When They Come for You

"Harrowing. This detailed and often shocking book...is investigative reporting at its most effective." --Publishers Weekly

"When They Come For You is an easy read about a too often and too easily ignored reality—repeated intrusions by state and federal authorities into the liberties of our people. Written from the perspective of individuals who describe abuses ranging from warrantless home raids to unconstitutional crackdowns on protesters and the press, the book offers a memorable yet deeply disturbing vision of a nation that prides itself on the liberties it protects for its people but which too often strays from that vision. --Floyd Abrams

"This timely book documents the growing consensus across the ideological spectrum that government bodies—police departments, agencies, bureaus, and others—have strayed far beyond their constitutional limits and are widely abusing their power. From civil forfeiture to the militarization of the police, from sending people to jail for minor offenses to free speech violations, David Kirby compellingly captures why all Americans, regardless of their politics, should be concerned about this alarming overreach. But this book is not simply a litany of abuses. It also offers practical and much-needed alternatives to restore power to individuals and to better protect the constitutional rights to which all persons are entitled."-- Scott G. Bullock, President and General Counsel, Institute for Justice

"David Kirby’s When They Come For You sheds light on individual and systemic injustices taking place in modern day America. He sets forth a roadmap of meaningful ways to resist the erosion of free speech, free press, due process, equal protection under the law and other fundamental constitutional principles and values. The book is a must read for all Americans who believe in Freedom, Justice, Equality and Fairness for ALL, especially in the Trump era." --Norman Siegel, former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union

"When They Come For You is a clarion call for us to stand and take notice that our Constitution is being assailed, one amendment at a time. Kirby's meticulous research and fine writing come alive with stories of real people whose liberties and even lives have been taken by bad actors cloaked in governmental authority. As much as it pains me -- a third generation federal prosecutor and daughter of an FBI agent -- to read Kirby's reporting, his book reveals painful truths that Americans ignore at their peril." --Lis Wiehl, New York Times bestselling author and former federal prosecutor

"Virtually every freedom we take for granted is at risk. David Kirby’s latest book proves this with deeply troubling stories that reveal an alarming picture of a nation heading perilously off track. Much like those profiled whose fundamental rights were trampled, you might think it couldn’t happen to you -- until they come for you. As the target of illegal federal electronic surveillance myself, I can attest that threats to our liberty are a real and present danger. Fortunately, there is reason for hope: Kirby also illuminates how ordinary Americans have fought back against government overreach and often prevailed, proving that ultimately we do have the power, if only we use it." --Sharyl Attkisson, New York Times bestselling author of The Smear and Stonewalled

"David Kirby’s eye-opening book arrives at a critical historic moment, when U.S. citizens are at loggerheads about the fundamental nature of our democracy. His passionate reporting uncovers cracks in the constitution and government institutions that have the potential to harm everyone, regardless of political affiliation. This important work is alarming, yes, but also a powerful call for action." --Julie Salamon, author of Hospital and An Innocent Bystander: The Killing of Leon Klinghoffer