Episode 11

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Published on:

28th Apr 2025

The White House Lawn: A Billboard for Fear

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If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know. 

📧 Email Template 

Subject: Defending Due Process and Human Dignity Must Remain Non-Negotiable

Dear [Representative/Senator Name],

I am writing to you because I believe that defending the core principles of due process, human dignity, and equal protection under the law must remain non-negotiable, especially in times of political pressure.

Recently, the White House displayed nearly 100 mugshot-style posters of undocumented immigrants across the front lawn, highlighting arrests but no convictions. These individuals are legally presumed innocent, yet they have been publicly shamed by the most powerful office in the country without trial or defense. This public spectacle undermines the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a fair trial and the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

Regardless of political affiliation or immigration stance, weaponizing the People's House to single out, humiliate, and incite fear against vulnerable individuals is not leadership. It is an authoritarian tactic. Public shaming is not justice, and fear is not a substitute for law.

I urge you to publicly oppose this action, defend the rule of law, and affirm that our government must never use its power to humiliate or pre-judge anyone. A government that respects democracy does not need to stage cruelty to make its case. It relies on facts, fairness, and the equal dignity of every person under its protection.

History teaches us that democracy does not collapse overnight; it erodes moment by moment, when injustice is tolerated because it feels politically convenient. I ask you to stand on the side of democratic values while it still matters.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent concern. I look forward to seeing you speak out for the dignity and rights that define us.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]


☎️ Phone Script

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City]. I’m calling because I am deeply disturbed by the White House’s public display of mugshot-style posters of undocumented immigrants — people who have been arrested, not convicted. This public shaming is a violation of due process, a betrayal of human dignity, and an attack on the idea that everyone deserves a fair trial. It would be cruel even if they had been convicted. It is even more horrific because they have not. I’m asking [Official’s Name] to publicly oppose this action and to reaffirm that fear and humiliation should never replace justice in a democracy. Thank you for your time.


📣 Sample Social Media Post 

 🚨  The White House lawn is now a billboard for fear — and a warning about how democracy erodes when cruelty and public shaming replace justice. Read why this moment matters and why we must not look away. #DemocracyMatters #RuleOfLaw

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f21a932d-347e-4259-8ab0-af1a01cfa859/


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Sources:

  • American Immigration Council. 2021. Immigrants and Crime: What the Research Says. Washington, D.C.: American Immigration Council. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrants-and-crime-what-research-says.
  • Cato Institute. 2020. “Immigration and Crime: Evidence from Recent Research.” Cato Institute Policy Analysis No. 943. https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/immigration-crime-evidence-recent-research.
  • Snyder, Timothy. 2017. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books.
  • United States Constitution. Amendments VI and VIII. 1791.
  • (For fair trial and cruel and unusual punishment protections.)
  • Axios. 2025. "Trump Administration Fills White House Lawn with Posters of Arrested Immigrants." Axios, April 28, 2025. https://www.axios.com/2025/04/28/trump-posters-white-house-arrested-immigrants.
  • New York Post. 2025. "White House Fills Lawn with Mugshot-Style Posters of Arrested Illegal Migrants." New York Post, April 28, 2025. https://nypost.com/2025/04/28/us-news/white-house-lawn-lined-with-posters-displaying-illegal-immigrants-mugshots-and-crimes-they-committed/.
  • Politico. 2025. "Mass Deportations and Trump’s Public Relations Blitz." Politico, February 4, 2025. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/04/mass-deportations-trumps-pr-blitz-00202390.
  • The Washington Post. 2025. "Trump’s White House Uses Posters to Stir Immigration Fear." The Washington Post, April 25, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/25/trump-garcia-deportation/.


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About the Podcast

Bigger Than Me Democracy Project
Where headlines meet history—and we stand united.
Bigger Than Me is a rapid-response audio blog from the Bigger Than Me Democracy Project.

Hosted by Bonnie Ross, this blog helps listeners make sense of the moments that don’t just make news — they challenge democratic norms. Each episode breaks down what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the authoritarian playbook described in On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.

Here are the 20 lessons we return to again and again:
1. Do not obey in advance.
Authoritarianism thrives when people preemptively conform. Refuse to teach power what it can get away with.

2. Defend institutions.
Institutions don’t protect themselves. Pick one you care about — a court, a library, a newsroom — and take its side.

3. Beware the one-party state.
Support multiparty democracy and fair elections while you still can. Vote in every election. Consider running for office.

4. Take responsibility for the face of the world.
Symbols matter. Hate spreads when we get used to seeing it. Don’t look away. Don’t let it stand.

5. Remember professional ethics.
When leaders set bad examples, ethical commitments matter more. Rule of law needs defenders in every field.

6. Be wary of paramilitaries.
When the men with guns claim to protect the nation, watch who they march with. The merging of unofficial militias and official forces signals real danger.

7. Be reflective if you must be armed.
If you serve in uniform, be ready to say no when something isn't right.

8. Stand out.
The moment you do, others will follow. Nothing breaks the spell of the status quo like someone brave enough to go first.

9. Be kind to our language.
Avoid political clichés and empty slogans. Speak clearly. Read deeply. Think for yourself.

10. Believe in truth.
If nothing is true, power wins. Reality matters. Truth is the foundation of freedom.

11. Investigate.
Don’t just consume headlines. Subscribe to trustworthy journalism. Learn how propaganda works.

12. Make eye contact and small talk.
It’s more than polite — it’s civic glue. In times of fear and distrust, human connection is resistance.

13. Practice corporeal politics.
Get off the screen. Show up in person. Join others in physical, public acts of civic life.

14. Establish a private life.
Protect your digital life. Keep some conversations offline. Tyrants exploit what they learn about you.

15. Contribute to good causes.
Support organizations that reflect your values. Help sustain civil society with your time and money.

16. Learn from peers in other countries.
Authoritarianism is a global trend. Stay connected beyond borders. Have a passport. Use it.

17. Listen for dangerous words.
“Emergency.” “Terrorism.” “Extremism.” Authoritarians exploit these words to justify taking power.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.
Crises are used to break democracy. Don’t trade freedom for false promises of safety.

19. Be a patriot.
Model the kind of America you want future generations to inherit.

20. Be as courageous as you can.
No one wants to be a hero. But if we’re not willing to risk for freedom, we all risk losing it.

About your host

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Bonnie Ross