Road Show’s First Stop to Save Democracy: Washington University in St. Louis

“Today we kick off the Carnahan and Coleman ‘Saving Democracy Road Show‘ with a presentation via Zoom with students, faculty and friends at Washington University. The location is especially meaningful to me because the University has played a major role in my life. It is where I met my wife, who was an undergraduate, I got a first class legal education, and was fortunate to work for many years with Jack and Bill Danforth.”

“Former St. Louis area Congressman Russ Carnahan, who served as a Democrat, and myself, who served in congress as a Republican from a district that included Kansas City and rural parts of northwest Missouri, have joined together to sound the alarm that we should not take our democracy for granted. In fact, it is under attack and must be protected.”

“Our democracy is in danger. For the first time since the Civil War an insurrection prevented the peaceful transfer of power in America. The mob that stormed the Capitol Jan. 6 tried to halt the counting of Electoral College votes. Even after that happened, later that day, 147 Members of Congress voted not to certify an election that has been described as free, fair and secure.”

“There are efforts by local politicians in state legislatures including Missouri, to make it harder to vote, and to take away our freedom to vote and to even to cancel our votes. We discussed why we believe there is hope to override these state statues in the form of the federal Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.”

We urged the students to follow the Missouri legislature’s session beginning in January, monitor any bills that threaten our democracy and vigorously oppose them.

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Tom Coleman, appointed an Assistant Attorney General of Missouri by John C. Danforth, was twice elected as a Republican to the Missouri House of Representatives and served in Congress for 16 years from Missouri’s Sixth District. He currently serves as an Advisor to the non-profit organization, Protect Democracy.