COUNTY OF LEHIGH, PENNSYLVANIA RESOLUTION NO. 2026 - 04 SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONERS IRONS & BRACE REQUESTED DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2026DENOUNCING THE RISE OF FASCISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM IN THE UNITEDSTATES,ANDAFFIRMINGTHE COMMITMENTOFTHEBOARDOF COMMISSIONERS TO DEFENDING THREATENED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF LEHIGH COUNTY RESIDENTS

WHEREAS, the County of Lehigh is committed to protecting the general welfare of County residents and to upholding the rights and protections enshrined in the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions; and

WHEREAS, on February 14th 2024, the Board of Commissioners adopted a Human Relations Ordinance with the intent of promoting the rights and opportunities of all persons to participate in the social, cultural, recreational, and economic life in the County and assure equal opportunity for all persons; andWHEREAS, since January 20, 2025, the Executive Branch of United States has aggressively pursued an unprecedented and unconstitutional expansion of executive authority in peacetime by unilaterally repurposing Federal law enforcement to detain thousands of citizens and non-citizens without warrants or due process; deploying National Guard soldiers into cities to interrupt constitutionally protected acts of speech and assembly; conducting military airstrikes against non-combatant foreign nationals in the Caribbean and Pacific without congressional approval, including the violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and threats against Danish sovereignty;

and WHEREAS, fascism is a perversion of liberal democracy characterized by a compulsory official ideology, an uncompromising government led by a single autocrat, use of militaristic police tactics to suppress opposition, a policy of belligerent nationalism and belief in racial hierarchy, and a programmatic platform which replaces reason and scientific knowledge with authoritarian control;

and WHEREAS, the actions of the United States’ Executive Branch in 2025 and to date in 2026 are consistent with the theoretical construct of fascism and the historical precedent of fascist regimes in the past; andv

WHEREAS, the rise of fascism in the United States is concurrent with rising authoritarianism, belligerent nationalism, and socially oppressive regimes across the globe;

and WHEREAS, the rise of fascism at home and abroad is an existential threat to all people in a democracy, particularly people of color, refugees, immigrants, religious minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, indigent people, people with disabilities, and other classes of people protected under Lehigh County’s non-discrimination ordinance;

and WHEREAS, the tactics and practice of fascism deployed by the Federal Government have produced devastating impacts on state and local governments including the commandeering of public safety resources, unlawful restrictions on Federal funding and programs, the creation of instability and unrest among the general population;

and WHEREAS, Lehigh County has directly experienced the impact of rising fascism including detained and deported residents, interrupted and unpredictable funding decisions, and interruption of court proceedings;

and WHEREAS, when fascism is present in a society, it is incumbent upon people to stand as opponents to fascism and vigorously resist its normalization in practice and in discourse;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE LEHIGH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS unequivocally recognizes the recent actions of the Federal Government as embracing fascist ideology and practice at the very highest levels of government.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners stands firmly opposed to fascism and the dangerous expansion of executive authority especially with regard to the defiance of Congressional appropriations, Congressional military oversight, judicial orders, access of the free press, and due process for citizens and non-citizens.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners stands in solidarity with the peaceful and non-violent activists who also oppose fascism and are struggling for the freedom, justice, dignity, and rights of all residents of the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners calls upon the elected federal officials representing Lehigh County to join with us in standing against the rise of fascist conduct within the Executive Branch of the Federal government by exercising their legislative power to check the actions of the Executive Branch.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be conveyed to United States Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, United States Senator John Fetterman, and United States Senator David McCormick.2theADOPTED BY THE LEHIGH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS on day of , 2026, by the following vote:

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ADOPTED BY THE LEHIGH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS on day of , 2026, by the following vote:

Commissioners:
Sheila Alvarado
Ron W. Beitler
Geoff Brace
Zach Cole-Borghi
Sarah Fevig
Dan Hartzell
Jon Irons
Antonio A. Pineda
April Riddick