Today: Thank Democrats for standing strong against Trump's border wall shutdown

Call your Democratic senator and thank them for opposing Trump's hateful and wasteful border wall.

Dear MoveOn member,

It's official: We're now in the longest government shutdown in history.

Yet despite all the pressure an almost monthlong shutdown brings, not a single Democrat has indicated they would approve paying Donald Trump the ransom for his racist border wall.

We all want the government to reopen and to bring financial relief to over 800,000 federal workers and contractors, as well as their families and everyone using government services, but we can't allow a functioning government and employee wages to become bargaining chips every time Trump isn't getting his way.

Right now, we need to thank Democrats and independents and tell them to stay strong against Trump's hateful and wasteful border wall. Call your senator now at 844-765-2408. 

Here's an important message you can share with them: 

Thank you for staying strong against a hateful and wasteful border wall and not giving in to Trump's shutdown. We need to ensure the public—and the White House—understand the basic human rights that people seeking asylum have and that there is no security crisis at the border. We need to hold on to our principles of building a nation where everyone can thrive, not further demonize immigrants and militarize our border with a foolish wall, increased technology or more border agents.

Staying strong includes not ceding any ground to the Trump administration's attacks on immigrants and asylum-seekers by buying into the completely false notion of needing "increased border security" and Trump's manufactured "crisis."

We must focus on the human right, protected by international laws, to enter this country and apply for asylum and not get caught up in a debate about other ways we can militarize the border with increased technology or agents. And we must make sure that Democrats and independents—who do want to reopen the government—know that we are standing with them in this fight as the refuse to pay Trump's ransom.

Trump has been holding pay for 800,000 workers hostage to pay for his wall. Any money to appease him would now signal that the shutdown worked and enable him to use this strategy again, to terrorize immigrants and asylum seekers or to make other demands for his destructive and delusional agenda.

Thankfully, Democrats and Independents in Congress are not giving in, even under immense pressure. Call to thank Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand now for standing up to Trump's tantrum and tell them to focus on the rights of asylum seekers, not militarizing the border. Here is where to call: 844-765-2408.

Thanks for all you do.

–Emma, Corinne, Iram, Scott, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 15, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Mitch McConnell (petition)

Demand Mitch McConnell listen to the American people and allow the Senate to hold a vote to reopen the government.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

I'm Martha Singleton, a MoveOn member in Miami, Florida, and I started a petition to Mitch McConnell, which says:

Stop blocking the will of the people! The U.S. House has passed a bill to reopen the government, so the Senate should be allowed to vote on it. McConnell's excuses and tactics run against our democracy!

The Senate voted nearly unanimously for a bill to keep the government open last month, but now Mitch McConnell is blocking his own colleagues from doing their jobs with a vote to reopen the government, even though he knows it will pass. This is now the longest shutdown ever!¹

I am tired of Senator McConnell failing to allow the Senate to vote on major issues throughout his tenure, a trait that is expected in countries that do not enjoy democratic freedoms. Congress should not cower in fear of Trump's anger and hate. 800,000 workers' pay depends on them; they must act now.²

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Martha Singleton

Sources:

1. "Senate Democrats pushed a vote to reopen the government. Mitch McConnell shot them down," Vox,
January 10, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/61967?t=9&akid=224402%2E10220574%2E0Wn_BJ

2. Ibid.

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 12, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

MoveOn's plan to end the shutdown

It is now Day 20 of Donald Trump's temper tantrum-induced government shutdown. I've never seen anything like this before.

Dear MoveOn member,

It is now Day 20 of Donald Trump's temper tantrum-induced government shutdown. I've never seen anything like this before.

Let's be very clear: Building a wall on our southern border is a dumb idea that is racist and xenophobic, and Trump's willingness to hold 800,000 federal workers and additional contractors hostage, or even declare a state of emergency in order to get it built, is downright delusional, and bordering on dictatorial.

Trump's increasingly outrageous comments over the past few days make it clear that he does not understand the implications of the shutdown or care about its devastating impact on the federal workers and government contractors who have spent three weeks without a paycheck—or the impact it has on their families, communities, and local economies.

