John,

Happy Independence Day to you & yours!

Today we celebrate our founding father's bold declaration of independence from the most powerful monarchy in the world, a movement that gave birth to our republic and the freedoms guaranteed therein—free speech, the right to organize and vote, justice and equality.

However, this year’s celebration admittedly feels a bit melancholic.

This Independence Day, it’s hard to forget the Trump administration's continuous unprecedented & unconstitutional actions that are challenging the principles of checks & balances and separations of power—the guardrails in our constitution designed to ensure our republic never collapses into a monarchy. This administration is moving to consolidate immense power into the hands of a single man, like the king our nation declared independence from. It is a reminder that while our founding fathers gave us the gift of a republic, it is something that we have to fight tooth & nail to keep.

Defend Our Courts is committed to that fight. We are working around the clock to protect state courts across the nation from being taken over by right-wing extremists, so that these courts may continue their essential duty of checking the Trump administration's attempts at trampling liberty.

We appreciate each and every one of our supporters who have joined us in that fight.

Enjoy the food, time with family, and of course—the fireworks. Today we celebrate the gift of liberty, and tomorrow we fight for it.