Oppose the Stop FUNDERs Act: Protect First Amendment Rights

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senator Ted Cruz's proposed Stop FUNDERs Act, which seeks to add rioting to RICO predicate offenses. This legislation is a direct threat to our First Amendment rights and the bedrock of our democracy - the right to peaceful protest. As your constituent, I want to emphasize that the 'No Kings' protest movement is not funded by any outside sources, contrary to Senator Cruz's claims. We are not paid protesters. We are concerned citizens exercising our constitutional right to assembly, motivated by genuine fear and anger over the state of our nation. The facts speak for themselves: analysis shows that 99.5% of 'No Kings' events have had no injuries or property damage. This data starkly contrasts with the portrayal of the movement as violent. Millions of Americans are expected to participate in upcoming demonstrations, showcasing the widespread, grassroots nature of this movement. The Stop FUNDERs Act is a dangerous overreach that could criminalize legitimate protest activities and silence dissent. It's crucial to recognize that peaceful protest is not rioting, and conflating the two sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundations of our democracy. I urge you to stand against this legislation and any similar attempts to curtail our First Amendment rights. Instead, I ask that you focus on addressing the underlying issues that have driven millions of Americans to peacefully protest. Our democracy depends on the ability of citizens to voice their concerns without fear of prosecution. Please oppose the Stop FUNDERs Act and any legislation that threatens our right to peaceful assembly. Our nation's strength lies in its ability to hear and respond to the voices of its citizens, not in silencing them.