Sign the petition: fix the filibuster and defend democracy
It was only a year ago when President Donald Trump fomented and cheered on an insurrection against our country. January 6, 2021 was the first time since the War of 1812 that the Capitol of the United States was breached by attack and it was the most brazen attempt ever to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
But you know the part that makes me most angry? The assault on our democracy is still happening now.
All throughout 2021, Republican politicians across the country have enacted the stiffest barriers to voting since Jim Crow.
They've passed laws shortening the window to return mail-in ballots. They've eliminated polling places. They've imposed harsher voter I.D. requirements. Heck, in Florida and Georgia, they've even banned volunteers from bringing water to voters standing in lines.
In some states, Republican legislatures are even giving themselves the power to throw out the votes of their citizens if they don't like the results.
That's why my number one, two, and three priorities right now are defending Americans' freedom to vote and ensuring the fair and secure counting of ballots.
But I'll be honest with you. With a 50-50 majority and steadfast opposition from Mitch McConnell and his allies, this is a tough, tough fight. We need to reform the filibuster so that we can get this done – and that's far from a done deal.
I need you in this fight. I need you to speak up loudly and make it clear: Sign the petition and tell Congress enough is enough: reform the filibuster and pass a voting rights bill before it's too late.
It was Ben Franklin who said we have "a Republic, if you can keep it". It's been imperfect, but we've been able to keep it for over 230 years.
Here's what will happen if we don't reform the filibuster and pass a voting rights and election protection law:
Republican politicians will make it harder to vote.
Republican politicians will make our elections less free and less open.
Republican politicians will undermine the secure and fair counting of ballots.
Republican politicians will gerrymander districts to lock in minority control.
On January 6 last year, a mob tried to overturn the will of the people and install their preferred candidate in spite of the will of the voters. If we don't pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, Republican politicians will do exactly the same thing.
We begin 2022 with a solemn reminder of how precious our system of government is. If we don't act, democracy in America and abroad will backslide into authoritarianism.
