In a moment that demands both urgency and resolve, WDN is working alongside movement partners like the Piper Fund and RISE Together Fund to address a deepening threat to democracy: the escalating assault on protest, free speech, and dissent in the United States. Below are reflections from a webinar that featured civil rights attorneys and advocates who are sounding the alarm about the aggressive use of legal and immigration systems to target activists—especially those supporting Palestinian human rights.

In a recent webinar co-hosted by WDN, Diala Khalil of the Center for Constitutional Rights spotlighted the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a student activist whose detention exemplifies how immigration enforcement is being weaponized to punish political dissent. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund called this an “emergency unlike anything in our lifetimes,” noting that democratic safeguards are being stripped away under the guise of combating antisemitism and ensuring public safety.

The concerning pattern of tactics used to stifle dissent looks like:

  • Targeting non-citizen activists for deportation
  • Fast-tracking relocations to jurisdictions favorable to the government
  • Misusing immigration law to criminalize political speech
  • Passing legislation to expand protest-related criminal charges

We also know that the work is outpacing resources. The message to philanthropy remains direct: this moment requires immediate, flexible, and sustained investment in legal defense, movement infrastructure, and long-term organizing. In the words of Rana Elmir of RISE Together Fund, “Philanthropy must expand, be uncomfortable, and stand in solidarity with those defending fundamental rights.”

2025 was more than a call to support one movement or one case. It’s a wake-up call to all who believe in democracy. The tools being used today to target Palestinian solidarity activists are poised to be used against racial justice organizers, environmental defenders, reproductive rights advocates, and more. The path forward demands collective action, strategic resistance, and unwavering solidarity. Philanthropy has a vital role to play—and the time to act is now.