As constituents of Texas’ 31st District, we believe it is vital that our elected representative maintain open, two-way communication with the people he serves. A public town hall provides a forum for dialogue, transparency, and accountability — values that transcend party lines and strengthen our democracy. Many of us have serious concerns about issues that directly impact our lives, such as protecting due process for all Americans and preserving essential healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Whether we agree on every policy or not, we all deserve the opportunity to ask questions, share our views, and be heard. A town hall is not about division — it’s about connection, respect, and being active participants in the decisions that affect our communities.

Just days ago, three U.S. citizen children from two different families were deported with their mothers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of them is a 4-year-old with Stage 4 cancer who was deported without medication or the ability to contact their doctors. Lawyers say the families were taken to an ICE facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, where they were prevented from communicating with their family members and legal representatives and then put on a flight to Honduras. The lack of humanity and due process is shocking and intentionally violent.  Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in an already broken immigration system that isn’t working for anyone. And it’s becoming increasingly worse and harder to navigate for people under the Trump administration in the past few months.  People are being arrested by ICE, their families ripped apart and their children—regardless of their citizenship— kidnapped and sent to countries they’ve never called home. This is happening right now in our country. And it must stop.  This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s a matter of fairness and basic rights. Trump’s administration and these expedited deportations are violating the rights of both citizens and noncitizens. It’s unacceptable. 

Democracy -By Langston Hughes Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land. I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread. Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you.

What is happening to Rümeysa Öztürk is terrifying.  Abruptly stripped of her visa. Restrained and arrested. Smuggled out of Massachusetts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in plainclothes. Hidden from her family, community, and lawyers in a private, for-profit detention facility in Louisiana. All because she wrote an op-ed in the Tufts school newspaper calling for the university to abide by undergraduate student senate resolutions meant to hold Israel accountable for international law violations. Rümeysa's harsh and unlawful detainment is an assault on our fundamental First Amendment rights and civil liberties—and we should all be concerned. Donald Trump is abusing his position of power to intimidate everyday people, silence dissenters, and roll back our fundamental rights. He doesn’t care about safety or ensuring our schools are welcoming spaces. In fact, his administration has been doing the opposite, bullying universities to control curriculum, gutting public programs, and pitting our communities against each other.  Show the Trump administration that we are united and we will continue to mobilize to protect Rümeysa and others from his illegal power grabs.  Sign the petition to urge Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan to launch an immediate and thorough criminal investigation into Rümeysa's kidnapping.

Diversity broadens the possibility of Diverse points of view having an impact in the County 

Because AJ Nova is an innocent man and he is in prison.

The arrest of a sitting judge is an alarming move that signals a dangerous abuse of federal power—one that threatens judicial independence and any remaining checks on Trump’s power.  It will also make our communities less safe. People must have trust in the courts to be willing to report a crime. When people in our communities are afraid to access the courts out of fear of being snatched up by ICE, it hurts our communities in so many ways. And it ties back to the broader anti-immigrant crackdown aligned with Trump’s Project 2025 framework. Together, we must protect the rule of law, judicial independence, and the rights of every person who appears in a courtroom—regardless of immigration status. We’ve already seen how ICE abuses its power to target student activists, U.S. citizens, legal residents and green card holders, and Trump’s political opponents—often without a warrant. When does it end? If we don’t speak up now—and demand our elected officials do the same—there’s no telling how far this administration will go. Sign the petition for Congress to investigate this judge’s arrest immediately.  All of these arrests, abductions, and deportations aren’t just about attacking immigrants and marginalized communities. Trump is using his administration to fearmonger so he can continue to seize and build his power without opposition. Without checks and balances.  Demand Congress act NOW to answer for Kash Patel’s—and ultimately Donald Trump’s—dangerous overreach.  Image credit: Wall Street Journal

The Trump Administration has arrested a sitting judge – Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan.  These are the actions of a dictator. This isn’t just an arrest, it’s a blatant attack on judicial independence meant to send a chilling warning to every judge in the country. Here’s what’s happening: federal agents wanted to arrest someone at a hearing before Judge Dugan. Judge Dugan said no, protecting the integrity of her courtroom and refusing to turn it into an ambush zone. And in response, the FBI opened an investigation into her, and now has arrested her on charges that could send her to prison for years. But here’s what’s crystal clear – even under the Trump regime, standing up for due process and our Constitutional rights should be celebrated, not punished. It’s on all of us to speak out for what’s right. Add your name to tell the Trump Administration to STOP this authoritarian power grab.

President Trump – who has sworn an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend” our Constitution – is illegally trying to shred one of its most important guarantees of equal rights: the 14th Amendment. His executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship would endanger millions of people born in this country and permanently reshape what it means to be an American. Common Cause is evaluating our legal options to respond – because we simply can’t let this stand. The good news is no president, including Trump, can override an official, ratified part of the U.S. Constitution. But the bad news is this fact won’t stop them from trying, and in doing so, striking fear for millions of our neighbors that they’ll be condemned to permanent second-class status.   Combined with his plan to deport thousands of families and community members in the first week of his administration, Trump’s already made clear that he’s beginning his presidency by forcing American immigrants into hiding and denying us all the multi-racial democracy and safe neighborhoods we deserve. The 14th Amendment is clear – and legal experts say Trump would likely need to pass a constitutional amendment to overrule it. But Trump and his cronies in Congress know they can’t do that, so they’re desperately searching for any way around our checks and balances. If you agree we can’t let that happen, join us in urging Congress to protect birthright citizenship – and REJECT this blatant attempt to divide our communities and attack our constitutional rights.

President Trump took a lot of scary actions in the first week of his second administration.   One went under the radar, but could have devastating long-term consequences: rigging the U.S. Census to undermine our right to fair representation in our government.  By law, the Census has to count everyone who lives here – that's how we know where to build schools and fire stations and how to draw fair legislative maps. But for years, the far-right has been trying to count only citizens (instead of everyone who calls America home) effectively picking and choosing who counts to serve their political agenda.   It’s a blatant violation of our Constitution and centuries of precedent. And it’s a clear attempt to deny our communities the resources we need and the political representation we deserve. We can’t let it stand. With your help, Common Cause stopped this exact same plot during Trump’s first term – but now that he’s back in office, we need your help to stop him again.  This is bigger than the 2030 Census – we need to take action to defend the principle of multi-racial democracy itself. If you agree that EVERY one of us should count in our democracy, please join me in speaking out right now.

Right now, CBS News is preparing to settle Trump’s baseless $10 billion lawsuit against them. Legal experts called Trump’s lawsuit “frivolous” and “ridiculous junk” from the beginning, because there’s no evidence CBS did anything wrong. But now, CBS and its parent company Paramount are caving, preparing to cut Trump a check to win his administration’s approval on a multibillion-dollar media merger they’re trying to push through. This should set off alarm bells for every American who believes in a free press. If a major news network is willing to abandon free speech and pay off Trump to protect their bottom line, what else will they do to stay on his good side? If you agree that our media should be holding the powerful accountable – not bowing to them – join us in urging CBS/Paramount not to cave to Trump >>

We Call on Leaders, Lawmakers, and Voters to Reject This Proposal and Stand With the Autistic Community This is not about public health—it’s about power, control, and prejudice. We stand with the autistic community in rejecting this harmful idea and demanding a future rooted in inclusion, not surveillance. Add your name to stop this now.