We wrapped up our 2025 Nationwide Conference Collection this week. I hope everybody had the chance to tune in to all or a few of this yr’s programming and join with our unbelievable audio system and one another. As our rights, establishments, and democracy are going through virtually every day assaults and essentially the most susceptible in our nation have grow to be targets, it’s vital that we discover methods to remain linked and stand collectively as a neighborhood.
It has been 5 months since Donald Trump took the oath of workplace and started his second time period as president of the US. In that point, now we have seen unrelenting assaults on democratic establishments, civil rights, and the very constitutional order that serves as the inspiration of the rule of regulation in the US.
The administration has constantly tried to make use of its energy and affect to sit back free speech and stifle dissent. In simply the previous few weeks, now we have seen the President defame lawful protestors as “instigators, “paid troublemakers,” and “invaders.” Federal regulation enforcement has unjustly detained protestors and authorized observers. The President has unleashed the navy on protestors in Los Angeles and threatened to take action in different cities throughout the nation.
This administration has focused universities in an unabashed assault on educational freedom and detained, deported, and sought to disclaim entry to college students of all immigration standing for speech this administration disagrees with.
We now have seen regulation corporations focused in an effort to cow those that would possibly lead authorized challenges towards his many illegal and unconstitutional actions and defend essentially the most susceptible amongst us. These and so many extra excessive actions taken by this administration threaten our constitutional order and the rule of regulation.
The occasions we’re witnessing in our nation are alarming and dispiriting. It would take our collective effort to guard our democracy and far time and tenacity to revive the rule of regulation. As we all know all too effectively, it’s a lot simpler and takes a lot much less time to interrupt issues than it does to restore them. We now have a protracted street forward of us.
Each step of the way in which, ACS has stood up, spoken out, and labored to fight these damaging insurance policies, arm-in-arm with our members and companions. I’m so grateful to be part of this neighborhood, and I look ahead to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you within the coming months as we proceed to face up for our freedoms and the rule of regulation.
I additionally hope you’ll find methods to remain engaged this summer season. In case you are in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, July 2, please contemplate attending our annual Nationwide Supreme Court docket Time period Assessment, which ACS is co-hosting in partnership with the Georgetown College O’Neill Institute for Nationwide and International Well being Legislation, the Brennan Middle for Justice, Ms. Journal, Ms. Studios, and Feminist Majority Basis. (For many who can’t attend this in-person occasion, we’re hopeful it is going to be broadcast by C-SPAN. If this occurs, we are going to share viewing info with the community.)
On July 17, ACS is proud to be a associate for Good Hassle Lives On, a nationwide day of nonviolent motion to answer assaults posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration. Set on the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, peaceable actions are deliberate throughout the nation to defend democracy and carry ahead his legacy of “Good Hassle.” So way over 300 occasions, from rallies and marches to teach-ins, press conferences and vigils, have been deliberate for the day. To search out out extra in regards to the day and occasions deliberate in your space go to the Good Hassle Lives On web site.
We can also’t let present occasions preserve us from striving for a greater future for our Democracy. ACS’s twenty fifth anniversary is subsequent yr as is the U.S. 250th anniversary. These two dates have me fascinated about what democracy means to me. What do we wish our democracy to appear to be in one other 25 years? 250 years? We have to start fascinated about that now and planning for a way we are able to make them actuality.
Our democracy has been examined prior to now 5 months. It’s straightforward to get discouraged and grow to be complacent; I do myself at instances. However ACS was not simply based on confronting threats to our democracy, it was additionally based on strengthening it and making the regulation a method to enhance ALL folks’s lives.
It’s our collective dedication and engagement that may defend and strengthen our democracy. Thanks for being part of this progressive authorized motion, and please contemplate supporting our work within the months and years to come back. Your assist will enable us to proceed and broaden our work for an additional 25 years and past.
Tutorial Freedom, Equality and Liberty, Government Order, First Modification, Free Train, Free Speech, Immigration, Proper to Protest