December 23, 2022
Dear Friends,
When my friend Laura and I started Defense of Democracy in response to a hate group's attempt to infiltrate our school board, we had no idea that what we were doing would reverberate nationally with moms and dads, grandparents, kids, teachers and Americans from every walk of life.
We could not have done this without our volunteer Board of Directors who have given their expertise to a cause that reflects their love of family and their love of their country.
Extremist groups try to co-opt patriotism. They try and co-opt what it is to be a good parent. We understand otherwise. The volunteers at Defense of Democracy understand what is at stake today, and we are thrilled at the impact that we have already had and the the help we have been able to provide to our families of color, our families with two dads or two moms (or no dads or moms!), and to our beloved educators who are facing unprecedented attacks from all levels of government.
As a white, straight woman and a practicing Catholic- my fight is not about me but about my children. Four of my seven beautiful kids are members of the queer community - and it is their friends of color, their friends of other faiths, their straight, gay, bi and questioning friends, and the adults that they look up to, who this fight is all about.
It is my hope today that some of those misguided parents who supposedly fight for "parents rights" by trying to eliminate the voices of others, will use this time of year as an opportunity to assess their motivations and to look deeper into who they are hurting with their hateful rhetoric. I have hope that some, at least, will look into the work that Defense of Democracy has done, including our current campaign to have the Marriott rescind the Moms for Liberty summit contract, and understand that it's time to go into a new year with more hope than despair and with more love than fear.
To all my friends and countrymen and women, have a wonderful New Year, hug your babies, and stand tall knowing that you have spent 2022 on the right side of history.
Warm Regards,
Karen Svoboda
President/CEO/Cofounder
Defense of Democracy
*****Defense of Democracy pledges to be open in where our donations are received and what they are used for. Currently we have a single campaign that we are running which will provide enough to fund a single staff position minimum wage for the first two months of the new year, at which point we are anticipating being able to grant-fund this position.
If you believe in funding our grassroots effort that is already having an impact from coast to coast, please consider taking the opportunity to make a donation in any amount today.