Earlier this week, Trump told lawmakers that they should refer to the shutdown as a "strike" instead, as if this were the same as a group of workers rising up for better pay, rather than the deranged whim of a single man that is keeping nearly one million workers from being paid.¹ And he has continued to threaten to take the extraordinary and terrifying step of declaring a national emergency in order to force the military to build the wall for him without the approval of Congress.

Enough is enough. We must rise up together and demand that Congress act to reopen the government without a dime for Trump's pointless, racist wall.

MoveOn is doing everything in its power to fight for immigrant communities and federal workers—and to put an end to Trump's latest tantrum. Eddie, will you chip in $3 right now to power this campaign to end the Trump shutdown?

Here is what MoveOn has planned to win this fight:

• Commission polling to show vulnerable Republican senators who are up for re-election in 2020 that their constituents don't want a shutdown, don't want a wall, but do want their senators to stand up to Trump and reopen the government.
• Flooding the Senate with calls demanding senators vote to reopen the government. Only hours before Trump decided to shut down the government, the Senate voted unanimously to fund the government without building the wall, but now Mitch McConnell refuses to stand up to Trump and put the same bill up for a vote. MoveOn members have already made thousands of calls to their senators, and MoveOn will continue to drive even more calls to make sure that these elected officials know that there will be consequences unless they take action.
• Supporting Senate Democrats who are blocking all bills until the government is open. Even with Democrats in the minority, they have major power in the Senate to stop McConnell from operating as business as usual by blocking any bill that comes to the floor that is not about reopening the government. It is critical that Democrats remain strong and committed to this strategy, even as Trump continues to shift the blame.
• Producing videos and digital ads detailing the real impacts of the shutdown. Over 800,000 workers are not getting paychecks, TSA agents forced to work without pay are calling in sick, and thousands of low-income workers will never receive back pay for the work they have done during the shutdown.² Highlighting these stories of the real impact of Trump's shutdown will help to focus the conversation and remind people across the country who is truly to blame for this mess.
• Preparing to launch MoveOn's Crisis Response Network if Trump declares a state of emergency. If Trump takes this extraordinary step, it may also allow him to enact other brazen anti-democratic policies, which is why hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members are ready to mobilize in protest if Trump seizes extraordinary powers in declaring a state of emergency to build his wall.

If the shutdown lasts through Saturday, it will become the longest government shutdown in American history. It is time to pull out all the stops and do everything we can to end it. Which is why I'm asking:

Will you chip in $3 right now to power MoveOn's campaign to end the Trump shutdown?

Trump's willingness to keep the government shut down for, as he said, "months or even years" shows just how far he is willing to go to get what he wants—and how little regard he has for the American people and the fundamentals of democracy.³

This move is another slap in the face of immigrant communities already under attack by Trump's inhumane, racist policies; the federal workers he shamelessly forced to work without pay for three weeks; and for the will of the American public who last November voted resoundingly against his immigration policies.

The reality is simple: Donald Trump is a liar. There is no national security emergency at the United States-Mexico border, and building a wall will do absolutely nothing except serve as a symbol of Trump's dangerous nationalism. In the meantime, there is a humanitarian crisis that Trump and the Republicans are creating: separating families, denying asylum-seekers the legal right to pursue asylum, and even tear-gassing families that are simply looking for a better life. We can and must show respect and dignity to immigrants—and follow existing laws that respect asylum-seekers.

The ongoing government shutdown is an undemocratic power grab from an unhinged man unhappy with the results of the 2018 election.

We know how far Trump is willing to go to get what he wants, and we must do everything in our power to stop him.

