Launching the Democracy Not Theocracy Campaign
The American Humanist Association is proud to announce the launch of its largest voter engagement campaign ever: the Democracy Not Theocracy campaign. The campaign will educate voters about the threat of Project 2025 and encourage them to register and make a plan to vote.
Democracy Not Theocracy is composed of a few major components:
- the largest ever AHA grant program;
- creation and dissemination of dozens of shareable graphics and stickers;
- providing materials and directions to host Postcarding Parties;
- hiring current and recently-graduated Democracy Defense Fellows who will organize on campus and in their communities.
Project 2025 is the far-right plan to reshape democracy, seize and consolidate executive powers, and completely upend separation of church and state, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, racial justice, free speech, and many other democratic institutions and freedoms. The comprehensive plan would touch every department of the federal government and fundamentally reshape the lives of the American people.
Fish Stark, the AHA’s new Executive Director, announced the Democracy Not Theocracy campaign on the first evening of the AHA’s 83rd Annual Conference this past weekend:
“Project 2025 threatens our fundamental freedoms, so we’re giving humanists everywhere the tools to fight back. Buckle up – we’ve got a democracy to save. We’re humanists. We believe everyone has the freedom to seek their own truth and no one should be forced to live according to someone else’s religion. We believe in respecting the equal worth of every person. And we believe in challenging the powerful to speak up for what’s right. White Christian Nationalists are trying to divide our country and convince people to choose theocracy over democracy. But we know which side we’re on. So today, we’re launching our Democracy, Not Theocracy campaign, a national effort to empower humanists to resist Project 2025.
“…Let’s show the world just how much humanists value democracy, not theocracy. How much we value treating everyone equally, not demonizing people who are different. How much we value freedom for all people, not forcing people to live under religious law. This is a stance that we know a majority of Americans can unite behind. Because Project 2025 is about more than politics—it’s about control. Control over your body, your family, your education, your life. Here’s the thing—this November, YOU hold the power. The power to vote, the power to speak out, the power to stop this.”
The AHA has created a step-by-step guide for anyone interested in hosting Postcarding Parties (or parties of one!) that raise awareness about Project 2025. Specifically, participants will be provided with postcards with anti-Project-2025 messaging and provided with contacts who have not registered to vote. Anyone can participate in postcarding, and it’s all free and easy – the AHA will ship right to you.
One of the most exciting parts of the campaign includes the launch of the AHA’s largest ever program to provide funding to local groups that want to take action.
“The AHA is providing local humanist groups across the country with resources to educate the public about the dangers of Project 2025, the actions needed to stop it, and the importance of participating in democracy by voting,” said AHA Senior Education Coordinator Emily Newman. “We’re running our largest-ever grant program to support chapters and affiliates as they throw Postcard Parties, host speaker and discussion events, advertise to increase awareness, and develop other creative actions.”
With support from the Secular Student Alliance (SSA), the AHA is hiring four Democracy Defense Fellows (DDFs) who will organize on their campus and in their communities to raise the awareness of the dangers of the tenets of Project 2025. DDFs will manage a grassroots campaign that both educates voters about the dangers of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and encourages people to register to vote and vote. They will be paid a competitive wage and supported by AHA staff.
“By empowering local youth into leadership roles, a new generation is supported and equipped to face the challenges created by Christian Nationalism and identify where and how it presents itself”, said Isabella Russian, Policy Manager at the AHA. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity young and passionate activists seek early in their advocacy experience, as they will have the support and guidance of the AHA every step of the way. We’re excited to work with these young leaders as they become trained to go forth and make a real difference.”
The American Humanist Association is committed to strengthening the secular nature of our government for all. Those who wish to support this effort can donate to the American Humanist Association here.