Happy Human Rights Day

On Dec. 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was a monumental achievement that would have never succeeded without the UN Commission on Human Rights’ chair: Eleanor Roosevelt.

“Where after all do universal human rights begin? In small places, closes to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world,” Roosevelt told the United Nations.

Today, 100 progressive organizations – unions, civil rights groups, environmental advocates, community organizers and students – are launching a nationwide democracy initiative in that spirit.

Our goal is to win social and economic justice. We’re building a movement of 50 million Americans to tackle the tough fights working families face every day. We must end voter suppression, create a path to citizenship for immigrants and get the money out of politics. We’re pushing to fix the broken Senate by ending the arcane rules that allow a handful of senators to stop the entire legislative body from making any real progress. We’ll be rallying behind campaign finance bills focused on disclosure and public financing. 

CWA leaders are now meeting with key leaders from the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, NAACP, National Education Association and more in Washington, DC. Together, we’re building a movement for change.