Citizens Defending Freedom

EMPOWERING to save our NATION CITIZENS

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER

AMERICA TODAY

Our great Nation is at a pivotal period in our history. We are becoming a lost nation void of God. Forces of corruption are undoubtedly infiltrating our society, and it is no longer a question of “Democrat or Republican” or of “left versus right.”

We are fighting a battle of Good versus Evil, a battle for the soul of America, and a battle for the future of our children and grandchildren.

We are in a battle to restore morality and truth. It is a battle to restore integrity, liberty, justice, and God to our people.

Americans stand by, feeling powerless to affect change, feeling silenced by a deafening minority, and feeling helpless next to the monumental corruption and violence that is reported on the news every day.

Politicians will not save us. The government will not save us. It is up to us, the citizens.

It is the citizen who will stand for our flag, for our freedom, for our liberty, and for truth. It is the citizen who will kneel in prayer and in faith. And it is the citizen who will save America.

It is up to us to give them a voice and show them how.

We need your help. The free world is counting on us.

Sincerely,

The idea of liberty, of freedom, has taken on a life of its own in the modern world. Our society has lost track of what “freedom” as our Founding Fathers intended it truly means. Freedom from whom? Free to do what?

Modern interpretations of “freedom” often seem to mean “free from accountability” or “free from imposed morality.” For anyone who has studied the history of our Nation, it is clear that our Foundation is based on one thing: Freedom as it is intended by our Creator.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Americans are Blessed by freedom as God intended: not only are we FREE FROM eternal condemnation through Christ’s redemption on the cross, but we are FREE TO pursue a life of meaning, a life of purpose, and a life of liberty.

America’s Founders understood that it was the government’s duty to protect our God-given freedom. Our Constitution was designed as a vessel through which His truth can be realized by every citizen for generations to come. Our freedom is on the line, and it is our duty to protect it. But how?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

WHO WE ARE

Citizens Defending Freedom is on a mission to empower and equip American citizens to defend their liberty at the local level.

The enemies of freedom spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year to elect corrupt politicians in cities and counties across the country.

The fight to save America begins at the LOCAL level.

Citizens Defending Freedom has developed a proven plan that includes a roll-out of over 100 counties across the country. These 100 counties are the first line of defense in saving our Nation.

At the local and state level, we support and champion American citizens who want to preserve America as our Founding Fathers intended it. We empower them with the tools necessary to root out local corruption, provide oversight on local school district curriculum, ensure fair and honest elections, and rectify breaches of constitutional liberty.

We are the voice for all Americans, for it is the American Citizen who will save our Nation.

THE SOLUTION

1 EDUCATE AND EMPOWER

2 VIGILANCE

Americans want desperately to fight for our Nation, but they do not know where to begin.

WE PROVIDE:

ACTIONABLE steps for individuals to take.

LOCAL community empowerment.

ENCOURAGEMENT for America to find her voice.

FAITH outreach to churches, giving them tools to speak to moral issues in today’s society.

Our proven system provides dedicated individuals at the local level to root out corruption.

3 PERPETUAL LEADERSHIP

Our youth must be prepared to carry the flame of freedom.

WE WILL: FOCUSED ON:

ELECTIONS EDUCATION FINANCES

CONSTITUTIONAL BREACHES

We have devoted legal and media divisions that will hold governments accountable to their citizens.

EMPOWER parents to provide curriculum oversight and hold local school boards accountable.

PROVIDE materials for home school families.

ENCOURAGE parents to instill in their children a love for our great Nation.

FOUNDATIONS &PILLARS

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

- John Adams, Founding Father

MATTHEW 18 MODEL

CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO HANDLE DISPUTES IN LOVE, WITH A GOAL OF RESTORATION. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE ACTIVATE THE MATTHEW 18 MODEL.

PERSON-TO-PERSON

When a conflict arises, we are called to address the matter with the other person directly. When matters are handled privately, a misunderstanding can be addressed, and there is great potential for the other person to respond positively.

COMMUNITY

MEDIA PRESSURE

If a private discussion does not solve the issue, we are to take one or two other believers and meet with the person with whom they have conflict. This principle allows for additional witnesses to observe the matter firsthand and help determine the proper course of action.

