We’re troubled to see ICE and law enforcement trample the rights of protesters demonstrating against the harassment and detention of immigrants. Some of our colleagues and allies are working closely with those who are impacted, and we stand in solidarity with everyone who is protesting against the Trump administration’s inhumane actions.

Friend,

We are living in an age of retaliation.

With Trump deploying the National Guard and the Marines to Los Angeles to crack down on protesters demonstrating against his administration’s cruel, illegal and inhumane deportations, we see once again the vindictive commander-in-chief and his allies viciously wielding their power against anyone who dares to hold them accountable.

But this isn’t only happening in L.A.: Every day the government is retaliating against the press,¹ protesters² and vulnerable communities³ seeking to exercise their basic rights. This administration is undermining our democratic norms and civic dialogue. It’s attempting to confuse us with misinformation and lies to distract us from the constant stream of criminality that this White House is perpetrating.

The dangerous actions of the second Trump administration threaten the future of an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and free and fair elections. In response, Free Press has created our Future of Freedom webinar series in which we bring experts,⁴ community members and lawmakers together to shed light on Trump’s attempted authoritarian takeover of our country. We also provide actionable steps that we all must take to fight back and protect ourselves, our neighbors and our democracy.

Our most recent webinar explored attacks on free speech. During the event, our panelists discussed the shifting political landscape, the possible consequences for speaking out — and the surefire consequences of giving in.

While the administration’s actions in Los Angeles are designed to stop us from speaking out, we need to recognize our own power and keep fighting. One of our panelists, Baher Azmy of the Center for Constitutional Rights, underscored this point. “People need to be in the streets and in the press and mobilizing,” he said. “And mobilizing is contagious. You cannot sit back and be hopeful. It is action that produces hope, not the other way around.”

Thank you for standing with us—

Ruth and the rest of us at Free Press

P.S. Help Free Press keep fighting to protect free speech and protest rights: Donate today.

1. Trump Launches Latest Attack on a Free and Independent Press with Bid to Claw Back All Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting,” Free Press Action, June 3, 2025

2. “An LAPD Helicopter Claimed Cops Identified Protesters from Above and Would ‘Come to Your House,’” Mother Jones, June 9, 2025

3. “Trump Seeks to Strip Away Legal Tool Key to Civil Rights Enforcement,” The New York Times, May 9, 2025

4. “FCC Commissioner Gomez Raises Alarm About Free-Speech Crisis,” Free Press, June 2, 2025