Federal Civil Rights Complaint filed against Republican Candidates in Iowa

by Sondra Wilson 9/19/2023
     Following the Republican Party of Iowa’s “4th District Tailgate Presidential Rally and Straw Poll“, I filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. Although I thought that one of the speakers was Tim Scott, I now believe it may have been EW Jackson. Contents of the complaint are as follows:
     “On 9/9/2023 between 10:30 am and noon I witnessed a violation of U.S. Code Title 18, § 241 “Conspiracy against rights” occurring at a Republican rally in my hometown, Nevada, Iowa. During this rally, Presidential Candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and [John Doe Speaker] declared their intent to dismantle federal laws designed to protect transgender individuals against discrimination, rights violations, and political persecution, so that rights may be violated without legal repercussions, and without recourse for the victims.
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     Although one person argued to me that they didn’t violate the statute, “They merely stated how they would like to change Federal Law,” it was evident they actively conspire to violate the rights of transgender individuals. Whereas they conspire in fact to violate rights, therefore they violate the statute. They are in the process of premeditating hate crimes.
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     Both candidates repeatedly misgendered transgender people, and influenced the audience to harass transgender people via only referring to them by their ‘biological sex’ instead of their gender pronouns. This was done to evoke prejudice, and to garner votes to get elected so they can in turn persecute transgender people under color of law.
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     I was not merely an observer but a direct victim of sexual harassment at this event. Multiple attendees intentionally misgendered me, and made derogatory remarks about my sexual anatomy. I firmly believe that Ramaswamy and [speaker]’s inflammatory and bigoted rhetoric, in context with similar statements made by Kim Reynolds, Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump, directly incited this humiliating and harmful behavior towards me. Derogatory messages in alignment with politicians’ rhetoric were sent to my Facebook inbox before and after the event by their supporters.
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     Aforementioned Candidates, their Campaign Committees, and the Republican Party of Iowa, et al sent televised ads, emails, and mail to residents throughout the state to attract them to venues, from where incitement of harassment against transgender people, and elaboration on their plans to dismantle rights-protecting laws so that rights may be violated, ensue.
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      Governor Reynolds has publicly defamed transgender people on multiple occasions. She also signed HF766 into law, which violated the rights of transgender people on Medicaid so we could not access coverage for medically-necessary procedures, thereby violating 18 USC §§ 241 and 242.
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     The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution sets forth the necessity to ‘promote the general welfare’ and provide for ‘mutual defense.’ The speeches and actions at the rally violated these fundamental guiding principles of the Constitution.
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     For context, I have been pursuing medical treatment related to my gender identity since shortly after graduating Nevada High School in 2000. I am 41 and have spent my adult life trying to be a respectful and constructive community member. These Candidates have made me less safe in my home town. I urge the Department of Justice to charge Vivek Ramaswamy, [John Doe speaker], Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Kim Reynolds, and each of their Campaign Committees, the Republican Party of Iowa, Story County GOP, and Story County Fair Association, et al for violating 18 USC § 241 and applicable statutes.“
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Related:
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Above graphic used in accordance with Fair Use laws.  Source: Ana. “It’s Your Choice.” According to Ana, 7 Sept. 2014, anahorvath.com/2014/09/choice/.