Release Maj. Jason Watson and Respect His Right to Speak

Release Maj. Jason Watson. A 20-year Air Force officer standing alone on the Capitol steps holding a sign is not a threat to public order — it's exactly the kind of speech this country was built to protect. Watson was peacefully arrested under a crowding statute after a solo, silent demonstration. That charge should be dropped immediately. Watson cited specific constitutional violations as his grounds for protest: unauthorized military action that he says killed 13 service members, denial of due process for detainees sent to a foreign prison, suppression of First Amendment rights, and the weaponization of federal agencies. Whether or not you agree with his conclusions, a decorated commissioned officer raising those concerns in public deserves a response, not handcuffs. The military justice system can address any uniform regulations separately — but using an arrest to silence a veteran's political speech sets a dangerous precedent for every American who wants to hold their government accountable.