Peter Dreier: ‘We Stand On the Shoulders’ of Social Justice Activists

Peter Dreier: ‘We Stand On the Shoulders’ of Social Justice Activists

Peter Dreier: ‘We Stand On the Shoulders’ of Social Justice Activists

From Barbara Ehrenreich to Paul Wellstone, changemakers fighting for equality are the real American heroes. 

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In the midst of the electoral horse race, it’s easy to grow cynical about the capacity for change in US politics. But as Nation writer and author of The 100 Greatest Americans of the 21st Century Peter Dreier reminds us, social justice victories from Social Security to women’s enfranchisement are the legacy of a century of activists who inspired change. He joined MSNBC’s The Cycle to run down the list of 100, from Saul Alinsky to Malcolm X, and reinforce why justice and equality are the true American values (despite what Newt Gingrich might say).

—Christie Thompson

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Even before February 28, the reasons for Donald Trump’s imploding approval rating were abundantly clear: untrammeled corruption and personal enrichment to the tune of billions of dollars during an affordability crisis, a foreign policy guided only by his own derelict sense of morality, and the deployment of a murderous campaign of occupation, detention, and deportation on American streets. 

Now an undeclared, unauthorized, unpopular, and unconstitutional war of aggression against Iran has spread like wildfire through the region and into Europe. A new “forever war”—with an ever-increasing likelihood of American troops on the ground—may very well be upon us.  

As we’ve seen over and over, this administration uses lies, misdirection, and attempts to flood the zone to justify its abuses of power at home and abroad. Just as Trump, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth offer erratic and contradictory rationales for the attacks on Iran, the administration is also spreading the lie that the upcoming midterm elections are under threat from noncitizens on voter rolls. When these lies go unchecked, they become the basis for further authoritarian encroachment and war. 

In these dark times, independent journalism is uniquely able to uncover the falsehoods that threaten our republic—and civilians around the world—and shine a bright light on the truth. 

The Nation’s experienced team of writers, editors, and fact-checkers understands the scale of what we’re up against and the urgency with which we have to act. That’s why we’re publishing critical reporting and analysis of the war on Iran, ICE violence at home, new forms of voter suppression emerging in the courts, and much more. 

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