President Trump and his administration are abusing their power and denying us our fundamental rights in the process. Yet we, the people, aren’t going anywhere, and we won’t be silenced.
The ACLU has sued the Trump administration for banning books in Department of Defense public schools, mobilized to protect Medicaid from cuts, and blocked many of the worst immigration tactics taken by the administration, among countless other actions.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the ACLU co-hosted the second nationwide No Kings protests across the country to build power in opposition to the unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration. Millions joined over 2,600 protests across the country in the largest day of action since President Trump’s first term. Over 50 rallies took place here in New Jersey, and the ACLU of New Jersey joined demonstrations in Montclair, Newark, Princeton, Morristown, and Highland Park.
“We need leaders who will stand up for the First Amendment and the right to speak truth to power,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha, who delivered remarks in Montclair. “We at the ACLU support anyone who dares to protest, no matter their views. Because this isn’t about partisanship – it's about patriotism.”
Since he has taken office, President Trump has abused his power to serve his own personal and political interests rather than following the law and serving the people who elected him. His administration continues to engage in dangerous political theater to expand power and sow fear in our communities. But it won’t work, and we will not be cowed into silence by these disgusting intimidation tactics.
“It’s crucial that we are all here to dissent against the administration’s tactics and to refuse to normalize its policies,” said ACLU-NJ Development Director Diane DuBrule, who delivered remarks in Morristown. “We’re here to remind ourselves and all who hear us that this is not normal, and we will not accept it.”
As long as this administration unlawfully targets anyone unwilling to do its bidding, the ACLU-NJ will keep showing up to defend our neighbors, our rights, and our democracy. The freedom to dissent without fear of government retribution is a vital part of any well-functioning democracy, which is why our leaders must protect this right no matter who is in office.
“Times of peril are also times of opportunity and times of innovation,” said ACLU-NJ Director of Appellate Advocacy Ezra Rosenberg, who delivered remarks in Princeton. “We all are not only fighting back, but we are fighting forward to re-create a nation in a way that will ensure that this democracy can never again be placed for sacrifice on the altar of autocracy.”
New Jersey has shown that it is possible to achieve meaningful change in the face of national challenges, enacting new protections to safeguard reproductive freedom, advancing immigrants’ rights, and achieving fairer elections under the previous Trump administration. We know how to lead the nation by example because we’ve done it before, and we will do it again.
“In times like these, dissent isn’t just patriotic; it is our duty,” said ACLU-NJ Policy Counsel DaWuan Norwood, who delivered remarks in Newark. “We stand here to mark this political moment – to make the record clear that in the face of threats to our rights and democracy, we in New Jersey were not silent, but rather, we were committed to doing the work.”
We the people could not be clearer: power belongs to the people, and the people will hold power to account.
Want to keep the momentum going? Join our network of volunteers organizing to protect our rights and demand lasting change.
