Americans Who Tell the Truth

06/01/2026

“The right to criticize: the right to hold unpopular beliefs; the right to protest; the right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood…Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own.”
In her speech, she laid out the fundamental principles of "Americanism"::

On June 1st 1950, Margaret Chase Smith, a freshman Senator from Maine, delivered her "Declaratin of Conscience" speech on the Senate floor. In that speech, Chase Smith condemned smear tactics and fearmongering and denounced bigotry and ignorance.

In her speech she laid out the fundemental principles of "Americanism":
The right to criticize
The right to hold unpopular beliefs
The right to protest
The right to independent thought

“It is high time that we all stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques—techniques that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.”

Margarte Chase Smith proves that courage is, indeed, contagious.

05/28/2026

“The ‘control of nature’ is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology . . . and the convenience of man.”

In honor of Rachel Carson's birthday, click the link in the bio to snag a high-quality poster of her portrait. Or click the link in the bio to read her full bio.

05/26/2026

SPEAKING TRUTH TO YOUTH TUESDAYS!

Today, we share a video of our team member, Connie Carter, in conversation with writer and peace activist Rivera Sun, who encourages us to be curious, to be engaged, and to know that wherever people are getting organized, there is hope.

We hope you enjoy this conversation with Rivera Sun.

For more videos, check out the link in our bio.

Keep an eye out for next week's installment!

05/19/2026

SPEAKING TRUTH TO YOUTH TUESDAYS!

Today, we share a video of our team member, Connie Carter, in conversation with physician, author, Israel-Palestine peace activist, filmmaker, Alice Rothchild. She asks us to consider what we are passionate about and how we might work that into our lives.

We hope you enjoy this conversation with Alice Rothchild.

For more videos, check out the link in our bio.
Keep an eye out for next week's installment!

05/18/2026

🏛️✨ AWTT is headed to Philadelphia! ✨🏛️

This week, staff from Americans Who Tell the Truth will be attending the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo in Philadelphia for the very first time! The conference brings together thousands of museum professionals, educators, artists, and storytellers from across the country to explore the role museums play in shaping public understanding, preserving history, and imagining a more just future. ()

At AWTT, we believe art and storytelling are essential tools for democracy, civic engagement, and truth-telling—and we’re excited to connect with others doing this important work in museums and cultural spaces around the world.

We’ll be sharing the AWTT mission, building new relationships, and learning alongside people committed to making museums more inclusive, courageous, and community-centered.

If you’re attending the conference, we’d love to connect! 👋

✨ Here’s to art, education, and the power of stories to spark change.

Because courage is contagious.

05/15/2026

✨🎨 A Surprise Portrait Unveiling in Washington, D.C. 🎨✨

Last week at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., AWTT founder and artist Robert Shetterly unveiled a surprise new portrait honoring whistleblower Erez Reuveni during the 2025 Ridenhour Truth-Telling Prize ceremony.

Reuveni was recognized for speaking honestly before a federal court about the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — an act that ultimately cost him his job after fifteen years at the U.S. Department of Justice.

The evening honored the difficult, often risky act of telling the truth in systems that may punish honesty rather than protect it. The Ridenhour prizes themselves are named after Ronald Ridenhour, the Vietnam veteran who exposed the My Lai massacre.

At Americans Who Tell the Truth, we believe courage is not the absence of fear — it is the decision to speak and act anyway.

Here is his quote, scratched into the canvas: “I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I would not be abiding by that oath if I stayed silent while the government disappeared fellow Americans to foreign jails without evidence or due process.”

We are honored to welcome Erez Reuveni into the AWTT portrait collection.

Because truth-telling matters.
Because accountability matters.
Because courage is contagious.

To view his portrait, bio, and 5-fact video, go here or click the link in the bio:
https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/erez-reuveni/

And keep an eye out for Reuveni Courage is Contagious merch coming soon!

05/12/2026

SPEAKING TRUTH TO YOUTH TUESDAYS!

Today, we share a video of our team member, Connie Carter, in conversation with producer, musician, songwriter, and choir director Con Fullam. He encourages us to find some way to make a difference in our communities.

We hope you enjoy this conversation with Con Fullam.

For more videos, check out the link in our bio.

Keep an eye out for next week's installment!

05/11/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gerald Talbot — a trailblazer, community leader, and tireless advocate for racial justice in Maine.

As Maine’s first Black legislator, Talbot dedicated his life to breaking barriers and creating pathways for others. Through decades of public service, activism, and mentorship, he worked to make Maine a more just, inclusive, and compassionate place.

His leadership extended far beyond politics. Gerald Talbot was a builder of community, a voice for dignity and equity, and an example of what moral courage looks like in action.

We are honored that his story and legacy are part of the Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait collection.

Today, we remember not only his accomplishments, but the countless lives he touched through his persistence, generosity, and vision for a better future.

✨ May we continue the work he devoted his life to.

Rest in power, Gerald Talbot.

05/08/2026

This past week was both Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurse Appreciation Week.

What does it say about our priorities that two of the most essential professions—both overwhelmingly devoted to caring for vulnerable people—are chronically underfunded, under-respected, overworked, and expected to share a single week of appreciation?

Teachers shape lives, often with too few resources and too little support. Nurses care for people in their most vulnerable moments, carrying impossible emotional and physical burdens every day.

And yet both professions are so often asked to do more with less.

Appreciation matters. But appreciation without investment, protection, fair pay, staffing, and respect is not enough.

This week—and every week—we honor the people who continue showing up for others despite systems that too often fail to show up for them.

🧡 To teachers and nurses: thank you for the labor, care, patience, and humanity you bring into this world every single day.

05/07/2026