Honorable President Biden,

We the citizens of the United States and peace-loving members of the larger global community highly appreciate your initiative and commitment to promote and support democracy and human rights globally.

We are much inspired and motivated by the goals of your first global Summit for Democracy on December 9 and 10, 2021. Namely:

O Strengthening democracy and countering authoritarianism.

  O Promoting human rights.

O Addressing and fighting corruption.

Unfortunately, democracy and human rights are now under severe threat around the world. Failure of governments to respect and uphold human rights and civil liberties, effectively fight corruption, deliver equitable and sustainable economic and political progress, has fueled political polarization and the rise of leaders who are undermining democratic norms and institutions. 

Authoritarian leaders undermine democracies — by targeting journalists and defenders of human rights; by subverting the democratic institutions; by intimidating media, NGOs, and civil society; by sowing misinformation to foment racial and religious division to manipulate and subvert elections to win - dishonestly.

Building democracy requires defeating authoritarian governance and corruption which obstructs national development and prosperity. Democracy also requires the promotion of Human Rights and civil liberties in all countries. 

Mr. President: your global summit for democracy gives us much hope; its discussions, deliberations, decisions, and recommendations need a time-bound global action plan under your leadership to achieve its purpose.

This will require active participation by your State Department, US AID, USIS, United Nations, and of all countries at various levels of governance.

We expect you to apply your principles and goals equally to adversaries, allies, and partners - difficult as it may be. It would indeed be sad if politics trumps principles and the allies and partners get a pass when they violate human rights and deny civil liberties. 

The ongoing, often grave, violations of human rights and civil liberties in China, India, Pakistan, Myanmar,  Afghanistan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Palestine, Syria, and other counties of the region are of particular concern to us; we believe democracy and citizens in these countries are under great threat. We hope you would initiate targeted actions and programs to help the suppressed minorities and people in these countries of particular concern. 

We hope that you would empower the Peace Corps and the United Nations organizations, and also institute educational programs around the world to raise a new generation of kids, who would firmly believe in democracy and practice democracy as President Abraham Lincoln defined – government of the people, by the people, for the people. That would be your enduring legacy. 

Initial Signatories

1. Dr. Mike Ghouse, Center for Pluralism, Washington, DC
2. Sunita Viswanath, Hindus for Human Rights, Brooklyn, NY
3. Imtiaz Uddin, Coalition for Secular Democratic India, Chicago.
4. Porus DadaBhoy, Chicago, IL
5. Raja-ullah Quraishi, Chicago, IL
6.  Shoab Khadri, Naperville, IL 
7. Zaka Khan, Cincinnati
8. Dr. Khursheed Mallick, Downers Grove, IL 
9. Sami Uddin, Bolingbrook, IL
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