Is our children's future democracy or autocracy?

No matter how you voted in 2024, we all need to recognize that the very existence of our democracy is in question. The national League of Women Voters CEO Celina Stewart and president Dianna Wynn have declared that our country is in a constitutional crisis, noting "the flagrant disregard for congressional authority and governmental checks and balances," and the forcible removal of the Venezuelan president "without congressional approval or the consent of the American or Venezuelan people," as Stewart wrote recently.

The crisis has reached the point where some of us could be shot and killed, like Renee Good and Alex Pretti, if we dare to protest the unchecked bullying of masked federal agents. Every day we are faced with threats to core democratic principles like due process and the political independence of the legal system.

Faced with these frightening developments, the League offers a blueprint for citizen action to put power back in the hands of the people. Called "Unite and Rise 8.5," this initiative aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to stand up for our democracy. Why that number?

Because political scientists who have studied the downfall of dictators have found that it takes just 3.5% of the population to successfully revolt against tyranny. Used as a percentage of the U.S. voting population, 3.5% equals about 8.5 million people. The "3.5% rule" was created by Erica Chenowith, who says it means "that no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilized against it during a peak event."

A key example: the People Power movement in 1986 by millions of peaceful protesters in the Philippines. "The Marcos regime folded on the fourth day," said the BBC's David Robson. "Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts," he wrote, citing Chenowith's research. The Harvard University political scientist has since found a few exceptions to the 3.5% rule, both small Middle Eastern monarchies.

Achieving that level of active citizen participation in the United States won't be easy. One aspect of Unite and Rise, which will continue until the 2026 midterms, calls for partnering with other nonpartisan organizations with similar goals. The League was a national partner for the No Kings rallies last fall that brought somewhere between 5 million and 7 million people into the streets across the country.

Because we are nonpartisan, we never endorse political candidates, so we are free to criticize officials of any party if their actions violate the Constitution. Our fundamental purpose is to promote informed and active citizen participation in government. We constantly work to register voters, including seniors in high schools and college students, and are working to ensure that incarcerated people eligible to vote have that opportunity, an effort being advanced in Suffolk County in consultation with the sheriff.

Active participation means analyzing public policies, and educating the public about, for example, the impact of cuts to health insurance.

But right now what is at stake is nothing less than a choice between the democracy we've known or a new era of autocracy we will leave to our children and generations to come.

Vote, of course, but also contact elected officials, send messages on social media, and talk to your friends and neighbors. Protest in public repeatedly, even during cold weather. Join the League or other organizations that are protesting. Choose democracy.

This guest essay reflects the views of Frances Cerra Whittelsey and members of all the Leagues of Women Voters on Long Island.