Washington, D.C. – Democracy Forward, a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement, hosted its second annual “Together for Democracy” conference this week, bringing together advocates, scholars, policymakers, innovators, and community changemakers to collaborate and plan for the future.

The conference, which took place over two days at the National Press Club, featured informative panels and discussions on ways communities can partner in the legal, organizing, and communications work ahead. Speakers included Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker; former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; former Associate Attorney General of the United States Vanita Gupta; former Ambassador and Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu; former Ambassador Rahm Emanuel; U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Dan Goldman (NY-10); Senator Raumesh Akbari, Tennessee Minority Leader; Kelley Robinson, President, Human Rights Campaign; Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen; Noah Bookbinder, President, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); Chioma Chukwu, Interim Executive Director, American Oversight; Kica Matos, President, National Immigration Law Center; Navin Nayak, President and Executive Director, Center for American Progress Action Fund; and Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President of the Interfaith Alliance.

“The ‘shock and awe’ approach that the Trump-Vance administration is pursuing is aimed at making people feel alone and isolated, and that makes building connections all the more essential for the pro-democracy community. As we work to protect neighborhoods around the nation from the harm being done on a daily basis by the chaotic and unlawful Trump-Vance administration, it is the community and partnerships we built and strengthened this week that will carry that work into the future,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The only way out of the chaos being created by this administration is through it, together. We are grateful to all who joined together this week as changemakers and as people who will never give up on each other, never give up on ourselves, and never give up on the promise of this country.”

Additional speakers included: Joanna Lydgate, President & CEO, States United; Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida; Jon Hoadley, Executive Director, Michigan Donor Alliance; Hannah Fried, Executive Director, All Voting is Local; Julia Spiegel, Founder and CEO, GovAct; Ian Smith, Senior Director, Navigator Polling; Rachael Russell, Senior Director, Navigator Polling; Cole Leiter, Executive Director, Americans Against Government Censorship; Maju Varghese, Principal, Newco Strategies and Co-Founder, Democracy Security Project; Chris Geidner, Publisher & Author, Law Dork; Jen Ahearn, Counsel and Senior Director of Engagement, Demand Justice; Donald Sherman, Executive Director and Chief Counsel, CREW; Jen Bluestein, Consultant, Athena Strategy Partners; Kate Vlach, Policy Director, Progressive State Leaders Committee; Audrey Wiggins, Legal Director, Democracy Forward and Madeline Gitomer, Senior Counsel, Democracy Forward.

It has been just over a month since the Trump inauguration, and Democracy Forward and its partners have been on the frontlines of holding the administration accountable in the courts, filing litigation and winning results on on behalf of people, unions, nonprofit organizations, health care professionals, educators, veterans groups, houses of worship, and so many others. Democracy Forward has filed more than 25 legal actions since January 20, securing major wins and bringing together a unique coalition of more than 400 organizations to address this Administration’s harmful policies impacting the American people. 

For more information about Democracy Forward, please visit www.democracyforward.org. 

– # # # –