1. United States
2. Neb.
3. Letter

Use your authority to stop the Trump administration's plan to build a permanent fence around Lafayette Square. This isn't a security upgrade — it's a mechanism for shutting down protest at will. Gates that officials can close "at their discretion" are gates that will be closed whenever a crowd shows up with a message the administration doesn't like. The history here matters. Lafayette Square has been open to the public since 1889, when the cast-iron fence was removed specifically to make it more accessible. That openness is the point. It's the one place in America where you can stand within earshot of the president and make your voice heard. The ACLU has already warned that even an open fence sends a message that the park is "only open by permission, and that permission may be withdrawn at any moment." We saw exactly that during Trump's first term, when the park was closed for over 11 months after protesters were cleared with tear gas. A permanent fence is far harder to remove than temporary barriers — that's precisely why this administration wants it. Vote against this proposal, pressure the National Capital Planning Commission, and do everything in your power to keep Lafayette Square open. First Amendment rights don't expire when they become inconvenient for whoever holds power.