Remarks made by Workers Circle CEO Ann Toback at the 57th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march
It is incredible to be here today, walking in the footsteps of great activists. We should all take inspiration from the heroism and perseverance of the tens of thousands of women and men who took up the fight for civil rights and equality over half a century ago. People whose activism paved the way for all of us here to hold a stake in our democracy; and whose activism we are now called on to continue as we fight to protect, preserve and expand the right of every American to vote and have their vote counted.
It is particularly meaningful for me to be here as the CEO of the Workers Circle, a social justice organization founded in 1900 by Eastern European Jewish Immigrants. Our founding members were women and men who left their homelands escaping violence, economic hardship, and authoritarian rule; people who came to the United States because it offered them freedom and a democracy.
All of us here marching today stand on the shoulders of fierce activists. People who took on a century of fights for our democracy, against fascism, and for civil rights. People whose actions changed the world in the 20th century. All of these historic victories came through perseverance, courage, and solidarity.
We are here now because our American democracy is at a tipping point. Our constitutional right to vote and our ability to conduct free and fair elections have been compromised. Anti-democratic lawmakers have effectively targeted voters of color through state voter suppression laws, and redistricted Black voters out of power in states like Alabama and Georgia. We march today to say: we cannot, we will not let this stand.
The Workers Circle is proud to be here in our 21st century coalition of fierce activists: Black Voters Matter, League of Women Voters, Declaration for American Democracy, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Transformative Justice Coalition, and the People for the American Way. This past year has seen us marching together, getting arrested together, and supporting each other shoulder-to-shoulder. Together we send the message that we are committed to making history in 2022 and beyond.
We recognize that we are not marching to simply pay homage to the bravery and strength of those who came before us, but to make history now — to demand our government fulfill its duty to protect our democracy and pass federal voting rights legislation to protect the right of every American to cast their vote and have their vote counted. And we will not stop marching, working, and fighting until we win.
