Preserve the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Oppose the Unauthorized Renaming.

To the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, President Donald J. Trump, and Members of Congress:
We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the recent decision by the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the "Trump-Kennedy Center." This action is inappropriate, divisive, disrespectful to history, and lacks legal authority.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was established by federal law as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, a martyred hero and passionate patron of the arts who believed that art and culture are essential to a vibrant democracy. Congress designated it in 1964 to honor President Kennedy's legacy and his commitment to amplifying the arts for all Americans.
Federal law established the Center as a memorial to President Kennedy and prohibits changing its name without Congressional action. The Board of Trustees has no authority to unilaterally alter the name of this national institution, which serves as a cultural home for all Americans—not a vehicle for personal or political branding.
Beyond rewarding political allies, this attempt to affix another name to the Center undermines its purpose and shows disrespect to the memory of President Kennedy and the historic moment it represents. As Rep. Steve Cohen has stated, this move is "outrageous" and "a sacrilege," an insult to President Kennedy's enduring legacy.
We urge:
The immediate repeal of the Board's decision.
President Trump to reject this inappropriate renaming.
Congress to uphold the law and protect the Kennedy Center's name as a permanent memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
The Kennedy Center should remain dedicated solely to honoring President Kennedy's vision for the arts, free from partisan alteration.