Something
extraordinary is happening.
In the last two weeks, thousands of people - deeply concerned about the
direction our country has taken - have spontaneously joined the ACLU.
They've added their names to those of over 400,000 other Americans
committed to defending the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Today our most fundamental freedoms are in jeopardy. Only a bold,
spirited movement of people like you who refuse to surrender your
freedoms can protect our civil liberties.
On January 20th, George Bush will pledge to uphold the Constitution.
Our goal is to recruit 100,000 new ACLU supporters by that day to
proclaim "I REFUSE TO SURRENDER MY FREEDOM."
Let's make it clear to those who seek to take away our freedoms that
they are on the wrong side of the law...the wrong side of core American
values...and the wrong side of history.
The more forcefully we speak out and the more voices that join
us the more effective we can be -- in the courts, in the press, in
Congress - in protecting our freedoms against those who would
trample them.
Your
active participation has been so important to our work, and we hope you
will help launch this campaign by doing two things right now:
Right-wing extremists are more than ready to expand the Patriot Act,
attack the separation of church and state, expand their efforts to
institutionalize discrimination against same-sex couples, and limit a
woman's right to make her own decisions about her body.
Some of the most powerful politicians in America are determined to
undermine our fundamental freedoms and the basic constitutional
principles that define our democracy.
Please stand up, sign the pledge, join the ACLU -- and defend the
principles and values that represent the best of America.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
