Urge Congress to decry Trump’s abuses to create confrontation

We are witnessing numerous popular protests all over the world — in many parts — expressing the growing unease of civil society in the face of particularly critical political and social situations. While I urge the demonstrators to present their demands peacefully, without giving in to the temptation of aggression and violence, I appeal to all those with public and governmental responsibilities to listen to the voice of their fellow citizens and to meet their just aspirations, ensuring full respect for human rights and civil liberties.

—Pope Francis, Angelus prayer, 13 September 2020

Urge Congress to decry Trump’s abuses to create confrontation

The Sisters of Mercy have issued a statement in response to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and military escalation against peaceful protesters in Los Angeles. You can read that statement here.

It is unconscionable to execute indiscriminate immigration sweeps that snatch up workers, parents, students, people with legal status, and even U.S. citizens. Protests in Los Angeles last week to respond to the brutality of the ICE raids were largely peaceful, as faith leaders on the scene reported. Even the Los Angeles Police Department called them peaceful. Yet, the Trump administration labeled the protestors as invaders who represent an existential threat to the country and called in the National Guard which escalated tensions and created chaos. The president now has called in the Marines.

Please use the draft email in the grey box at right (below on mobile devices) to urge your members of Congress to speak publicly against the Trump administration’s gross abuse of power.

Background

The president of the United States has the legal authority, via the Insurrection Act, to turn the U.S. military against its own citizens. The legal definition of “insurrection” is vague, and the courts are likely to err on the administration’s side. Regardless of the legality of calling out almost 5,000 troops to the city of Los Angeles, press coverage and faith leaders’ reports reveal that the daytime demonstrations were overwhelmingly peaceful gatherings to stand in solidarity with those being arrested and detained, and to uphold our national values. Tactics like sidewalk stops, deploying tear gas into vehicles, and door-to-door screening of whole families are just cause for public outcry. The Trump administration’s questionable decision to turn our military against our own neighbors demands powerful response.

Human rights organizations are calling the administration’s aggressive action a clear abuse of power, and many political commentators are suggesting that the administration wants to escalate to provoke chaos and, thus, have an excuse to crack down on and scapegoat immigrants even more. The chaos also is being used to justify the Administration’s appeal to Congress to pass $151 billion in immigration provisions in the reconciliation bill, designed to supercharge ICE’s deportation and detention apparatus.

The American people are recoiling from watching the Trump agenda in action – on immigration and in general. We want common sense solutions, not chaos and destruction. What Trump and Miller are unleashing on our communities goes against everything we stand for as a democracy and a nation made stronger by immigrants.”