1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Speak out publicly and take legislative action to stop the corruption of the Kennedy Center. The president illegally added his name to the facade of a national memorial — a building that belongs to the American people, not to any politician. A court had to order its removal. That is not normal, and it should not be treated as normal. The Kennedy Center has spent 55 years bringing Americans together through music, dance, theater, and opera. It has honored 263 artists across every genre imaginable, from jazz to ballet to country to comedy. It is a living memorial to a president who believed the arts were essential to a free society. Letting one man brand it for personal glorification is an insult to that legacy and to every artist it has celebrated. This is not a partisan issue — it is a question of whether public institutions can be hijacked for personal gain. I want to see you use your platform and your vote to protect the Kennedy Center's independence and hold accountable anyone who treats federal cultural institutions as personal property.