Dear Democracy Forward Community,
Five years ago, I wrote to you for the first time as I took on the role of President and CEO at Democracy Forward. At that time – in June of 2021 – the organization had already proven that it could litigate against the anti-democratic schemes of President Trump’s first administration, but new challenges were emerging as Trump left office.
The January 6th insurrection had showcased the depths of the threat to our democracy. Indeed, in 2021, the United States was added to a list of global backsliding democracies, a designation it has maintained every year since. Institutions that had been pushed to the max during the first Trump administration were not recovering, the 6-3 Supreme Court was set to reverse Constitutional rights and basic protections, disinformation and misinformation were rising, and a hardline, extreme agenda was setting in throughout communities across the nation – an agenda intent on doing everything from rolling back civil rights to banning books to criminalizing health care.
It was clear that the scale of what was to come would require an equal scale of response.
And, so we went to work – leveling up and lawyering up to meet this new era of American life.
With your help, we scaled our team and launched initiatives across the country to ensure that when people have the courage to fight for the best of America’s values, they have a community that is with them.
We took on everyone from governors to local boards that abused their power – winning results in courts and communities. As the nation’s highest court reversed critical Constitutional rights, we filed first-of-their kind cases to chart new paths for protection under the law. We demanded that our federal government also serve the people. And, yes, we even sued the Biden administration when we needed to, because our work to protect people and our democracy transcends political parties. We didn’t have to wait for the pundits to warn us about Project 2025, we sounded one of the first alarm bells. While many were wringing their hands, we were fast at work preparing scores of lawsuits to challenge these anti-democratic moves should they emerge.
When these threats reached the national scale – on Inauguration Day 2025 – we were ready at the courthouse steps, challenging everything from unlawful actions by Elon Musk’s “DOGE,” to due process deprivations, to abrupt and erratic funding cuts, to election interference, to corrupt schemes, to civil rights roll-backs, and more. All told, we have filed hundreds of legal actions and taken thousands of other actions to meet the acceleration of threats to our democracy head on. Our efforts have contributed to the largest and most successful affirmative legal effort against an executive branch in US history – and we will keep going.
We’ve always known that democracy is not merely defended in courtrooms; it is defended and sustained by the people – in communities, around kitchen tables, at neighborhood gatherings, and in so many places. With you, we have found changemakers in communities across the nation. Through our We Hold These Truths, Together for Democracy, and Dinners for Democracy and Coffees for Change initiatives, among many others, we are reaching millions of people where they are – in their communities and online. Greater numbers of people are stepping up with courage to answer the call of their communities and our democracy.
Over the past five years, our team at Democracy Forward has grown from about 20 to 200, but our can-do, scrappy spirit and our care for one another has remained. What has also remained is our commitment to taking on worthy fights against long odds – fights many think are improbable or inadvisable but that are imperative for the wellbeing of people and our democracy. We take calculated risks because this era of American life requires it.
We are not afraid to fail.
We know that if you don’t fight, you can’t win. And, we win. A lot.
Looking back on the past five years helps us see what’s ahead. We are not nearing the end of this fight. We are in it. Things may become worse before they become better. But, because of you, we have built a team that is ready for the challenges of today and tomorrow – a team that is committed to using this crisis in our democracy to catalyze bold change.
In the days ahead, you will continue to see Democracy Forward on the frontlines of the immediate fights, but you will also see us on the front lines of the work to shape the future.
Just as we did to build our elite legal program, we have been quietly working and scaling our team and expertise to use the lessons learned to contribute to the building of a reimagined democracy that can deliver for all people. At Democracy Forward, we are committed to working alongside the American people to build a democracy for the next 250 years that truly delivers for all. This work will require disruption of old norms and dedication to true change. And, we will need you with us – you are an architect at this inflection point of American life to help build the nation we need to thrive.
When I first wrote you five years ago, I ended my letter with these words, which ring ever-more true today:
We are but one piece of what is required to preserve democracy, protect social progress, and improve the lives of the American people. It will take all of us. At Democracy Forward, we are committed to doing our part to ensure that our democracy is not nearing its last days. We believe America’s best days are still ahead. Join us for what’s next.
With you, we will get through the hard days and ensure that our best days are ahead.
But, it will take all of us – so thank you for being with us.
Let’s take the next step together.
Onward,
Skye Perryman
President & CEO, Democracy Forward