1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Defend the Kennedy Center Against Trump Plunder & Destruction I am writing to compel you to immediate action to protect the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from executive overreach, plundering, and destruction. This week, thousands of citizens, artists, and community members surrounded the complex along the Potomac River, joining hands in a human chain to form a physical shield around our national cultural monument. This demonstration was sparked by alarming moves from a newly appointed board to immediately close the venue, accompanied by circulating plans for its potential demolition. While a federal court has issued a temporary 30-day injunction to halt structural alterations, judicial delay alone cannot safeguard this living memorial. Despite claims from the administration that these actions are intended to "save" the venue, attempting to shutter, rename, or demolish the nation's premier performing arts institution strips the public of its shared heritage. The Kennedy Center belongs to the American people—it is not a political asset to be dismantled or repurposed at executive whim. Congress must step in to enforce oversight, secure the center’s public governance, and block any unauthorized structural changes or closures. Defend this cultural institution.