1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Congress must immediately investigate and halt the FBI's targeting of nonprofit organizations. This is an egregious abuse of the Department of Justice's power that threatens the constitutional rights to free speech and to petition the government. We've seen this before. During the civil rights era, the DOJ engaged in similar tactics that destroyed its credibility with the American public. Those abuses targeted organizations exercising their First Amendment rights, and the damage to public trust took decades to repair. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The FBI has no business surveilling and intimidating nonprofits for engaging in protected advocacy. These organizations are the backbone of civic participation in our democracy. When federal law enforcement treats lawful advocacy as suspicious activity, it creates a chilling effect that silences dissent and undermines the very freedoms our government is supposed to protect. I expect you to take concrete action. Demand answers from the DOJ about these targeting practices. Support legislation that prohibits federal agencies from surveilling nonprofits engaged in constitutionally protected activities. The right to organize, speak freely, and petition our government without fear of federal retaliation is non-negotiable.