Click here to chip in $3 now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Robert Reich

Sources:

1. "Trump told lawmakers he prefers word 'strike' to government shutdown, sources say," CNN, January 5, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/61919?t=5&akid=224306%2E10220574%2EAtyEd5

2. "Amid shutdown, more TSA agents are calling in sick. Here's what you need to know," CNBC, January 5, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/61920?t=7&akid=224306%2E10220574%2EAtyEd5

3. "Trump Says Shutdown Could Last 'Months or Even Years,'" The Daily Beast, January 4, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/61921?t=9&akid=224306%2E10220574%2EAtyEd5

Want to support MoveOn's work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

---

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 11th, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Call now: No ransom money for Trump's wall!

In his speech, Trump told his supporters to call Congress. So we know that his supporters will call their senators, riled up by Trump's vitriol and lies. So we need Democrats to know we have their back—to insist we should reopen the government WITH NO DOLLARS FOR TRUMP'S RACIST, WASTEFUL WALL.

Dear MoveOn member,

Last night, Donald Trump took over our nation's airwaves to continue to spread his xenophobic lies and anti-immigrant fearmongering to justify his demand for a wasteful, racist border wall.

 

In his speech, Trump told his supporters to call Congress. So we know that his supporters will call their senators, riled up by Trump's vitriol and lies. So we need Democrats to know we have their back—to insist we should reopen the government WITH NO DOLLARS FOR TRUMP'S RACIST, WASTEFUL WALL.

Can you call your senators, Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, now to tell them to stand strong: Reopen the government, support working families, and give no dollars to Trump's wall!

Here's where to call:

• Sen. Schumer - (202) 224-6542
• Sen. Gillibrand - (202) 224-4451

Click here for notes on what you can say on the phone and to report your call so we know how many MoveOn members are speaking out.

Our country is in the third week of a government shutdown caused by Trump—and sustained by Republicans—that is holding hostage the livelihood of 800,000 federal workers and their families. Trump didn't even mention these families in his address.

The Democratic-led House of Representatives has already passed a bill to reopen the government immediately. But the Republicans in the Senate are refusing to even vote on reopening the government—despite a unanimous vote on a similar bill just weeks ago.

 

We can—and we must—do better. We can live up to our nation's aspirations to welcome immigrants seeking a better life for their families. We can invest in resources to more quickly process asylum requests. We can confront the humanitarian crisis the Trump administration is escalating—while refuting the false national security crisis Trump and his cronies are promoting through their xenophobic lies.

 

Meanwhile senators will be feeling pressure to open the government for the sake of 800,000 workers, their families and communities, and all of us who rely on government services. We must reopen the government—but it's critical we do so on the terms that a vast majority of Americans demand: No money for the wall. And treat immigrant families with respect and dignity.

 

We know that Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand will be hearing from Trump supporters today, which is why it's critical we also deliver their offices a clear message to stand strong against this xenophobia as they work to reopen the government. Can you call them now?

Click here for notes for your call or to let us know how it went.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Emma, Nick, Ben, Erica, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 9, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Networks refused to air Obama's immigration speech in 2014 but now they want to air Trump's racism. We say no. (Sign the petition)

Trump has consistently lied about immigration and demonized immigrants in his attempt to build a racist, wasteful wall. He's now asked for national airtime to rile up his base, spew his racism and propaganda, and argue for this wall.

In 2014, networks refused to air President Obama's immigration speech because it was deemed too "partisan." Now, many are lining up to air Trump's speech on his racist border wall and on immigration. Tell the networks: Stop spreading Trump's lies.

Dear MoveOn member,

Donald Trump has been lying about immigration, throwing a tantrum over his dream for a wasteful, racist border wall, and riling up vitriol and hate.

Now, he is demanding a primetime stage for his hateful lies, which is why MoveOn members are signing on to this petition to CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS, which says: 

Trump has consistently lied about immigration and demonized immigrants in his attempt to build a racist, wasteful wall. He's now asked for national airtime to rile up his base, spew his racism and propaganda, and argue for this wall. Don't give free airtime to his partisan, hateful lies. Refuse to air his speech.

Let's all remember, Donald Trump started off his anti-immigration rhetoric by spewing racism against Mexicans. He then went on to say he will implement a Muslim Ban, and it was one of the first policies he implemented as president.

