Defund Hate, Not Science—Protect DEI and Civil Rights

History warns us what happens when authoritarian leaders dismantle protections for marginalized communities and suppress academic freedom. Senator Ted Cruz’s attack on National Science Foundation grants, calling over 3,400 research projects “woke” simply for including words like “female” or “diversify,” is not just ignorance—it is an intentional assault on knowledge and progress. These cuts target cancer research, environmental safety, and education under the guise of ideological purity. This is how oppressive regimes consolidate power: by defunding truth, silencing experts, and turning public institutions into weapons of control. [Source: ProPublica, Feb. 28, 2025] This is not just Cruz. Trump’s administration is executing a full-scale rollback of civil rights, erasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government, banning transgender heroes from our military, and more. These efforts parallel tactics used in Hitler’s Germany, where targeting academic institutions and minority rights was the first step toward dictatorship. Trump’s executive orders have already wiped out federal DEI programs, leaving women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ Americans more vulnerable to discrimination. Civil rights groups are fighting back, but they cannot do it alone. [Source: Time, Feb. 25, 2025] Enough is enough. This is state-sponsored oppression masquerading as policy. I demand that you publicly oppose these authoritarian measures and work to reinstate vital protections that ensure equality for all Americans. Silence is complicity.