Stand Up, Speak Out: JAM Supports the ACLU of Pennsylvania

An Evening of Unity, Courage, & Action

At JAM, we believe community is a powerful force for meaningful change, and the need for organizing and acts of solidarity has never been more pressing. That’s why on January 17th, at the Filter Club in downtown Philadelphia, we were proud to partner with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to sponsor We The Community, an evening dedicated to fostering connection and collective action in support of civil rights and liberties across Pennsylvania.

Joined by like-minded leaders from Philadelphia’s hospitality community, We The Community brought together people, music, food, and conversation in service of advancing the freedoms that strengthen our democracy. The event raised over $150,000 and all proceeds benefited the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

At a time when organizing and acts of solidarity feel more urgent than ever, this gathering was both a celebration of shared purpose and a call to action.

Voices from the Evening

Throughout the evening, speakers underscored the current challenges to civil liberties and the vital role of the ACLU in defending them. A few quotes capture the essence of what they had to say.

AJ Hikes, the ACLU’s Deputy Executive Director of Strategy & Culture:

“Fascism and injustice thrive on our feelings of hopelessness and despair. So we are taking a moment here to celebrate, to acknowledge that we are standing up, that we are fighting, that we are defending, and that we are winning!”

Mary Gay Scanlon, U.S. Congresswoman for Pennsylvania’s 5th District:

“As universities have retreated, corporations and law firms have sought to placate power, and too many elected officials have remained silent, the ACLU has stepped up, time and time again.”

Vincent Hughes, State Senator for Pennsylvania’s 7th District:

“The ACLU has been the center of it, so we’ve got to keep fighting. We got to be smart. We’ve got to be tactical. We’ve got to be strategic. But we cannot shrink in this moment.”

Mike Lee, ACLU-PA Executive Director:

“We’re going to resist, delay, disrupt, the efforts of this federal government to normalize racism, anti-semitism, and anti-LGBTQ+-ism. But the way we do it is as community, working with elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels, who know what democracy requires…. This administration intentionally wants us to lose faith in our courts; in the power of protest; and in each other. But fighting for democracy starts with one simple rule: Stand together!”

Marissa Kolarosky, ACLU-PA Assistant Director of Philanthropy, later added:

“Looking ahead, our goals are clear: to defend, delay, or dilute efforts to undermine our rights, to expand the guarantees of the Constitution, and to inspire even more people to take meaningful action.”

Honoring Leadership

The evening culminated in the presentation of the inaugural “Constitutional Champion Awards” honoring three public servants whose leadership, voting records, and advocacy have advanced civil liberties across Pennsylvania over the past two years. This year’s honorees were Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator Vincent Hughes, and Representative Dan L. Miller.

Special thanks to DJ Diamond Kuts for the music, and to our partners in Philadelphia’s hospitality community for providing a wonderful spread of cocktail hour food and drink!

About the ACLU of Pennsylvania

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting the rights and freedoms of all Pennsylvanians through legal advocacy, public education, and legislative engagement.

To support the ACLU through a stock donation, wire transfer, or a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA, please contact donate@aclupa.org for assistance.