Dear John,
Today, Donald Trump announced a crackdown on students and the right to free speech, threatening to cut funding to any schools or universities that allow “illegal” protests – blackmailing educational institutions and undermining the right to free speech at a stroke.
Characteristically, Trump failed to define what he meant by “illegal”, but it’s not hard to guess what he has in mind. He has repeatedly attacked student-led protests, particularly those critical of his policies, and has labeled pro-Palestinian demonstrators ‘extremists’.
Under his chaotic administration, any dissent whatsoever could be branded ‘illegal’ and punished accordingly. And these are NOT minor punishments. According to this new announcement:
Schools that allow these protests are liable to lose ALL federal funding.
Organisers (if not US citizens) will be imprisoned or permanently sent back to the country from which they came.
Organisers (if US citizens) will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested and charged.
This isn’t just an attack on bolshy students; it’s a warning shot to anyone who dares to challenge his power. If Trump can get away with blackmailing universities into silencing protests, what stops him from using the same tactics elsewhere?
This is the playbook of despots and autocrats, not democratic leaders. This is setting up a dark period for American democracy, one in which the state feels able to brutalise those exercising their right to free speech.
This is not an administration the UK should be giving its unequivocal support to. And yet, as things stand, Trump is set to be welcomed to the UK on an unprecedented second State Visit. While we wait to see whether a rising tide of public opinion can persuade Number 10 / Buckingham Palace to revoke his invitation, we are taking action to ensure that, if he DOES come back, he is not given the honour of addressing Parliament.
Parliament should not be used to legitimise a leader who punishes political opposition and erodes democratic norms. That’s why we launched our petition to Keep Trump out of Parliament.
