By joining this campaign, you are speaking up for safer communities, for lives that can still be saved, and for a Rhode Island that puts people over weapons. Your voice matters and together, our voices can make a change.

Matthew Cardon was shot and killed by police in Peoria, Arizona, on June 5th, 2025. Despite repeated requests from his family and community, authorities have not released all available footage. There are conflicting statements, missing body cam footage, and unanswered questions that demand transparency. We call on local and state leaders to release all footage, open an independent investigation, and ensure this never happens again. Matthew was a son, brother, and friend.His family—and the public—deserve the truth.

When community members protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) raids to protect their neighbors this weekend, they were met with what The New York Times called, “an extraordinary show of force.” “Dozens of federal agents wearing helmets and green camouflage arrived in two hulking armored trucks and other unmarked vehicles, and were soon approached by a crowd of immigrant activists and supporters. Some agents carried riot shields and others held rifles, as well as shotguns that appeared to be loaded with less-than-lethal ammunition.” This is mass deportation under Trump. Now that he has deployed thousands of National Guard troops along with 700 active duty Marines to crush protests in the Los Angeles area, more violent intimidation and threats to free speech are likely. Troops and tanks don’t belong on LA’s streets, or anywhere. But the horrifying reality is that Trump’s military flex likely won’t be limited to southern California or his DC tank parade — and that’s why we’re reaching out today with an urgent call. This is no time for business as usual. Senators have a crucial role to play in securing an end to the ICE raids and Trump’s violence-first responses. The good news? They’re more likely to do it if they hear from you today.

No matter how Trump and Stephen Miller dress them up, their recently announced travel ban and ALL the others they have attempted amount to the same thing: A racist immigration policy that leaves people to suffer and struggle. Communities across the country have recently seen their neighbors disappeared, abducted, detained, and deported. With the latest iteration of Trump’s infamous Muslim Ban set to go into effect as soon as 12:01 AM on June 9, the chaos, fear, and harm will only deepen. Make no mistake: Travel bans do not make anyone safer. Centering bigotry and hatred at the heart of U.S. immigration policy will only separate families, demonize immigrants, and strip our country of the values — of the people — who help make it great. But we anticipated this move, and that’s why we’re ready to demand the kind of policies that keep people — everywhere — safe. The good news? Champions in Congress are speaking out. That’s the kind of leadership necessary to repeal these hateful bans, remind the White House that Congress — and people like us — have a say in our governance, and send a crucially needed message of hope and welcome to people whose lives Trump is upending. It’ll take a sustained groundswell of opposition in the coming days and months to make it happen. How do we get that? You. Sign now to send every member of Congress a loud and clear message: No Ban Ever.

I am writing to urge you to consider sponsoring and supporting a proposed piece of legislation called Topher’s Law. (Together on Protecting Human Ethical Rights) This bill is designed to reform Missouri’s guardianship laws to ensure that adult wards who are disabled or otherwise under guardianship retain their right to maintain family relationships—without unnecessary court hurdles or isolation imposed by overreaching guardians. Currently, immediate family members often face significant barriers in simply visiting, calling, or taking their loved one on an outing, even with the ward’s full consent. In some cases, families must petition the court just to spend time together—placing an unjust burden on those who should be presumed to act out of love and care. Topher’s Law flips that burden: if a guardian wishes to deny access, they must go to court and prove why it is necessary. This legislation: Centers the ward’s own voice and consent. Provides a court-appointed advocate regardless of the ward’s ability to pay. Protects against unjustified isolation from immediate family. Brings transparency and accountability to guardianship practices. I’ve included a full draft of the proposed law with this letter. I would be deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet with you or your staff to discuss this further. Families across Missouri—and more importantly, the individuals placed under guardianship—deserve protection, dignity, and a law that puts their humanity first

The mass detention, deportation, and surveillance of immigrant communities are a stain on our country's history. The GEO Group, CoreCivic, and the banks that finance them are all complicit. *Photo by Molly Adams.

