Letter: 270 artists demand Congress drop “Nonprofit killer” law

To everyone in Congress, who should all be very concerned.

We are artists and creators who are deeply opposed to the criminalization and destruction of nonprofit organizations. Alongside hundreds of civil society groups, we denounce recent efforts to pass a law that would give the Trump Administration, and any Administration that follows, the power to annihilate any nonprofit in the United States with no due process or appeal. 

Advocates for these “nonprofit killer” laws say they want the power to stop nonprofits from supporting terrorism, but there are already many laws that make that illegal. This law is about giving the US President a new power to destroy any organization that stands in the way of their agenda. It would hurt free speech, censor nonprofit media outlets, and punish disfavored groups across the political spectrum. 

Nonprofit organizations are essential to the wellbeing of countless people. They provide meals, housing, funds, and other essential resources. They educate, entertain, and give people ways to engage in their communities. They are our museums, places of worship, food banks, and service providers. And, they stand up and speak truth to power when no one else will. Making nonprofits afraid to do their work or advocate for the communities they serve is dangerous and short-sighted, no matter your politics.

Artists and creators depend on nonprofits not only to fund our work, but also to advocate for fair pay, for healthcare and employment assistance, for presentation and preservation of our work, and in so many other ways that fly under the radar. We consider it our responsibility to express opposition to this law that would harm us, our industries, our families, and people the world over. 

These crucial organizations should not have to constantly look over their shoulder or fear speaking the truth. If passed, this law will be abused by politicians and it will be a deep loss for us all. 

We urge you to oppose the nonprofit killer law and block any other law that would intimidate and destroy nonprofits.

