The midterm elections are less than three months away, and recent voter registration data suggest that young progressive voters are galvanizing to take the ballot box by storm in November. Friends of the podcast may recall that we’ve discussed the importance of youth civic engagement and youth… Read More
Center for American Progress published this fact sheet as a Remezcla op-ed. Download this fact sheet A recent Quinnipiac poll revealed that Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s new Supreme Court nominee, has the lowest favorability ratings of any nominee to the United States Supreme Court since Harriet… Read More
“Confirmed Judges, Confirmed Fears” is a blog series documenting the harmful impact of President Trump’s judges on Americans’ rights and liberties. A unanimous Third Circuit panel issued a ruling in July protecting transgender students in a Pennsylvania school district against an attack by the right-wing Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Read More
On August 4, People For the American Way Vice President of Communications and Research Drew Courtney spoke on a panel at the Netroots Nation conference in New Orleans. Courtney joined other activists and advocates to discuss the Supreme Court, education and gun violence. Courtney detailed PFAW’s work in protecting… Read More
Since the July 9 announcement of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, progressive activists have sounded the alarm on his dangerous record on abortion, health care and other issues. Aside from passing President Trump’s anti-choice, anti-ACA litmus test, his judicial opinions on those issues make his… Read More
Now that the Trump administration's proposal for a census citizenship question is open for public comment, People For the American Way is once again airing our deep concerns about its potential to jeopardize the accuracy of the census in all communities. Immigrants already feel demonized and their families are torn apart. What President Trump, Secretary Ross, and DOJ have proposed will make them even more reluctant to participate. Read More
In our contemporary political moment, millions of progressive activists are engaging and fighting back against the Trump administration and the surge of far-right extremist candidates and federal officials. And though the critical nature of that work cannot be discounted, it’s local politics that addresses community issues and concerns and creates… Read More
Far Right extremists are counting on President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee to eventually cast the fifth vote to overrule Roe v. Wade, Obergefell v. Hodges, and other foundational decisions protecting our basic rights and liberties. Others on the right have their eyes on precedents recognizing Americans’ ability to act through… Read More
The 2017-18 Supreme Court term ended with a bang: a major decision against public sector unions, followed a few hours later by Justice Kennedy’s announcement that he is retiring July 31. But while the next term will be affected by Kennedy’s departure, the story of the term just ending is… Read More
On Monday, July 9, Donald Trump is expected to announce his nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is retiring from the U.S. Supreme Court on July 31. Trump’s first Supreme Court nomination, ultra-conservative Neil Gorsuch, who was confirmed after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans hijacked the vacancy… Read More
On June 27, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio joined People For the American Way on a members and supporters call about two of Trump’s latest judicial nominations in a long line of abhorrent nominees. Chad Readler and Eric Murphy, both nominees to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, have… Read More
Each People For the American Way member connects with the PFAW mission in a different way. We hear from members every day who support this work because they are passionate about the fight against right-wing extremism and for democracy, free expression, religious liberty, and equal justice under the law. It’s… Read More
Congress' military education savings account scheme would take aid meant for public schools and turn it into a virtual "blank check" without meaningful accountability for parents or private schools. Students would lose rights and protections and could suffer educational declines. People For the American Way and PFAW's African American Ministers In Action oppose this scheme. Read More
Today, People For the American Way’s Next Up Victory Fund announced its endorsement for Matt Haney for San Francisco Board of Supervisors in District 6. PFAW Political Director Lizet Ocampo issued the following statement: “Matt’s work as an elected official speaks for itself. He has an impressive record of addressing… Read More
Much like so-called "Blue Lives Matter" bills that have been introduced in state legislatures, the Protect and Serve Act uplifts a false and dangerous "war on police" narrative. Congress should instead turn its attention to the real policing crisis gripping our nation and address issues of police excessive force, biased policing, and other police practices that have failed people of color and other marginalized communities. Read More
Bounds has clearly and consistently expressed his animosity towards vulnerable communities, and that record leaves little doubt in our minds that he is incapable of administering fair and impartial justice towards LGBTQ people, people of color, and sexual assault advocates. The notion that such a nominee is moving forward over the objection of home state senators is an affront not only to them but to the Senate as an institution. Read More
The Department of Agriculture is raising red flags for LGBTQ equality advocates with plans for a massive civil rights reorganization with no permanent civil rights leadership in place. LGBTQ people and families are fundamental to the success of rural communities, so Department programs that serve rural America must be accessible to all. Read More
The rise in religious intolerance in the U.S. undermines the ability of the U.S. to advocate for human rights and other democratic values overseas, according to experts in religion and diplomacy who took part in a March 22 discussion sponsored by Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. Rabbi… Read More
Trump's latest budget proposal defunds CRS and transfers its community conciliation functions to DOJ's Civil Rights Division where they investigate and prosecute. People For the American Way and PFAW's African American Ministers In Action were among 36 organizations that wrote to Congress on March 9 to defend CRS and its ability to continue to meet the needs of the American people. Read More
Data has shown for decades that there are deep inequities in our nation’s schools when it comes to race and income—but just how much are some children being shortchanged? In the March 9 episode of “The Progressive Happy Hour,” co-hosts Christin “Cici” Battle and Drew Courtney sat down with Ary Amerikaner, director of… Read More