An Open Letter to the Supreme Court
Activism amid the chaos…..join millions of others by doing one action a time
Welcome Friends,
Well, it has been quite a week on the political front. If you are anything like me, I get completely overwhelmed with the barrage of actions and audacity from the Trump Train, leaving controversy and havoc in its wake.
And, if you are like some of my friends and acquaintances that cannot stand watching the news anymore, I get it. Here is a small dose of highlights from this week.
From vicious proposals to gut Medicaid — with GOP lawmakers pushing to slash more than 13 million people from life-saving coverage — to Donald Trump’s shameless plan to accept a $400 million “palace in the sky” from the Qatari royal family as a private replacement for Air Force One (because he claims the current one is “too old”) — the audacity is staggering.
As if that wasn’t enough, Trump also reportedly wants to spend $92 million of taxpayer money on a military parade to celebrate his birthday — a spectacle more fitting for a dictator than a democratic leader.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans are scraping by, choosing between rent and medicine, groceries and gas. The numbers being thrown around — $400 million for a jet, $92 million for a parade — are obscene in a country where children go hungry, veterans sleep on the streets, and healthcare remains out of reach for far too many.
This isn’t just insensitivity — it’s cruelty dressed up as pageantry. And every day, we are forced to swing between these extremes, with a government that seems more invested in serving egos than serving the people.
But, on the positive side, we have heroes like Bruce Springsteen in Manchester, England, who called out the administration from his stage performance as he sees it:
"The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times. In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. Tonight we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring!"
We have people who are willing to dissent using their public platform for the good of America. Thank you Bruce Springsteen! And we have millions of people, WE THE PEOPLE, who have been protesting nearly every day since Inauguration Day. People are fighting back in rallies, writing to legislators and filing lawsuits all across the country.
SUGGESTED READING
One of my all time favorite writers is
, professor, former Secretary of Labor and devoted American fighting against tyranny. He spends his days trying to educate all of us about the risks of losing our democracy to an authoritarian. You can read his Substack by clicking on his name here . You can also find him on every other social media platform, including Facebook. Give yourself a treat and see what he has to say.
OPEN LETTER TO THE SUPREME COURT
Bold Resistance Starts Here
This Week’s Focus: Defend the Rule of Law
This week, we turn our collective voices toward the Supreme Court — the last line of defense for our democracy. As we watch elected officials and political candidates defy court orders, threaten the legal profession, and destabilize the guardrails of our Constitution, we must appeal directly to those sworn to uphold the law.
Action Item:
Below is an Open Letter to the Supreme Court. Print it. Share it. Bring it to protests, community gatherings, and organizing events. Sign it yourself and invite others to sign. You can also personalize the message with issues that matter most to you.
What You Can Do:
Print the Letter
Add Your Name to ours in the comments at the end of the page – or send your name to be included in the master letter submission.
Make Copies – distribute at marches, rallies, libraries, or neighborhood events.
Mail Your Signed Copy to:
The Supreme Court of the United States
1 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
Why This Matters:
We need our highest court to hold the line — to enforce court orders, protect due process, and act as a check on political lawlessness. This is a moment for visibility, for principled dissent, and for speaking truth to power.
Make It Yours:
The version we’ve provided is strong and direct — but feel free to replace any section with language that reflects your priorities more loudly. If you’re especially concerned about threats to voting rights, reproductive freedom, environmental protections, or immigration law — make that the center of your appeal.
Remember:
Democracy is not a spectator sport. Your voice matters. Your letter matters. The Supreme Court must hear from WE THE PEOPLE.
The Honorable Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.
And Associate Justices
The Supreme Court of the United States
1 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
Re: Urgent Appeal for Judicial Safeguards Amidst Constitutional Crisis
Dear Chief Justice Roberts, Jr. and Associate Justices,
We write out of deep concern—and rising alarm—for the future of our democracy and the rule of law.
President Donald Trump’s escalating disregard for constitutional norms represents a direct threat to the American experiment. His lawless conduct demands an unyielding defense of the principles on which this nation was founded.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly defied court orders, stripped individuals of due process protections, and wielded fear and intimidation across sectors of American life—from academia to business. His approach is not governance, but coercion. Not leadership, but domination.
Through unchecked executive overreach and potentially unconstitutional funding cuts, he has undermined Congress and the balance of powers. His actions serve a narrow elite, while eroding the rights and protections of the broader public.
Although the Supreme Court cannot initiate cases, we implore the Court, when such cases arise, to uphold the law with strength, clarity, and resolve. You are the final guardians of our constitutional order. Your rulings must be explicit and unequivocal—immune to distortion by those who seek to exploit ambiguity.
This is not a time for judicial restraint. It is a time for constitutional courage.
If the Court does not act decisively against autocratic overreach now, when will it? Each day brings new abuses of power. We are approaching a tipping point.
It must be made absolutely clear: no one is above the law. Not now. Not ever. There are no kings in America.
The eyes of the nation are upon you. The eyes of those denied due process. The eyes of citizens fearing retaliation for dissent. The eyes of children born here under the protection of the 14th Amendment—whose rights are now imperiled. And the eyes of future generations who may be denied citizenship by arbitrary and unconstitutional state-by-state reinterpretation of foundational rights.
The future of our Republic depends on how the Court responds.
WE THE PEOPLE are counting on your clarity, your constitutional fidelity, and your solemn oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.
Respectfully and urgently,
THE RED LIPSTICK FORUM
JUDY KAPLAN
Great post and letter, Judy!