1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I am alarmed by the wave of anti-protest bills being pushed in states across the country with support from President Trump. As of April 2025, lawmakers have already introduced nearly as many protest restrictions as in all of last year (The Guardian, April 2025). One example is the “Unmasking Hamas Act,” which could criminalize peaceful protestors just for wearing masks—based on vague and subjective definitions of “intimidation.” These laws aren’t about safety—they’re about silencing dissent. Trump and his allies claim to stand for free speech, but they only seem to support it when the speech agrees with them. That’s not democracy—it’s a step toward authoritarianism. Peaceful protest is a fundamental American right, protected by the Constitution. I urge you to oppose these dangerous bills and stand up for the freedom of every citizen to speak out and be heard.