The shootings in Minneapolis are another reflection of our country’s move toward authoritarianism. A new report from Amnesty International cites 12 “alarm bells,” that signal this move, including attacks on our freedom of expression and assembly. As a nonpartisan organization that doesn’t take sides, we feel that all of us have a responsibility to combat this trend. As Albert Einstein once said, “the world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
The nonpartisan nature of the National Civic League is not just a legal formality; it is an essential operating principle that allows us to earn and sustain the trust of people and institutions across the political spectrum. When we advocate for or promote a civic engagement strategy or democracy innovation, we do so not because it advances a particular political party or set of policy preferences, but because our research and work with communities demonstrate that it strengthens governance and makes decision-making more participatory, equitable, and effective. For that reason, when we agree with assessments of the current administration as authoritarian, we do so deliberately and with a full understanding of the seriousness of that claim.
Here are the twelve “alarm bells” that Amnesty International cites as signals of our nation’s move toward authoritarianism:
- Targeting freedom of the press and access to information
- Targeting freedom of expression and assembly
- Targeting civil society and universities
- Targeting political opponents and critics
- Targeting judges, lawyers, and the legal system
- Undermining due process
- Attacking refugee and migrant rights
- Scapegoating populations and rolling back non-discrimination policies
- Using the military for domestic purposes and militarizing law enforcement
- Dismantling checks on corporate accountability and anti-corruption measures
- Increasing surveillance capacity
- Undermining international systems designed to protect human rights
To this list, I would add disruption of federalism and the separation of powers. In particular, the preemption of local authority in areas like law enforcement, as is happening in Minneapolis and elsewhere, is degrading the ability of communities to solve problems at the local level, where they can best be addressed. And the lack of cooperation with state and local authorities is resulting in abuses that undermine trust in law enforcement.
The trend toward excessive executive power was called out in a 2020 book by Suzanne Mettler and Robert C. Lieberman in their book, Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy, which listed that factor, along with political polarization, racism and nativism, and economic inequality, as threats to global democracy.
It’s reassuring, at least, that we have encountered over 12,000 organizations that are working to strengthen our democracy, listed in our Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map. Each of these organizations have “lanes” in which they are best positioned to act. Julia Roig recently offered a helpful framework for thinking about how we collectively forge a more democratic future: “Block-Bridge-Build…aims to resist harm (block), facilitate dialogue across divides (bridge), and construct more inclusive, resilient futures (build), particularly in response to the spread of authoritarianism.”
Organizations like Democracy Forward and the ACLU focus on blocking authoritarian actions through the legal system, while individuals protesting in the streets or filming ICE activity are exercising collective power to block harm and demand accountability.
Braver Angels is one of the leading bridging organizations, bringing people with differing political perspectives together in ways that build mutual understanding, respectful dialogue, and civic trust rather than deepen antagonism. They are hosting a conversation next week among people with various viewpoints on the country’s immigration and deportation policies.
Most people see the National Civic League’s work as focused primarily in the build lane. We do believe that for democracy to thrive—and for civic health to flourish—people need daily experiences of democratic practice: opportunities where their voices are heard, they can contribute, and their connections deepen. Civic participation ranges from participation that requires significant time and commitment—citizen assemblies, participatory budgeting processes, neighborhood planning processes—to lighter-touch opportunities such as responding to an online survey, ‘liking’ a cause on social media, contributing to a crowdfunding campaign, or attending a single community meeting. These everyday experiences with democracy can build trust, strengthen social bonds, and remind people why our political system is worth improving and defending.
We also see the connections between the three, blocking bridging and building. Because we help communities improve their civic and institutional infrastructure, and strengthen connections between different groups of people, we think our work supports bridging. And since this work builds the relationships necessary for people to stand up for one another, it supports blocking as well.
No matter which lane—block, bridge, or build—your individual or organizational strengths draw you toward, the work matters. Be brave. Get involved. And know that none of us has to do this alone.
Thank you to all who are standing up for the country we want to be.
