From The President

Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / January 14, 2021

Who Will We Be?

by Gara LaMarche January 14, 2021 Inauguration Day and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday are a few days apart this year, and the juxtaposition is particularly striking.  In 2009, as we inaugurated our first Black President, the confluence ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / November 18, 2020

A few thoughts on emotion and politics: Opening Remarks at the Fall 2020 DA Conference

by Gara LaMarche I want to take a few moments to talk about an aspect of the recent election, and of our work together as progressives, that we don’t usually deal with, caught up as we are in strategy, tactics, numbers, messaging, ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / November 16, 2020

Moving on after 7 years at the DA

I am writing with personal and institutional news:  I plan to step down as Democracy Alliance President after seven years in the position.  John Stocks and the DA board will soon be sharing the plans they have developed for the search ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / October 14, 2020

Gearing Up to Win – and To Be Ready for What Comes Afterward

by Gara LaMarche We are going all out for victory – and within reach of an historic one – on November 3.  But at the same time, we have to think and plan about what happens AFTER Election Day. If you’re not already doing everything you can ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / June 18, 2020

Defund the Police? Abolitionist Movements Have Always Blazed the Way to Change.

by Gara LaMarche It’s not for me to define “defund the police,” the rallying cry of many on the streets at this moment. I take my cue from those fighting for their lives.  Many have lifted up this call because it’s abundantly clear, with ...

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From The President / June 1, 2020

White Supremacist Killings Must Stop. We All Must do More.

George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Tony McDade. In recent days, these names have been added to the grim roster of African Americans murdered by police or vigilantes with every reason, to judge from our history, from slavery to the ...

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From The President / April 27, 2020

Our Elections are Taking a Dangerous Turn

by Gara LaMarche In its never-ending effort to retain its grasp on power despite an unpopular agenda and increasing demographic irrelevance,  the Republican Party at every level did its best to suppress participation in this month’s ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / April 8, 2020

While Vigorous Advocacy Moves Forward, We Need to Support Frontline Communities Directly

No person, community or country is unaffected by the global pandemic known as COVID-19.  As an organization focused on politics, democracy and social justice, the Democracy Alliance has focused quickly and sharply, as we must, on policy debates ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / April 1, 2020

Opening Remarks by Gara LaMarche – DA Donor Meeting – April 1, 2020

  This is an adapted version of remarks delivered by DA President Gara LaMarche at the opening of the DA’s Spring Donor Meeting on April 1. The last time the DA staff and I had to overhaul a DA conference at the last minute – with even less ...

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Democracy Alliance Blog / From The President / May 8, 2019

The Presidential Race: Five Things I’m Listening For

by Gara LaMarche

As the Democratic presidential field approaches a size that could field two football, soccer or baseball teams, four basketball teams, and nearly four hockey teams—there, I’ve exhausted my limited store of sports knowledge!—I have some early ...

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