Following is a statement by Susan Corke, executive director of Democracy Defenders Action, regarding Constitution Day and the 238th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution.

“Constitution Day is usually a time to reflect on the principles that have held this country together for more than two centuries: accountability, checks and balances, and the rule of law.

“At Democracy Defenders Action, the Constitution is the guiding force of our work. We are nonpartisan. Our board includes Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and we believe we are stronger because of the diverse political backgrounds and lived experiences of our team. In a functioning democracy, diverse voices and perspectives must have a seat at the table. The public square and our democratic institutions are where we find common ground and build a society of belonging based on the consent of the governed. That is what democracy requires. And while we fight for that vision every day, the reality is we are in a dangerous place.

“The very principles that sustain our democracy are under direct attack. Just this week, the president declared that the White House would unleash the full power of the federal government against nonprofit organizations, journalists, churches, and anyone they accuse of inciting so-called ‘leftist violence,' a move that exploits a horrific, violent crime for political gain. The vice president doubled down on this sentiment during a podcast. Using the might of the federal government to intimidate and silence dissenting voices is a dangerous abuse of the power that we the people have entrusted to the White House. This is the blueprint of authoritarianism.

“I have worked around the world confronting democratic backsliding and dictators. What I see in the United States is worse than erosion—it is demolition. The Constitution is being treated as an antiquated suggestion rather than the foundation of our democracy. Federal agencies and our public servants are being turned into political enforcers and tools of retribution. Civil servants are purged if they refuse to comply. Lawmakers, instead of acting as a check, are ceding their power to the executive branch. And GOP-led states are propping up this authoritarian project with unprecedented mid-cycle attempts to redraw the electoral maps designed to shield them from their own voters and, thus, accountability in 2026.

“Democracy is not self-executing. The guardrails only hold if we the people defend them. At Democracy Defenders Action, we are part of a broad coalition committed to protecting our democracy and our people through the courts, in our communities, and in the halls of power. We will continue to stand with all who believe in a government accountable to the people, not the ambitions of the few.”

###

Democracy Defenders Action brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country committed to upholding the rule of law, fighting against autocracy and defending the Constitution.