From Protester to 'Terrorist' — The Lie of American Freedom

        The First Amendment is now a carrot on a string, hung just out of reach. You hold the illusion of freedom of speech, but it is only a freedom until you try to use it. In this so-called land of liberty, protest is protected under this amendment, and is a right, not a risk. The current administration can not outlaw dissent, but once its labeled as terrorism, its free game. What was once protected speech is now framed as "extremism." What was once community defense is now surveilled like insurgency. Whether marching for Gaza, defending the rights of marginalized individuals, fighting climate collapse, or defending women's rights, you're being watched — and in some cases, detained. 

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

                                            -Martin Luther King Jr.

        Terrorism has had some changes regarding its definition over the past few decades. It has now become one broad enough to include acts that would have not been labeled as such 25 years ago. With these changes, any activism that challenges the status quo is treated as an act of war. 

        The U.S. government has played a significant role in expanding the definition, not only in its policies, but in how it uses power against defiance. Programs created to counter foreign threats have been turned inward, initially in response to lone-wolf terrorist, but this was the foot in the door. Now those who graffiti a Tesla in protest to Elon throwing a Nazi salute several times are labeled the same as the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. Executive orders, such as Executive Order 14188, directly target activist, painting them as national security threats. The rhetoric around terrorism is now used to justify actions that target citizens who have nothing to do with violent extremism, but are simply protesting the systems of power. 

        Surveillance programs once used for international threats are now monitoring domestic movements, and the Patriot Act, which was crafted to fight foreign terrorism, has been leveraged against individuals protesting issues like Palestinian rights or climate change. These activists are flagged as "domestic extremists," placed on watchlists, or subjected to investigations because they're being framed as a threat to national security. 

What was once a tool for national defense is now a weapon to silence voices that demand change. They have blurred the lines between civil activism and terrorism. 

        The effect is international. When in the "Land of the Free," people are seen being arrested, investigated, or placed on watchlists for speaking out, it sends a message: keep your head down, or you're next. The climate of fear isn't accidental — it's strategic. From student-led protests to Indigenous water protectors, movements are being criminalized not for violence, but for resistance. Entire communities are surveilled simply for organizing, and mutual aid networks are treated with the same suspicion as insurgent cells. The more effective a movement becomes, the more aggressively it's labeled as a threat. The goal isn't justice, its control. 

Mahmoud Khalil 

 Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, Khalil was arrested by ICE agents at his university-owned apartment in Manhattan on March 8, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security alleged that Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas," a designated terrorist organization, citing his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia.

Mohsen Mahdawi 

 Palestinian green-card holder and Columbia University student, Mahdawi was detained by ICE on April 14, 2025, during a naturalization interview in Vermont. His attorneys argued that the detention was retaliation for his advocacy on Palestinian human rights. A federal judge ordered his release on April 30, 2025, criticizing the government's justification for his confinement and emphasizing the harmful effects on free speech.

Rev. William J. Barber II 

 Yale Divinity School professor and prominent social justice advocate, Rev. Barber was arrested on April 28, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda while praying and protesting the GOP budget proposal. He was charged with "crowding, obstructing, or incommoding," highlighting concerns over the criminalization of peaceful protest activities.

June Rose

Chief of Staff for the Providence City Council, Rose was arrested on March 13, 2025, during a protest at Trump Tower in New York City. The demonstration, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, was in support of Mahmoud Khalil. Rose was among over 90 activists arrested and released the same evening. The arrest sparked political controversy, with some officials calling for Rose's resignation.

Zoe Rosenberg 

22-year-old UC Berkeley student and animal rights activist, Rosenberg faces up to 5½ years in prison for removing four chickens from a poultry facility in what she describes as an open rescue. Accused of felony conspiracy and misdemeanors, her case has drawn attention to the legal risks faced by animal rights activists engaging in nonviolent direct action.

Jessica Reznicek 

Environmental activist sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for nonviolent acts of protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, labeled a “domestic terrorist” despite causing no harm to people.

Daniel Hale 

Former U.S. Air Force analyst sentenced to nearly 4 years for exposing the U.S. drone program’s civilian death toll; punished under the Espionage Act for whistleblowing.

Tara Houska

Indigenous attorney and activist detained multiple times during peaceful demonstrations against pipelines on Native land; faced brutal conditions and criminal charges for defending her community’s rights.

            You are actively watching democracy decay. It doesn't happen all at once, but piece by piece. When protest becomes a liability and silence becomes a safety, the people learn to censor themselves. This extends beyond what one may think. It seeps into classrooms, living rooms, and digital spaces. Movements shrink, the voice of the people goes quiet, and power consolidates solely into the hands of those who no longer fear accountability. Outlets meant to keep the public informed go radio silent. Journalism, education, and civil resistance, all stripped of their potency under the weight of surveillance. If this dissent is rebranded as extremism, then sit back with some popcorn, because democracy will become a theatre.

        Since Trump's return to office, the war on the free press has escalated, bringing renewed attacks on journalism. Independent and public media have become the primary targets for these attacks. Funding for NPR and PBS was cut under the executive order "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media," a move made under the guise of fiscal responsibility. This needs to be seen as what it is — political retaliation. Legal threats have become routine — The New York Times was recently warned over its coverage of Trump's lawsuit against CBS, and the FCC, now stacked with loyalists, has launched investigations into so-called "news distortion." The Associated Press was barred from White House access altogether after refusing to adopt Trump-approved terminology. Meanwhile, international broadcast companies like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America have been gutted, their language programs cut and staff laid off. It isn't just media suppression. It is a full on disarmament. 

When the press is silenced, so is the truth.

        What you are witnessing is not the beginning of a slide, it's the middle of the descent. The rights we took for granted are now being suppressed. Every moment of silence helps tighten the noose around the neck of American freedom. So speak. Organize. Support independent media. Show up and speak up when it's uncomfortable. Refuse to be silenced. The Washington Post took on the slogan "Democracy Dies in Darkness" in 2017. Democracy doesn't die in darkness — 

Democracy dies in silence.

                            -The 8th