Washington, D.C. – The statement from the President and CEO of Human Rights First is as follows: Sue HendricksonIt’s about the 2024 presidential election.

With the 2024 election results, the United States has entered a troubling and uncertain period. Donald Trump’s return to the presidency could leave the United States facing one of the greatest threats to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law it has ever faced, both at home and abroad.

Donald Trump has openly expressed his belief that he can act with impunity and his intention to disregard the rights of individuals. Believe him. As Human Rights First, we will not allow abuses to go unchallenged. We will fight to uphold democratic ideals and institutions, protect human rights and civil liberties for all, resist efforts to weaponize the government, and hold individuals and institutions accountable. No one is above the law.

For four years, Human Rights First worked to thwart the abuses of the first Trump Administration, and we will do so again. We stood firm against the Trump Administration’s plans to remove refugees from the United States, reinstate torture policies, and turn a blind eye to impunity. With this experience and our nearly 50-year history of successful advocacy and action, we are ready to face the challenges of the next four years.

No matter who sits in the Oval Office, at Human Rights First we are committed to:

• protecting the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers;
• combating hate, misinformation and extremism;
• demanding accountability and change when governments seek to act with impunity or limit freedoms guaranteed to all people; And
• We stand with human rights defenders and defenders.

Human Rights First will work with allies, coalitions and supporters to protect people, democracy and the rule of law domestically and globally. Together we will resist the rising tide of authoritarianism that increasingly threatens individual rights, communities, and global security.

As Human Rights First, we dream of a just and safe world where everyone can live a free and dignified life. We can get there with respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Join us in our fight to realize this vision.