LWVUS Joins Open Letter to the American People

LWVUS joined an open letter from civil rights groups to the American people.

Our Rights Are at Stake. We Will Not Be Silenced. An Open Letter from Civil Rights Groups to the American People

In America, our government cannot do whatever it wants. And we, the people, have a right to ask for what we need, defend ourselves from abuse, and speak our minds.  

We have a free press, the right to protest, an independent legal system, and organizations for people, not profits, to hold our government accountable. These protections exist so we can all have a say in our lives and live them freely. 

But today, the administration of President Donald Trump is acting as if the government can do whatever it wants, even if it violates our rights and takes away our freedoms.  

The Trump administration is intentionally attacking any business; law firm; college, university, or school; and organization or government watchdog that disagrees with its policies or challenges its abuses and corruption. And it is scaring into silence legitimate, lawful demands and legal challenges, which are fundamental to our civil rights and our democracy. 

Throughout our history, Americans have resisted power grabs that threaten our rights and freedoms. Today, we must resist again — together.  

We are civil rights organizations representing millions of Americans, and we are sounding the alarm: The Trump administration and its allies are going after a laundry list of “opponents” — and in doing so, all Americans may face real threats to their rights and freedoms. 

The Trump administration is: 

⇢Arresting and threatening people who criticize the government. This means our right to speak freely about government actions can now be silenced. 
⇢Attacking the ability of our courts — from lawyers to judges — to protect people from abuses of power, including the detaining of people without due process. This means our right to a lawyer and fair treatment in court is threatened. 
⇢Censoring and attacking journalists for sharing facts. This means our right to get facts and the truth is being undermined. 
⇢Attempting to make it harder for citizens to vote and undermining confidence in our elections. This means our right to participate in free and fair elections is diminished, decreasing our voice and representation in our American system of governance. 
⇢Allowing agencies and non-government actors to illegally obtain and share personal data. This means our privacy protections are being eroded. 
⇢Firing the people who protect and enforce civil rights. This means our ability to get help when rights are violated is at risk.
⇢Eliminating the inspectors general who make sure the government serves the people. This means there are fewer or even no checks on corruption, unlawful practices, and misuse of taxpayer dollars. 
⇢ Illegally breaking union contracts and eliminating vital jobs in service of everyday people, including nurses, firefighters, air traffic controllers, and more. This means that both our safety and our ability to work with dignity are being denied. 
⇢Defunding scientific and medical research and environmental safeguards. This means the health of our families could be jeopardized. 
⇢Censoring arts and attacking cultural institutions. This means our right to freedom of expression is being suppressed. 
⇢Erasing our celebrations of, and commitment to, all of our diversity, cultures, and histories. This means our kids can be bullied, our future leaders can be denied learning accurate history, and our employers can mistreat us without consequences. 

We Will Not Surrender America’s Rights 

What we're seeing now is just the beginning. These attacks will not stop unless we are united. 

It will not be up to the courts, governments, media, or politicians to save us. The only thing that can save the American people is the American people. Our organizations refuse to be silenced or intimidated — and neither should you. We write this letter to invite all willing people to join us. 

What You Can Do 
Together, we can defend our rights and freedoms by taking action. Take the pledge to: 

⇢Speak up when you see rights under attack in your community 
⇢Attend at least one protest or community meeting before summer 
⇢Contact your member of Congress when legislation threatens basic rights 
⇢Support at least one organization working to protect our democracy 
⇢Share information about these threats with at least five people you know 

You can determine whether America remains a country where power is checked, where our needs are met, where our rights are protected, and where the government serves us, rather than silences us. 

Join us in saying: We will not be silenced.