With its unprecedented step on April 17 declaring the United States faces a constitutional crisis, the League of Women Voters also unveiled its Unite and Rise 8.5 Initiative.

League leadership has determined the way forward in the wake of unceasing assaults on our democracy is nonviolent resistance and continued commitment to the nonpartisan principles that have been a bedrock of the League since its founding more than 105 years ago.

The Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative is based on findings by the Harvard University-based Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights that nonviolent protests engaging at least 3.5 percent of a population have never failed to bring about change. The center also found that nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts.

This is why the League is aiming to activate 8.5 million people across the U.S. Approximately 245 million people voted in the 2024 General Election—and 3.5% of this total is 8,575,000 people, prompting the 8.5 reference.

To succeed, all Americans who value democracy and constitutional rights – Democrat, Republican or Independent--need to make their voices heard. Your voice matters and you are welcome to join the Unite and Rise initiative. You do not need to be an active voter or League member. New faces and new spirit are welcome.

Sign Up for Unite and Rise

A Multi-Pronged Approach

The initiative utilizes a multi-pronged approach, including civic education and engagement, public mobilization, partnership-building and legal advocacy, to educate voters and drive change.

To support the initiative in Washington state, the LWVWA has created a Resisting Threats to Democracy webpage that provides key information for taking action now, when your voice and efforts matter most.

The webpage provides information about rallies and protests (as well as resources at those events), about how to get ready to take action and what kind of actions you can take once you’re ready.

We need a diverse group of people taking action in many ways.

Check back often for updates.

Visit Resisting Threats
to Democracy Webpage