Civil Rights
Unalienable and Non-Negotiable.
Equal Protection for All Citizens
If the Constitution means anything, it means everyone has the right to live their best life as they see fit as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others. Weakening the rights of one weakens the rights of all. Because of this, supporting equal rights means protecting historically marginalized groups, including frontline, immigrant, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Free Speech
This should never need to be said, but the right to peacefully protest without being threatened, beaten or shot is a founding principle of our republic. When the government encourages armed masked agents to attack and repress, or threatens to cut funding to universities for teaching untraditional perspectives or intimidates news media with frivolous lawsuits or revoking licenses when unflattering reporting is broadcast, it harms us all by preventing the free exchange of information vital to a healthy democracy.
The Right to Vote
Instances of actual voter fraud are statistically insignificant. Yet the current administration wants to make it harder to vote by proposing onerous requirements and restrictions designed to suppress opposition voters. Requiring the purchase of documents to vote is equivalent to a poll tax, making this “cure” far worse than the non-existent disease. At a time when many are disillusioned about our election process, we should be encouraging voter registration and participation.
Freedom of Conscience
The free expression of faith and spirituality is not a conversation in which our government should choose sides. The Founders believed in “Freedom of Conscience” and felt religion flourished most when completely free from government involvement. As James Madison said, there is “not a shadow of right in the General Government to intermeddle with religion.” He and others feared the government co-opting religion and its symbols to support tyranny. The principles of separation of Church and State ensure our religious and spiritual communities are respected and free from government entanglement.
Protect the Constitution
To protect our democracy, Congress must perform its vital role of oversight to check the power of the Executive Branch. Congress must use all tools available, including impeachment, when government officials break the law.
The Right to Unionize
People in this country should have the right to form unions and collectively bargain for better work conditions and compensation. Leaders of these efforts should not have to fear their hours being cut back, loss of promotion opportunity, firing or other forms of retaliation. So-called “right to work” laws weaken unions under the guise of worker freedom. The PRO Act would give unions and employers the freedom to negotiate “fair share agreements.” Fair share agreements make sure that everyone who benefits from union representation—higher wages, better benefits and job protections—pays their share to cover the costs of collective bargaining, impose penalties for anti-union activity, and make it easier to form unions.