At a panel hosted by the Holder Initiative, Eric Holder and Karine Jean-Pierre made one thing clear: American democracy is in crisis, and fixing it will take more than just showing up on Election Day.

Last week, the Eric H. Holder Jr. Initiative for Civil and Political Rights hosted a panel discussion as part of their American Voter Project series, centering on the urgent question: Where does American democracy stand, and how do we save it?

The event, featuring former US Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. (CC ’73, Law ’76), former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Marie Teresa Kumar, founder of Voto Latino, and activist Maurice Mitchell laid bare a grim picture of the current political landscape, but also mapped out paths for resistance and reform.

“We’re in a bad place,” Holder admitted, pointing to a presidency that disregarded long-standing democratic norms and installed unqualified individuals into key government positions. Yet, he insisted, “We are not without hope.” Holder urged attendees to start thinking now about rebuilding after 2028, warning that although serious damage has been done, the power to change course remains in the hands of the people.

Jean-Pierre didn’t mince words either. “We are in a constitutional crisis,” she said, describing the rapid erosion of decades-long policy gains in just one administration’s first hundred days. While expressing her desire to stay hopeful, Jean-Pierre was candid about her fear for the marginalized communities she represents and the immense uphill battle ahead. “It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better,” she said.

Marie Teresa Kumar, founder of Voto Latino, emphasized that dissatisfaction with the status quo, not just MAGA extremism, fueled much of the voter sentiment seen in recent elections. She noted that the fastest-growing political group in America today is made up of those opting out of the system entirely—a warning sign that demands urgent engagement, especially from young people.

Activist Maurice Mitchell made the stakes plain: America is facing not just political dysfunction, but a genuine authoritarian threat. “This fight is about the fight for all freedom, not just any one issue,” he said. Civil society, not just elected officials, must lead the resistance.

Throughout the panel, a recurring theme emerged: Democrats must stop treating politics as business as usual. Speakers stressed that voting is the floor, not the ceiling of civic engagement. Jean-Pierre called on the party to act like the house is on fire—because it is. Holder, too, challenged Democrats to break from orthodoxies, be bolder, and embrace authentic, grassroots engagement.

“We need to be controversial. We need to be who we are to our core,” Holder said. Winning local elections, confronting special interests, and reconnecting with working-class Americans are not optional steps—they are survival tactics for democracy itself.

Ultimately, the panel left attendees with a clear call to action: Democracy won’t save itself. Building a mass movement, mobilizing at the local level, and cultivating a new generation of leaders are essential. “We have to be in motion today,” Mitchell urged.

The time to fight for a free and fair democracy, they agreed, is now.

Image via Bwog Archives