1. United States
2. Conn.
3. Letter

Our First Amendment rights are being eroded by the Trump administration. They decided that only news agencies that speak favorably of Trump are allowed in the White House--the People's House. Let's remind the Trump administration that they are guests. Trump's privilege of being in the People's House can be revoked, but his actions clearly state it is *his* house and anyone who steps inside is *his* guest. Trump targets protesters. People protesting attacks on Palestinians are silenced, universities that allow freedom of thought are blackmailed (loss of funding), immigrants who protest Israel's attacks are threatened with deportation. Anyone who criticizes Trump receives backlash from his administration. Recently musician Jack White was attacked by the Trump administration for voicing his opinions on alterations to the White House. When the presidential administration attacks and insults a dissenter, they use a psychological tactic to silence and punish. It creates a hostile environment where the people are afraid of voicing their opinions. And now Trump signed an executive order to punish anyone who burns or desecrates the American flag--which was established as protected speech by the Supreme Court in 1989. Trump claims that this flag is sacred, which implies that any act that "desecrates" the flag is blasphemy. Blasphemy is protected speech. His baseless argument is that burning the American flag is an act of violence and incites riots, especially when done by immigrants--even those who are American citizens. This continuation of xenophobic policy urges law enforcement to remove any immigrant who burns the American flag. There is no reason to believe that desecrating the American flag leads to violence (unlike Trump's speeches that have incited violence against Congress and ex-VP Pence). In addition to violating our freedom of speech, "desecration" of the American flag is vague enough that almost any action with the flag could be viewed as "desecration." Is flying the flag upside down desecration? Wearing an American flag bandana? Dropping it on the floor? Painting the flag being burned as art? Having it in business advertisements? Does the President know that burning the flag is a necessary part of retiring it? If we cut up an American flag, stripe by stripe, and burn the pieces, is this considered punishable by a year's imprisonment? Trump attacks on First Amendment rights are obvious. I urge you to act to defend our freedom of speech and resist this authoritarianism. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and for your representation.