1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the Kennedy Center board's recent vote to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center. This decision violates the original legislation that created the Kennedy Center, which specifically prohibits renaming the building. The board that voted for this change was handpicked by Trump, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of this decision. Additionally, a representative shared who is an ex-officio member of the board was constantly muted from sharing her opinion- how many others were silenced?!?! Regardless of political affiliation, we should all be troubled when appointed boards attempt to override the clear intent of federal law. The legislation establishing the Kennedy Center included naming protections for a reason, to ensure this national cultural institution would remain a nonpartisan memorial to President Kennedy and a symbol of American arts accessible to all citizens. Allowing this renaming sets a dangerous precedent. If boards can simply ignore the statutory requirements governing the institutions they oversee, it undermines the rule of law and opens the door for future politically motivated changes to other national monuments and cultural institutions. The Kennedy Center has served as a living memorial for over five decades, and its name carries significant historical and cultural meaning that should not be altered through legally questionable means. The Kennedy family is speaking up about their opposition to what has happened and find it repugnant. I ask that you take immediate action to protect the Kennedy Center's name and integrity. This could include publicly opposing the renaming, supporting any legal challenges to the board's decision, or introducing legislation to reaffirm the original naming protections. The American people deserve national institutions that operate within the bounds of law, not according to the political preferences of appointed boards. The Kennedy Center belongs to all Americans. Its name should remain as Congress originally intended when it created this important cultural institution.