Our family loves Disney. As we speak my kiddo is debating if she should be Mirabel or Moana for Halloween. Powerful characters being brave and standing up for their families and communities to do what is right. That’s why we canceled our Disney+ subscription. Because we know Disney knows what heroes do in the face of injustice.   

*Join us in telling: Disney, be brave and stand up for freedom of speech and our children’s rights! 

What’s happening? The Trump Administration and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which the Trump Administration oversees, put pressure on Disney (the parent company of ABC) to fire Jimmy Kimmel from his late night show after comments that the President disagreed with. But Kimmel is not the main story here – freedom of speech is the main story. I’m not sure if the Trump Administration is familiar with the First Amendment, but Free Speech is still enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, a cornerstone of any democracy. And we’d like to keep it that way. To put it succinctly: We love our democracy and don’t want to see it eroded.

Now is a time to be the hero of the story, Disney. And we are here to back you up. 

In the car yesterday I was explaining to my kiddo that we needed to cancel our Disney+ subscription to help Disney out until they make some braver choices. What did I mean by that? Sometimes it can be scary to do the right thing. Especially when you have the might of the government - in this case the FCC - bullying you and telling you they will hurt your business. The only way to be brave is to not be in it alone. Like Mirabel’s family needing the whole town to repair Casita or Asha needing the whole town to defeat Magnifico. Like Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance uniting to defeat the Galactic Empire. We, too, need to come together and be brave.

No villain can be defeated alone. Every time we send an email to Disney or use our consumer power when we are upset by their decisions, we give them another reason to be brave and fight back. 

Halloween is around the corner, and kids across the country are anticipating the joy of putting on their costumes that are so often the very Disney characters that have taught them how to be and feel brave, courageous, and part of something bigger. Let’s remind Disney to hold true to their values and stand up for our kids and the future they deserve. 

And we aren’t alone. Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the FCC is abusing their power and endangering our right to freedom of speech. Congressional leaders like Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Hakeem Jeffries, Patty Murray, and many others have spoken out in opposition to the actions of the FCC. This isn’t a matter of Left or Right, this is a matter of defending, protecting, and upholding our rights as Americans. 

The entire situation could set a precedent that puts our First Amendment right to freedom of speech at risk, not just for us, but for our kids. 

*Disney, you have all the backup you need. Take a stand and refuse to let the FCC bully you into taking people off the air simply because the Trump Administration doesn’t like them.

Use the force of your voice and your consumer power to be the hero and show our kids that you will fight for what is right. Disney, we know you can be the hero of the story. Our kids are watching, and we are all ready to join Mickey and your Rebel Alliance!