To the editor:
Every year on the Fourth of July, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence with parades, bands, hotdogs, and fireworks.
But few people know that Mr. Jefferson’s document not only declared us independent from England; it set us apart from every other country on the globe. America was the first nation ever not to be founded on geography or religion but on an idea:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Enlightenment philosophers had discussed the concept of human rights and human equality, but, remarkably, Mr. Jefferson was the first person to put those thoughts down in writing as the foundation of a society, a country—a democratic republic.
Since I can remember, the Fourth of July celebrated everything American and everything Mr. Jefferson wrote, but this year is different. Mr. Jefferson’s ideas—and the very foundation of our country—are being challenged by a president who both defies and defiles our 249-year-old founding document in an effort to become our second King.
In the Declaration, Mr. Jefferson says, “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.” And as I think Mr. Jefferson would say, here is the proof that our current president is as much of a tyrant as King George III. I quote Mr. Jefferson, and then list the offenses of the current occupant of the White House:
- “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us …”
Trump incited a mob to ransack the Capitol and beat police officers on January 6, 2021. - “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people …”
Trump allowed Elon Musk’s DOGE kids to take over federal agencies, strip them of valuable data, and fire federal employees with abandon. - “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
Trump appointed judges to run roughshod over decades of Supreme Court decisions—and the Constitution itself—to restrict our rights and further empower himself. - “He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither….”
Trump is at war with immigrants as well as the constitutionally guaranteed right of naturalization and birthright citizenship. And on June 27, his Supreme Court majority in effect nullified the section of the Constitution that instituted birthright citizenship. - “He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.”
Trump’s Supreme Court majority has limited the powers of federal District Court judges. - “He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.”
Trump has stacked the courts with MAGA extremists who have given him the right of kings, and his supporters threaten the lives of judges and their families. - “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”
Trump has usurped the power of governors to put National Guard troops and active duty Marines on city streets and in violation of the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of military for law enforcement. - “He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the civil power.”
Trump has appointed an incompetent to run the Department of Defense and fired, or directed to be fired, senior officers in the Pentagon who take their oath to the Constitution seriously. - “For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.”
Trump’s exorbitant tariffs have disrupted supply chains, limited imports, and raised prices on goods that are imported. - “For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.”
Trump’s tariffs are in effect a tax on everything we buy, and he imposed them illegally without the consent of Congress. - ”For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury, and for transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences.”
Trump’s ICE stormtroopers kidnap people off the street, take them from classrooms and out of their mothers’ arms, put them in concentration camps, and fly them to prisons in other countries without due process. This is an egregious violation of our Constitution.
Clearly, Americans should and must protest Trump’s “repeated injuries and usurpations.”
No Kings in America!
Lee Harrison
Williamstown
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