Letter (email) version to send to Representative
Subject: Protect Press Freedom from Legal Intimidation
Dear [Representative's Name],
I’m writing to express deep concern over a disturbing trend threatening the very foundation of our democracy: the use of lawsuits to intimidate and silence the press.
The First Amendment was written to protect freedom of speech and the press—essential tools for holding power to account. Yet, the Trump administration and its allies are actively undermining these protections through a campaign of litigation aimed at punishing truthful reporting and discouraging dissent.
One shocking example: in December, Disney, the parent company of ABC News, paid $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump over language used by George Stephanopoulos regarding the E. Jean Carroll case. Legal experts believe ABC had a strong chance to win in court—but the decision to settle instead has set a chilling precedent.
Now, Trump is suing CBS and Paramount Global for $20 billion, accusing them of “election interference” over a standard editorial decision on 60 Minutes. These lawsuits are not about justice—they’re about control. They weaponize the legal system to bully news organizations into silence.
This is not just about the media—it’s about all of us. When the press is afraid to report the truth, the public loses its right to be informed. We cannot let powerful individuals use their wealth and influence to suppress uncomfortable facts or rewrite history.
I urge you to take action. Please support and introduce legislation that protects news organizations from abusive, frivolous lawsuits designed to stifle freedom of speech. Our democracy depends on a free, fearless press. We need your voice to defend it—now more than ever.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address or Zip Code]
[Optional: Affiliation or Title]
Phone Call Version if not using 5Calls
"Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from Frederick, MD. I’m calling to urge you to protect press freedom and free speech. The First Amendment is under threat from a growing pattern of lawsuits—like those brought by Donald Trump against news outlets—which are designed to intimidate and silence the media. When companies settle rather than fight, it sets a dangerous precedent that weakens our democracy. I’m asking you to support legislation that shields journalists and news organizations from frivolous lawsuits meant to suppress truthful reporting. Thank you."
Social Media Post
Free speech means nothing if the press is too afraid to speak.
Trump is suing ABC, CBS, and others for reporting the truth—and it’s working. Disney just paid $16 million to settle. CBS is facing a $20 billion lawsuit. This is about intimidation and control, not justice.
If we don’t push back, powerful people will keep using lawsuits to silence the media and rewrite reality.
👉 Call your Representatives NOW: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 📧 Send an email. 📣 Speak out and demand they protect the press from these abusive, silencing tactics. Our democracy depends on a free, truthful, and fearless media.
#ProtectThePress #FirstAmendment #TruthMatters #DefendDemocracy #CallYourRep
Letter (email) version to send to Representative
Subject: Urgent: Defend Free Speech and Academic Freedom — Stop the Political Targeting of Students
Dear [Representative's Name],
I’m reaching out because the assault on our constitutional freedoms can no longer be ignored. Our First Amendment rights—freedom of speech and freedom of the press—are under direct attack, and the consequences could be devastating for our democracy.
Legal residents and students like Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and lead negotiator in last year’s Gaza solidarity encampment, are being detained without charges by ICE. Others, like Badur Khan Suri, a Georgetown graduate student, are losing their visas based solely on the suspected political views of a family member. Grant Minor, President of Columbia’s Student Workers Union, was expelled and fired one day before contract negotiations were to begin.
Meanwhile, Columbia University has been strong-armed into silencing protest on campus by a $400 million federal funding threat—an authoritarian ultimatum that demands the suppression of dissent, enforces a politicized redefinition of “antisemitism,” and cedes control of academic departments to the federal government–in direct violation of institutional autonomy.
This is political retaliation. It is unconstitutional. It is dangerous. And it cannot be allowed to continue.
You were elected to uphold the Constitution—not just when it’s easy or popular, but especially when it’s hard. We need you to act now:
Publicly condemn the political targeting of students and legal residents
Oppose efforts to tie federal funding to the suppression of free expression
Demand transparency and due process for Mahmoud Khalil and others like him
Our educational institutions must not become tools of fear and control. If we allow this crackdown on speech and protest to stand, we undermine the very core of our democracy.
This moment will be remembered. I urge you to stand on the side of the Constitution, of democracy, and of justice.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your City, State]
[Your Contact Information (if desired)]
Phone Call Version if not using 5Calls (Option 1)
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from Frederick, MD.
I’m calling to express my deep concern about the growing attacks on freedom of speech and academic freedom—especially as they relate to individuals like Mahmoud Khalil and Badur Khan Suri. These are legal residents being detained or deported without due process simply for advocating Palestinian rights.
Columbia University is being threatened with the loss of $400 million in federal funding for not suppressing campus protests. This is a dangerous precedent. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are protected by the First Amendment—they are the foundation of our democracy.
I urge [Representative's Name] to publicly oppose these violations and take action to protect our constitutional rights. Thank you.
