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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Brian Stewart, MoveOn.org, press@moveon.org, 319-936-3901

Stacey Mink, Working Families Party, smink@workingfamilies.org, 410-790-9913

Kathy Mulady, People’s Action, k.mulady@peoplesaction.org, 206-992-8787

10,000+ Join #ResistTrumpTuesday Protests in 200+ Actions Nationwide to Oppose Trump's #SwampCabinet and Resist Trump's Agenda

More than 10,000 activists and concerned people are holding more than 200 #ResistTrumpTuesday peaceful rallies outside in-district Congressional offices nationwide today, urging Senators to Stop Trump's #SwampCabinet.

NATIONWIDE

More than 10,000 activists and concerned people are holding more than 200 #ResistTrumpTuesday peaceful rallies outside in-district Congressional offices nationwide today, urging Senators to Stop Trump's #SwampCabinet.

The rallies were planned by activists with MoveOn.org, the Working Families Party, and People's Action to urge the Senate to delay Cabinet confirmations until Americans can learn more about each nominee and the real threat they pose. Activists also held rallies outside offices of House members and corporations to protect the Affordable Care Act and other issues.

*** See photos and videos from the #SwampCabinet rallies here: #SwampCabinet ***

At these rallies at U.S. Senate local district offices, activists delivered a clear message that Trump's Swamp Cabinet of billionaires, racists, and climate-change deniers are unacceptable choices to lead important federal agencies and is not what Americans want or need.

Activists urged Democrats to use every tool in their toolbox to delay and stop these dangerous nominees, including praising all of the Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for voting against Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, who has well-documented ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first time a nominee for Secretary of State doesn't have support from both parties in decades.

At Republican offices, activists conveyed the need to oppose these nominees -- marred by conflicts of interest, potential ethics violations, and extremism -- or else prove that the promise to "drain the swamp" was a lie.

"Millions of people marched against Trump on day one of his administration. Senators who wish to be seen as leaders had better do everything they can to block Trump's dangerous nominees," said Nelini Stamp, membership director of the Working Families Party, which originated the #ResistTrumpTuesdays actions. "People are going to keep showing up to demand their lawmakers stand up to Trump and his agenda."

"From the women's march to Resist Trump Tuesdays, something big is brewing that is only going to grow," said George Goehl, co-director of People's Action. "The Trump agenda is not normal and we will not let it be normalized. His actions out of the gate against women, working people, and the planet demonstrate that he is the extreme, dangerous, and should be challenged at every single turn."

"Most Americans didn't vote for Trump, but nearly all of us will suffer under his administration," said Seong-Ah Cho, who joined the People's Lobby event in Chicago on Tuesday. "It's on us to use this crisis, and all our fear and anger, to come together in a powerful movement that will not only resist Trump's agenda, but also fight for our progressive future."

" Donald Trump riled up crowds claiming he'd 'drain the swamp' in Washington," said MoveOn.org Organizing Director Victoria Kaplan. "But so far his politics have only furthered a culture of corruption, and nowhere is that clearer than in the greed and hate embodied by the nominees to his Swamp Cabinet. No wonder the Republicans are rushing them through and hoping the American people don't get a good look at these nominees, who have built their own power and wealth at the expense of the rest of us."

Here are just three of the #SwampCabinet nominees activists are opposing:

  • Jeff Sessions, attorney general nominee, known for long hostility toward racial equality, voting rights, and criminal justice.
  • Rex Tillerson, secretary of state nominee, a billionaire oil tycoon and longtime head of Exxon Mobil who has stymied action on climate change, and recipient of the Order of Friendship from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
  • Tom Price, secretary of Health and Human Services nominee, a leading opponent of Obamacare who is under fire for trading hundreds of thousands of dollars in shares of health industry stock while pushing legislation that would benefit those stocks and himself.

The rallies build on more than 500 recent community organizing meetings across the country, where more than 13,000 members of MoveOn.org, Working Families Party, People's Action, and other allies joined with neighbors to plan how to fight for progressive values at every level of government and defend our communities from the Trump administration. On Sunday, more than 24,000 people joined an emergency call with MoveOn.org, Indivisible, and the Working Families Party on how to organize locally and effectively to stiffen Democratic spines and weaken pro-Trump Republican resolve, in order to defend our communities and our democracy.

MoveOn is where millions mobilize for a better society--one where everyone can thrive. Whether it's supporting a candidate, passing legislation, or changing our culture, MoveOn members are committed to an inclusive and progressive future. We envision a world marked by equality, sustainability, justice, and love. And we mobilize together to achieve it.