More details:   Elsy Berrios, a mother and Westminster resident, was violently taken into ICE custody by two agents (one of them masked) on March 31, 2025 in Westminster, MD. The agents did not produce a warrant, and Berrios was not resisting. Her daughter filmed as the ICE agents violated Berrios’ constitutional fourth amendment right by smashing her car window and taking her away. Ms. Berrios has an employee authorization document and had been working as a seamstress while she applied for asylum. Now, Berrios is being detained at the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center in Pennsylvania, and, in an immigration court that is operating under the Trump administration Department of Justice’s interpretation and bidding, Berrios was denied bond. On April 14, 2025, Sheriff DeWees said of Ms. Berrios, “It’s about time they came up and got her. She’s no big loss to this community.” We condemn Sheriff DeWees’ cavalier dehumanization of a community member based on unsubstantiated and disputed allegations. This is just one example of how ICE agents, with the support of local law enforcement, are enacting the Trump administration’s illegal reign of terror on immigrants’ right in our backyard. Carroll County Sheriff Jim Dewees and Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker claim that local cooperation with ICE is just "common sense.” They characterize people as "illegal" for simply existing in Carroll County while they work through an intentionally broken immigration system. They conflate being arrested with being guilty. They say cooperation with ICE will make Carroll County “safer.” But, we know that these claims of “common sense” and “safety” mask actions that trample Carroll County residents’ constitutional due process rights, that pit neighbor against neighbor, that erode trust between immigrants and the police, and that result in less community safety.  In March 2025, the Carroll County Sheriff’s office signed a working agreement with ICE to provide Warrant Service Officer (WSO) training to Carroll County Detention Center deputies. Due to a bill in the Maryland General Assembly attempting to ban such an agreement, DeWees did not immediately implement it. Now that the legislative session has ended and such agreements were not banned, DeWees has a green light to begin the WSO training. The training will allow Carroll County Detention Center deputies to serve and execute ICE administrative arrest warrants to people held in Carroll County detention who are believed to be undocumented immigrants. Warrant Service Officer training agreements are part of the 287(g) program, which draws its name from the Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes it. 287(g) agreements create partnerships between ICE and local and state law enforcement – delegating authority to allow local officers to perform some of the same functions as an immigration officer.  Sheriff DeWees mischaracterizes 287(g) agreements as “non-discriminatory” and all about community safety. But, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) researchers describe WSO Programs as “an attempt to shield local officers from liability when they violate people’s rights, and as a way to subvert state and local decisions not to participate in immigration enforcement.” In direct contradiction to DeWees’ claims –  • Uniform crime report data show that 287(g) programs do not make communities safer.  • Data show that 287(g) programs undermine public safety “by decreasing trust in local law enforcement and diverting resources away from investigation of serious crimes.”   • 287(g) programs are feeding into a discriminatory immigration system. And studies have shown that “programs pushing more collaboration between local police and ICE like 287(g) use racial profiling to stop, arrest, and deport Black and Brown immigrants.” Carroll County residents’ politics are varied, but we are united in our desire to keep an inhumane, illegal, and weaponized immigration system out of our county. We have seen how ICE agents violated Elsy Berrios’ rights in our community. We have  seen ICE agents enacting illegal orders by detaining and “disappearing”  Kilmar Abrego Garcia and over 200 other immigrants to CECOT prison in El Salvador with no due process. We have seen ICE weaponized to suppress the free speech of students and others who lawfully protest. We have seen videos of ICE agents harassing and brutalizing people all over the country including in our region. Imagine what we have not seen! Under any circumstances, we do not support local cooperation with ICE or 287(g) agreements, which have been shown to be racist and dangerous for communities. Under the current presidential administration, cooperation with ICE and implementation of 287(g) agreements amount to local facilitation of and complicity with illegal and inhumane orders. ICE is currently not operating under constitutional principles. Therefore, Carroll County residents demand that the Sheriff’s office end all cooperation with ICE and end the WSO training 287(g) agreement.  The ACLU states that “the fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.” As we see these rights being trampled across the United States and in Carroll County, we are speaking up to protect ourselves and our neighbors. It is now the Carroll County Sheriff office’s turn to be on the right side of history and stand up for the rights of immigrants and all community members by serving the Carroll County community instead of serving the Trump administration’s brutal and inhumane agenda.

“Why should other people join me in my campaign for the Correctional Transparency Act?” “Because every person — whether inside or outside prison walls — deserves accountability, safety, and dignity. Right now, too many abuses go unseen and unheard behind locked doors. Requiring body cameras in all state and federal prisons and jails is a simple, powerful step toward transparency and justice. This isn’t just about protecting inmates — it’s about protecting correctional officers, restoring public trust, and making sure our tax-funded institutions uphold the values we claim to stand for. By joining this campaign, you’re standing up for human rights, government accountability, and common-sense reform. Together, we can shine a light where it’s long been dark — and help create a correctional system that’s safer, fairer, and more just for everyone.”

