A federal judge received this message: “I know where you live and I know where your children go to school,” another received an email saying he would be “skinned alive.” Judges in America are currently under siege. More than 1,000 serious threats have been made against federal judges in the past five years. **This is happening in our own backyard. Chief Judge John McConnell, of the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island (who sits at the Federal Courthouse in Providence), has been one of the most outspoken members of the bench regarding his personal experience being the recipient of serious and terrifying threats.**
This is not a partisan issue. Serious threats have been made to judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents. Democracy functions only when all judges are free to make decisions based upon their understanding of the law – not based upon fear or coercion.
Indivisible LAB members of Support the Courts invite you to join them for a rally outside the Federal Courthouse in Providence, Rhode Island on **Tuesday, October 13, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM** to show support for the safety of each and every judge. This is a rally of support for the judges, not a protest, and signage should be confined to this particular issue – the confirmation email you’ll receive after registering has suggestions for signs and information on parking and public transportation.
The goal of Support the Courts is to demonstrate to judges that there is tremendous public respect for their role and concern for their safety. This clip from NBC Boston (https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/medford-support-judges-rally/3807461/) about their rally last September outside the Chevalier Theater in Medford provides insight into who they are, and why you might consider joining them in Providence.
For more information, email [protectourjudges@gmail.com](mailto:protectourjudges@gmail.com) or contact them through their website [supportthecourts.org](https://supportthecourts.org/).