“Donald Trump knows that fear is contagious, but what we know is that courage is also contagious and it is catching up,” U.S. Rep. Jason Crow told participants in the “Together for Democracy” conference Jan. 29. Crow, a Democrat and…
Even elected leaders are living in fear of anti-immigrant fervor
Gene Wu is the elected minority leader in the Texas House of Representatives, and he is living in fear of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant campaign. The lawyer turned legislator was born in China but immigrated to the United States with his…
This is a fight ‘for all the marbles,’ Perryman tells democracy advocates
The current battle for democracy in America is a fight “for all the marbles,” Skye Perryman told a crowd of democracy advocates in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29. Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, was the opening speaker for her organization’s two-day…
Administration concedes defeat in removing DEI from schools
The Trump administration has conceded defeat in its effort to force public school districts to abandon civil rights protections and diversity, equity and inclusion programs that benefit students. The victory came Jan. 21 when the U.S. Department of Education filed…
Members of Congress sue for access to detention facilities
A dozen members of Congress are back in court because the White House quietly reinstated a rule barring unannounced inspections of immigration detention centers. The legislators filed an urgent motion in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Jan….
Prosecutors and civil liberties groups speak out on ICE raids in houses of worship
Faith organizations suing to prevent immigration raids on or near houses of worship have gained support from a diverse array of prosecutors, civil liberty and religious groups in a case against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Fair and Just…
VA implements near-total ban on abortions
The Trump administration has implemented a near-total ban on abortion and abortion counseling at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities across the nation. The policy move not only affects veterans but also the families of eligible veterans covered by the VA’s…
Trump administration can’t block Congress from ICE inspections
A federal court ruling temporarily blocks the Trump administration from preventing members of Congress from conducting unannounced inspections of immigration detention facilities. U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb in Washington D.C. ruled Dec. 17 that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
Trump’s HUD reverses cuts to housing aid after lawsuit threat
The Trump administration suddenly reversed course Dec. 10 on a planned shift in housing policy that would have sent hundreds of thousands of children and adults into homelessness during the winter months, according to advocacy groups. The move came just…
Religious groups seek to prevent holiday immigration raids
A coalition of religious groups has asked a federal court to prevent federal immigration agents from raiding houses of worship during the holiday season. The plaintiffs in New England Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, et al., v. Department of…
‘It’s time for America and Congress to wake up’
It’s time for America to wake up and for Congress to wake up to the devastation being wrought by the Trump administration, Skye Perryman told the Texas Tribune Festival Nov 14. Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, was among four panelists…
Faith-based groups sue Texas over limitations on investment advice
Business and faith-based investment groups are suing Texas to stop enforcement of a new law that limits expert advice available to investors. “The plaintiffs are faith-based and nonprofit organizations that, as part of their missions, partner with institutional investors to…