July 31, 2024
Fearful of rising political violence and declining democratic norms, Chris Purdy is organizing veterans to fight both.
The former Army National Guard member and advocate for Afghan evacuees this month launched the Chamberlain Network, aimed at countering the rise of authoritarianism and political polarization.
Purdy is hoping veterans, who consistently poll as one of the most trusted messengers in society, can combat the attacks on democracy.
“Today, we see crisis after crisis that causes many Americans to lose faith in democratic institutions. We need people — veterans — to go out and say, ‘No, democracy works,’” he told The Hill in a recent interview.
“We’re in an interesting moment right now, I think, as a country as it relates to political violence, and we need to know how to talk about that. We need to know what to say; we need to be messengers of hope for our communities,” he added later.
“Democracy is fairy dust, right? It only works if we believe in it.”
The work could not come at a more critical time.
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Bugs Marlowe