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Defending Rights & Dissent
June 4, 2020
People angry at the sorry state of the world and looking to build a better one go out and protest. Yet, across the country when people gathered to protest police violence, they themselves were met with police violence. Donald Trump has responded with a seemingly never ending stream of inflammatory tweets. On Monday, in a demagogic speech, he openly spoke of using the military on US soil against US citizens. How does Mr. Trump justify his actions? He’s decided to claim that what the nation is is seeing is preplanned, carefully orchestrated, professionally managed protests and violence. The instigator? Antifa.
June 1, 2020
On Wednesday night our left-right coalition of grassroots activists and members of Congress managed to thwart House leadership’s attempt to ram an unacceptable reauthorization of the Patriot Act down our throats. Thousands of people across the country let their legislators
June 1, 2020
Over the last several days, we have seen shocking images of police violence against protesters. We have heard politicians at all levels of government, and from both sides of the aisle, speak of “outside agitators,” an age old lie told to delegitimize social movements, downplay rightful anger, and greenlight repression. These are dark and trying times. But it is precisely because of dark and trying times that we at Defending Rights & Dissent fight for the right to protest and engage in collective action aimed at building a more just world.
May 29, 2020
It is unconscionable for the president of the United States to use his platform to call for the military to shoot people here at home. Police or the national guard do not have authority to use lethal force unless their
May 27, 2020
Thanks to you and thousands of others who sent emails, signed petitions and made phone calls over the past year, we forced a stalemate in the House of Representatives last night over the USA Freedom Act, which would have extended
May 27, 2020
Once again we’ve been double crossed by Nancy Pelosi, shanked by Adam Schiff. As these “heroes” of the resistance and leaders of the Democratic Party decry the authoritarian tendencies of President Trump, they fall over themselves to undermine our Constitutional
May 20, 2020
None of us wants the FBI looking over our shoulder while we surf the web. Most members of Congress understand that, but so far they’ve been unable to amend the PATRIOT Act to prohibit the FBI from using Section 215
May 18, 2020
Last week, the Senate passed the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6172) to reinstate three PATRIOT Act surveillance authorities, including the notorious Section 215. To its credit, the Senate adopted a beneficial amendment to strengthen oversight of the FBI and
May 12, 2020
A national coalition of 41 civil rights and community-based organizations, including DRAD, sent a letter yesterday calling on New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to call for a vote on the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act. In
May 4, 2020
Defending Rights & Dissent joined with the Athena Coalition, Fight for the Future, Free Press, Media Justice and dozens of other justice groups on this statement in support of warehouse and other lower-income workers blowing the whistle on unsafe working
April 21, 2020
Dissent and protest are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedoms of speech, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. These rights are fundamental to our democracy. They cannot be
March 26, 2020
Defending Rights & Dissent has been working with community organizations to make sure necessary public health precautions don’t inadvertently lead to increased over-policing. We’ve prepared this guide that can help.
March 25, 2020
On Wednesday, March 25 at 3:30 PM (ET), Defending Rights & Dissent participated in a press briefing with other DC community leaders via conference call. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 25, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. – As businesses and individuals in the
March 18, 2020
The world confronts a frightening and dangerous pandemic, and urgent action is needed to protect public health. But xenophobia, secrecy, and lies are not the cure.
March 18, 2020
"If states and localities act swiftly, we can create an elections system that operates safely, efficiently, and accessible to all. Under no circumstances should the November general election be canceled or postponed."