Giving Up Is Unforgivable: Joyce Vance on How Citizens Save Democracy
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from October 29, 2025 | The American Justice System Part II: Still Testing the Limits. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, legal expert Joyce Vance—former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, professor of law, MSNBC legal analyst, and author of Giving Up Is Unforgivable—joined moderator Patt Morrison to explore how everyday people can protect democratic institutions in an era of rising executive overreach. Rather than dwelling on fragility, Vance focused on the enduring strengths of American democracy and the practical steps citizens can take—together—to defend the rule of law.
The Long View: Democracy as a Project, Not a Snapshot
Vance argues that if we judge our democracy by a single moment, the picture can look bleak. But zooming out to the 250-year arc reveals an imperfect yet resilient system designed to expand rights over time. She traces lessons from Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement, reminding us that progress was never linear—it was won by people who organized through fear, fatigue, and fierce resistance. The key takeaway: history shows that democratic institutions can bend without breaking when citizens stay engaged.
Countering the Rewrite of Reality
Authoritarians often succeed by exhausting the public and rewriting the past. Vance draws a cautionary parallel between the post–Civil War “Lost Cause” myth and attempts to romanticize the January 6 attackers today. The antidote, she says, is vigilance: refuse to normalize lawlessness, support independent courts, and confront disinformation with facts and community action. Overwhelm is a tactic; resilience is the response.
Strength in Community: The Civil Rights Playbook
Vance’s conversations with Alabama’s civil rights “foot soldiers” underscore a simple truth: people don’t endure alone. Communities sustain courage. Whether meeting in churches, living rooms, or online, collective action keeps despair from settling in. The first step isn’t to do everything—it’s to do something, alongside others. That’s how a chorus becomes a force.
Proof It Works: The SAVE Act Example
For those wondering whether engagement matters, Vance points to the defeat of the proposed SAVE Act, which would have made voting harder by imposing onerous documentation requirements. It stalled in Congress after sustained constituent pressure—phone calls, letters, and organizing—demonstrating that elected officials still respond when voters show up in numbers and with clarity. Power, in other words, is not theoretical.
The Election Marathon: What To Do Next
With pivotal elections ahead, Vance recommends treating civic participation like a long-distance run. Practical steps include:
- Become a poll worker or watcher. Protect access and transparency at the precinct level.
- Help first-time voters. Registration, ID requirements, and logistics can be daunting; guides and reminders make a difference.
- Educate and mobilize. Host forums, share reputable resources, and counter apathy with clear, actionable information.
- Support the judiciary. Publicly affirm judges who apply the law impartially; it matters in a climate of intimidation.
Choose a Lane and Start
Not everyone will march—and that’s fine. Protest is one lane; postcards, phone banking, voter education, book groups, and community teach-ins are others. Vance’s rule of thumb: “Do what’s in front of you.” Small actions compound when multiplied across neighborhoods and networks. The goal is stamina, not spectacle.
The Courage of Persistence
Vance’s message, amplified by Morrison’s incisive questions, is ultimately hopeful: democratic backsliding isn’t destiny. When citizens defend institutions, insist on accountability, and participate together, the system’s strengths reassert themselves. Giving Up Is Unforgivable isn’t just a title—it’s a charge. Find your community, choose your lane, and run the marathon. Democracy is counting on it.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.