More than 2,300 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have voted in favor of an action. They all signed on to an open letter decrying what they describe as an “unprecedented, authoritarian assault” on free speech by Donald Trump’s administration. The letter, jointly crafted by the WGA’s East and West branches, highlights concerns over Trump’s recent legal actions against news organizations that have published unfavorable stories.
Stars from every corner of the entertainment world have banded together in this effort. Filmmakers Spike Lee and Adam McKay are joined by writers Tony Gilroy, David Simon, Mike Schur, Ilana Glazer, Lilly Wachowski, and Celine Song–just to name a few–in raising their voices. The signers collectively call on elected representatives and industry leaders to “resist this overreach,” emphasizing the importance of protecting freedom of expression.
Letter also calls out Trump’s “baseless lawsuits” as an attempt to silence dissent and criticism. These frivolous lawsuits, per the WGA, are meant to intimidate news organizations for reporting on material that the president does not approve of. Every one of these lawsuits has led to settlements. This continues to send a chilling message about the future of press freedom and journalistic independence.
In their open letter, WGA members roundly state that these activities undermine the independent press. They further explain how these acts strip us of the democratic ideals our great nation was founded on. They claim that these actions are un-American. Their goal is to limit what stories—what jokes, even!—can be safely told, censoring all potential criticism and dissent.
The letter highlights the necessity of a free press and artistic expression to a healthy, democratic society. The signers call on audiences to join them in the struggle for a free and democratic future. They need you to continue speaking out against threats to free speech.
The letter concludes with a powerful reminder of democratic values: “We don’t have a king, we have a president. And the president doesn’t get to pick what’s on television, in movie theaters, on stage, on our bookshelves, or in the news.”