DEFENDING DEMOCRACY STARTS LOCALLY
Townsquare Democracy is a community network of citizens, professionals, and local groups working together to defend traditional American democratic values of justice, truth, and human dignity. We believe democracy thrives when ordinary people stand up, speak out, and stay connected.
OUR FOCUS
Independent Judiciary
Supporting the brave judges, lawyers, and legal defenders who protect our constitutional rights.
Protecting the Elections
Townsquare Democracy is focusing on protecting fair and free elections in 2026 — not candidates, not outcomes — but process integrity.
Health and Science
Advocating for science based policies and institutions that keep humanity and our environment safe today and for generations to come.
TAKE ACTION
Support judges, lawyers, and defenders of constitutional rights in your community. Courageous judges and lawyers are Democracy’s shield.
News & Events
Four Court Victories for Democracy
Eight People We Are Thanking
Federal courts across the country issued a series of important rulings this week protecting voting rights, government transparency, constitutional limits on executive power, and the integrity of democratic institutions.
Among the decisions were a ruling
requiring removal of Trump naming signage from the Kennedy Center,
a court order requiring greater transparency regarding possible federal deployment at polling places,
a freeze on the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, and
a Miami ruling reopening questions surrounding a major IRS settlement.
These decisions remind us that democracy depends not only on institutions, but on individuals willing to do difficult work under public and political pressure.
As part of our ongoing postcard campaign, Townsquare Democracy is encouraging citizens to send messages of support to eight judges, attorneys, and organizations involved in these cases:
• Judge Christopher R. Cooper
• Attorney Nathaniel Zelinsky
• Judge Beryl A. Howell
• Democratic National Committee Legal Team
• Judge Leonie M. Brinkema
• Democracy Forward
• Judge Samantha D. Elliott
• Judge Kathleen M. Williams
More than 6,000 postcards have already been sent to judges, lawyers, election officials, and other defenders of democratic institutions.
A brief message of thanks may seem small, but public encouragement helps remind those serving on the front lines of constitutional government that citizens are paying attention and appreciate their work.
Read the full stories and learn more about these recipients in our Independent Judiciary section.
How Authoritarianism Actually Works
Authoritarian movements don’t succeed on their own. They rely on key institutions like our courts, the media, business interests, religious leaders and state officials, whose support or silence makes abuse of power possible. Protecting democracy involves everyday people taking actions that strengthen the pillars to defend it, and refusing to let them be captured.
Understand the Pattern - Recognize the Warning Signs - Defend the Institutions
We are not the first society struggling against a slide into dictatorship and autocracy. In many countries people have confronted these dangerous developments, sometimes successfully, often only after many years of setbacks. We can learn from them. Democracies have been weakened – sometimes gradually, sometimes quite quickly - through familiar patterns: institutional erosion, normalization of abuses, and the gradual loss of civil rights. There is extensive international and U.S. research documenting these trajectories. Studying them helps us respond with resilience, discipline, and clarity—rather than fear or imitation of the tactics we oppose.
Our organization is committed to defending humanity, truth, and moral integrity—even under pressure. Resistance that abandons these values ultimately serves the same forces it claims to fight.
Additional Reading:
Maria Mar, “Twelve Steps to Reclaim Our Democracy”
https://mariamar.com/what-can-you-do-12-steps-to-reclaim-our-democracy-through-strategic-non-violent-resistance/
Other authors and texts we recommend: - Timothy Snider “On Tyranny” and “The Road to Unfreedom”, - Erica Chenowith “Civil Resistance - What Everybody needs to know”; - From the CNC, The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict PILLARS OF SUPPORT