Consent of the Governed: What About U.S. Territories?

Consent of the Governed: What About U.S. Territories?

What does “consent of the governed” mean for the 3.6 million residents of U.S. territories? Join us from 5-6:30 pm for a reception to meet, mingle, and learn about the growing movement to advance democracy, equity, and self-determination in U.S. territories as we approach the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 125th Anniversary of the Insular Cases. 

The reception will also serve to honor Covington & Burling as our 2025 Democracy Champion for its pro bono work helping secure the U.S. Department of Justice’s historic condemnation of the “racist language and logic of the Insular Cases.” We are also honoring Gretchen Sierra Zorita as our 2025 Territories Champion for her work as the first-ever White House Director for Puerto Rico and Territories. Stay tuned for other special guests.

Interested in learning even more? Right to Democracy and our partners from across the territories will also be hosting a learning session from 3:30-4:45 that will bring together leaders from advocacy and philanthropy to explore what the founding values of “consent of the governed” and “all created equal” mean in the context of the undemocratic colonial framework governing U.S. territories today. The session will also focus on what lessons U.S. territories offer as the United States faces increasing authoritarian threats to a multi-racial democracy and how issues of democracy and self-determination in U.S. territories intersect with issues of climate and environmental justice.

Please RSVP whether you plan to attend the reception, the learning session, or both. 

Agenda

• 3:30pm -3:45pm Registration 
• 3:45pm - 4:45pm Learning Session 
• 5- 6:30pm Reception