Over 120 Organizations Sign Open Letter Demanding Albany Fight Back Against Trump   

‘Step forward, protect our democracy and our communities, and lead.’ 

NEW YORK – Today, the New York Civil Liberties and more than 120 advocacy and community groups across New York sent an open letter to state lawmakers calling out Albany inaction and demanding strong leadership to combat the Trump administration’s attacks on American democracy and New York communities.  

The signatories include good government, gender justice, racial justice, immigrants’ rights, civil rights, mutual aid groups, and more from across the state, with hundreds of thousands of members and supporters. The letter demands state action to:  

• Protect immigrant New Yorkers and those facing the threat of deportation;  

• Defend the rights of trans people to live openly and securely; 

• Ensure abortion access and inclusive gender justice policies;  

• Secure our right to protest, advocate, and speak out;  

• Safeguard our privacy and personal data from corporate and government abuse;  

• Preserve our environment and protect vulnerable New Yorkers from its worst effects;  

• Ensure our communities are not harmed by the withdrawal of crucial federal funding;  

• Secure the right of New York State to autonomy.  

The open letter is complemented by an advertising outlay in the print and digital editions of the Albany Times Union this week that reprints and directs to the letter online. Signatory groups will also be sharing social media collateral directing audiences to email state lawmakers, ensuring their representatives receive the demands. 

“Advocates across New York have been sounding the alarm over the dangers of the second Trump administration but finding that, despite unprecedented and unlawful attacks on our democracy and our communities, Albany has thus far failed to take the bold action we need,” said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “With this open letter, we’ve banded together to say: Enough. Time to lead. New York officials are remembered for how they respond to our greatest challenges, and an existential one is confronting us right now.”   

“In the face of escalating attacks on our democracy, immigrant families, trans rights, and reproductive freedom, silence on these matters is complicity,” said Anita Teekah, Chief of Advocacy at LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “We demand action to protect our communities. LatinoJustice calls on our lawmakers to rise to this moment with the urgency required and demand action to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all New Yorkers.” 

“The threats from the Trump administration are an existential crisis for our democracy and our communities. New York cannot afford to stand idly by while our rights, our neighbors, and our futures are under attack,” said Rebecca Garrard, Interim Co-Executive Director at Citizen Action of New York. “The New York delegation must act with the urgency and bold leadership this moment demands. The time for silence, half-measures and hesitation is over. New Yorkers are watching, and we expect action.” 

“Trans people—especially Black and Brown trans women, immigrants, and those in prison—are already facing heightened risks under the second Trump administration. From rollbacks on civil rights protections to emboldened state-sanctioned violence, the stakes could not be higher,” said Kimberly McKenzie, Director of Outreach and Community Engagement, Sylvia Rivera Law Project. “New York must act now to defend the rights of trans people to live freely and safely, to ensure access to gender-affirming health care, and to resist the federal government’s dangerous erosion of our fundamental freedoms. New Yorkers have a proud legacy of fighting for justice—from Stonewall to today. We expect and demand that our state leaders rise to this moment with the courage, urgency, and action our communities deserve.” 

“The Trump administration’s assault on the rule of law is a threat to all New Yorkers. As the federal government persecutes vulnerable communities and attempts to erode our collective rights, Albany has an obligation to stand up and ensure our state government is protecting the rights of all New Yorkers,” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York. “Rather than stay silent, New York lawmakers must do more to uphold the rule of law and, when necessary, refuse to comply with unjust demands from the federal government that infringe on the rights enshrined in our laws. We urge the Legislature to get serious and pass legislation that strengthens our rights and ensures equal protection for all.” 

“We all knew on November 6th what the second Trump term would mean. We need our state representatives to stand strong and protect all New Yorkers,” said Marina Marcou-O’Malley co Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education. 

“In this moment of deepening crisis, we refuse to stand by as our democracy is unraveled, our rights trampled, and our communities threatened. The forces seeking to divide us thrive on fear and fragmentation, but we know that repair and liberation are possible when we stand in unshakable solidarity,” said Trevor Smith, Co-founder & Executive Director of the BLIS Collective. “Now is the time for New York to lead and protect the most vulnerable among us. The people are watching and waiting for leadership in this moment, and New York must choose care, resistance, and, most importantly, each other. When we make that choice boldly, we build a movement that no administration can erase.” 

“New York has a proud history of leadership in safeguarding of our most fundamental freedoms. Yet, in this pivotal moment of crisis, bold and decisive action is needed. When the federal administration is actively attacking and undermining the very bedrock of American democracy, states like New York must step forward to defend human rights, privacy, and access to quality health care,” said Christian LoBue, President of The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) and NIRH Action Fund. “New Yorkers and their neighbors in states across this country cannot afford complacency, or a ‘wait-and-see’ approach from state leaders. We proudly join this growing chorus of voices demanding justice, accountability, and action to stop the abuse perpetrated by the Trump Administration.”

“Under the first Trump administration, Asian immigrant communities in New York experienced a spike in hate violence amidst the president’s anti-China and anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions. Families lived in constant fear of unannounced ICE raids and were cruelly torn apart by detentions and deportations. As the fastest growing racial group in New York, Asian Americans are a vital part of this state and demand our elected officials stand up against the current administration’s deluge of attacks against all immigrant communities,” said Niji Jain, Legal Director at AALDEF. 

Read the full letter here: nyclu.org/inaction

In addition to the NYCLU, signatories include:  

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