US civic health rating downgraded after year of ‘restrictive‘ Trump actions | US news
A coalition of global civil society organizations lowered the United States’ civic health rating from “restricted” to “obstructed.”
In a report released Tuesday, Civicus, a nonprofit that monitors civil liberties in 198 countries, placed the United States in the “barrier” category. The group cited a “sharp deterioration of fundamental freedoms in the country… after a year of sweeping executive actions, restrictive laws and aggressive crackdowns on free expression and dissent.”
The change comes just months after Civicus’ July assessment, which characterized the United States as “restricted” — a notch above “obstructed.” Civicus assigns each country a score based on civic space conditions, using five classifications: “open,” “constricted,” “obstructed,” “repressed,” and “closed.”
According to the group, an “obstructed” rating applies to countries where civic space is highly contested. Civil society organizations still exist, but state authorities are weakening them, including through illegal surveillance, bureaucratic harassment and humiliating public statements.
“Citizens can organize and assemble peacefully, but they are vulnerable to frequent use of excessive force by law enforcement, including rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons,” the rating description states.
He adds of the media: “There is some space for non-state media and editorial independence, but journalists face the risk of physical attack and criminal charges of defamation, which encourages self-censorship. »
The report cites the militarized repression of protests in the United States, highlighting Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles and other cities, as well as the widespread use of ICE agents in rallies and immigrant communities.
He further highlighted the increasing restrictions on free speech on college campuses, particularly regarding Palestinian solidarity activism.
“Universities have suspended student groups and opened investigations following broad and vague accusations of ‘material support for terrorism.’ Foreign-born students and faculty have been disproportionately targeted, facing disciplinary action, visa threats, and professional retaliation for supporting Palestinian rights,” the report said.
Civicus further warned that media freedoms are under increasing pressure nationwide, citing the Federal Communications Commission’s threats to revoke broadcast licenses and Trump’s lawsuits against various media companies.
He also highlighted Trump’s defunding of public broadcasters, including NPR and PBS, as well as the new White House Wire, an administration-run news site that promotes positive information about itself.
“These actions, combined with efforts to keep critical media away from essential government functions and foreign travel, reflect a systematic attempt to dominate the media landscape and silence independent journalism,” Civicus said.
Speaking about the latest classification, Mandeep Tiwana, general secretary of Civivus, said: “The rollback of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in the United States is truly alarming. We are witnessing a rapid and systematic attempt to stifle the civil liberties that Americans have come to take for granted, through criticism of authorities and peaceful protest.”
He continued: “As the United States prepares to celebrate 250 years since the American Revolution, we urge the government to correct its course and uphold the civil liberties enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. »
With its new classification, the United States now joins 39 other countries classified as “obstructed” this year, including Hungary, Brazil and South Africa.
