How to Resist Trump: Support Human Rights First

By Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

A lot of people -- including myself -- resist the Trump regime only passively, with comments on social media, re-posting of horror stories, "likes" on criticism of Trump and his minions, and occasional signing of petitions.

I've been to only one demonstration that seemed kind of bedraggled and disorganized and lacking in clear calls. And others I've seen go by in NYC suffer from the usual leftist sectarianism and over-description of simple calls.

I also participated in the "boycott Amazon and all purchases" on a certain day -- little good that did. Ideally, one should fully boycott Amazon, but in my case, it's the only place where I can send the credits/gift cards from filling out surveys or taking part in medical experiments which I need to round out my Social Security pension -- which is not enough to live on even in HUD housing because of the huge electric bills and high cost of food and even medicines now even with Medicaid/Medicare.

Mainly, I'm buying protein powder and cat food and treats on Amazon because these are far more expensive in the stores near me.

But if you focus on organizations actually working methodically to resist -- and not just blathering slogans and memes on BlueSky, here's a group called Human Rights First which you should support.

I have known and worked with this group, founded in 1978, literally 46 years, as long as I have been in the human rights movement (since April 1979) and worked for various non-profits.  I have worked in organizations that shared the same office building and I have known their past leaders well. In the old days, they were known as "the Lawyers' Committee" because originally, they were a sub-committee of the International League for Human Rights, a group which I directed from 1997-2001. That is, they became an independent organization long before I came to ILHR, but they were still known as "Lawyers' Committee" for many years, and then when they decided to expand, they decided to re-brand and take a new name. I thought that was a mistake myself, because they are lawyers, supported by lawyers, and are noted in particular for representing refugees and asylum seekers in court and taking on other impact lawsuits as well as UN complaints. 

But Human Rights First (not to be confused with Human Rights Watch, where I worked for 10 years) is a good enough name, and here's their report and call for support:

A Message from Our President and CEO, Uzra Zeya Dear Catherine, As the new President and CEO of Human Rights First, allow me to thank you for your unwavering solidarity and support for human rights for all, through these difficult times. As today marks the Trump administration’s 100th day in office, recaps of its outrageous, dangerous and cruel actions abound. But the abuses are only one side of the story. At Human Rights First, the past 100 days have been about fighting back. With your help, we have: Defended the First Amendment rights of Columbia University student Yunseo Chung, preventing her arrest and deportation for her peaceful protest activity; Provided legal representation to people targeted by the administration, including Venezuelan men sent to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador without any due process; Launched an online tool that tracks legislative assaults on our democracy percolating in all 50 states;  Documented the costs imposed on Ukrainian human rights defenders by the administration's appeasement of Russia; Mobilized opposition to abusive policies and called for Congressional oversight;  Spoken out against devastating cuts to foreign aid, abdication of U.S. human rights and humanitarian leadership, and attacks on international justice mechanisms. These results show what a decisive difference we can make in standing up for our democracy when we stand together. We’re not giving up the fight, and welcome your perseverance in the next 100 days and beyond… In solidarity, Uzra

100 Days in Six Numbers Trump has been in office for 100 days. Here are six ways we’re fighting back, every day: 1 student protestor, Yunseo Chung of Columbia University, whose First Amendment rights we have sued the Trump administration to protect and whose freedom from arrest and detention we won from a federal judge.   2 men sent to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, without due process, whom we represent while we advocate for an end to this lawless policy. 3 lawsuits brought to protect the rights of immigrants and refugees. 96 nonprofit partners with whom we are standing in solidarity. If the Trump administration comes for the tax-exempt status of one of us, it will have a fight with all of us.  1,599 bills identified and tracked in state legislatures across the country that, if passed, would restrict rights and erode democracy.  6,513 letters sent to Congress by our supporters demanding oversight and accountability.

In the Courts The Trump administration is acting lawlessly. We are in court, demanding that it stop.  In Yunseo Chung v. Trump administration, we went to court and won a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from deporting Ms. Chung, a Columbia University student, for participating in campus protests. Special Counsel Joshua Colangelo-Bryan explains Human Rights First’s work to counter the growing trend of government actions aimed at silencing critics and punishing those who speak out.  We’re challenging the government’s unlawful practice of deporting people to third countries without the chance to seek protection in D.v.D v. DHS.  As the Trump administration ramps up deportations, individuals are being sent to countries the government never raised as possible countries of removal during their immigration proceedings without notice or opportunity to raise a fear claim. We contested that practice and the court agreed, barring the government from continuing to prevent the presentation of fear-based claims. We’re contesting the rollback of humanitarian parole programs and the halt in processing of applications for immigration relief in Svitlana Doe v. Noem. These programs allow people from war-torn or unstable countries like Ukraine and Afghanistan to temporarily find safety in the United States. On April 18th, a federal judge in Boston certified a nationwide class of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans and issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security from deporting class members to such countries without first providing them with written notice and an opportunity to show that they will suffer torture and/or death if deported there. We’re suing to stop a new asylum rule that forces rushed screenings during initial interviews in E.Q. v. DHS. The new Mandatory Bars Rule undermines the integrity of the asylum system by imposing additional barriers to protection for people fleeing persecution and torture in their home countries.

In the States Because the United States has a federal system, states can act to protect rights even when the government in Washington seeks to undermine them. Unfortunately, rights-restricting laws can also come from the states–and, given the number of state legislatures and decline of local journalism, it can be difficult to keep track. Our new tool, Democracy Watch, tracks and maps anti-democratic legislation at both the federal and state levels. Advocates, researchers, journalists, and concerned citizens can use it to monitor laws that threaten civil and human rights, from restrictions on LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights to attacks on democratic institutions like libraries and public education. Check it out.

In Congress Congress has fallen down on the job, abdicating its responsibility to work as a check on the Executive Branch or conduct oversight. But our elected officials work for us–and we will continue to demand that they act to protect rights and democracy. On Wednesday, Human Rights First’s President and CEO, Uzra Zeya, will testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the need for an authorized State Department. That means a State Department that is empowered to work to advance peace, human dignity, and human rights while countering the global rise of authoritarianism. Reminder: in the U.S. system of government, Congress makes the laws, not the president. The lawlessness could stop today if Congress put an end to it. Tell your members of Congress that you stand with immigrants.

Around the World As the Trump administration continues to appease Russian President Vladimir Putin, Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley has been assisting human rights defenders in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Watch him and Daria Rabinovitsch of Helping to Leave, a Ukraine-based NGO assisting civilians evacuating from frontline areas, as they discuss the role of NGOs in protecting people and the impact cuts to USAID funding are having. In a piece in Just Security, our Senior Advisor Scott Busby explains how the U.S. freeze on foreign aid is jeopardizing democracy and human rights efforts worldwide.  We’ve called out moves by the Trump administration that undermine international justice efforts, like lifting sanctions on a corrupt Hungarian official and, instead, applying them to those pursuing accountability at the International Criminal Court.