Trump has shut down the government and is holding our government and the livelihood of 800,000 workers and their families hostage over a racist, wasteful wall.

At every turn, he lies about the justification for the wall. And he attacks immigrants, riling up xenophobic and anti-Muslim fervor around the country.

Now, he has asked to address the nation about the wall—and indications are he'll continue his barrage of lies and assaults on immigrants. It is easy for networks to respond: They can refuse his request for airtime.

Networks refused to air President Obama's 2014 speech on immigration. Trump's speech, if it follows his track record, will be full of lies and attacks, all about shoring up right-wing political support.

Networks can send a clear message to a man who has attacked immigrants and Muslims, abused the free press, shuttered our government, and threatens democracy: Refuse to air his hateful lies.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Justin, Gabby, Iram, Schuyler, and the rest of the team

 

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 8, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Add your name: Congratulations, Speaker Pelosi!

We'll send Speaker Pelosi this card, with the names of all the MoveOn members who have signed it—and a personal comment if you want to add one—so she knows that when she stands up for progressive values, we've got her back.

Dear MoveOn member,

Click here to sign our congratulations card to Nancy Pelosi, who was just sworn in TODAY as speaker of the House! And tell her we're ready to join the fight.

Earlier today, the 116th Congress was sworn in on Capitol Hill, and Democrats took back control of the House. A record-shattering 106 women will be sworn in. It is a group of progressive fighters already making waves and the most diverse Congress ever elected. And Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to ever hold the position, is now speaker of the House!

This is a historic day, and one that MoveOn members like you, Eddie, helped to make happen. But it also comes at a historically uncertain time in our country, and as Democrats take back control, it is more critical than ever that they be bold and unwavering in their defense of our democracy.

We may soon enter the third week of a government shutdown caused by Donald Trump's tantrum over funding for his pointless, racist border wall. In the past month, two children have died while incarcerated at the border. The secretary of defense has resigned in protest. The man now overseeing the Mueller investigation is an avowed Trump lackey who has publicly called for it to be shut down.

Democrats must respond to these crises with big ideas, and they must not surrender to Trump's petulant demands.

So far, Nancy Pelosi has stood strong and refused to give in to Trump, and as she takes back the gavel today, we need her to continue being bold.

That's why we are going to send her thank-you cards from MoveOn members, commending her on her work so far and calling on her to continue being bold in her work as speaker of the House.

Click here to sign the card.

The card reads:

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

Congratulations!

We're proud to stand with you as you become speaker of the House. We applaud you for showing great leadership in standing up to the abuses of the Trump administration, refusing to bow to Donald Trump's childish whims, and working to defend our democracy.

We stand with you. In these difficult times, we want and need you to be bold.

As we enter the third week of a government shutdown, we ask you to stay strong and refuse to fund the useless, wasteful, and racist border wall Trump so desperately wants. As Democrats take power in the House, we ask you to push for progressive policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All; to defend the rights of immigrants, women, Muslims, people of color, LGBTQ Americans and other communities under direct attack from the administration, to use the powers of the House to investigate and hold Trump and his administration accountable; and to protect the Mueller investigation.

We urge you to act boldly, and we promise to stand with you when you fight for all of us in the months ahead. (And yes, we'll let you know when we disagree, too!)

We'll send Speaker Pelosi this card, with the names of all the MoveOn members who have signed it—and a personal comment if you want to add one—so she knows that when she stands up for progressive values, we've got her back.

Click here to add your name to the card we'll send to Speaker Pelosi, congratulating her and urging her to push for bold, progressive policies in Congress.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Nick, Anne, Matt, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 3, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tell us what you think

Dear MoveOn member,

We need your input.

MoveOn's power and direction come entirely from members like you. That's why it's important that the focus of our work be decided by MoveOn members (like you!). Right now, we need your input to help set our priorities for upcoming campaigns.

Can you take a moment to tell us how you think MoveOn is doing and help set our course together?

Your answers will help determine MoveOn's future course of action.

Please fill out the quick survey here.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Stephen, Milan, Victoria, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on January 3, 2019. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.