Over 600 Leading Nonprofit Organizations Stand Together to Oppose Threats by Trump Administration After Kirk Assassination
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 600 organizations called on the federal government to cease the targeting of nonprofit organizations following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The letter emphasizes that the federal government should not use this moment of political instability and violence to pursue a policy of political persecution.
The letter states that “it is un-American and wrong to use this act of violence as a pretext for weaponizing the government to threaten nonprofit and charitable organizations, other perceived adversaries, or any class of people. They did not commit this murder, and the vast powers of the government should not be abused to threaten their constitutionally-protected free speech and other rights.”
The letter was signed by Public Citizen, Democracy Defenders Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Service Employees International Union, the Center for American Progress, End Citizens United, Indivisible, and many more.
“As we’ve said before, the assassination of Kirk was a tragedy for his family and a danger for the nation,” said Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert, adding: “It is unconscionable to exploit this dangerous political moment to further divisions and violate rights, when what we desperately need right now is to lower the temperature of our discourse and bring the country together.”
“Political violence is never acceptable, and every nonprofit and advocacy group I know has condemned it,” said Amb. Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. “But it is reprehensible to use this tragedy to target nonprofit and charitable organizations engaged in lawful activity. They are not responsible for Charlie Kirk’s death or any other crimes. Exploiting a moment of grief to smear critics and silence voices that hold power accountable is a direct threat to our democracy.”
Click here to read the letter and see the full list of signatories.