Phone Call Version if not using 5Calls (Option 2)
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from Frederick, MD.
I’m calling because our First Amendment rights are under serious attack—and I need [Representative's Name] to speak up.
Legal residents like Mahmoud Khalil and Badur Khan Suri are being detained or deported without due process for supporting Palestinian rights. Students are being silenced and punished, and Columbia University is being threatened with the loss of $400 million in federal funding for refusing to crack down on campus protest.
This is political retaliation—an unconstitutional assault on free speech, academic freedom, and basic civil liberties. I’m asking [Representative's Name] to publicly condemn these attacks, defend our rights, and demand due process for those being targeted.
Please do what’s right—our democracy depends on it.
Thank you.
Social Media Post (Option 1)
🚨 This is an emergency. Our First Amendment rights are under attack. 🚨
Legal residents like Mahmoud Khalil and Badur Khan Suri are being detained or deported without due process—targeted for simply speaking out in favor of Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, Columbia University is being bullied into censoring students and professors with threats to cut $400 million in federal funding unless they stifle protest and dissent.
This is political persecution—it’s unconstitutional, it’s dangerous, and it must not stand.
We must act now to protect free speech. Call your Representative today and demand they publicly denounce these attacks on our rights. Stand for justice. Stand for free speech. Stand for our democracy.
📞 🗳️ Call your rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative NOW and demand action!
#FreeSpeech #Khalil #AcademicFreedom #ProtectTheFirst #HandsOffStudents #StandUpForStudents #NoMoreCensorship
Social Media Post (Option 2)
🚨 Free speech is under attack. We must act now. 🚨
Legal residents like Mahmoud Khalil are being detained without charges. Columbia University is being threatened with the loss of $400M in funding unless it silences student protest and hands over control of its academics.
This is political retaliation, and it’s unconstitutional.
📞 Call your rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative NOW and demand action! Demand they speak out and defend the First Amendment before it’s too late.
🗣️ We can’t stay silent.
#ProtectFreeSpeech #Khalil #AcademicFreedom #DefendTheFirst #StopTheCrackdown #HandsOffStudents
Letter (email) version to send to Representative
Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Free Speech and Advocacy Organizations
Dear [Representative's Name],
As an American citizen who believes in free speech, I am deeply disturbed by the recent $660 million judgment against Greenpeace—a case brought by Energy Transfer, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. This decision is more than a legal dispute—it is a direct attack on our First Amendment rights and a chilling signal to every citizen, nonprofit, and advocacy group in this country.
Greenpeace was charged with defamation and inciting criminal activity for its support of protests led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Yet, according to the ACLU, the statements cited were protected speech and did not originate with Greenpeace. The court’s ruling now suggests that any organization participating in or supporting a protest could be held financially liable for the actions of others, even strangers acting independently. That is nothing short of authoritarian!
If this precedent stands, we are entering dangerous territory where peaceful protest becomes financially suicidal and dissent is silenced not by the law, but by bankruptcy. This is not just an attack on Greenpeace—it’s a calculated effort to dismantle the very mechanisms that allow the American people to hold power to account.
I urge you—please—take action. We need federal protections now. Congress must pass legislation to safeguard the right to protest, protect NGOs from corporate retaliation, and prevent the abuse of the legal system to silence free speech.
This is not a partisan issue. This is a matter of democracy, justice, and the survival of civil society. If we allow corporations to crush dissent through billion-dollar lawsuits, then we no longer live in a free country.
Please do the right thing. Stand up for the Constitution. Stand up for our voices. Stand up now—before it’s too late.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Contact Information]
Phone Call Version if not using 5Calls
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from Frederick, MD.
I’m calling to urge [Representative’s Name] to speak out and take legislative action to protect freedom of speech and the rights of advocacy organizations like Greenpeace.
The recent $660 million judgment against Greenpeace—brought by Energy Transfer for supporting peaceful protest at Standing Rock—is a direct attack on the First Amendment. If corporations can bankrupt organizations for speaking out, we lose our voice as citizens.
Please support legislation that protects NGOs from these retaliatory lawsuits and upholds our right to peaceful protest. Our democracy depends on it.
Thank you.
Social Media Post (Option 1)
🛑 Free Speech Is Under Attack
In North Dakota, a jury just awarded $660 million to Energy Transfer—the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline—in a lawsuit against Greenpeace.
Their "crime"? Supporting the peaceful protests at Standing Rock in 2016–17, organized by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to protect their water and land.
Greenpeace is being punished for merely speaking out. Their statements were protected under the First Amendment—and most weren’t even originally theirs. This ruling sends a chilling message: if you stand up to powerful corporate interests, you’ll pay.
