We get a lot of hate mail at Public Citizen.
Perhaps not surprisingly — given the embrace of outright fascism by so many adherents of Donald Trump — it seems to be getting even more personal and violent.
Here are just a few recent examples:
- “We will eradicate scum like Public Citizen.”
- “You are sick people who are a danger to our democracy. The FBI should lock you up and anyone who supports you.”
- “Do the country a favor and jump in front of a speeding train.”
- “What is really sad is that no one has killed the twisted morons at Public Citizen.”
- “The cops should beat you all within an inch of your f***ing lives.”
- “I would rip you apart limb from limb if given the chance.”
- “You all deserve to be hung for treason.”
The hanging thing has been a theme lately. I guess that’s something I have in common with former Vice President Mike Pence.
And that’s all in addition to perpetual anti-Semitic attacks — along with, separately and ironically, accusations of being a “Nazi.”
While I certainly wish we didn’t have to confront comments — and the threats implicit in them — like these, I do think it’s important to be forthright about the vitriol directed at the work you and Public Citizen are doing together.
Of course, we have no intention whatsoever of backing down.
But we are facing A CRITICAL DEADLINE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT — more about that in my earlier note, copied below in case you missed it.
And I’m hoping you can donate today to give us the financial strength we need to continue fighting — and winning — as we stand up to plutocracy and fascism. Anything you contribute right now will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCH IS ON — DONATE NOW
Even better, sign up today to be a Monthly Donor and your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar each and every month for an entire year!
Thank you for standing with us.
In unity,
- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
******
We are just HOURS from a make-or-break deadline.
How things go between now and midnight tonight will directly impact how aggressive Public Citizen can be going forward.
That includes all our work to protect voting rights, ensure election integrity, and defend democracy — with barely more than a month until the almost existentially important midterm elections.
Why?
Because Public Citizen’s fiscal year ends at midnight this Friday, September 30.
I know the phrase “fiscal year ends at midnight” is no “Ask not what your country can do for you ...”
This is an absolutely pivotal moment nonetheless.
Like many nonprofits, Public Citizen operates on what accountants call a fiscal year, which is different from the calendar year for reasons related to bookkeeping, taxes, and the like.
What it means, in a nutshell, is that we are about to close the books on one year and begin the next.
Historically, then, the last few days of September have been rivaled only by the last few days of December when it comes to the online donations that are essential to powering the work you and Public Citizen do together.
(And remember, we guard our independence by refusing “help” from Big Business and Uncle Sam — our independence and integrity just aren’t for sale. So, everything this shared project called Public Citizen gets done is possible thanks to folks like you chipping in what they can at junctures like this.)
But we are facing some hard realities this time around:
- Many people are feeling tapped out from donating to candidates running for local, state, and national office.
- Everyday Americans are facing intense financial pressure and uncertainty because — once again — Big Business’ insatiable greed, myopic mismanagement, and rank profiteering have set the world economy on fire.
- And you’re no doubt getting emails from other organizations noting September 30 as a deadline for one reason or another. (Perhaps with gimmicks like ALL-CAPS subject lines, garish formatting, gratuitous graphics, misleading “membership status” alerts, and more.)
So if this is not a good time for you to donate to Public Citizen, we understand.
If you can make a contribution, please donate today.
Because this deadline is so critical to our overall fundraising, a group of longtime supporters has offered to match — dollar-for-dollar — every contribution made today in response to this message.
DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR MATCH IS ON — CONTRIBUTE NOW
And if you sign up to be a Monthly Donor today, your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar each and every month for an entire year!
Thank you for reading this.
Thank you for anything you can chip in.
And thank you for everything you do as part of Public Citizen.
It really does matter.
- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
P.S. If donating today is not right for you, that’s okay. I hope you’ll understand that I need to ask from time to time so that we have the resources to carry out all the essential work you and Public Citizen are doing together.
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