Meet the
People who
#Powerthe14th

We are still a long way from being a country where each of us is truly equally protected by the law. But the principles of the 14th Amendment can help us get there, and like many of the people and values we hold dear, it is under attack.

The 14th Amendment is so powerful, it has been cited in more Supreme Court cases than any other part of the Constitution. Its principles are also under threat.

When immigrant children and their parents are separated and jailed, we must stand up for due process for all persons, whether from the federal government under the 5th amendment, or from our states under the 14th. #Powerthe14th.

Some of the ways people are denied equal protection have been around a long time. For example, when money bail prevents people from having their due process or equal protection under the law based on how much money we have, we must #Powerthe14th.

So, what does it mean to power the 14th? Meet some of the incredible people who are doing just that. From protecting the rights of people with previous convictions to ensuring all people have real due process of law, courageous leaders across Northern California are taking a stand where the federal government is failing, or worse, where the federal government is taking away our rights.

The Constitution and its Amendments are important tools, but they need us — we the people — fighting for them. That’s what #Powerthe14th is all about. It’s time we step up our responsibility and stand up for our basic principles of equal protection of the law and due process for all persons.

Every year on July 4th, national discussions turn toward the Declaration of Independence and the spirit of 1776: our aspirational ideals of this country, like freedom, justice, and equality. On July 9, 1868, five days and ninety two years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, one of the most tangible examples of the best in American values — the fundamental right to be equal in the eyes of the law – was ratified through the 14th Amendment.

We have profiled Northern Californians whose life and work embody the 14th Amendment. We are pleased to share their ideas and inspiration because now more than ever, we need to recognize the purpose and power of the 14th Amendment, and commit deeply to defending it.