This is a democracy not an autocracy

July 20, 2025 presents a fundamental question in the face of our nation. Do we prepare our democracy or allow an autocracy to train?

America is experiencing an unprecedented era of its history. I believe that when the President and his administration adopt policies and practices incompatible with the fundamental principles and values set out in our Constitution, the rule of law and democratic principles, it is up to everyone to express and act.

Since January 20, we have witnessed the president and his adoption adoption administration of policies, including many decrees, which raise legal and constitutional issues and / or undermine American principles and values such as freedom of expression, free press, regular procedure and equal protection of the law.

They have badly and unconstitutionally disappeared after immigrants, judges, law firms and lawyers, colleges and universities, equity and inclusion programs in diversity, federal agencies and their employees, general inspectors, economic policies such as prices that affected the stock market and 401 (K), student visas, invocation of extraterrestrial rates – Name some of their objectives.

The result is to create a climate where law firms and lawyers, colleges and universities, foreign students, American citizens, federal agencies and elected officials and appointed are intimidated and fear reprisals for expressed themselves in opposition to these policies and actions. This translates into too much capitulation and not enough strength to say “no”.

However, during this period, we saw millions of Americans participating in peaceful activities of the first amendment such as the marches and gatherings of the Kings day of June 14 in the United States. We have also seen others in the media like the New York Times, the Daily News and others speaking in their own way by saying “no”.

And we were happy that some people like the judge of the Federal Court of Appeal J. Harvie Wilkinson and many judges of the Federal Court, and a group of elected officials in their own way are difficult and raised serious questions about what is happening in America. We have also seen the University of Harvard and four large law firms – Perkins Coie, Wilmer Hale, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey – and others refuse to capitulate the president’s requests.

The United States has always been ambitious – not what it is, but what it can be. The preamble to the American Constitution succinctly says it; “We, the people of the United States, to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, predict common defense, promote general well-being and ensure the blessings of freedom towards ourselves and our posterity, order and establish this constitution for the United States of America.”

One of our challenges is to ensure that Congress is up to the height and implementation of the Constitution. When the president unilaterally decides to bomb Iran, where the congress is to defend the constitutional requirement of article I, article 8, clause 11 which explicitly declares: “Congress will have the power to declare war”? Where is the congress when the president reduces federal funds and / or eliminates or reduces the size of the federal agencies created by the congress?

And what about the granting of recent emergency requests from the Supreme Court which seem to help and allow the Trump administration to implement their program? For example: the lifting of the preliminary injunction on the fact that the Trump administration dismisses, drawing and restoring federal agencies or leaving the Ministry of Government (DOGE) has access to the American files to the Social Security Administration.

The High Court also enabled the Trump administration to remove the protections for nearly 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants who were part of the temporary protection status program (TPS) and ending a humanitarian program that offered a temporary residence for 500,000 non-citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

In six months, we, as a nation, began the path of autocracy. For those of us, in particular for those who believe in freedom, justice, equality and fairness for everyone, not only some, the challenge is the greatest priority to do everything we can to speak and peacefully, legally, effectively resist when and if necessary, and to preserve our democracy.

In other words, America must remain a democracy and not become an autocracy.

Historians write on this period of American history. Our children and grandchildren will one day ask us “were you when President Trump and his administration did all these things?” We will say “Yes, we were. Hopefully each of us will be able to answer this question satisfactorily.

Siegel is a lawyer for civil rights.