The Trump administration is moving swiftly to target perceived political enemies, a core component in efforts to cement executive power and silence opposition. This includes threatening people’s constitutional rights to free speech, legal representation, and due process, while also cutting off funding, restricting access to government buildings and jobs, and misusing the regulatory process to get concessions. Within civil society, the administration is especially targeting universities, law firms, and the media—centers of activity that are crucial to building a stronger democracy yet have operated in ways disfavored by the president and his allies.
Although many institutions are acquiescing to the pressure, many others are standing up, fighting back, and refusing to be silenced. These courageous stakeholders oftentimes do not receive enough attention, leading many Americans to believe there is almost universal capitulation to the ongoing political targeting. This, in turn, makes it scarier for people to dissent, a goal of authoritarian leaders around the world.
Please join the Center for American Progress, either in person and online, to hear from key figures across civil society—namely universities, law firms, and the media—who are standing up to the administration’s threats.