As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a diverse group of activists and advocates is calling for a fundamental reimagining of the nation's democratic foundations. The milestone arrives amid what many describe as a crisis for voting rights, civil liberties, and democratic institutions, but also an opportunity to build a more inclusive and just society.
Kristen Clarke: Enshrine the Right to Vote and Reform the Supreme Court
Kristen Clarke, general counsel at the NAACP, emphasized the need for an affirmative right to vote enshrined in the Constitution. 'This Supreme Court has moved at lightning speed – not only bringing about the death of the Voting Rights Act, but hollowing out the original meaning and purpose of the 14th and 15th amendments,' she said. Clarke called for Supreme Court reform, including term limits, meaningful ethics requirements, and a ban on the shadow docket, to restore public confidence in the institution.
Chris Smalls: Escape the Two-Party System
Chris Smalls, former president of the Amazon labor union, argued that the two-party system has failed working Americans. 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,' he said. Smalls advocated for multiparty government and stronger unions that directly serve the working class, emphasizing that 'the next 250 years belong to all of us – but only if we’re willing to sacrifice for the greater good.'
Eliel Cruz: Eliminate Limited Gender Expectations
Eliel Cruz, co-founder of the gender liberation movement, envisions a world where 'the limited gender expectations that harm cis and trans people alike are done away with.' Cruz is building toward a society rooted in justice, dignity, and care, where LGBTQ+ young people are safe and have everything they need to thrive.
Summer Lopez: Build a Genuine Culture of Free Expression
Summer Lopez, co-CEO of PEN America, warned that free expression is under threat from unprecedented book bans, state laws restricting classroom teaching, and federal attempts to ban words from government documents. 'These are textbook authoritarian tactics,' she said. Lopez called for defending everyone’s right to speak, even when deeply disagreeing, and for dismantling barriers to equitable exercise of these rights.
Yasmin Cader: Stand Up for Our Neighbors
Yasmin Cader, deputy executive director of the ACLU, highlighted the inseparable link between the criminal legal system and racial subordination. 'The protections of the constitution have not applied fairly to all,' she said. Cader noted a growing willingness to confront this history honestly, but stressed that progress has come from people insisting the country live up to its promises. 'We organize. We build coalitions. We stand up for our neighbors,' she said.
Celina Stewart: Evolve Democracy
Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, emphasized the need to modernize systems, protect against misinformation, and foster a culture of shared participation. 'Democracy is not something we inherit fully formed. It is something every generation has had to build. This is our moment to build it,' she said.
Edgar Villanueva: Ensure No One’s Wellbeing Is Traded for Another’s Wealth
Edgar Villanueva, founder of the Decolonizing Wealth Project, described America’s history of treating land as a commodity and called for centering Indigenous leaders in land and water stewardship. He noted that through the California Tribal Land Return Initiative and Indigenous Earth Fund, more than 25,000 acres of land were returned last year. 'The land remembers how to heal itself. It only needs us to stop standing in the way,' he said. Villanueva urged shifting money away from harm and toward 'money as medicine' to repair the harms of the past 400 years.
