Exercising our Rights of Assembly
This letter to the editor, by Celeste Koeberl, JD, MA appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on April 17, 2025.
Americans from all walks of life do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of President Donald Trump and his billionaire allies.
On April 5th, more than five million of us exercised our First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress. We joined more than 1,400 “Hands Off” rallies nationwide opposing actions by the Trump/Musk administration. Across Wisconsin, there were more that 30 rallies—ones in River Falls, New Richmond, Menominee, and Eau Claire.
For many Americans these rallies were a first, but they won’t be the last. The next nationwide rally against authoritarianism and attacks on our democracy is set for April 19th—the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution.*
We object to Trump/Musk’s attacks on constitutional government and long-established federal programs, including:
Abandoning civil rights protections;
Laying off civil service employees who help our veterans, seniors, children, families, farmers, and businesses;
Reducing staffing and funding for air traffic control, weather predictions and disease tracking, and eliminating offices that ensure food and drug safety;
Deep cuts to scientific and medical research;
Cancelling contracts with and delaying payments to farmers, businesses, and nonprofits;
Refusing to release funding approved by Congress;
Increasing inflation and tanking the stock market;
Trampling limits on presidential authority; and
Congress’ failure to check and balance the executive branch.
Join us on April 19th. In the meantime, phone your Republican congressmen and tell them to stop the president’s unlawful, unconstitutional acts.
WI CD 7 Rep. Tom Tiffany: 202-225-3365 (D.C.) or 715-298-9344 (Wausau)
WI CD 3 Rep. Derrick Van Orden: 202-225-5506 (D.C.), 608-782-2558 (La Crosse), or 715-831-9214 (Eau Claire)
Sen. Ron Johnson: 202-224-5323 (D.C.), 414-276-7282 (Milwaukee), 608-240-9629 (Madison), or 920-230-7250 (Oshkosh).
*(Editor’s note: The Hudson Star Observer estimated that 500-600 people showed up to the rally on April 19th in Hudson)