Students face a significant threat to their constitutional freedoms from the federal executive branch, according to constitutional law scholar Gary J. Simson, who addressed college and university students in an open letter. The letter, written ahead of the November 3 US congressional midterm elections, urges students to recognize the danger posed by the Trump administration’s actions and to take active roles in defending democratic principles.
An Urgent Warning
Simson warns that the administration’s disregard for the rule of law and constitutional values represents the greatest threat to fundamental freedoms in his lifetime. In January, he wrote, ICE agents in Minneapolis acted without regard for constitutional protections, beating peaceful protesters, breaking into homes, and forcibly removing individuals from their vehicles. These actions, Simson argues, ignored the First Amendment’s freedoms of speech and assembly, the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches, and the Fifth Amendment’s due process guarantees. The letter describes this as part of a nationwide assault on constitutional rights launched in January 2025.
Simson cites “Project 2025,” a roadmap for reversing progress on racial and gender equality, as evidence of the administration’s intent to undermine civil rights advancements. He notes that the administration has targeted law firms, businesses, and universities for promoting diversity, while using tactics like defamation lawsuits and press conference denials to weaken press freedoms. The letter also criticizes the administration’s promotion of Christian nationalism through events like the National Jubilee of Prayer, which marginalizes religious minorities.
Systemic Threats to Civil Liberties
“The administration seems to believe that if it relentlessly attacks our freedoms, we’ll eventually grow weary of resisting and just give in,” Simson wrote. “But if college and university students across the country step up and help lead the way, the American people will prove we’re much better than that.” He argues that students should help fill the gap left by Congress, which he says has failed to check executive overreach as intended by the Constitution’s framers. Simson stresses that voting is critical, noting that many students have lagged in exercising this “fundamental political right.”
He urges students to vote for candidates who uphold freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, regardless of party, and to engage in grassroots efforts like door-knocking and writing letters to the editor. He also calls for students to volunteer with pro-democracy organizations, which he says need their social media skills and energy. The letter concludes with a prayer by Rabbi Avraham Holtz, recited on Yom Kippur, which urges action over inaction, citing sins like “refusing to hear,” “hesitating,” and “being patient.” Simson signs off as a law professor and board member of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, emphasizing the unique responsibility of law students to challenge unconstitutional government actions.
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Building Campus Pro-Democracy Networks
A national nonprofit initiative supported by Simson aims to establish pro-democracy chapters on college campuses. The organization seeks volunteers to help expand its reach, particularly leveraging student social media expertise and grassroots organizing skills. Simson shares that an undergraduate group at his alma mater quickly mobilized to form one of the first such chapters, highlighting the potential for rapid student-led action. Students are encouraged to discuss forming chapters with peers and to share their efforts with institutions nationwide.
Youth Mobilization and Intergenerational Outreach
It asserts that their youth and energy pose an intimidating factor to the administration. The message calls for students to encourage peers at schools nationwide to resist the perceived assault on freedoms and to explore similar actions.
The letter also urges students to engage in respectful, candid conversations with parents and relatives, particularly those who might hold opposing views. It highlights that such dialogue can significantly advance understanding. The material frames this outreach as a strategic effort to broaden support for democratic principles and counter the administration’s influence.
Reflections on Faith and Historical Memory
The closing prayer by Rabbi Avraham Holtz, included in the letter, draws from centuries-old Jewish liturgy while addressing modern challenges. Its verses enumerate sins such as refusing to act, hesitating, and complacency, urging immediate intervention. Written with the Holocaust’s horrors in mind, the prayer’s timeless message compels action over passivity, especially in times of perceived democratic erosion. The prayer serves as a call to vigilance, reminding readers that inaction in the face of injustice is itself a moral failing.
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