Bullying isn't just "kids being kids"—it's a crisis that claims lives, destroys self-esteem, and leaves lasting emotional scars. When we stay silent, we allow a system that tolerates cruelty to continue. When we speak up, we save lives. You should join this campaign because: • Every child deserves safety. Schools should be places of learning, not fear. No child should dread going to school because of harassment, threats, or violence. • Tragedies like Jason’s death are preventable. This is not an isolated incident. When bullying is ignored or mishandled, it escalates—with heartbreaking consequences. • Legislation works. With clear laws in place, schools are held accountable, educators are equipped to intervene, and students know there are consequences. Change doesn't happen in silence—it happens through action and policy. • We all have a role to play. Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or simply someone who cares, your voice matters. Real change requires a community united in compassion, courage, and conviction. By standing together, we can turn pain into purpose—and make sure no other child is lost because we failed to protect them. This is about saving lives, healing families, and building a kinder future. Join us. Speak out. Push for the protection our children deserve.

My freshman year of high school, I was on the Max, when our Max was stopped for several minutes while the TriMet Safety and Response Team arrived, to help a man who has overdosed. Fortunately, the man was fine, but had there been more drugs in his system, without Narcan, he would have died in the time it took for the Safety Team to get there. I have had multiple people tell me about how they are on drugs, and have been multiple people be kicked off the Max for the illegal possession of fentanyl. Currently, the TriMet system is relying on passengers to carry Narcan and save lives. This burden should not be on children. “The number of unintentional overdose deaths related to illicitly manufactured fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022, increasing from 223 to 843 overdose fatalities.” (Data source: CDC SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data).  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: • More than 645,000 people in the United States have died from overdoses involving opioids since the epidemic began; • The number of annual opioid overdose deaths remains more than six times higher than it was in 1999; • There were approximately 81,806 opioid overdose deaths in 2022 Years and 90% involved synthetic opioids other than methadone • There were nearly 290,000 hospitalizations and emergency department visits related to opioid poisoning in 2016 In 2024, a bartender named Tanaz Polson was forced to use her Narcan (that she started to carry with her after observing several previous overdoses on Public Transportation) on a man who overdosed on her Max. After giving several doses, the man ultimately passed away.  The driver had originally urged the woman to wait for Emergency Services to arrive, but the brave women defied this and made an effort to save his life. Later, she described this ordeal as “traumatizing.” She believes that “If we treated addiction like we treated any other disease, cancer, diabetes- everybody would carry Narcan. The fact that drivers don’t carry it, security guards don’t carry it, is huge. Had that security guard done something, had they alerted somebody, had they administered themselves, maybe we wouldn’t be talking about a guy that died.” Narcan would save lives.

Trump has ratcheted up his fight with the judiciary when his FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge. And then, Trump’s press secretary wouldn’t rule out arresting Supreme Court justices. The Trump admin is accusing the judge of obstructing immigration officials — following through on Trump's threat against all local, state, and federal officials who try to stop his vile mass deportation plans. All while his administration defies federal court orders. This public show of force against the checks on Trump’s power is the latest move to take down our democracy and the rule of law. Republicans in the Senate are also pushing the No Rogue Rulings Act, a bill already passed in the House to take power away from federal judges and hand it to Trump. Our leaders must stand against this extreme power grab. The arrest of the county judge in Wisconsin, celebrated by FBI Director Kash Patel, is an extreme act meant to strike fear into any judge or other government official who goes against Trump’s agenda. And the No Rogue Rulings Act is an extreme right-wing reaction to federal judges placing injunctions on Trump’s policies. Trump’s showdown with the judiciary is a constitutional crisis. Republicans in Congress are trying to tilt the scales for Trump and hand him absolute power with their No Rogue Rulings legislation. Sign the petition: The rule of law and our democracy are on the line. Stop Trump’s power grab — oppose the No Rogue Rulings Act! Sources: - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/26/judge-dugan-arrest-trump-battle-courts/ - https://newrepublic.com/post/194481/karoline-leavitt-arrest-supreme-court-judges

Justice cannot be served behind closed doors, nor can it be trusted when bias is left unchecked. Please sign and share this petition to hold our judiciary accountable and ensure the Karen Read case is tried fairly — as our Constitution demands.