When there is no resolution after steps one and two, the matter is to be taken before the local church. These instances should be rare.

LEGAL ACTION

Finally, if the person in the center of the conflict refuses to respond positively even when the entire congregation is involved, then that person is to be considered as “a pagan or a tax collector.”

CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM APPLICATION INSPIRED BY BIBLICAL PROCESS

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESCINDS VAX MANDATES AND SPARKS NEW LEGISLATION

Citizens Defending Freedom supported employees as they rallied against The Walt Disney Company’s vaccine and mask mandates. After a series of successful email and social media campaigns, as well as Citizens Defending Freedom’s Legal team working behind the scenes to draft legislation signed by Florida’s Governor, Disney ultimately rescinded their mandates.

POLL WATCHER TRAININGS

Citizens Defending Freedom has facilitated the training of over 2,000 poll watchers in several counties across multiple states. Citizens all over the Nation are being ignited to engage in local elections, as they work together with like minded patriots to ensure our elections are safe and secure.

NUECES COUNTY HALTS DANGEROUS SEX ED PROGRAM

With the power of prayer and citizen engagement, Nueces County Citizens Defending Freedom was able to protect children from being exposed to a highly inappropriate and harmful sex education program in their local schools.

INTERCEPTING AND REJECTING BAD POLICY

A Texas school district, wrongfully accused of violating the Voting Rights Act and of suppressing minority votes, was under intense pressure from the NAACP to change their at-large elections to single member district elections. Encouraged and empowered by a Citizens Defending Freedom attorney to stand their ground and reject the changes, the district told the NAACP they would not cave to their demands.

PUTTING GOD BACK IN SCHOOLS

In 2021, the Texas Legislature voted to require all publicly funded schools in Texas to prominently display the national motto “In God We Trust” inside each school building. CCDF-Fort Bend, working in conjunction with a private donor and local volunteers, acquired and delivered “In God We Trust” posters across three Texas school districts.

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION

The CCDF-Nueces team shared with local students what Citizens Defending Freedom is and how local action can have a national impact. They encouraged the students to get involved in local government and hold their leadership to the high standards modeled by our Founding Fathers.

CHALLENGE & REMOVAL OF OBSCENE LIBRARY BOOKS IN SCHOOLS

CCDF-Polk brought awareness to and opened the door for other Citizens Defending Freedom counties to challenge and remove obscene books from school libraries.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IN SCHOOL

CCDF-Miami-Dade worked with Christian Family Coalition, TPUSA, Liberty Counsel, and Pacific Justice Institute to get a Miami-Dade County Public Schools board agenda item passed that instated Miami-Dade as the first school district in Florida to adopt the National Day of Prayer.

ENSURING SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE PROPER LEADERSHIP

Citizens Defending Freedom works with partnering organizations to ensure school board officials protect children and parental rights, and keep harmful content and programs out of schools.

PATRIOT CITIZENS RUNNING FOR OFFICE

Citizens Defending Freedom encourages patriot citizens to run for office and empowers them to make bold stances. Jack Hilligoss, Mayor of Lake Wales, proclaimed June as Responsible Fatherhood Month for his city.

HOLDING ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE

Citizens Defending Freedom’s Legal Team works to hold elected officials accountable by initiating recall processes and petitions for removal across three states.

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN

CCDF-Fort Bend is supporting Texas House Bill 1938, also known as the Sexual Grooming Protection Act. This bill will allow parents to remove their children from schools where they are exposed to sexual grooming and funding for the education of that child will follow them to their new school.

SAVE TEXAS, SAVE AMERICA

Over the last few years, billionaire and “philanthropist” George Soros has been quietly bankrolling the races of district attorneys across the United States. As these district attorneys win their races and assume their roles as prosecutors in criminal cases, it has become abundantly and painfully clear that these DAs are intent on pushing an agenda that does not protect U.S. citizens or their communities. We are rooting out this evil one county at a time, and we need your help. Corruption at the local level is designed to turn counties – and states – away from the values our Nation was founded upon.

