equalitybeforethelaw

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levellers

Lest we forget :)

Paraphrase from wiki:

The Levellers were a political faction during the English Civil War that advocated for popular sovereignty, broader voting rights, equality before the law, and religious freedom. They emphasized equal natural rights and actively engaged the public through pamphlets and speeches.

Their influence grew towards the end of the First English Civil War, gaining support in London and among some regiments of the New Model Army. Their beliefs were articulated in their manifesto, "Agreement of the People." In contrast to the Diggers, they did not endorse communal ownership of property unless there was consent from the owners.

The Levellers organized on a national level in inns and taverns, with The Rosemary Branch in Islington being particularly significant due to its association with the group. Members adorned their hats with rosemary sprigs and wore sea-green ribbons.

From July 1648 to September 1649, they published a newspaper called The Moderate and were trailblazers in employing petitions and pamphlets for political engagement. Following the execution of Charles I, the Levellers began to lose influence as those in positions of power sidelined them, and by 1650, they were no longer a substantial challenge to the existing order.

Lest we forget :)

Amazing graphic from the Reconstruction era. Captures the negative attitudes of many white Americans toward equality for blacks and Northern antipathy to great radical reformers of the time, especially Sumner. A sad but truthful vestige of the time.