Democracy Watch From Abroad
email #19
Free speech and due process are fundamental rights enshrined in the US Constitution. I remember learning about the Skokie Affair in history class and though I thought the Nazis were (and are) vile, I understood their right to march in Skokie (they ended up marching elsewhere). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Party_of_America_v._Village_of_Skokie
In the words of Evelyn Beatrice Hal (often attributed to Voltaire), "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
I’m glad to see democratic members of the house and senate finally visiting the students who have been unjustly kidnapped and detained by ICE, simply for exercising their right to free speech. Stories related to that and other positive news are below.
April 18th, 2025
Big Ten schools creating a ‘mutual defense compact’ against Trump actions
Federal judge blocks Musk team’s effort to shutter top consumer agency
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/18/federal-judge-blocks-musk-consumer-agency
April 19th, 2025
Anti-Trump protesters rally in New York, Washington and elsewhere across the country
April 21st, 2025
Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/4/22/harvard-sues-trump-admin/
Whistleblower Warns DOGE Secretly Building 'Master Database'
https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/whistleblower-warns-doge-secretly-building-master-database-a-28054
Four House Dems travel to El Salvador despite GOP refusal
https://www.axios.com/2025/04/21/democrats-el-salvador-trump-cecot-abrego-garcia
League of Women Voters Sues to Defend Direct Democracy in Arkansas
https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-sues-defend-direct-democracy-arkansas
April 22nd, 2025
Roberts, Gorsuch Join Liberal Justices in Supreme Court Immigration Ruling
https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-reacts-countries-issuing-travel-warnings-us-2062685
3 more prosecutors resign over Eric Adams corruption case
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5261343-federal-prosecutors-resign-sdny/
The top producer at '60 Minutes' has quit. He says he can no longer run the show as he always has
Lawmakers visit students Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk as they face deportation
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx411nnwy8o
Federal Appeals Court Halts Ballot Curing in North Carolina Supreme Court Election
A Call for Constructive Engagement (443 universities and counting are banding together) is you university or college on the list? If not, encourage them to sign!
https://www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-call-for-constructive-engagement
"Shocked and Disgusted." UA Democrats respond to news of President Trump at UA
Judge Orders Reinstatement of Canceled Visas for 133 Foreign Students
April 23rd, 2025
Tennessee bill denying immigrant children right to an education dead for year
North Dakota governor vetoes controversial library content bill
International students stripped of legal status in the U.S. are piling up wins in court
NC judges strike down law granting election boards control to GOP
April 24h, 2025
Judge bars Trump from denying federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation
Judge rules the Trump administration violated a 2019 settlement in deporting a man to El Salvador
https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-settlement-el-salvador-d0cf8dbc3c4a5c8dae70b47154e6a1ab
April 25th, 2025
Judge blocks portions of Trump executive order that seeks to overhaul U.S. elections
Voters Sour on Trump 100 Days in Over Economy, Defying Court Orders and More
Stay strong, stay positive, stay engaged! Vive la résistance! Please feel free to share this email.
Be well.
Kim