COFOUNDER Steve Maxwell

A native Floridian, Steve Maxwell was born and raised in the Tampa Bay-area town of Lithia, Florida. Heeding the call to serve his beloved country, he left home in 1982 to serve in the United States Navy as an Air Traffic Controller at Chase Field Naval Air Station in Beeville, Texas from 1982-1987. While stationed there, Steve and his wife Beverly began attending church with their neighbors John and Nancy Durham. The couples soon became friends and often shared their ideas and goals with each other as their opportunities arose and their respective families began to grow. The dream of being entrepreneurs who reach financial independence was one shared by the couples and it grew into the ultimate goal of helping others reach financial independence as well.

In 1990 Steve and his family moved back to Florida where Steve started a career in the produce industry. It was there that he learned the three segments of the produce business: farming, packing, and the marketing of crops. As a result, Steve has served in the potato, tomato, and citrus industries for over 31 years.

In 2003 Steve left the produce industry to begin the process of purchasing his first company, Highland Distribution Services.

In 2005 he and his now business partner John Durham acquired Highland and immediately began major capital investments to begin manufacturing the products that Highland had previously only been a distributor of. By 2018, the name had changed to Highland Packaging Solutions, Inc. and had become one of the largest agricultural packaging companies in the western hemisphere and had spun off multiple companies including software, food safety, post-harvesting washdown systems, as well as crop nutrition and protection.

Today, Steve’s focus is on organizing our nation county-by-county setting up systems that will engage and defend our citizens by reminding us that the answers to our issues have already been determined by our founding principles found in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Federalist Papers. Citizens Defending Freedom is established to shine light on our local institutions, measure local government action based on our God-given rights (from our Creator), and when breached, helping our citizens engage in liberty.

Steve and Beverly Maxwell, high school sweethearts, have been married for 39 years and have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. They reside in Polk County, Florida.

COFOUNDER

John Durham LEADERSHIP

John Durham was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming and is one of four boys. When John was six years old his family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas and to this day Nueces County remains his home. John’s dad was a maintenance supervisor at a refinery in Corpus Christi, while his mother stayed at home to care for their four active boys.

John attended and played football at Cisco Jr. College where he met his soul mate, Nancy. While they were both still attending college they were married and have shared thirty-nine wonderful years together. John and Nancy have been blessed with five children, three girls and twin boys. John enjoys golfing, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family, especially his five grandchildren.

In the early years of his marriage, John worked at a refinery in Corpus Christi as a boilermaker and pipefitter. In 1990, John created a company called Protec, Inc., a bolting company that provided services to the petrochemical industry. The following year, another company was formed called Precision Technical Services in which services were expanded to include field machining and specialty services. John and his business partner grew the company and sold it in 1995. Since then, John has formed several additional companies, the largest of which has grown to $800MM in revenue and has over 5,000 employees.

Today, John is actively involved in his multiple companies and is also primarily focused on the growth and long-term sustainability of Citizens Defending Freedom, to ensure future generations can continue to live in freedom.

ENDORSEMENTS

LIEUTENANT GENERAL (RETIRED) MICHAEL T. FLYNN

“In my decades of experience working with various organizations and teams, Citizens Defending Freedom has built one of the most professional that I have ever come across. The leadership, teamwork, and responsiveness are hallmarks of its success. Citizens Defending Freedom’s laser focus and discipline achieve exactly what an anxious nation longs for on a daily basis.”

CHARLIE KIRK

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT OF TURNING POINT USA

“Citizens Defending Freedom has put in place a system that America has needed for decades. Local, organized effort with the professional support that’s required to root out the enemy.”

ED MARTIN PRESIDENT OF PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY EAGLES

“As the leader of a new brand of activism, Citizens Defending Freedom has built a system by which all Americans can participate in the renewal of America.”

MIKE LINDELL CEO OF MYPILLOW

“In these troubled times, it is the entrepreneur who will provide the solution. Citizens Defending Freedom is built by America’s finest business leaders and will answer the call to save the Republic.”

K.CARL SMITH THE NATION’S #1 DIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT EXPERT

“The leadership at Citizens Defending Freedom understands that the solution to resolving our problems as a nation has already been developed for us. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Frederick Douglass have provided the path to the future. Citizens Defending Freedom embraces our founding thought processes and they will lead us home!”

LIEUTENANT COLONEL (RETIRED) ALLEN WEST

“Citizens Defending Freedom has put together the organization and strategy to extend liberty to the next generation. Their strategy is spot on, their tactics are solid, their success is astounding.”

