On a July afternoon in 1776, a group of New York patriots known as the “Sons of Freedom” gathered in Manhattan to destroy a statue of King George III seated on a horse. The British king represented an oppressive arm of the English government.
So, in their pursuit of an independent nation, the revolutionaries who produced the Declaration of Independence vilified King George as a tyrant.
It was this document, which laid the groundwork for the United States Constitution, that inspired the Sons of Freedom to throw ropes around the lead statue and topple it to the ground.
There was no place for a tyrant in a free republic.
A dramatic painting by Johannes Adam Simon Oertel, a German artist, depicts the intensity and jubilation of that historic moment, which took place in Bowling Green immediately following a reading of the newly adopted Declaration of Independence. The lead was melted down to make bullets for use in the ongoing war against Britain.
Among the crowd was Gen. George Washington, age 44, who would go on to become the first president of the United States — deciding against popular opinion to leave public office after two presidential terms, creating a tradition of peacefully transferring power between political parties that continues today.
How far we have strayed from those days of passion.
Early on in the American experiment, “taxation without representation” was a revolutionary rallying cry that inspired ordinary women and men, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers to jeopardize everything for the cause of freedom. Achieving fair governmental representation was of utmost importance — taking precedence above familial ties, friendships, livelihoods, even life itself.
Since then, this sentiment has been upheld repeatedly, sometimes through violence, by countless patriots. Regardless of race, sex, age, religion or any other characteristic, every vote counts. Every life matters. This is what makes America great.
But we’ve fallen asleep at the wheel.
The current leader of the United States is actively working to undermine the nation’s democracy. Just 30 minutes ago as of this writing, President Donald Trump posted on Twitter, “STOP THE COUNT!”
Regardless of political affiliation, this should be alarming to everyone who values democracy, for its preservation is more important than a political win.
America has always been ideologically split. Every four years, roughly half the nation is unhappy with election results while the other half celebrates. While flawed in some ways, as most systems are, it works. America’s democratically elected government has allowed a diverse and populace nation to coexist for centuries — with the legislative dial drifting, in fits and starts, toward equality.
The bedrock of this success is equal representation. Hard fought voting rights are embedded in the fabric of who we are as a people. In all cases, the United States Constitution notes, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of “abridged” is “to shorten” or “reduce in scope.”
President Trump is calling for an abridgment of votes.
While it might seem like mere political banter to some, what he is advocating for stands in direct opposition to the Constitution. This is a dangerous precedent. Democracies are not overthrown overnight — blow by blow, they are chipped away a few stones at a time.
Technically speaking, the success of the 2020 presidential election will not be measured by which candidate wins. Success will be determined by voter turnout, voting access and the ability for all citizens to choose their representation.
So, regardless of who is still standing in the end, all votes must be counted — even those that don’t impact the outcome.
History has shown us time and again that America is more than its leaders. It is an ideology — a society — that is rooted in the belief that all citizens are entitled to equal political representation.
There is no place for a tyrant in a free republic.