Presidential Memo Purporting to Counter Domestic Terrorism and Political Violence Threatens Constitutional Protections
Washington, D.C.— The Trump administration yesterday issued a Presidential Memorandum titled Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence that presents a serious threat to our core freedoms. The United States has witnessed an increasing amount of politically, racially, or religiously-motivated violence in recent years, and this is a legitimate subject of public concern and government action. This memo, however, presents an overly broad approach to what constitutes political violence, ominously conflating prohibited violent conduct with protected forms of protest, speech, and association.
“All forms of political violence are abhorrent and must be condemned in every instance,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya. “It is unfortunate, though by now unsurprising, that the Trump administration has used the scourge of political violence as a pretext to seek to silence voices it sees at odds with its political agenda. This memo represents a dangerous obfuscation of real threats with peaceful dissent. Anyone, regardless of political preference, should be alarmed by this escalation.”
The politically selective nature of the examples cited in this Memorandum reinforces these concerns and risks undermining public trust and weakening the very goals these measures claim to work towards. The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, soon after President Trump directed publicly that a prosecution be initiated, only contributes to public doubt about the ability and willingness of this administration to impartially enforce laws or pursue justice.
It is also essential to maintain the vital distinction between prohibited violent conduct and constitutionally protected activities such as protest, speech, and association. Peaceful demonstrations—even when disruptive—must not be conflated with “domestic terrorism.” Broadening these definitions would endanger core civil liberties while diluting the focus on genuine threats of organized political violence.
Human Rights First is committed to nonviolence, transparency, and the rule of law. Our work is dedicated to ensuring that First Amendment and due process protections that underpin American democracy remain unfettered and accessible to all.
To speak with Zeya, please contact [email protected].