This isn’t just about Greenpeace. It’s about all of us who care about justice, the environment, and our right to protest. This case is meant to silence dissent. If corporations can bankrupt advocacy groups for supporting peaceful protests, none of us are safe.
📣 Congress must act now to protect NGOs from abusive, retaliatory lawsuits and defend our freedom to speak out. 🛑 Because if we lose the right to protest, we lose the power to hold anyone accountable.
🗳️ Call your rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 📧 Send an email. 📣 Speak out.
#StandWithGreenpeace #DefendFreeSpeech #FirstAmendment #WaterIsLife #DemocracyInDanger #ClimateJustice #ProtectNGOs #StandingRock
Social Media Post (Option 2)
🚨 Free speech is under attack.
A fossil fuel giant just won a $660M judgment against Greenpeace USA for supporting the Standing Rock protests—an outrageous abuse of power meant to silence dissent.
We must protect our right to protest. Tell Congress: ENOUGH.
#DefendFreeSpeech #ProtectNGOs #StandWithGreenpeace #FirstAmendment
📣 Call your reps now: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Letter (email) version to send to Representative (Option 1)
Subject: Defend Our Constitution and Judicial Independence
Dear [Representative's Name],
I am writing to express deep concern about recent actions taken by the Trump administration that directly threaten the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment and the independence of our judiciary. These include executive orders targeting law firms that represent clients opposing the administration, efforts to restrict access to legal representation, and attacks—both verbal and legislative—against federal judges who rule independently.
These measures are chilling reminders of tactics used by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent, silence opposition, and undermine the rule of law. They are in direct opposition to the principles of our Constitution.
The right to petition the government, to assemble, to speak freely, and to have access to fair legal representation must be protected—no matter who is in power. Judges must remain free to interpret the law without fear of retribution. As Justice Sotomayor recently stated, courts must be “fearlessly independent.”
I urge you to take a stand. Speak out against these unconstitutional actions. Protect the First Amendment. Defend the judiciary. Uphold the rule of law.
History will remember who spoke out—and those who stayed silent.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address or City, State]
[Optional: Affiliation or Title]
Letter (email) version to send to Representative (Option 2)
Subject: Urgent: Stop the Assault on Our Judicial System
Dear [Representative's Name],
I’m writing to express my outrage and deep alarm over the Trump-aligned efforts to undermine our nation’s judicial system — one of the last remaining checks on authoritarian abuse of power.
This is not politics as usual. Executive actions targeting law firms that dare to represent Trump’s perceived enemies — by threatening their security clearances or federal contracts — are a direct attack on Americans' constitutional rights. This is an assault on the very principle of equal justice under law.
Even more disturbing are the threats to impeach judges and restrict their authority simply for ruling based on the law rather than loyalty to one man. This is a clear and dangerous attempt to bully the judiciary into submission.
You took an oath to uphold the Constitution. Now is the time to act. We need our elected leaders to rise above party and protect the rule of law. Silence is complicity.
Stand up. Speak out. The future of our democracy depends on it.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, State]
[Optional: Affiliation or Title]
Phone Call Version if not using 5Calls (Option 1)
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from Frederick, MD. I’m deeply concerned about recent actions by the Trump administration that target law firms and threaten judges for doing their jobs. These attacks erode First Amendment rights and judicial independence.
I urge [Representative/Senator’s Name] to speak out and protect the Constitution. Please defend the rule of law before it’s too late.
Thank you.
Phone Call Version if not using 5Calls (Option 2)
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from Frederick, MD.
I’m calling because I’m deeply alarmed by efforts to undermine our judicial system — including the escalating attacks on law firms, threats against judges, and attempts to limit judicial power. This is a dangerous assault on the Constitution and the rule of law and is nothing short of an authoritarian move to destroy the checks and balances that keep our democracy intact.
I urge [Representative/Senator Name] to publicly and forcefully speak out and take action to protect judicial independence. Our democracy depends on it.
Thank you.
Social Media Post (Option 1)
🛑 Our freedoms are on the line.
Law firms are being punished for defending clients. Judges are being threatened for ruling independently. This is how democracy erodes—quietly, until it's gone.
👉 Call your Representatives NOW: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 📧 Send an email. 📣 Speak out. Demand they protect the First Amendment and our courts.
If we stay silent now, who will speak for us later?
#DefendTheConstitution #ProtectTheCourts #FirstAmendment #RuleOfLaw
Social Media Post (Option 2)
🚨 The U.S. judicial system is under attack.
Trump allies are threatening judges, targeting law firms, and pushing laws to strip courts of their power — all to silence dissent and destroy accountability.
This is how democracies die. We must speak out.
👉 Call your Representatives NOW: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 📧 Send an email. 📣 Demand they defend judicial independence and the Constitution. Silence is not an option.
#ProtectTheCourts #RuleOfLaw #DefendDemocracy