“House of Cards” Creator Tweets Declaration of Resistance
By April Jones
House of Cards showrunner Beau Willimon called for the impeachment of Donald Trump in a series of tweets he labeled a Declaration of Resistance.
If anyone understands just how corrupt and shady the American government can be, it’s Beau Willimon. Willimon is the creator of the Netflix original series House of Cards (based on a British series of the same name). For four seasons, Willimon developed characters who will stop at nothing to achieve their own political goals for personal gain. He won’t run Season 5, though.
If House of Cards were real life, the shrewd and conniving Frank Underwood would find a way to have Trump resign. But since this is not real life — albeit pretty close and sometimes eerily similar — and Underwood isn’t here to save us, Beau Willimon has issued a Declaration of Resistance via a series of 25 tweets instead.
In his Declaration of Resistance, Willimon calls for the impeachment of Donald Trump, citing several of Trump’s transgressions during his first two weeks in office. The Declaration of Resistance begins with language similar to that of the Declaration of Independence and refers to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
"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 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…"
Willimon then summarizes and lists Trump’s actions that should be considered part of his “absolute Tyranny over the States”. Among them are Trump’s ban on immigration and refugees, his violation of the court order to cease the ban, his firing of Sally Yates, his enlistment of “amateur ideologues” like white supremacist Stephen Bannon on matters of national security, and his refusal to untangle himself from his own businesses as well as those of his family and his cabinet.
You can read Willimon’s entire Declaration of Resistance below.
1. DECLARATION OF RESISTANCE
— 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,
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
4. That whenever any President becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to make such demands upon their Congress:
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
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
6. Donald J. Trump has conducted injuries and usurpations, pursuing the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
7. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world--
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
8. He has obstructed the Laws for Naturalization of Immigrants, and illegally banned refugees in need of safe haven.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
9. He has continued to violate federal court orders which require the temporary cessation of this ban, thereby violating his executive oath.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
10. He has dismissed an Attorney General for fulfilling her oath to defend the Constitution, defying the autonomy of the Dept. of Justice.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
11. He has purged the State Dept. of its highest level officials without any regard for a responsible continuity of State Affairs.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
12. He has enlisted amateur ideologues – such as the white supremacist Stephen L. Bannon – to make national security decisions.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
13. He has vowed to enact policy and legislation which clearly tread on the separation of church and state.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
14. He has refused to remove or address conflicts of interest regarding both his own business and that of his cabinet and family.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
15. He has hastily signed multiple Executive Orders without the advisement of Congress, policy experts, his cabinet or staff.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
16. He has signed an Executive Order which knowingly deprives the sick of desperately needed healthcare with no concern for their lives.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
17. He has signed an Executive Order permitting a pipeline that tramples on Native American Rights and endangers safe water supply.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
18. He has illegally threatened to cut off funding to Sanctuary Cities which have determined their values through self-governance.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
19. He has knowingly, repeatedly and egregiously misled the public, and directed his staff to do the same.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
20. He has strongly advocated for the silencing and suppression of a Free Press.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
21. He has repeatedly and consistently shown contempt for people based race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and religion.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
22. He has shown disdain and disregard for the judiciary, and the fundamental human rights that are the foundation of Justice.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
23. 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.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
24. We shall Resist until our Congress uses the mechanisms afforded to by the Constitution to remove this Tyrant from Power.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
25. And for the support of this Declaration we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Honor.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
Signed. The Resistance
Related Story: House of Cards Dropped a Season 5 Trailer Today
House of Cards hinted at disapproval of Trump’s election with a clever trailer for the upcoming season which was released on Inauguration Day. The trailer featured an upside down American flag — a symbol of a nation in distress — accompanied only by the sound of children’s voices reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Season 5 of House of Cards premieres on May 30 on Netflix.