Political violence has become all too common in America. It must be condemned absolutely and in no uncertain terms wherever it occurs. While full details are still emerging, today’s almost simultaneous shootings at Utah Valley University and Evergreen High School, and the many horrific acts of violence over the years are a stark reminder that no matter the motive or ideology, violence has no place in our democracy.
Our condolences to Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones.
We are devastated by the tragic loss of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and we hope for the swift recovery of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
This targeted act against individuals who chose a life of public service has a crippling ripple effect, from eroding trust in our democratic institutions to discouraging people from serving in these roles. Violence has no place in a healthy democracy.
This horrific moment needs to be treated with the utmost urgency as not just an attack on two public officials, but an attack on the institutions meant to uphold the values and standards of the America we all believe in.
As a leader of a foundation committed to a more inclusive multiracial democracy, I want to acknowledge the pain, fear, and exhaustion that so many of us are experiencing right now — while also feeling an urgency to take action to respond to the threats that lie ahead.
In a heightened authoritarian environment, civil society and philanthropy will be under tremendous pressure. The authoritarian playbook depends on the expectation that we will mute our values to appease those in power and leave targeted communities, including Black people, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and others to fend for themselves. It expects communities to scapegoat one another and for us to accept the harmful and discriminatory policies of Project 2025 as our future.
As we move forward, we must find solidarity and unity within the pro-democracy movement. We must reject efforts to blame or scapegoat targeted communities, and look for opportunities to resist and to build. I believe a multiracial democracy that is open, just, resilient, and trustworthy is not only possible – it is essential.
The leadership of our grantees and partners has shown us that now, more than ever, we must:
Democracy Fund grantees have led years-long efforts to ensure the integrity of our electoral systems, improve voter access, expand access to information, and motivate the public to get engaged in this election. We are inspired by their creativity and heart in the face of many challenges: from hurricanes, to misinformation, to voter suppression attempts. It is thanks to these efforts that we saw so many bright spots in this election, and we are deeply grateful. While some of these leaders pause to rest, process, and recover, others of us will need to take up the banner for them.
Today, like every day, we draw inspiration from the resolve of our grantees and partners, and from the stories of generations of pro-democracy champions around the world and in our own history. Democracy Fund remains committed to this fight and to you. We’ve got your back.
Our thoughts go out to former President Trump and all who were impacted by this horrific act of violence today. We are devastated at the loss of life and injuries and the trauma this event caused. We condemn political violence in any form.
Democracy Fund mourns the loss of Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. Her role as a staunch democracy defender over the past four decades and her commitment to achieving an American democracy that is inclusive and equitable for all made her a key partner to Democracy Fund since its inception.
While her absence will be painful to bear, Karen will continue to inspire us daily in our work. In our country’s toughest moments, she was not deterred from her vision and wholeheartedly supported her colleagues and partners in the pro-democracy field each step of the way.
We are grateful for Karen’s years of leadership and work at Common Cause and will miss her friendship and wisdom. We are here for our friends and colleagues at Common Cause as we all grieve and celebrate Karen’s impactful life together.
We call on the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees to reverse its decision to deny Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure. We have funded Hannah-Jones’s work at the Ida B. Wells Society, a project of UNC-Chapel Hill, since 2017.
Hannah-Jones’s critical reporting on racism and segregation in schools and housing is unimpeachable, and the 1619 Project for which she won a Pulitzer Prize, is a profound contribution to the discussion about American democracy. Over the course of her 20-year career as an investigative journalist, she has epitomized speaking truth to power, in the tradition of Ida B. Wells.
Hannah-Jones has earned her tenure position as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. To deny it to her is to lean into the culture of white supremacy that has plagued U.S. academic institutions for far too long. This decision highlights the very inequities that Hannah-Jones has dedicated her career to revealing.
We urge the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees to reverse their decision and immediately repair the harm that has been done.
Democracy Fund remains firmly committed to building more equitable journalism in North Carolina, where we have contributed nearly $3 million over the past five years to organizations in the state including the Ida B. Wells Society, the NC Local News Lab Fund, PressOn, and Free Press’s Charlotte News Voices.
Today, we joined millions of people across the country in breathing a collective sigh of relief at the outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial. Together, we marked a too-rare instance in which the justice system held a police officer fully accountable for the murder of an innocent Black man.
Despite the verdict, there is more work to do. Elected officials continue to target Black and brown communities with repressive election laws to gain political advantage and consolidate power. Social media platforms still amplify hate and racism, inspiring violence on and offline. And too many vital news outlets led by and serving people of color are under threat and attack just for doing their jobs.
Determined organizers are fighting these threats — in fact, this trial would not have been possible without their efforts to bring national attention to this murder almost a year ago. Despite perpetual oppression rooted in racism and white supremacy, BIPOC-led organizations continue to serve as a driving force pushing toward a more open and just democracy.
We know there is a delicate balance between the relief today’s victory brings and the road ahead. This journey to a more perfect union does not end with one verdict, nor is justice achieved in one trial. We remain committed to investing in BIPOC-led organizations and amplifying the voices of Black and brown people, while challenging our own assumptions and checking our philanthropic privilege.
Democracy Fund will continue to stand with and support grantees, partners, organizers, and activists who are turning anger into action and working to create a democracy that serves not just a select few, but all.