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A Vision for Justice
Advancing Justice and Democracy Alliance for Justice is a national association of over 80 organizations dedicated to advancing justice and democracy. For 30 years we have been leaders in the fight for a more equitable society on behalf of a broad constituency of environmental, consumer, civil and women's rights, children's, senior citizens' and other groups. Alliance for Justice is premised on the belief that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have our voices heard when government makes decisions that affect our lives. Over the course of three decades our vision has remained steadfast—to protect and expand pathways to justice and the democratic process—while our programs and tactics have been nimble and resilient, evolving with changing times and the needs of our members and the progressive community. AFJ is known for identifying and addressing threats to public interest and civil rights organizations, as well as opportunities they can seize. We pool resources and talents, drive strategies, organize campaigns, and mobilize constituencies. When Ronald Reagan began packing the federal courts with ultraconservative judges, AFJ sounded the alarm and launched what is now a decades-long effort to engage the progressive community in the fight for a fair and independent judiciary. Similarly, when conservatives threatened to undermine the advocacy rights of nonprofit organizations, AFJ embarked on a long-term, multi-faceted program to empower nonprofits to exert a progressive influence on public policy. For 30 years, when critical issues of justice have arisen – be it promoting sensible gun safety laws, protecting habeas corpus or opposing legislation that chills the First Amendment rights of nonprofits—AFJ has sprung into immediate and ongoing action. Thirty Years of Action As we celebrate our thirtieth anniversary in 2009, Alliance for Justice takes pride in our record of accomplishment. We have:
Seizing An Historic Opportunity We have spent most of our history on the defensive, fighting efforts by conservative administrations to stifle progressive nonprofits and stack the federal judiciary with extremist judges. Now AFJ is seizing the historic opportunity created by the election of President Barack Obama and a reinvigorated Congress to deliver on our promise to advance justice and democracy. As a former community organizer and professor of constitutional law, President Obama knows full well the value of the work Alliance for Justice has done on behalf of the federal judiciary and nonprofit advocacy. While a U.S. Senator, President Obama participated and spoke eloquently in AFJ's First Monday film, Quiet Revolution. During his campaign he vowed to select judges with greater "empathy" for the disadvantaged. The first legislation he signed as President was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which repudiated a reactionary Supreme Court ruling and extended the period of time during which workers can legally challenge pay discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter's case had been the subject of another First Monday film, and AFJ was in the forefront of the fight for this corrective legislation. But President Obama and Congress will need all the help AFJ can offer and, in some instances, all the pressure it can exert to undo the damage that the Bush administration did to our system of justice and to ensure that government decisions do not disproportionately harm the poor and powerless in this time of economic crisis. The challenges that lie ahead are enormous. The voices of the people whose lives are most jeopardized by our nation's tattered safety net must be heard and respected. AFJ will stand up for the rights of nonprofits to represent their constituencies forcefully, help these groups navigate the complex web of federal and state laws governing advocacy, and fight restrictive or burdensome new rules that would inhibit their work. Meanwhile, ultraconservatives on the Supreme Court and in lower federal courts have eroded our rights to privacy and free speech, encouraged discrimination in pay, discouraged communities from integrating their public schools, and insulated large corporations from liability for the harm their products cause. For decades to come, these judges will continue to threaten our constitutional protections. Their influence must be countered, and our freedom defended, by the appointment of judges who cherish our rights. Continuing its work of 30 years, AFJ will lead the nation on the long road back to respect for the Constitution and protection for everyday people. Few of our new President's actions will have as deep and lasting an impact as his appointments to the Supreme Court and federal courts. Seeking Justice Beyond the Bench Justice does not begin or end on the bench, however. It extends throughout our government and the democratic decision-making process. Only through the vigorous advocacy that Alliance for Justice promotes can nonprofits, foundations, and the people whose interests they represent hope to make an impact on major issues such as economic inequality, global warming and immigration. AFJ will continue to blaze the trail for what the New York Times called "a growing number of philanthropists whose foundations are spending increasing amounts and raising their voices to influence public policy." A Bold New Agenda Alliance for Justice's agenda at this turning point in our nation's history spans all three branches of government and embraces the entirety of the nonprofit sector. Creating a more vibrant, inclusive and equitable democracy requires a comprehensive approach that will:
Although our nation confronts a staggering economic crisis, the election of President Obama has generated an extraordinary wave of energy and optimism. Tens of thousands of Americans who participated for the first time in changing our country have joined reenergized veterans of the movement for justice and democracy and added to its ranks. In his first address to Congress, the President declared that "in our hands lies the ability to shape our world." Now is the time to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity. Join Alliance for Justice in advancing a bold new agenda to realize our Constitution's promise of liberty and justice for all. » DOWNLOAD THE VISION STATEMENT (.pdf)
Alliance for Justice is premised on the belief that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts We identify and address threats to public interest and civil rights organizations, as well as opportunities they can seize. Alliance for Justice promotes a bold agenda to realize our Constitution's promise of liberty and justice for all.
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