Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a open letter on Wednesday, joined more than 3,700 non-profit and non-partisan organizations to reject threats to nonprofit organizations introduced by US President Donald Trump’s recent domestic terrorism memorandum.

The letter comes shortly after the coalition issued a press statement on October 1 calling the action an attempt to intimidate and silence nonprofit and charitable groups through the executive action. While reaffirming their stance against political violence, the groups stated:

This attack on nonprofits is not happening in a vacuum, but as a part of a wholesale offensive against organizations and individuals that advocate for ideas or serve communities that the president finds objectionable, and that seek to enforce the rule of law against the federal government.

The White House order followed the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and the reactive response from the Trump administration. The memorandum directed a National Joint Terrorism Task Force to “investigate, prosecute, and disrupt entities and individuals engaged in acts of political violence and intimidation designed to suppress lawful political activity or obstruct the rule of law.” Shortly after the memorandum’s release, the administration labeled the loosely-structured political group Antifa a domestic terrorist organization–a designation not yet established by Congressional statute.

However, HRW and others argued that the policy practically functions to “silence opposition and voices that [the president] disagrees with,” and threatens organizations that “perform crucial functions in every community across our country, including providing healthcare, housing, education, religious services, food and water, and so much more.”

According to HRW, President Trump’s second term in office has seen diminishing human rights not only in the US but globally, partly due to drastic cuts in US foreign aid and humanitarian works.