OCCE co-hosts ‘Defending Democracy’ Series
Defending Democracy – created in partnership with the Office of Civic & Community Engagement, Office of the Provost, Wake Forest School of Law Criminal Justice Program, and the Race, Inequality, and Policy Initiative (RIPI) – is a three-part webinar series that examined the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol, the beginning of the Biden presidency and how individuals can engage with our democracy moving forward.
The series can be watched in full below.
Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea: Unpacking the Chaos at the Capitol
Featuring Josh Horwitz, J.D. – executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and co-author of Guns Democracy and the Insurrectionist Idea – the first installment of Defending Democracy features a conversation on guns, militia groups, and the subsequent violence that took place on the United States Capitol on January 6th.
The Beginning of the Biden Era
Just days after insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, Joseph R. Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. Following the chaos of January 6th, many struggled to make sense of the moment. ‘Beginning of the Biden Era’ explores how citizens can engage their elected representatives and one another to make community change.
Moderated by Kami Chavis, vice provost, professor of law and director of the Wake Forest School of Law Criminal Justice Program, the second installment of Defending Democracy features Dr. Katy Harriger, Professor of Politics and International Affairs and Faculty Director of Wake Washington, and Dr. Betina Wilkinson, Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Politics & International Affairs and Director of the Race, Inequality and Policy Initiative.
Re-imagining Democracy: Taking Civic Action
In the midst of the 2020 Election, extraordinary political and electoral organizing resulted in historic levels of engagement. However, political tension and unrest persist, and more work must be done to ensure the totality of our democracy. ‘Re-imaging Democracy: Taking Civic Action’ explores how citizens can stay civically engaged and what they can do to re-imagine our democracy.
Moderated by Deb Marke, assistant director of advocacy and social justice education in the Office of Civic & Community Engagement – the third and final installment of Defending Democracy features Alissa Ellis, advocacy director at Democracy NC and Jake Gellar-Goad, campus organizing director at You Can Vote.