The fight for democracy is ongoing, and the stakes have never been higher. As we reflect on the legacies of Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, it is crucial to recognize the broader implications of their actions. Marshall envisioned inclusivity and empowerment, while Thomas’s decisions often reflect a retreat from those ideals.

Bayard Rustin deserves recognition alongside the prominent figures of the Civil Rights Movement. As a master strategist, pacifist, and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., Rustin was instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, which remains one of the most significant demonstrations in American history.