Renew Democracy Initiative

Garry Kasparov, chess grandmaster and Chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative, joins Preet Bharara to discuss Trump’s plans to consolidate power and the need for change within the Democratic Party. Episode out now:

Authoritarian governments don't need to cross borders to exploit key vulnerabilities in our systems. My latest with Sohan Mewada for Renew Democracy Initiative on how we can combat authoritarian influence in open societies.

Webinar this Friday 10 AM EST: Immigration Under the New Administration with Grossman Young & Hammond, LLC. The results of the recent presidential election are ushering in new questions and uncertainties about immigration policy. Join us for a webinar discussing what may be expected for immigration under the new administration. Topics will include: - Potential policy changes under the new administration - Impact on work visas, green cards, and family-based immigration - Impact on removal proceedings and consular processing - What employers, families, and individuals need to know - How Project 2025 may impact immigration policy Grossman Young & Hammond's attorneys will guide you through the shifting landscape, offer practical advice, and answer your pressing questions live. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and prepared in this new chapter of U.S. immigration law. RDI is proud to join The African Middle Eastern Leadership (AMEL) Project and Abrahamic House as partners on this important topic. Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 Time: 10:00 am ET RSVP below: https://lnkd.in/eWtcgtRN

Authoritarian interference is a serious problem in higher ed. It's not only silencing students and academics, but also pressuring universities to tread lightly around unfree countries. I'm grateful to Renew Democracy Initiative for inviting me to join the Frontlines of Freedom Conference last week to discuss how campuses fit into the larger trend of authoritarian influence in our institutions.

It was an absolute honor to host the Renew Democracy Initiative's second annual Frontlines of Freedom Conference in Washington, DC last week. We brought together over 150 dissidents, activists, journalists, policymakers, and thought leaders to address the worsening trend of authoritarian influence in open societies. We have lots of work to do! #FOFCON24 Uriel Epshtein Felix Maradiaga Evan Mawarire

“Just as autocrats employ a common set of tools to acquire and maintain power, their opponents must start following the playbook for democratic change.” Read Larry Diamond on how to restore global momentum in favor of democracy:

Today, Interpol announced that they were tightening oversight on databases being misused by autocrats. Last week, at RDI's #FOFcon2024, Sandra Grossman spoke to a crowded room of dissidents about this problem and what we could do about it. This is an excellent first step at addressing this problem of #TransnationalRepression. https://lnkd.in/etJNtAX2

The American people have spoken, and Donald J. Trump will again be the president of the United States. As patriots, we wish President Trump well, because his success is now our country’s success. Willingness to accept the outcome of free and fair elections—even an outcome one finds deeply unsettling—is an essential ingredient for a functioning democracy. Still, goodwill should not be mistaken for na?veté. President Trump cannot claim the benefit of the doubt, as he might have in November 2016, when he was untested as a public official. And we cannot plead ignorance. We witnessed how President Trump ran roughshod over the very principles we are now appealing to: the rule of law, the integrity of elections, and the peaceful transfer of power. On the international stage, we saw how he embraced dictators and subordinated American national interests to his personal political vendettas. To blindly hope that President Trump will somehow be different this time around when all evidence points to the contrary would be a dereliction of our duty as active citizens. We at the Renew Democracy Initiative believe that all public servants—whether Republicans or Democrats, President Trump, President Biden, or Vice President Harris—should be fairly scrutinized by their constituents. We will be closely monitoring the next president’s policies in that spirit. It’s easy to look back and despair. Today, many Americans—and millions of people the world over, who look to the United States for leadership and inspiration—need reassurance. When it is not forthcoming from our leaders, it is up to ordinary citizens to step in. Here is what we at RDI can promise you: We will redouble our efforts to amplify the voices of political dissidents, whose insights are more valuable than ever. We will recommit to supplying direct material aid to Ukraine and working with legislators of both parties to ensure the fight against authoritarian aggression remains an American priority, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. And we will never stop fighting for our democratic institutions at home and for our allies in the free world. #Democracy #Elections2024 #Dissidents

Closing remarks for the Renew Democracy Initiative's push for increased pressure and action against regimes that exploit loopholes to abduct, torture, and harass dissidents outside their home countries. One of the most high-profile cases I highlighted was the practice of Transitional Repression by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, specifically the abduction of human rights lawyer Dong Luak and Human Rights Activists/financial advisor Hon. Aggrey Idri. Renew Democracy Initiative World Liberty Congress Freedom House Isaac K. Gang Human Rights Watch

UHRP Chinese Outreach Coordinator, Zubayra Shamseden, joined Uyghur colleagues this week at Renew Democracy Initiative #fofcon24 to discuss the Uyghur issue and to counter #TransnationalRepression. Abduweli Ayup Rushan Abbas Kasim Kashgar