Beau Willimon, the creator of Netflix’s “House of Cards,” took to social media on Friday morning to send a series of 25 tweets forming a “Declaration of Resistance” against President Donald Trump.
The “Deceleration” is modeled after the Declaration of Independence, and accuses the president of conducting “injuries and usurpations, pursuing the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States,” and calls for his impeachment.
5. Immediate impeachment of the President for crimes committed, or removal from office by way of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
“When in the course of American history it becomes necessary for the people to save our Nation from a Tyrant,” Willimon started, referencing a portion of the first line of the Declaration of Independence. In the following tweets, Willimon — who also served as showrunner for the first four seasons of “House of Cards” — goes on to reject our “autocracy,” and states that it’s the people’s right to make demands of Congress when such a form of government is in power.
1. DECLARATION OF RESISTANCE
When in the course of American history it becomes necessary for the people to save our Nation from a Tyrant,
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
2. To safeguard equality for all and their inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness from bigotry and corruption,
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
3. To ensure that our Government continues derive its power from the consent of the governed rather than by autocracy,
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
In the bulk of the subsequent tweets, Willimon enumerates Trump’s aforementioned “injuries and usurpations.” He cites the recent temporary ban on refugees, saying “He has obstructed the Laws of Naturalization of Immigrants, and illegally banned refugees in need of safe haven.” He continues by bashing Trump’s cabinet decisions, tweeting “He has enlisted amateur ideologues — such as the white supremacist Stephen L. Bannon — to make national security decisions.”
Read the full text below:
DECLARATION OF RESISTANCE
When in the course of American history it becomes necessary for the people to save our Nation from a Tyrant, to safeguard equality for all and their inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness from bigotry and corruption, to ensure that our Government continues [to] derive its power from the consent of the governed rather than by autocracy, that whenever any President becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to make such demands upon their Congress: Immediate impeachment of the President for crimes committed, or removal from office by way of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
Donald J. Trump has conducted injuries and usurpations, pursuing the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world —
He has obstructed the Laws for Naturalization of Immigrants, and illegally banned refugees in the need of safe haven.
He has continued to violate federal court orders which require the temporary cessation of this ban, thereby violating his executive oath.
He has dismissed an Attorney General for fulfilling her oath to defend the Constitution, defuing the autonomy of the Department of Justice.
He has purged the State Department of its highest level officials without any regard for a responsible continuity of State Affairs.
He has enlisted amateur ideologues — such as the white supremacist Stephen L. Bannon — to make national security decisions.
He has vowed to enact policy and legislation which clearly treat on the separation of church and state.
He has refused to remove or address conflicts of interest regarding both his own business and that of his cabinet and family.
He has hastily signed multiple Executive Orders without the advisement of Congress, policy experts, his cabinet or staff.
He has signed an Executive Order which knowingly deprives the sick of desperately needed healthcare with no concern for their lives.
He has signed an Executive Order permitting a pipeline that tramples on Native American Rights and endangers safe water supply.
He has illegally threatened to cut off funding to Sanctuary Cities which have determined their values through self-governance.
He has knowingly, repeatedly and egregiously misled the public, and directed his staff to do the same.
He has strongly advocated for the silencing and suppression of a Free Press.
He has repeatedly and consistently shown contempt for people based [on] race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and religion.
He has shown disdain and disregard for the judiciary, and the fundamental human rights that are the foundation of justice.
A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. We shall Resist until our Congress uses the mechanisms afforded to [it] by the Constitution to remove this Tyrant from Power. And for the support of this Declaration we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Honor.
Signed. The Resistance