Signed,

Lucy Lawless
Roger Waters (ex-Pink-Floyd)
Tom Morello
Flobots
Kathleen Hanna
Karen Joy Fowler
Zoe Keating
Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards)
Dessa
Topshelf Records
YACHT
Spencer Tweedy
Audrey Zee Whitesides
David Grubbs, author and composer
Kaitlin Chan
Molly Crabapple
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
Rhett Miller (Old 97’s)
Shawna Potter (War On Women)
Anne Boccato
A.L. Steiner
Aaron Ruscetta
Abbie Bernstein
Abyssmal Belmont
Adria Slade
Adriana Anders
Aidan Walker
Alexis Clements
Alvaro VG
Amelia S
Amy Cadence
Amy Crook
Ananin
Andrew Pham
Andy Sima
Anna Jensen
Art Petersen
Ash Black
B. Sampson
Babebee
BABO
Baron D.J. Dollé
Bathroom of the Future
Ben Potrykus
Benjamin Greenberg
Bishal Baishya
BJ Mendelson
Blaise Gauba
Brenda Mart
Brendan Cardaci
Brian Johnson
Brody L
Caleb Jordan
Calm Daybreak
Carla Power
Carli Acosta
Casey Neill
Cass
Cassiana Greystone
Cassidy Murphy-Sauerwine
char byram
Chhoti Maa
Chris Norbury
Chris Otepka
Christopher Norbury
Clarissa Thieme
COFFIN WAREHOUSE
Cristian Eli
dancevatar
Diana Lynn VanderMeulen
Diana Whitney
Dimas Sanchez
Dr Bishal Baishya
Dr. Dr. Stefan Höltgen
Eleanor Davis
Eleanor Weisman
Eli Winter
Elise Maciol
Elizabeth Switaj
Emilia Sameyn
Enara Sahuquillo
EpZ
Eric Botts
Eric Silverman
F Cronshaw
Fold
Geoffrey Stradling
George Sarah
Giampaolo
Giampaolo De Pietro
Giovanna Chadid
Greg C.
H. Lucy
HASNOGAME
Héctor Asencio
Ian Waelder
Icarus Gutierrez
Ilana Masad
Imogen Bergin
Izzy True
Jack Orinson
James Kjeldsen
James Talon
Jamila Woods
Jeanann Verlee
Jeff Owens
Joanne Dingus
Joe Nolan
John
John Matthew Elrod
Jonathan Lenore Kastin
Jonny Polonsky
Josée Paquin
Joseph Quisol
Joshua Davis
Julianna Douglas
Juvenal Soto
Kate Bornstein
Kate O’Neill
Kathleen DeLaurenti
Katie Grunder
Katrin Hoyer
Kelley Keisch
Kelly Bell, The Shivers
Ken Vandermark
Kitty Ray
Koerner Rafael
Kristin Mitchell
L N Kongouseki
Laura Stanfill
Lauren Benson
LAWRENCE E. BROWN
Leah “Iron Curtain” Abram
Lee Bains
Leila Charles Leigh
LEO KING
Leon Aguilera Radford
Lia Braswell
Light Vehicle
Linda Ricci
lindsey richter
Liz Duffy Adams
Lizzie No
Logan Abbitt
Lorenz Small
Luc van Ruler
Lynda Cook
M-Squared Productions. LLC
M. Ditmore
M. Elizabeth Beckmann
MacKenzie Carter
Maggie Felisberto
Manu Luksch
Marcella Moore
Margaret Gel
Margaret Morganroth Gullette
Mari mennel-Bell
Mariah Norris
Mariam Saeed Khan
Mark Andersen
Marvin J. Ward, Ph.D.
Mary P. Martin
Mathieu Tremblin
Matt Forbeck
Matt Werth
Matthew Kosinski
Matty Selman
Melinda Chateauvert
Melissa Hope Ditmore
Meredith Yayanos
Mia Washington
Michael F. Pitsch
Michael L. Ferro
Michelle M. Wu
Michelle Oxman
Miguel Costa
Mike Baker
MinutePhysics
Mister B Twit ( twitinstasis)
Molly O’Malley
mynameisblueskye
Nasif
Natalie Skye Hill
Nic
Nitai Cappelletti
Norman Yamada
Nullsleep
Otto Grundström
P.Jockel
PAGES Matam
Paul R. Spike Maiden Mueller
Pauline
Pete Mason
Pete Prodoehl
Peter O. Childs
Peter Suber
Poila Pan Seng Tat
Rafael J. González
Rainier Murray
Rainier Murray
Reina Bracha
Rene Bobo
Richard Guier
riveravaldez
Robert L Banov
Ron Druva
ron herrera
Rosebud Ireland
Rudi Leibik
Sandra G Vasconcelos
Sascha Meinrath
Scott Grinthal
Scott Ireland
scott ireland
Sean Patrick Mulroy
Sheila Newbery
Shireen Press
Shivagauri
Simon Cooper
Soul Forgotten
SRodan
Stephanie Caye
Stephen Steppe
Straight Edge Punks Cooperative Entertainment
Subjam, SPC
Susan C. Richards
T D Priestley
t heislen
Tara Phoenix
Tatiana S.
Teresa Lane
The Mollusc Dimension
this.ven
Tiffany Gholar
Tim Boucher
awkword
Death By Audio Effects
Digitalfems
Eric Bear
Foxx Ed.
homer errektos
Isa Suarez
Ivan Maletin
K.G.H. Nicholes
Mark Reback (Slaughter & the Dogs)
Moonshine Brigade
Nancy Mulrey
Roger M Deering
Sanyu Estelle
Shane Lowe
Stoner Will and the Narks
t heislen
Tim Ellis – DJ Dynamic
Uniform
VULTUREBOY
Zhivko (Divinelink)
Timothy Miller
Tom Sanchez
Tracy S. Feldman
Trash Panda Go Kart
Uncle Tumbleweed’s Sideshow Band & Yippee Yippee Doooo
V Mathrani
V. Marsot
V. Maxwell
Vast Asteroid
Virginia Jung, OSB
Will Smithson
Yasmin Koppen
Zach Strong
ZAH