WASHINGTON, June 18, 2025 – On the heels of this past weekend’s historic No Kings Day and Kick Out the Clowns protests, federal agents arrested Peter Stinson, founder of Mayday Movement USA. The arrest comes at a moment that raises serious concerns. While we do not dispute the seriousness of the charges, the decision to arrest a protest leader immediately following mass nationwide demonstrations against President Trump demands scrutiny.
We recognize that federal investigations take time, but the timing of this arrest, so closely following high-profile civic action, sends a troubling message. Even in the event that the charges can be legally justified, the selective application of enforcement powers risks chilling dissent and deterring participation in constitutionally protected protest.
Mayday Movement USA is a partner in our shared struggle for democratic integrity and constitutional accountability. Their advocacy, like ours, is rooted in nonviolent civic engagement and the defense of democratic rights. The Money Out of Politics (MOP) Movement continues to stand with Mayday as an allied organization, and we remain united in our mission to confront the abuse of political power in this country.
We unequivocally condemn violence and threats of violence, no matter the source. Our movement is grounded in nonviolence, lawful protest, and structural reform through democratic means. But we must also remain vigilant: when the government uses national security tools to pursue figures connected to protest movements, especially when those movements challenge those in power, it raises serious questions about the politicization of justice.
This is not just about one person. It is about whether Americans can speak out, organize, and protest without fear of being targeted by their own government.
This is not left versus right. This is freedom versus authoritarianism. As such, we fully expect, and the American people demand, that the Trump administration abide by the non-negotiable, inalienable restraints placed on it by the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments of the oldest written codified founding charter on earth, the United States Constitution.
