The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is warning President-elect Donald Trump that it will "see him in court," threatening to use its “full firepower” if he tries to follow through on controversial campaign promises on immigration, torture and other issues.I'm sure you've read about the letter by now.
Here it is, via the ACLU in San Diego:
Dear President-elect Trump,Here's the link to the ACLU.
For nearly one hundred years, the ACLU has stood as this nation’s premier defender of freedom and justice for all.
As you assume the nation’s highest office, we must ask you now as President-elect to reconsider and change course on certain campaign promises you have made.
Specifically, you promised to:
These proposals are not simply un-American and wrong-headed. They are unlawful and unconstitutional, and would violate the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth amendments of the Constitution, as well as other statutes and international treaties.
- amass a deportation force to remove 11 million undocumented immigrants;
- ban the entry of Muslims and institute aggressive surveillance programs targeting them;
- restrict a woman’s right to abortion services;
- reauthorize waterboarding and other forms of torture;
- change our nation’s libel laws and restrict freedom of expression.
Many of our country’s most cherished rights are the result of ACLU litigation and advocacy. From the Scopes trial (the right to teach evolution in public science classrooms) to seminal Supreme Court cases like Korematsu (challenging Japanese American internment), Miranda (the right to remain silent), Griswold (the right to contraception), Loving (the right of interracial couples to marry), Gideon (the right to a court appointed attorney if you can’t afford one), Windsor (striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act), and Obergefell (the right of same sex couples to marry), all were the fruits of our labor. We have worked with and battled American presidents of both parties to ensure that our country makes good on its founding premise as the land of the free.
If you do not reverse course and endeavor to make these campaign promises a reality, you will have to contend with the full fire power of the ACLU at your every step. Our staff of litigators and activists in every state; thousands of volunteers; and millions of supporters stand ready to fight against any encroachment on our cherished freedoms and rights.
One thing is certain: we will be eternally vigilant every day of your tenure as President. And when you ultimately vacate the Oval Office, we will do likewise with your successor.
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union
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