Civicus, a non-profit that monitors global civic freedoms, moved the US from the \u2018narrowed\u2019 to \u2018obstructed\u2019 category<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A coalition of global civil society organizations has downgraded the United States\u2019 civic health rating from \u201cnarrowed\u201d to \u201cobstructed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a report released on Tuesday, Civicus, a non-profit that monitors civic freedoms in 198 countries, placed the US in its \u201cobstructed\u201d category. The group cited a \u201csharp deterioration of fundamental freedoms in the country \u2026 following a year of sweeping executive actions, restrictive laws and aggressive crackdowns on free speech and dissent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shift comes just months after Civicus\u2019s July assessment, which rated<\/a> the US as \u201cnarrowed\u201d \u2013 one step above \u201cobstructed\u201d. Civicus assigns each country a score based on civic space conditions, using five classifications: \u201copen\u201d, \u201cnarrowed\u201d, \u201cobstructed\u201d, \u201crepressed\u201d and \u201cclosed\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the group, an \u201cobstructed\u201d ranking applies to countries where civic space is heavily contested. Civil society organizations still exist but state authorities undermine them including through illegal surveillance, bureaucratic harassment and demeaning public statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCitizens can organise and assemble peacefully but they are vulnerable to frequent use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies, including rubber bullets, tear gas and baton charges,\u201d the rating description said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It added in regards to media: \u201cThere is some space for non-state media and editorial independence, but journalists face the risk of physical attack and criminal defamation charges, which encourage self-censorship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report cited militarized crackdowns on protests in the US, pointing to Donald Trump\u2019s deployment of the national guard\u2002<\/a>to Los Angeles and other cities, as well as the widespread use<\/a> of ICE agents across gatherings<\/a> and immigrant communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It further highlighted escalating restrictions<\/a> on free speech across college campuses, particularly around Palestinian solidarity activism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUniversities have suspended student groups and opened investigations under broad and vague accusations of \u2018material support for terrorism.\u2019 Foreign-born students and faculty have been disproportionately targeted, facing disciplinary actions, visa threats, and professional retaliation for supporting Palestinian rights,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Civicus moreover warned that media freedoms are under mounting pressure nationwide, citing the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s threats to revoke\u2002<\/a>broadcast licenses and Trump\u2019s lawsuits<\/a> against various media companies.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n It also pointed to Trump\u2019s revocation of funding<\/a> for public broadcasters including NPR and PBS, as well as the new White House Wire,<\/a> an administration-run news website that promotes positive news about itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese actions, combined with efforts to sideline critical outlets from core government functions and foreign travel, reflect a systematic attempt to dominate the media landscape and silence independent journalism,\u201d Civicus said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking about the latest classification, Mandeep Tiwana, Civivus\u2019s secretary general, said: \u201cThe backsliding on rule of law and fundamental freedoms in the United States is truly alarming. We are witnessing a rapid and systematic attempt to stifle civic freedoms that Americans have come to take for granted, such as critiquing authorities and protesting peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He continued: \u201cAs the USA prepares to mark 250 years since the American Revolution, we urge the government to course-correct and uphold the civic freedoms enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With its new classification, the US now joins 39 other countries rated \u201cobstructed\u201d this year, including Hungary, Brazil and South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n