<p>By ejecting conference participants for handing out an editorial criticizing the Trump administration for proposed scientific research cuts, the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/06/08/northwestern-researcher-among-group-kicked-out-of-conference-for-distributing-paper-critical-of-trump" >American Diabetes Association’s</a> conduct is a textbook example of how authoritarian censorship does not need to rely on direct actions but can scare other organizations into doing the dirty work.</p><p>This step, by an organization devoted to advancing scientific inquiry, to disempower people trying to protect that very endeavor is even scarier than the reduction of scientific research itself. Although that’s pretty scary too.</p><p>This week's <a class="Link" href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/121657" target="_blank" >resignations</a> of American Diabetes Association officials following the debacle is a welcome step.</p><p>Not merely is our research future at stake, but our democracy as well.</p><p><i>Mike Koetting, Fulton River District</i></p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-e20000" name="module-e20000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>Give us your take</h3><br>Send letters to the editor to <a class="Link" href="mailto:letters@suntimes.com" target="_blank" >letters@suntimes.com</a>. To be considered for publication, letters must include your full name, your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes.