John,
In 1775, Governor Jonathan Trumbull was supposed to serve the crown. Instead, he stood with the people of Connecticut and a year later became the only colonial governor to support the Declaration of Independence and choose America over England.
George Washington called him "the first of the patriots” as he worked to transform Connecticut into the arsenal of the Revolution, holding over a thousand political meetings, coordinating strategy at his General store in Lebanon, organizing food, lumber, clothing, and livestock for Washington's Continental Army.
When Washington's troops were starving at Valley Forge, it was Trumbull who sent supplies, earning Connecticut the nickname ‘the provision state’.
He turned Connecticut into the backbone of the war effort, not just by resisting tyranny, but by building the infrastructure to overcome it. Trumbull understood what our founders knew when they wrote the Declaration of Independence: that tyranny must be named, confronted, and defeated.
In that Declaration, our founders laid out their case against King George III with a list of abuses that justified revolution and identified the patterns of tyranny so future generations could recognize and resist it. Nearly 250 years later, those same patterns are impossible to ignore.
“He has obstructed the Administration of Justice…”
Donald Trump attacks prosecutors, threatens judges, and undermines the rule of law.
“He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone…”
Trump demands loyalty from the bench and weaponizes the Justice Department.
“He has refused his Assent to Laws… necessary for the public good…”
Trump’s allies in Congress block progress and threaten to defund core institutions.
“He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us…”
Trump incited a violent attack on our Capitol to overturn a free and fair election.
“He has abdicated Government here… by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.”
Trump threatens political opponents, promises “retribution,” and calls to “terminate” the Constitution.
But, the Declaration wasn’t just a break from monarchy. It was a blueprint for democracy and a constant call to future generations to guard against tyranny in all its forms. Today, it’s our turn.
Chip in $17.76 to honor the patriots who declared independence.
