Last week, attorney, activist and former Representative Stacey Abrams joined Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and host Karen Hunter on “The Karen Hunter Show” to discuss the state of democracy.
Here are five things we learned about how the people can still save democracy.
- Recognize what is happening: According to Abrams’ 10 Steps Campaign, the first step in restoring and strengthening democracy is to recognize what is going on. Pay attention to the decisions made by the government and recognize the reasoning behind these decisions. Think critically and understand the ripple effects of the decision. Understand how you and your community will be affected and commit to combating decisions against democracy.
Quote: “We’ve got a lot of folks out there who feel that something’s wrong, but they can’t articulate it,” said Abrams in conversation with Hunter. “We need to know what it looks like.”
- Organize and mobilize: Other steps, according to Abrams, include letting others know what you know. Share what you learn and what your ideas are. Organize either as part of an official organization or gather a group of close family, friends and other people you might know to make sure they are also aware. Once the word is spread, mobilize. Take action by creating initiatives to address issues on a smaller scale.
In the interview, Abrams referred to initiatives that the Black Panther Party created, mainly the free health clinics they started. From the late 60s to the early 70s, the Black Panther Party provided community health services nationwise due to the growing distrust of and experiences with medical malpractice in traditional health care systems. Examples of such include the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. In a 1972 report, it was revealed that hundreds of Black American men were not treated for syphilis so that the disease could be studied. Overall, approximately 13 cities had free health clinics provided by the Black Panther Party.
Abrams also referred to the creation of the modern-day ambulance. In the late 60s to the mid-1970s, a group of Black paramedics formed the Freedom House Ambulance Service in response to the lack of ambulances provided to residents of Black neighborhoods, contributing to dozens of preventable deaths. The Freedom House expanded to 35 members and answered 7,000 calls as they worked to provide care to oppressed patients.
Quote: “We can mobilize to solve some of the problems they’re creating,” said Abrams. “We can’t do it on a larger scale. That’s why we need a government, but we can do enough to convince people that it’s worth fighting for.”
- Litigate and disrupt: In the interview, Abrams also emphasized the importance of litigating and protesting. By filing lawsuits, everything will be documented for future reference. Volunteer to help others as either a plaintiff or a witness. To encourage people in the event that the law does not decide in their favor, Abrams also pointed to the numerous efforts of Thurgood Marshall, emphasizing that he “lost a lot before he won.” Speak out against what is wrong through protests, but stay safe and familiarize yourself with your rights when doing so.
Quote: “They may break the rules, but they need to know you know,” said Abrams. “We need to deny them the ability to change our language and change our understanding of the world.”
- Elect on both state and local levels: Another vital part of the 10 Steps Campaign is to participate in elections on both state and local levels. According to Abrams, it’s essential to engage with officials already in office and share new ideas. When elections are held, make sure to participate and do your part to help secure a win.
Quote: “It’s not just about who’s the president. It’s about who’s in charge of every level of government because they’re all working together to thwart you,” said Abrams. “We’ve got to work together to save us.”
- Demand: The final step of the campaign, according to Abrams, is to be vocal and demand. Do not shy away from hurdles and stay steadfast in building a better democracy. Be vocal about what kind of country you are working to build and take action on your demands.
Quote: “They stayed silent because despair was easier than hope,” said Abrams. “We have to demand not what we had, but we’ve got to demand what we’ve always deserved and that means we’ve got to work to build it.”
For more information on the 10 Steps Campaign, visit the official website.
