An open letter to the President & U.S. Congress

Release Maj. Jason Watson and respect his right to free speech.

193 so far! Help us get to 250 signers!

Release Major 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 bogus 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.

▶ Created on July 11 by Megazord

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