John,

I had really hoped it would not come to this, but I’m sorry to inform you that this Thursday, Feb. 22, I have to appear in court charged with committing a hate crime and spreading hate against the LGBT community simply because I shared a meme on Facebook.

My name is Eduard Prols, and I am the Campaign Director in Germany for CitizenGO. Over my 10 years with CitizenGO, I've seen firsthand how free speech is increasingly under fire from groups driven by their own agendas.

The fact that simply sharing a meme can land me in court is solid proof that, now more than ever, our freedom to speak our minds is seriously at risk.

Trust me, just thinking about the court hearing and what might go down has already cost me many sleepless nights.

And the closer it gets, the harder it is for me to get any sleep at all. In the end, it always boils down to the same set of questions swirling in my head.

  • Will I end up with a criminal record for sharing a meme on Facebook?
  • Will I be able to continue working as a campaigner promoting Life, Family, and Freedom?
  • Will I have to appear in courtrooms repeatedly?

Obviously, I know this fight I’m tangled up in isn’t just about me or my right to speak freely. 

They’re going after CitizenGO too, aiming to silence an organization that amplifies your voices. 

And honestly, I believe the people who've accused me actually hate and fear CitizenGO. Why?

Because our campaigners and the whole team at CitizenGO have a knack for getting your voices out there, making sure they really matter and making some waves.

So, as I try my best every single day to make sure your voice gets heard, I could really use your help in this fight. If you could, I'd really appreciate it if you could say a prayer for me, maybe even light a candle or two in your church. Ask God to watch over me and to give my lawyer a serious dose of inspiration — and the judge too — so they might drop the case or clear me of these accusations of stirring up trouble with alleged hate speech.

I'm confident that with God's help, we can win this case together, and that victory will fuel our resolve to keep pushing forward in the cultural battle that lies ahead.

Thank you so much for your support!

Eduard Pröls and the entire CitizenGO Team

P.S. As you probably know, I'm not the first CitizenGO campaigner who's been dragged into court. And sadly, I probably won’t be the last. CitizenGO relies solely on donations and as well as your prayers, we also need funds to be ready for the battles that lie ahead. Could you consider a donation to help CitizenGO stand up for me and all the other team members who might end up in the dock? I'd really appreciate it if you could make a donation right this minute. Thank you so much!