americans.

"Together we can build a democracy where our members' dreams are imaginable and not blocked by a system with abysmally low voter participation and outrageously high spending that's considered by many to be 'business as usual,' " Cohen said. "We can't accept that and we won't accept that."

CWA President Chris Shelton said CWA will be a big part of the national mobilization and other actions.

"It's time to put up or shut up," Shelton said. "We need millions of people on the streets to fight back and save our democracy. The spring mobilization that DI is organizing is a tremendous opportunity to show people that we are sick and tired of our country being held hostage to special interests. If we do not support the DI in this we will never get the important work of our organizations done."

CWA President Chris Shelton, with Marge Baker of the People for the American Way and NAACP President Cornell Brooks, at the Democracy Initiative's annual meeting.

Founded in 2012, the Democracy Initiative is committed to mobilizing millions of activists to build the movement for a 21st century democracy. Endorsing organizations adopted a plan for specific campaigns in at least six states, support for other local and state reform efforts, training for hundreds of thousands of activists, a major spring mobilization and a national plan to rebuild our democracy.

A major goal of the spring mobilization will be to overcome the public cynicism that little can be done about the corporate stranglehold on decisions affecting the lives of Americans. The action plan for 2016 will build on victories that already have been achieved in communities and states.

The national strategy calls for increased integration of democracy issues into the work of issue-based member organizations, by connecting organizations and promoting discussion and action on democracy work.

For more information and a list of endorsing organizations, please visit www.democracyinitiative.org.