June 21, 2026 - Via the New Haven Register
By David McGuire, Laura Smits, Patricia Rossi, Maggie Mitchell Salem
We are not the first generation to hear that our democracy is in danger. As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, that familiar warning feels less like rhetoric and more like a daily call to action. The real question isn't whether we are in danger — it's how we will move our democracy forward. Will we honor the promise of 1776, or simply wave flags, cook barbecue, and watch parades?
This is a serious moment in our history. And it is why three very different organizations — IRIS, the ACLU of Connecticut, and the League of Women Voters of Connecticut — are coming together this July 4. Each carries its own mission and history. But all three share a simple conviction: a democracy worthy of celebration must be one where everyone can participate fully and with dignity.
We begin with unvarnished honesty. The story of American democracy is extraordinary — and it is also deeply tarnished. Our independence as a nation included the subjugation of others. Slavery cast a long shadow still visible today. The deliberate legal and social exclusion of women, people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ Americans from rights they should always have enjoyed has been allowed to endure far too long. The definition of "We the People" was far too narrow at the start — and its expansion over 250 years has come through the struggle, sacrifice, and courage of countless individuals and communities.
Their sacrifice is why we honor this anniversary. We recognize all that has been done, and all who got us here. We commit to carrying that work forward — and we hope you will join us.
IRIS works every day with refugees, asylees, and other displaced people who have escaped brutality inflicted by authoritarian leaders — people targeted for their religious or political beliefs, their ethnic identity, or their race — and who are rebuilding their lives in Connecticut and across the U.S. Their bravery reminds us that the ideals of 1776 — equality, liberty, self-government — are not abstractions. They are the difference between fear and safety, between voicelessness and belonging.
The ACLU of Connecticut defends civil rights and civil liberties when those promises are under attack — in courtrooms, legislatures, and the public square. Free speech. Due process. Equal protection. The right to protest. These rights don't protect themselves. When communities are targeted and voices are silenced, the ACLU-CT pushes back.
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut focuses on the engine democracy runs on: voter registration, education, and participation. A nonpartisan political organization that does not endorse candidates or parties, the LWV believes every eligible voter should be able to understand the issues, access the ballot, and have their vote counted — no exceptions.
Taken together, our missions form a powerful response to the particular challenges of this moment: deep polarization, widespread disinformation, and rising barriers to civic participation. For many families IRIS serves — newcomers shaped by experiences in countries where political engagement carries life-threatening risk — voting and civic life can feel distant or even dangerous. That is where our collaboration matters.
One example helps explain why this partnership runs deeper than a single event. It is rooted in shared commitment to democratic governance. IRIS has been translating League of Women Voters voter education materials into the languages spoken by refugee and immigrant communities. ACLU-CT has worked alongside both organizations to ensure that the rights those voters hold on paper are real in practice: accessible polling places, intimidation-free public spaces, and state policies that encourage equal participation.
The translation work may sound like a small thing — just words on paper in another language. It isn't. When a newly naturalized citizen receives clear, trustworthy, nonpartisan information about how to register and where to vote in their first language, a door opens. The message arrives alongside the words: you belong here; this democracy is yours too.
That is a message each of us can reinforce. Democracy is an action verb, not a destination.
We have hope. Not naïve hope — earned hope. Like so many generations before us, we will keep expanding "We the People" to mean all the people. That is why we came together. Our missions are inseparable. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is not just a milestone to look back on. It is an invitation to ask what kind of democracy we want to be celebrating 50 years from now — and to keep building it today.
David McGuire is executive director of ACLU-CT. Laura Smits and Patricia Rossi are co-presidents of League of Women Voters-CT and Maggie Mitchell Salem is executive director of IRIS.
