A Declaration for the Next 250

We hold these truths to be self-evident. 

That the Declaration made 250 years ago that “all men are created equal” is both true and too limited, for too few, for too long, including Indigenous people, Black people, LGBTQI+ people, women, immigrants, and countless others were excluded from that founding bargain.  

So as tyranny rears its head again, we declare again: 

• We hold that every human being is born with inherent dignity. Not earned. Not conditional. Not up for debate. 
• We hold that equal means equal—equal treatment, equal opportunity, equal protection for every person regardless of who they are, whom they love, what they believe, where they come from, how they identify, or where they live. 
• We hold that free speech and expression, free assembly, and the right to protest and dissent are not inconveniences. They are the whole point. 
• We hold that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not agenda items. They are the architecture of a just society. 
• We hold that healthcare, education, housing, clean water, a living wage, social security and a livable planet are rights, not rewards, and not privileges of a select few. 
• We hold that immigrants and refugees are essential to our communities, with human rights, including the right to seek asylum and build a new life with dignity. 
• We hold that no one is above the law. 
• We hold that the United States of America must continually work for the realization of human rights, at home and abroad. 

THIS is the world we aspire to build. 

In 250 years, the people of the United States of America have never been afraid to get loud. And for 65 of those, we at Amnesty International have been making noise at the forefront of the fight for justice. 

When they try to silence what makes us human, we don’t back down. We’re a 10-million-strong global movement. Loud…and unafraid. 

But we still need your voice.