We are not terrorists. We are not criminals. We are people who are suffering. We legally won the Diversity Visa Lottery, and we have the right to enjoy this opportunity just like everyone else. We are fleeing war in our country and asking for help — not to harm, but to live a better life and build a future for ourselves and our children.

When Sen. Padilla of California spoke up at a press conference with Kristi Noem, he was forcibly grabbed, pushed out of the room, wrestled to the ground, and handcuffed—all while identifying himself and peacefully doing his job. The Trump administration needs to hear from all corners of the country and elected officials from both sides of the aisle that this is intolerable. In calls to Congress and protests in the streets, we will show them that our democracy is stronger than their autocracy. The Trump administration has manufactured a crisis to justify aggressive federal action in California and even deployment of U.S. military forces on domestic soil. It's outrageous, in defiance of our rights, liberty, and safety. It is meant to terrorize immigrant communities, criminalize protest, and silence dissent. And Trump is doing all of this while trying to pass his funding bill to take away health care from 16 million people to pay for billionaire tax cuts.  The Trump administration is bringing violence to all of our cities—and this act by federal agents is an extension of that agenda. It’s clear that the administration won’t allow for any dissent, protest, or scrutiny as it carries out its reckless deportation policies. Handcuffing a sitting United States senator for simply doing his job is another escalation in the attack on all of our civil liberties. This isn’t just about one person’s rights; it’s about all of our rights.  Sen. Padilla deserves our country’s thanks—for showing up for his constituents and putting his own safety on the line. This shouldn’t be necessary, but the Trump administration has made it clear that we need all leaders—political, civic, religious, cultural, and others—doing what they can to show up for the rights and liberties of us all. Thank you, Sen. Padilla. We have your back.

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.

Public schools should be safe and welcoming for all students, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, or religious background. By forcing every public school in Texas to display the Ten Commandments, the Texas government is sending a loud and clear message to the many students who don’t practice Christianity: You don’t belong here. This is all part of a coordinated conservative playbook to take control of our schools, undermine public education, and push an extreme Christian nationalist agenda nationwide. Sign the petition to fight back >> 

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of California President David Huerta was assaulted, injured, and detained while advocating for immigrant workers. He was hospitalized for a head injury sustained during his arrest, but the federal government has charged him with with conspiracy to impede an officer. David, a husband and father of two, is also a well-known and beloved community member. From organizing with Justice for Janitors to his decades of work with SEIU, Huerta has been a champion for workers in Los Angeles. In 2014, he was awarded the National Champion of Change from then-President Barack Obama for his advocacy and commitment to fighting for immigrant neighbors. And now, the Trump administration threatens to imprison him.  The Trump administration is trying to silence civil unrest and using workers like David to intimidate everyday people from exercising their fundamental rights. Add your name to show your solidarity with David and the immigrant workers across the country that he was defending.

Trump’s deployment of the military to intimidate and quell local protests—without a request from the governor—is the first incident of its kind in sixty years. And the conditions that would warrant such an intervention were simply not met. Title 10 of the U.S. Code on Armed Services—the loop hole Trump is using to justify moving forward without governor approval—has never been evoked the way Trump is leveraging it. And this violation of our right to protest is costing us—literally. Deploying the troops to L.A. will cost taxpayers around $134 million.  L.A. is ground zero for Trump to see what he can get away with when it comes to abusing the powers of the U.S. military. And make no mistake, this is the blueprint he will use for other cities and states across the country.  Militarized presence does not quell social unrest—it ramps it up. Our federal government should be following the lead of state and local governments, not bulldozing over individual and state rights to silence dissent and exert control.  Add your name to the petition to urge governors to fight back against Trump’s militarized power grabs!

When it comes to the bird flu, RFK Jr.’s unfounded claims are once again causing experts to sound the alarm. He has carelessly suggested that farmers should allow bird flu to run unchecked, a plan that scientists are calling “inhumane and dangerous.” The bird flu has already devastated the commercial poultry industry after 173 million birds were culled—causing the price of eggs to skyrocket. And while the 70 people infected have been mostly farm workers, the virus continues to spread aggressively among cattle herds and poultry flock, raising concern about how it will mutate and become more infectious between humans.  Once again, the Trump administration is putting debunked science ahead of public health. The Trump administration must prioritize public health and safety by fully funding vaccine research, including for the bird flu. Add your name now >> 

