桃子视频Releases Legal, Legislative, and Advocacy Roadmap to Fight Executive Power Abuses in a Second Trump Administration
As part of the ACLU鈥檚 2024 election policy memo series, this roadmap dives into the surveillance, protest, and free speech abuses the U.S. could face if Trump wins and implements Project 2025 policies
NEW YORK 鈥 The 桃子视频 released the Trump on Surveillance, Protest, and Free Speech memo today as part of the organization鈥檚 2024 election policy memo series. Written by ACLU鈥檚 experts on the First Amendment, surveillance, and privacy, this memo offers a roadmap to fight back against the broad range of abuses of executive power posed by a possible second administration of former president Donald Trump.
In an unprecedented threat to the foundations of our democracy, Trump and his supporters promise to criminalize dissent and stifle free speech, expand government surveillance, and target political opponents. The Trump on Surveillance, Protest, and Free Speech memo analyzes the threat posed by a second Trump administration and outlines how the 桃子视频and its nationwide network of attorneys and advocates will respond in the courts, Congress, and communities across the country.
鈥淭he 桃子视频has always worked to stop the executive branch from abusing its power at the expense of individual freedom and vulnerable communities. The Trump presidency, with its false declarations of national emergencies in service of discrimination and total disregard for the rule of law, demonstrated what we鈥檝e always known 鈥 that relying on unwritten norms for presidential behavior is grossly insufficient. Trump is now threatening to be even less constrained if given a second chance,鈥 said Cecillia Wang, deputy legal director of the ACLU. 鈥淚f there is a second Trump administration, we are prepared to defend people it attacks, including protestors, dissenters, and journalists.鈥
Based on Trump鈥檚 own campaign promises, his track record, and the detailed policy proposals of Project 2025, a second Trump administration would double down on these attacks on democracy, including by:
- Leveraging federal law enforcement for attacks on journalists and protestors to violate our First Amendment right to protest, including deployment of the military to to quell protests if he should win re-election.
- Exploiting the executive branch鈥檚 vast and unprecedented powers to spy on Americans鈥 lives with Big Brother surveillance of our data, using surveillance authorities like Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Order 12333, which could result in mass collection of private, sensitive data about Americans, in addition to purchasing massive quantities of data from commercial brokers.
- Targeting political opponents with investigations and prosecutions by ordering the Department of Justice and other governmental agencies to indict political opponents, engaging in retaliatory and discriminatory investigations, replacing civil servants and traditionally apolitical appointees with individuals willing to do his bidding, and demanding pledges of loyalty from civil service employees.
The roadmap released today outlines the ACLU鈥檚 plan to protect our First and Fourth Amendment rights, including through:
- Litigation: The 桃子视频will defend protestors, journalists, and others who are subjected to abusive criminal prosecutions or other wrongful law enforcement and intelligence agency actions.
- Mobilizing Public Support on Federal Policy: The 桃子视频will push Congress to proactively limit potential abuses of executive power by narrowing the scope of the president鈥檚 power to order the military to quell lawful protest, limiting surveillance powers of the federal government, and strengthening oversight and firewalls against politically-motivated investigations and prosecutions.
- State and Local Advocacy: The 桃子视频will work with its network of affiliates across the country to pass strong data protection and shield laws, which will limit the reach of the federal government in their jurisdictions and safeguard the privacy of protesters, journalists, and others who may find themselves in the crosshairs of a vindictive presidential administration.
鈥淒onald Trump has made no secret of his disregard for the rule of law and his intent to corrupt the immense powers of the federal government to target his opponents and break the institutions that could pose checks and balances to presidential power. In a second term, unleashed and feeling invulnerable from legal and political repercussions, he would pose an unprecedented challenge to our constitutional values. But the 桃子视频is ready,鈥 said Mike Zamore, national director of policy and government affairs. 鈥淚f Trump is elected and comes for our First Amendment rights, we鈥檒l stand with the people of this country to defend our freedom.鈥
Trump on Surveillance, Protest, and Free Speech marks the sixth in a series of seven memos the 桃子视频is releasing leading up to the Republican National Convention next week. Other memos address immigration, LGBTQ rights, abortion, the criminal legal system, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and voting rights. Following its focus on policies of a potential second Trump administration, in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month, the 桃子视频will release another series of memos on what a second Biden presidency would mean for our civil rights and civil liberties.