Condemn Trump’s Assault on Free Speech and Dissent

The United States was built on a foundation of disagreement, debate, and the right to challenge authority. That fundamental freedom is under direct attack. The Trump administration’s targeting of activists, students, and lawful residents for nothing more than exercising their First Amendment rights is a dangerous escalation — one that Congress must not allow to continue unchecked. Take the case of Yunseo Chung, a lawful permanent resident and Columbia University student, who is now facing deportation simply for participating in a peaceful protest. The administration’s weaponization of immigration enforcement against a young activist is nothing short of an attempt to silence dissent through fear and intimidation. And she is not the only one. This administration is making a clear statement: Speak out, and you risk everything. This is not governance. This is authoritarianism creeping through the cracks of a weakened democracy. Free speech is not conditional, and political opposition is not a crime. Congress has a duty to speak out against these blatant abuses of power and ensure that this country remains a place where dissent is not met with deportation, prosecution, or persecution. I urge you to publicly condemn this administration’s targeted attacks on activists and dissenters and take legislative action to prevent any future weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents. If we allow this to continue, we set a precedent that no American will be safe from the government’s wrath when they dare to speak out. Silence is complicity. Do something.