DC DRAINO

“People ask me everyday how to get involved and help our Nation. The answer is easy - join Citizens Defending Freedom. They have the tools and the game plan to take back our country from Marxist Globalists one county at a time. We’ve learned the hard way that no president or political party is going to save us. We the People need to get involved and save America ourselves.”

PAUL BLAIR FOUNDER OF LIBERTY PASTORS NETWORK

“The cornerstone of our Nation is Judeo-Christian values. Citizens Defending Freedom has embraced our spiritual heritage and this one decision will lead us to the promised land.”

“America is known as the light on the hill. That light is freedom. Today that light is being threatened by the darkness of oppression; by people who do not honor family, faith, love of country, or the freedoms America offers. Our foundation supports Citizens Defending Freedom because it gives individuals an opportunity to make a real difference in their communities regardless of their financial or time limitations. Thanks to their grassroots approach, freedom is winning.”

A dedicated volunteer and faithful prayer warrior from Polk County Florida sent us an encouraging letter of support and thanks: “When we shine the light so truth can be revealed, and so we can clearly see next steps, our faith is definitely on the witness stand. This takes guts. It takes hours, energy, equipment, and travel. It takes finances, encouragement, and prayer. Seeing our founders, staff and volunteers courageously shining the light of awareness and action in Polk County, bears witness for hope and courage throughout this community! It inspires people – it inspires me – to get up, get involved in what matters, and to take action. THANK YOU, Citizens Defending Freedom, for inspiring me and letting me be a part of SHINING THE LIGHT right where I live!

Recently, the CCDF-Polk team was recognized for their conduct while attending a local event. A schoolteacher in Polk County Florida, who attended a school board meeting, was impressed with the way the CCDF-Polk members who spoke conducted themselves and presented information. The team’s professionalism and dedication to protecting students inspired her to reach out to Citizens Defending Freedom with a one-time donation which, after a discussion with a national team member, turned into a recurring donation. “You guys are the only ones that I know of that are doing what you do” she stated. “Even though I’m on a fixed income, I’m honored to contribute monthly.”

After watching Citizens Defending Freedom founder Steve Maxwell and attorney Jonathan Hullihan speak on The Charlie Kirk Show, a resident of Nueces County Texas reached out to show support for the fight against corruption in Texas. “I was so happy to hear of Citizens Defending Freedom’s efforts to remove the terrible DA in my community” she wrote. “I am sending a donation to help your efforts to keep our beautiful state of Texas safe and free from the evil forces trying to undermine our system of equal justice under the law.”

CITIZEN TESTIMONIALS

CALL TO ACTION

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

EMPOWERING THE AMERICAN CITIZEN TO SAVE OUR NATION IS NOT WITHOUT COST. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

As we look to the future, it is with excitement as we wait to see how the good Lord moves through us. That said, the path ahead is long, arduous, and uncertain.

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14

It is an honor and a privilege to be an American. We are called to do everything in our power to preserve and protect this Land that we love so dearly. Together, we can save the future of our Nation.

Can we count on you for support?

YOUR SUPPORT

PROVIDES LEGAL DIVISION

Our dedicated team of attorneys protect our constitutional rights and ensure local and state governments uphold the law.

MEDIA DIVISION

Our national media and communications team is dedicated to shining the light on TRUTH.

RESEARCH DIVISION

Our national research division supports local chapters and states to root out corruption at the highest levels.

GRASSROOTS SUPPORT

At the heart of all we do, our local county chapters lead the charge to educate and empower citizens in four main areas:

ELECTIONS, EDUCATION, FIGHTING CORRUPTION, and BREACHES OF LIBERTY.

PLEDGE

We hire local leadership who are dedicated to our process at the county level, and we support them with a team of state and national individuals who are dedicated to their success.

$1,000,000

FOUNDING PARTNER

Honorary Board Seat; Private Ranch Retreat with Citizens Defending Freedom

$500,000

P51 Mustang WWII Fighter Experience; Private dinner with noted Guest of Honor

$100,000 PROTECTOR OF LIBERTY

Private dinner with a noted Guest of Honor

Other Amount PATRIOT

Hand-chosen gift for pledges over $25,000