John,

Donald Trump has made it clear: he intends to wield the Insurrection Act not to preserve democracy, but to suppress it.

The same man who incited the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol is now threatening to use the U.S. military against Americans exercising their constitutional right to protest. Even as he pardons those who violently stormed the Capitol, he labels peaceful demonstrators “insurrectionists.” The hypocrisy is outrageous -- and the danger couldn’t be greater.

The Insurrection Act, written more than 200 years ago, gives presidents sweeping power to deploy troops on U.S. soil with almost no oversight. It was meant for true emergencies, but in Trump’s hands, it could become a military-grade weapon against free speech and free thought -- the values democracy depends on.

Trump has already said certain states are in “pure insurrection,” sent Marines to Los Angeles, and deployed the National Guard to Chicago and Portland -- not to protect lives, but to stifle dissent. In his rhetoric, blue states are enemies, and constitutionally protected protest is vilified. Trump’s true purpose is not to promote safety -- it’s to use military force to silence opposition.

Invoking the Insurrection Act to occupy American cities would turn soldiers against civilians -- and turn democracy against itself. It would replace dialogue with domination, and peaceful resolution with force. That’s why Congress must act now to reform the Insurrection Act, and prevent any president from abusing it. These reforms are necessary:

• Congress must approve any domestic troop deployment beyond 14 days;

• Courts must be able to block unconstitutional uses of the Act;

• Peaceful protest must be protected, not treated as insurrection; and

• Full transparency is required whenever the Act is invoked.

As Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has reminded the nation, Chicago and Illinois are not among the most violent places in America -- despite Trump’s claims. His narrative isn’t about restoring order; it’s about creating justification for repression.

Deploying troops against civilians isn’t leadership -- it’s tyranny. It creates fear where none existed and destroys the conversation that democracy requires to survive.

Tell Congress: Reform the Insurrection Act now, before it’s used to crush dissent.

Thank you for protecting free speech, peaceful protest -- and democracy itself.