Hello to you listening in Warsaw, Poland!
Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.
I am deeply proud of my Polish heritage and being a lawyer. These times are tough on us all; but especially on judges, the last line of freedom’s defense. Attacks on the independence of the judiciary are not just here in America; they are sweeping the globe taking varied forms ranging from the capture of courts to direct attacks and interference against judges and lawyers. Those behind the attacks know that the independence of judges - the judicial branch of government - is foundational to democracy.
“Judicial independence is fundamental to the rule of law. The rule of law is fundamental to freedom. Freedom is fundamental to the protection of every citizen.” [John Macmenamin - Judge at the Supreme Court of Ireland
These are not my words. These are the words of John Macmenamin, a judge at the Supreme Court of Ireland who joined with Polish judges at the “1000 Robes March”, a unique event held in the name of judicial independence.
It was the greatest demonstration of judges in contemporary Europe, with more than 30,000 people, including hundreds of judges from 22 European countries marching in solidarity with their Polish colleagues in the fight for judicial independence. The silent march in January 2020 was a reaction to proposed laws that threatened to undermine the judiciary’s independence in Poland.
"A Thousand Robes" is a short (12 minute) documentary film directed by Kacper Lisowski. The story is about mutual gratitude, focusing on the positive interactions between judges, lawyers, and the public. It highlights citizens who are moved by the judges' defense of their rights and lawyers who have experienced solidarity from ordinary people and European judges. The film serves as a warning against what dismantling the democratic mechanisms of the state leads to.
Documenting this touching episode of the dramatic struggle for the rule of law that still lacks a happy ending in Poland, Kacper Lisowski also talks to the European judges participating in the march of a thousand robes. Particularly poignant is the voice of a Turkish judge who knows from experience what happens when such a struggle is lost.
Click HERE to watch A Thousand Robes the film on YouTube.
Maybe like me you will be moved to tears at what ordinary people can accomplish when they heed a call to action. This is what success looks like! If they can, we can! Let’s march!
CTA: Show up on Saturday June 14th to take part in a No Kings Rally near you. Click HERE to find No Kings Rally events all over America and the globe sponsored by Indivisible and a coalition of pro-democracy partner organizations.
Click HERE to access a comprehensive No Kings Rally website:
Thank you for listening, being one of us, and see you out on the streets June 14th!
We’re not watching history - we are making it - to save Democracy!
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