1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am a mother of two school-age children, a teacher, and a proud member of my community in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I have deep concerns about the actions being made by our current administration that show a disregard and curtailing of free speech and free press. Over and over, the president is using his power to shut down, bully, and further intimidate those who do not agree with his policies and opinions. He excludes news agencies that he does not agree with. He attacks agencies such as NPR and PBS who give fair, middle of the road reporting based on many external assessments of media bias. He threatens or removes funding from schools and colleges who do not follow his opinions and policies to the letter. He intimidates and arrests students on college campuses simply for being foreign or for expressing an opinion peacefully that does not agree with his administration. He pressures our courts and law firms if they do not prioritize his projects and dismiss those he does not agree with. These are being done in other names, such as fairness, stamping out anti-Semitism, and other words. However, the overall actions build up into a cohesive picture -- if you do not immediately agree with and submit to the current administration and all of the political opinions that come with it, you will be be silenced. This is not acceptable in our America. This is not the precedent to set, to put the president of any current or future political party in such a powerful, authoritarian position that free speech and free press are not allowed. I want people to have the ability to discuss many ideas and opinions in this country, so that we can grow and learn together. I want a wide range of press to exist, to bring transparency and multiple methods of interpretation to what is happening in our world. Stand up today for a fair, free, and open America. Restore the checks and balances and accountability of our system of democracy. This is not a place where the loudest voice gets the only attention. You have been elected to be the voice of all of us here in Wisconsin, and I do expect as your constituent to hear you using that voice on our behalf. Thank you for all you do, every day, for us.