Civil Rights Coalition Launches Unity Pact to Defend Against Trump Assault on Nonprofits

A coalition of 75 civil rights groups on Monday responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's "escalating threats and actions" targeting nonprofit organizations by launching "The Pact: A Civil Rights Coalition Unity Commitment."

Led by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the groups represent "millions of people of every background in every ZIP code across America, exist to serve our communities, protect rights, and advance opportunity for all," the pact explains. "Today we face a campaign by the government to silence and isolate us, stop us from doing our jobs, and hurt the people we serve."

"The administration has made clear it will attack organizations that speak truth to power, defend the vulnerable, petition and sue the government, preserve and share knowledge, and fight for our freedoms," notes the statement, which came amid rumors of an attack on climate groups' tax-exempt status and after a GOP-led effort in Congress attacking anti-genocide campaigners. "They want us to fight alone, hoping we'll stay silent as others are targeted. Not us."

"The administration has made clear it will attack organizations that speak truth to power, defend the vulnerable, petition and sue the government, preserve and share knowledge, and fight for our freedoms."

"Today, we commit to stay united in our shared vision for opportunity, prosperity, dignity, belonging, and for the rights and justice necessary to ensure them," the coalition declared. "We represent people who are Black, White, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous, from cities, suburbs, and rural communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, workers, women, immigrants, and people of all ethnicities, faiths, ages, and backgrounds."

Signatories are focused on issues including quality healthcare, fair wages and working conditions, "freedom to learn our full history and celebrate our cultures," quality education, affordable housing, a just justice system, clean air and water, voting rights, discrimination protection, family care, hunger prevention, reproductive freedom, and privacy.

The coalition includes the American Federation of Teachers, Arab American Institute, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Lambda Legal, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, League of United Latin American Citizens, National Women's Law Center, Oxfam America, Public Citizen, Reproductive Freedom for All, and others.

"The government is targeting organizations that help people assert their rights and access basic services," the pact states. "They want to operate without oversight or consequences as they dismantle and privatize public services, attack government workers, and concentrate even more profit and power in the hands of the wealthy."

"We have witnessed outrageous attacks on our work," the statement continues, citing investigations of nonprofits, terminated grants, law firms fearing retribution, threats to revoke tax-exempt status, and the weaponization of civil rights laws. "We will not be divided. We will not be intimidated into silence or abandoning our communities."

The coalition members pledged:

• When any of our organizations are unjustly targeted, we will stand as a unified coalition. An attack on one is an attack on all.
• We will share knowledge, resources, and support with any organization threatened by abuses of power.
• We will not abandon our missions or self-censor out of fear. The people we serve depend on us now more than ever.

In addition to the pact, the groups shared a pledge that supporters can sign, a mobilization calendar, and an open letter to the American people, which says that "the Trump administration is intentionally attacking any business; law firm; college, university, or school; and organization or government watchdog that disagrees with its policies or challenges its abuses and corruption. And it is scaring into silence legitimate, lawful demands and legal challenges, which are fundamental to our civil rights and our democracy."

"Throughout our history, Americans have resisted power grabs that threaten our rights and freedoms," the letter stresses. "Today, we must resist again—together."