Defend democracy: Resist authoritarian backsliding and protect civil liberties

The rapid democratic backsliding and authoritarian tendencies we are witnessing are deeply alarming and unacceptable. The just-released annual report by the Varieties of Democracy project warns that the United States risks losing its democracy status, with the number of autocracies worldwide surpassing democracies for the first time in two decades. Moves by President Trump to defy court orders, demand prosecution of critics, repeatedly label media as "illegal", challenge presidential pardons, and invoke wartime laws for deportations without due process represent an unprecedented pace of democratic erosion according to experts. These actions, mirroring autocratic playbooks like Erdogan's and Orban's, pose a grave threat to judicial independence, free speech, and institutional checks and balances - bedrock principles of democratic governance. The Varieties of Democracy project head warns that if such authoritarian behavior continues, the United States will not qualify as a democracy within months. I urge you to forcefully defend democratic norms, uphold the constitution, and resist any efforts to consolidate power at the expense of liberty. The world is watching, and history will judge our commitment to preserving democracy in this pivotal moment. We must act swiftly and decisively to safeguard our democratic institutions and values before it is too late.