12 national pro-democracy groups published an open letter today in The Seattle Times in support of the Spokane 3, three peaceful protesters convicted on federal conspiracy charges. The letter comes as a federal judge considers motions to overturn their convictions.

Read the full letter below:

In July 2025, nine peaceful protestors were indicted on federal conspiracy charges related to a spontaneous immigration enforcement protest in Spokane. Richard Barker, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, resigned rather than sign the unjust indictments. Facing financial pressure and the threat of years in prison on these felony charges, six of the nine peaceful protestors pled to lesser charges. The remaining three chose to fight for their rights to speak and assemble in court and were ultimately convicted. With the court now considering motions to vacate these convictions, we must make clear what is at stake when nonviolent protestors face up to six years in prison and $250,000 in fines for their dissent.

The administration is prosecuting protesters using conspiracy charges in an attempt to keep others silent. Since the earliest days of this administration, Americans have come together to resist attacks on our civil rights. Almost without exception, protests across the country have been an organic groundswell of nonviolent community organizing; conspiracy charges target that organizing. The administration is trying to criminalize this movement because it has been so effective. 

Free speech is a core American value that protects all of us, regardless of our views — which is why when anyone’s free speech is threatened, all of us are threatened. The Trump Administration hopes to spread fear and division by spreading lies about protesters. But the truth is that the people protesting this government are neighbors getting together to raise their voices and protect each other. As Americans, we know that it’s patriotic to express our views in the public square, even when people in power think those views are wrong. Indeed, the heroes of our past from the Boston Tea Party to the suffragists to Civil Rights leaders all demonstrated the courage of convictions in standing up for their freedoms — and ours. At every pivotal moment in our history, Americans have expressed our core values through protest that has often blended free speech and civil disobedience. 

It is our firm belief that federal felony charges against the Spokane 3 should never have been brought. We support their continued resolve in standing up against this miscarriage of justice, and we will continue to speak out against threats to Americans’ freedom to speak and dissent.

National signatories

American Oversight

Common Cause

Democracy Defenders Fund

Justice Connection

Lawyers for Good Government

Movement Law Lab

Protect Democracy

Public Citizen

Sikh Coalition

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Voto Latino

Western States Center