Austin, Texas – Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman and former Georgia State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams participated in a featured conversation at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW), as part of the conference’s programming on culture, activism, and civic engagement.
The panel, “We, the People: Confronting A Rapidly Accelerating Autocracy,” focused on how individuals and communities can respond to growing threats to democracy and work together to galvanize action at the local, state, and federal levels.
“The future of our democracy is up to us,” Perryman told the crowd gathered, “and we should never underestimate our power. To stop the accelerating harms to people and communities across the nation, it is imperative that all of us take action. Our work ahead is focused on the ways that all of us can make a difference in this time and achieve freedom together.” This is Democracy Forward’s fourth year to be featured at SXSW.
“Authoritarianism thrives on fear, division, and the belief that ordinary people have no power. The truth is that democracy is strongest when people organize, speak up, and hold our leaders accountable,” said Abrams. “I joined Skye Perryman and Democracy Forward for this conversation at SXSW about how we take action and defend our American values in this moment of peril.”
Democracy Forward and Leader Abrams are partnering on a number of initiatives designed to empower people through civic education (We Hold These Truths) and in providing the tools to fight back (10 Steps Campaign), among others.
During the conversation, Perryman and Abrams emphasized the importance of collective action, civic education, and sustained engagement in protecting democratic institutions. They also highlighted ongoing collaboration between Democracy Forward and Abrams’ initiatives, including efforts to empower communities through civic education and provide tools for public engagement and advocacy.
While in Austin, Democracy Forward hosted a number of other events including a Dinner for Democracy and Coffee for Change. These innovative initiatives, launched in 2025, facilitate community-building, bringing people (more than 1,900 hosts across all 50 states and D.C. to date) together to connect and create conditions for courage and action.
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
The 10 Steps campaign is a nationwide mobilization and education effort led by author, voting rights activist, and former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. Through in-person events, media engagement, and organizational partnerships, the campaign aims to give Americans the framework to understand what’s happening to our democracy and the tools to fight back. To learn more, go to 10stepscampaign.org
