“The President villainizing protestors is nothing but a performance to direct violence against the American people. By deploying the National Guard, against the wishes of state officials, the administration intends to cause fear and distract from their inhumane immigration raids." This statement was released by the League of Women Voters of the US, CEO Celina Stewart and the League of Women Voters of California Executive Director, Helen Hutchison. They issued the statement in response to the deploying of National Guard troops against largely peaceful protestors in Los Angeles County.
“This administration is assaulting concerned Americans to silence voices of dissent. The President's overreach signals a larger crackdown on protests across the country meant to intimidate us from speaking out.
“The President declared the protests as rebellion against the United States, a characterization he uses as his basis for overstepping his presidential powers to subvert the First Amendment right to association and protest.
“A functioning democracy must ensure that we the people can hold our government accountable without fear of violence from the government.
“The League of Women Voters condemns these actions and calls on the Secretary of Defense to call back the National Guard. We will not be intimidated into silence.”
LWV United States also stated that “At the League of Women Voters, our goal is to ensure that every person can make their voices heard — in the streets and at the polls. We firmly believe that, like voting, peaceful protest is a constitutional right deeply rooted in American democracy. Both voting and protest are powerful tools for driving change.
“For over 100 years, the League has supported the First Amendment right of free speech. Even before the League was formally organized, brave women suffragists staged protests demanding something radical at that time — the right to vote. We strive to model their dedication and advocacy through protests that preserve the dignity and respect of all.
“Protests are an effective tool for amplifying the voices of the people and inspiring action. When we use the act of protest together with the power of our vote, we can create meaningful and lasting change."
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