A broad coalition of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations issued a unified statement condemning the “unjust and illegal” campaign by the Trump administration to intimidate and silence charitable groups via executive action. The coalition signatories pledged unwavering solidarity with those targeted, reaffirming their commitment to speaking truth to power and defending the rights of all Americans, “no matter who occupies the White House.”

Representing organizations that span the ideological spectrum and serve communities across the nation, the more than 3,700 groups  warned that the administration’s actions constitute a dangerous abuse of executive power aimed at punishing dissent and undermining First Amendment protections. The groups’ work spans the gamut of public service, from providing healthcare and housing to advocating for voting rights, religious freedom, and environmental protection. All of them face unwarranted and dangerous political attacks simply for fulfilling their missions.

“These targeted attacks are not isolated incidents,” the coalition’s statement reads. “They are part of a broader pattern of government retaliation against individuals and institutions that challenge this administration’s policies or politics.”

The letter can be found HERE

Following are quotes from some of the signatories:

“The Trump regime is attempting to use the power of the federal government to muzzle free speech,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen. “To shut down late-night comedians. To threaten nonprofit organizations and their members. To prosecute perceived political enemies. As nonprofits are attacked, we are choosing to band together and push back on the administration’s attempt to pick off individual organizations. We are truly standing in solidarity, and this letter is a loud statement to that effect.”

"The Trump administration is using every lever of government to target those who are perceived to disagree with the President or his policies," said former Associate Attorney General at the Justice Department Vanita Gupta. "First it was law firms, then it was judges, followed by media organizations, and now it's nonprofit and charitable organizations. The Trump administration is attempting to silence civil society. This is unlawful, un-American, and an attack on our most basic right: free speech. Organizations won't be cowed and stand strong in protecting the important work they do for communities across the country.”

“The Trump administration’s effort to weaponize the executive branch against peaceful and lawful American nonprofits and charities flies in the face of the First Amendment,” said Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. “These groups organize religious worship, feed the hungry, provide after-school tutoring, and defend civil rights and democracy. Targeting them is illegal and wrong. We are proud to join more than 3,700 of these groups in speaking out, and we are prepared to take all legal action as necessary.”

“The administration’s effort to vilify nonprofits is nothing less than an assault on the communities we serve. From feeding the hungry to supporting veterans and protecting fundamental rights, nonprofits are the backbone of civil society,” said Juan Proaño, the CEO of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). “If this administration can trample their work today, tomorrow it will be churches, unions, or any other group that dares to dissent. We will not be intimidated, and we stand proudly in solidarity with every organization under attack."

"Trying to bully people into silence or capitulation is what politicians do when they're too unpopular or too afraid to defend their policies and ideas," said Mike Zamore, the National Director of Policy & Government Affairs at the American Civil Liberties Union. "Just as the administration failed to silence Jimmy Kimmel, thousands of charitable organizations and nonprofits are making clear that they will not be cowed by this threat to target those who exercise their freedom in ways this administration doesn't like. We'll never stop fighting to defend the rights of the people to exercise their constitutional freedoms."

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Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.