Stand Up for Democracy
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This piece was originally published in the April 15, 2022 edition of CAP Action’s newsletter, the Progress Report. Subscribe to the Progress Report here.
“Democracy doesn’t happen by accident. We have to renew it with each generation. And this is an urgent matter on all our parts, in my view. Because the data we’re seeing is largely pointing in the wrong direction.” – President Joe Biden, December 2021
Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine is a human tragedy on a grand scale, with ripple effects spreading far beyond the battlefield. Thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and there is mounting evidence of brutal war crimes committed by the Russian military.
The war has also forced the global community to face some tough questions about the future of not only Europe but the world. Is America to be a true democracy governed by the will of the people, or will it slide into Russian-style authoritarianism? Events such as January 6 show that that is still an open question. That’s why it’s more important than ever to support leaders who will defend American democracy.
Share this graphic to show that you, too, stand for democracy:
![The image features a split screen. On the right half, in blue, a headline reads: Pro-Democracy Below it are the following quotes: "[Putin is a war criminal." —President Biden "Together we must save Ukraine, save the democratic world." —President Zelenskyy "Putin has always been ruthless against his own people, as well as others." —President Obama Beneath the quotes are pictures of President Obama, President Zelenskyy, and President Biden. On the left half, in red, a headline reads: Pro-Putin Below it are the following quotes: "[Putin's] going to go in and be a peacekeeper." —Donald Trump "Zelenskyy is a thug." —Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) "It's not our responsibility to give the Ukrainian people false hope about a war they cannot win." —Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) Beneath the quotes are pictures of: Rep. Greene, Trump, Putin, and Rep. Cawthorn A footer reads: Which side are you on?](https://www.americanprogressaction.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/04/democracy_resized.jpg)
In the news
- The Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever COVID-19 breath test. The test can be administered at medical facilities and mobile testing sites. The test is further evidence of the innovation being driven by the pandemic.
- The Biden administration announced plans on Thursday to increase equity in government, pursuant to an executive order signed by the president immediately after taking office. The measures include plans to increase language access, assist low-income families, and help Native American tribes access resources.
What we’re reading
- “A New Legal Tactic to Protect Workers’ Pay” by Eduardo Porter (The New York Times)
- “How companies like Amazon, Nike and FedEx avoid paying federal taxes” by Andrea Miller (CNBC)
- “Why I turn to Mexico to buy my medications” by Kristine Schachinger (Las Vegas Sun)
- “U.S. to honor first 2 women Supreme Court justices with statues at Capitol” by Shawna Chen (Axios)
- “Abortion ban after 15 weeks signed into law in Florida” by Anthony Izaguirre (AP)
This piece was originally published in the April 15, 2022 edition of CAP Action’s newsletter, the Progress Report. Subscribe to the Progress Report here.
The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.
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“The Progress Report” is CAP Action’s regular news email, providing policy-minded analysis of the day’s stories—and offering subscribers ways to get involved.
