Letter to White House: SOTU Address Should not Overlook the Need to Protect our Democracy 

February 1, 2023 

The White House 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C.  20500 

 RE: SOTU address should not overlook the need to protect our democracy 

 Dear President Biden: 

Our organizations write to emphasize that the State of the Union (SOTU) address on Feb. 7 offers an important opportunity for the President of the United States to remind Americans that our democracy is alive and well and that those who threaten our democratic institutions will not be tolerated.  

This nation came close to losing democracy on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob inspired by the former president ransacked the Capitol Building in an effort to tear down the right to vote and end the long-established tradition of a peaceful transition of government. We were thrilled to see the administration lean in and comment loudly on the lack of tolerance our nation has for hate speech, extremism, and threats to our democratic institutions earlier this year.  

In the wake of the solid findings of the Jan. 6 investigative committee, and the anticipated onslaught on government, law enforcement and the institutions of democracy by some elements in the House Republican caucus, we urge you to continue to beat the drum in the SOTU address that tolerance for others is the pillar of our democracy and of the need for accountability from those who attack our democratic institutions.  

This is an opportunity for you again to remind Americans that toleration of all but the intolerant will continue to be the state of the union. 

Sincerely, 

American Constitution Society 

American Humanist Association

Build Back Better USA 

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) 

Clean Elections Texas 

Constitutional Accountability Center 

Defend Democracy Project 

Digital Democracy Project 

Face the Music Collective 

Generation Vote 

Indivisible Chicago Alliance 

Indivisible East Bay 

Indivisible Santa Fe 

Inwood Indivisible 

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice 

Northridge Indivisible 

Oregonizers 

Public Citizen 

Public Wise 

Scrutineers.org 

Stand Up America 

The Workers Circle 

Transformative Justice Coalition