The GLOBE Program is a 30 year program providing participants with support to perform real world, hands on science experience through data collection, data analysis and connecting users to NASA and scientists around the world.  In the US alone there are over 32,000 trained GLOBE teachers, over 500,000 students, and over 150,000 citizen scientists that have contributed nearly 180 million unique measurements.  Over 1,000 US student projects can be found on the GLOBE website with countless stories of the impact GLOBE has had on students and thousands of citizen scientists.  Read about Lily C - a student from Mississippi - who participated in GLOBE in Jr. High and now High school - receiving 7 different awards from various national organizations - https://www.globe.gov/web/united-states-of-america/home/news/-/newsdetail/14718/usm-regional-science-fair Read about US partner organizations who have used GLOBE to connect with students from kindergarten through graduate school -https://www.globe.gov/documents/14718/79587433/2024+U.S.+GLOBE+Partner+Yearbook.pdf/970775fc-30c8-90e0-0db0-01415e540ebe?t=1748021493051 Watch the video of the GLOBE Learning Expedition - bringing together GLOBE participants from around the world - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS8UKw1OfNU Support science, NASA and the GLOBE Program.  For a sample script and senator contact information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JMkZytRfZeSgX4NMWZz7UQT5BIXurMHEXSaQYb33zYQ/edit?usp=sharing  To join Friends of GLOBE refer to this google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m8GkqYCFXwjPW8NN_IyFe5Ue8i0pDZlTzlC5IiY8sWw/edit?usp=sharing

Attacks against LGBTQ+ communities have spiked in the last five years. In 2020, only 100 anti-LGBTQ+ laws were introduced in states across the country—today, it’s eight times that. Republicans are stoking homophobia—including intentionally spreading disinformation and misinformation—in order to instill fear and distract the general public while they cheat the American people and give tax breaks to their wealthy friends. But we refuse to be divided.  The majority of Americans support LGBTQ+ equal rights. Republicans are out of step with the American people and pushing a discriminatory agenda in order to enrich themselves.  State governors have a responsibility to represent everybody in their state and to protect LGBTQ+ residents from attacks that threaten their freedom and fundamental rights. Add your name to the petition to urge your governor to take action NOW! 

Making the perpetrators pay for the damage to the U.S. Institute of Peace is important for several ethical, legal, and civic reasons: 1. Accountability Upholds the Rule of Law When officials or agents of the government abuse their power, allowing them to walk away without consequence sets a dangerous precedent. Requiring restitution shows that no one is above the law—not even politically connected actors. 2. Taxpayers Shouldn't Pay for Political Vandalism The damage was not accidental—it resulted from an illegal takeover and willful neglect. If the public pays for those repairs, it rewards bad behavior and misuses public funds. The financial burden belongs to those who caused the harm. 3. Restoring Trust in Government Institutions USIP is a nonpartisan, congressionally chartered institution with a mission to prevent violence. If such an institution can be illegally dismantled with no consequence, public faith in the integrity and independence of government agencies erodes. 4. Reparations Are a Form of Justice Making perpetrators pay isn’t about punishment alone—it’s about repairing the harm done. That includes: • The cost of building repairs • Compensating wrongfully fired workers • Restoring operational capacity and morale 5. It Deters Future Abuses Without consequences, future actors may feel emboldened to repeat or escalate similar abuses. Restitution, fines, or community service send a clear message: you don’t get to break the public’s trust without paying for it.

The Trump administration is collecting our personal information — and giving Big Tech company Palantir our tax dollars for this dangerous WH surveillance project. Palantir’s founder, Peter Thiel, is a billionaire Trump mega-donor. Palantir has received at least $113 million from the federal government since Trump took office in January. Fears are growing that Trump and Palantir are compiling a master list of personal information on Americans that could give Trump “untold surveillance power.” Congress must call for an end to Trump’s insidious surveillance scheme and Thiel’s data collection cash grab. Government officials say Palantir’s tech could easily merge information from different government agencies — giving Trump a coordinated set of personal data on everyone in America. The data could include hundreds of data points on citizens and others through government databases, including their bank account numbers, the amount of their student debt, their medical claims, and any disability status. Elon Musk’s DOGE chose Palantir for this anti-democratic undertaking, giving fellow Trump mega-donor Thiel a windfall of cash. If our elected leaders stand by and do nothing, they will allow the White House to amass unprecedented power and a detailed look into our individual lives. Trump would have all the information he needs to threaten, persecute, attack, and punish all of his political enemies. Sign the petition: Stop Trump’s dangerous escalation in government data collection. SOURCE: New York Times, “Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans,” May 30, 2025.

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.