Taking their first steps “along the path to a better future,” roughly 150 people on Saturday began a 140-mile march from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., marking the official launch of the mass civil disobedience campaign known as Democracy Spring.

“Some of us will have never marched for anything,” read a statement from the movement in advance of a rainy kick-off rally at Independence Mall. “Others will have had our first taste of activism decades ago. Some of us will be taking time away from work to march. Others will be retired or unemployed. Some of us will have been moved by the invitation of a friend. Others will have read a compelling call to action. But we’ll find each other at the Liberty Bell.”

“Because over the last five years,” the statement continued, “nearly half of the country has passed new state laws that disenfranchise everyday voters. As access to the ballot has become more difficult, people of color, the elderly, and the working poor have been most affected. Meanwhile, billionaires and big money interests have marshalled vast wealth to dominate elections, corrupting budgets and laws to serve the interests of a few at the expense of the rest of us.”

Hence the movement’s dovetailing demands: “Congress must act now to end the corruption of money in politics and ensure free and fair elections.”

The Democracy Spring effort—which organizers describe as “poised to possibly be one of the biggest and most impactful acts of civil disobedience in a generation”—is supported by climate, labor, healthcare, and social justice organizations, along with more than 6,000 people who have signed up to participate. 

In the nation’s capitol, a rally is planned for April 11th at the Capitol Building, where demonstrators will call on members of Congress and candidates for office to take the Equal Voice for All Pledge, which commits them to “fight for pro-democracy reform.” In the absence of such a pledge, activists and reformers plan to stage a mass sit-in each day for at least seven days at the Capitol and Congressional offices.

Speaking to Yes! Magazine about why about 3,000 have pledged to risk arrest, Democracy Spring organizer Elise Whitaker said: “It’s fine and good to have rallies and demonstrations. But there’s this energy around wanting to do more, something that’s outside of institutions, something that feels a little more punk rock, honestly. This is how far we’re willing to go. It matters that much to us.”

She continued: “That’ll send a strong message to the American people in a way that hopefully helps galvanize support so we can make meaningful changes soon. We need to win on this issue soon so that we can push on other things like the dire straits that our climate situation is in and the threat to people’s lives in terms of racial and migrant justice. We need to win on this, and we need to win soon.”