The Free Press Defends Democracy
Pitch In To Protest Trump’s Tyranny

From the very beginning, Donald Trump’s presidency has been an affront to the U.S. Constitution. Nowhere has this been more pronounced than in his unprecedented attacks on the Press. Hostility to We the People’s right to know is an ominous precursor to tyranny.

This is very personal for me. I have spent the past two decades working in independent media, motivated by my conviction that a healthy and free press is essential to a democratic society. As Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, I will make sure that PDA stands up against Trump and any others who threaten our Freedom of the Press. We hope you will stand with us.

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In literally his first full day as President, Trump nakedly undermined the very basis of Journalism by declaring—not unlike one of the crazy Roman Emperors—that he could make up his own facts. He delusionally claimed his inauguration crowd was bigger than Obama’s. It only got worse. The message consistently became don’t believe the press, it’s fake news; and most ominously, they’re “the enemy of the people.”

Immediately after the Midterms and the GOP’s loss of the House, Trump responded by raising the stakes. The White House made false accusations and used a doctored video to banish CNN’s Jim Acosta from the White House. Trump verbally attacked a number of other reporters—almost all of them women of color.

PDA stands in solidarity with these journalists and all members of the press against the attacks of the Trump Administration. We recognize that Freedom of the Press is enshrined in the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: and the free flow of information is essential to any democracy.

Of course there is a long progressive tradition of critiquing the American Media; indeed, PDA is a proud part of that tradition. The co-founders of the progressive media watchdog organization FAIR—Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen—have been with PDA since its beginning; as have two other renowned media critics, Robert McChesney and John Nichols. PDA Advisory Board Chair Donna Smith and Advisory Board Members Lila Garrett and Thom Hartmann are all accomplished journalists.

While the progressive critique of mainstream media challenges the quality of its reporting, and its structural biases stemming from corporate ownership, progressives are the staunchest defenders of the open flow of information and freedom of the press.

PDA will be on frontlines protecting journalism, journalists, and the free flow of information (including, of course, net neutrality) from the attacks of the Trump Administration and the American right wing.

We need your help now. Volunteer to make easy, effective mobilization phone calls from your own home. No time to make calls? Then please pitch in to support our organizing with a generous gift now.

In solidarity,

Alan Minsky for Deb, Janis, Kimberly, Dr. Bill, Mike F., Mike H., Dan, Bryan, and Shayna—Your PDA National Team

P.S. We’re here to help you make progress in your state and locality! If you need help organizing a new PDA chapter or energizing your existing chapter, please contact PDA Field Coordinator Dan O’Neal. Join the PDA Phone Team making easy, effective calls from your own home with Mike “Phone Guy” Fox. Also please pitch in $1000, $100, or whatever you can afford to protect your First Amendment rights against Trump’s tyranny.

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