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If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know.

📧 Email Template

Subject: Defend Academic Freedom—Stop Political Retaliation Against Universities

Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],

I’m writing as your constituent to express deep concern about the federal government’s recent pattern of politically motivated attacks on colleges and universities—particularly the coordinated investigations, funding threats, and intimidation tactics targeting institutions that foster free inquiry and dissent.

These efforts are not isolated events. They represent a disturbing trend of using federal power to punish public institutions for failing to align with a specific political ideology. Universities should not be coerced into compliance with the executive branch’s agenda. They should be protected as vital spaces where facts matter, diverse ideas are explored, and democratic values are taught and practiced.

I was heartened to see the Big Ten Academic Alliance take a public stand against this overreach by forming a mutual defense pact. But they shouldn’t have to defend themselves alone. Congress must step up—not just to investigate these retaliatory actions, but to affirm the principle that public institutions cannot and must not be forced into silence or submission by political threats.

I’m asking you to speak out publicly in defense of academic freedom, demand transparency and oversight of any federal investigations into universities, and make clear that federal funding cannot be used as a weapon to enforce political loyalty.

This is not about one party or one presidency. It’s about the future of democracy. We need our institutions to be strong, independent, and free to tell the truth—even when it’s inconvenient to those in power.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

☎️ Phone Script

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].

I’m calling to urge [Representative/Senator Last Name] to speak out against the political targeting of universities by the federal government.

Right now, colleges across the country are facing federal investigations, funding threats, and public intimidation simply for defending academic freedom and allowing students and faculty to speak out. This is retaliation — not oversight — and it threatens the foundation of public education and democracy itself.

I was encouraged to see the Big Ten universities taking a stand to protect each other. But they shouldn’t be alone in this. I want to see my elected representatives defending the independence of our public institutions, pushing for oversight, and making it clear that truth, free speech, and academic inquiry are not negotiable.

Please make sure [Representative/Senator Last Name] knows that voters in this district care about protecting universities from political overreach.

Thank you for your time.

📣 Sample Social Media Post

🚨Universities are under political attack—for defending truth, dissent, and academic freedom. The Big Ten is standing together. Congress must too. We can’t let truth be punished. Speak out now. #DefendTruth #ProtectUniversities #OnTyranny #BiggerThanMeDemocracy

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/244cf62d-c846-49e9-84e6-1684d870f772/

Sources: 

• Politico, March 25, 2025
• New York Times, March 20, 2025 -

Take Action

If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know.

📧 Email Template

Subject: Our Legal Institutions Are Being Tested—Stand Up for the Rule of Law

Dear [Representative/Senator Name],

I’m writing today because what’s happening in our legal system isn’t just troubling—it’s a warning sign.

After President Trump’s reelection, he launched executive orders targeting law firms with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Several of the most powerful firms in the country complied. They erased language from their websites, pledged “patriotic” pro bono work, and changed hiring practices—not because the law required it, but because they feared political retaliation.

That’s not normal. That’s authoritarian pressure reshaping institutions that should be independent.

Other firms took a different path. Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block went to court. They defended the Constitution, professional ethics, and the rights of their clients. And they won.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about the rule of law and the strength of our democratic institutions. When law firms surrender their principles to protect their contracts, the entire legal profession—and the rights it protects—are at risk.

I’m asking you to speak out. Use your platform to defend institutional independence. Push back against executive overreach. Make it clear that bending the law to serve political power is unacceptable.

Because what’s being tested right now isn’t just the law. It’s all of us.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

☎️ Phone Script

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [City or ZIP Code].

I’m calling because I’m deeply concerned about how President Trump’s administration is pressuring law firms to abandon core values like diversity and legal independence. Some firms gave in—not because they had to, but because they feared political consequences. Others stood up, took him to court, and won.

This moment is a test of our legal system, and I’m asking you to speak out. We need our elected officials to defend the rule of law and protect institutions from authoritarian influence. Please make it clear that surrendering to political pressure is not acceptable—not from law firms, and not from Congress. Thank you.

📣 Sample Social Media Post

🚨When law firms surrender to authoritarian threats, we all lose. Some bent to Trump. Others fought back—and won. This is what democracy looks like under pressure. Choose resistance over retreat. #DefendDemocracy #OnTyranny #RuleOfLaw

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f10c47e9-69a0-4ab6-88f4-381baa9c2e38/

Sources:

• Reuters, April 11, 2025
• Wikipedia, April 2025
• Axios, April 11, 2025
• Associated Press, April 10, 2025
• Reuters, April 15, 2025
• Reuters, March 28, 2025
• Reuters, April 4, 2025
• Politico, April...

Take Action

If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know.

📧 Email Template

Subject: This Is a Constitutional Crisis—You Must Act Now

I am writing to express my deep alarm at the administration’s proposal to deport American citizens to El Salvador, and its outright defiance of a Supreme Court order in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. This is not just another policy dispute. It is a constitutional crisis—one that demands immediate action from every member of Congress.

Deporting U.S. citizens is not only illegal—it is a betrayal of the Fourteenth Amendment and the foundational principle that citizenship is protected by law, not political whim. Sending citizens to a foreign prison known for torture, indefinite detention, and denial of due process strips away every constitutional protection guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. This is not justice—it is state-sponsored exile.

Equally dangerous is the administration’s refusal to comply with the authority of the Supreme Court. If one branch of government can ignore the rulings of another, then our system of checks and balances has already failed. This is how democracies fall—not with a single act, but with the normalization of unlawful power.

Your response matters. Your voice matters. Silence or delay will be interpreted—by the public and by history—as permission. I am demanding that you publicly denounce this proposal, call for accountability, and do everything in your power to prevent the illegal removal of American citizens from U.S. soil. Uphold your oath. Defend the Constitution. The nation is watching, and I will be among those holding you accountable for what you choose to do in this moment.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

☎️ Phone Script

Hi, my name is [Your Full Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].

I’m calling because I am outraged by the administration’s proposal to deport American citizens to El Salvador, and their refusal to comply with a Supreme Court order in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. This is not just illegal—it is a constitutional crisis.

Deporting citizens violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Ignoring a court order shatters the checks and balances that hold our democracy together. If Congress doesn’t act, it sends a message that these abuses are acceptable.

I want to know what [Representative/Senator ___] is doing to respond. Silence right now is complicity.

Please make sure my message is passed on. I expect to see action and a public response. Thank you.

📣 Sample Social Media Post

🚨 The President just proposed deporting American citizens to foreign prisons—and defied a Supreme Court order. This isn’t tough-on-crime. It’s a constitutional crisis. If Congress stays silent, they’re complicit. #DefendDemocracy #ConstitutionalCrisis #DeportingCitizens

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a6875617-b4c9-44f5-bf5d-2b5602f4b77e/

Sources:

• TIME, April 15, 2025
• The Guardian, April 15, 2025
• Wikipedia, accessed April 16, 2025
• Reuters, April 15, 2025
• Axios, April 15, 2025
• AP News, April 15, 2025