“Democracy is not a state. It is not some high plateau that we struggle to reach so we can finally settle down to rest. Democracy is an act. It is an act that requires participation, organization and dedication to the highest principles. It is an act, and a series of actions that require us to continuously verify our commitment to civil rights and social justice at every challenge.”
— Rep. John Lewis
This week, we commemorate the Fourth of July and honor Freedom Summer 1964 and the ongoing movement to make our nation’s foundational values of democracy a reality for everyone in the United States. Today, as we face a crisis in democracy and a shift toward authoritarianism, understanding the core values of democracy is crucial for responsible civic and democratic action. And so is honestly recognizing that our country’s history is marked by terrible injustices as well as great courage to confront our past and fight for a more just future.
We honor those who risked their lives in the struggle for freedom, those who held firm in demanding equality in the face of hate and white supremacy, and those who were killed trying to ensure civil rights and human rights for everyone. Fannie Lou Hamer’s words remind us during this July Fourth week that “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
