If you are concerned about the growing fear, hate and divisiveness in our country, consider adding your name to this Declaration of Interdependence developed by community members from the Standing Together 2016 dialogue series. Find more information about Standing Together at www.standingtogether2016.com.

This background statement discusses The Declaration of Independence and names conditions of inequality and oppression that exist today that inform and inspire this pledge.

View background and current situation.

A Declaration of Interdependence
By People of the United States of America

In 1776, America’s founders united to voice their collective rights in the face of inequality and oppression. They came together to take action by correcting injustice and securing these rights.

Today, in 2016, we again are facing conditions of inequality and oppression. We are therefore again called to voice our rights. We must similarly come together to take action by correcting injustices and safeguarding our rights and future security. It is not only our right, but our responsibility to do so.

Therefore, we, the people of the United States of America, sign this Declaration of Interdependence to reaffirm our commitment to uphold the truth in The Declaration of Independence – and defend without exclusions - that all people are created equal and we are endowed by our Creator with the Right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Standing together, we pledge:

• To treat people as equals, to extend a hand in friendship to someone who is different from myself, to learn more about that person’s background and to look for similarities rather than differences;
• To speak out against fear, hatred and prejudice, to show my belief in America’s equality for all people by talking to someone who has been the object of fear, hatred or prejudice and saying, “I share your hurt and fear; you are not alone.”
• To be interdependent: work together for the common good, realize we are all in this together, know we are strongest when we stand together as the United States of America.
• To love my neighbor as myself.

Signed,