In advance of President Trump's first address to Congress on Tuesday, February 28, major national advocacy groups and individuals resisting his harmful agenda are joining together to hold 'A Resistance Address: Defending American Values in a Time of Moral Crisis' -- an address and rally outside the White House before Trump gives his address to a joint session of Congress. Organizations and individuals involved include Rosie O'Donnell, Food & Water Watch, ACLU, MoveOn.org Civic Action, National Nurses United, Hip Hop Caucus, DailyKos, Our Revolution, and many others.
Thousands are expected to participate in the rally, sending a clear message outside of Trump's front door that his agenda does not represent the values of the American people. The rally will feature speakers from diverse organizations and groups of people who have been impacted and harmed by the Trump Administration's policies, including women, people of color, and members of LGBTQ community, as well as environmental and immigrants rights groups. Following the first disastrous month of his Administration, Trump is expected to articulate a discriminatory agenda that continues to put people in harm's way, undermines equality and our shared values, and damages our environment.
"The Trump administration does not represent the values of most Americans," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch. "We're here to remind him that not only are his policies unpopular, they are also destructive to the fabric of this nation and our planet. That's why the state of the resistance is stronger than ever -- and will continue to grow."
"The Trump administration has gone to great lengths of dividing and not uniting citizens, creating an 'us' versus 'them' environment when speaking to all Americans, it is shameful, and dangerous. Only when the American values of justice and equality are upheld will we escape the moral crisis that this discriminatory agenda represents for our nation," said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus.
"We rally not only to resist but to build a movement of millions working for social, environmental and economic justice," said Larry Cohen of Our Revolution.
WHO: ACLU; DailyKos; Food & Water Watch; MoveOn.org; National Nurses United; Our Revolution; People Demanding Action; and others
WHAT: 'A Resistance Address: Defending American Values in a Time of Moral Crisis' Rally ahead of Trump's Address to a joint session of Congress. On Social Media, #ResistanceAddress.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 28, 6pm-7:30pm ET; media availability with organizers from 5:30-6:00pm ET
WHERE: Lafayette Park, Washington, D.C. (In front of the White House)
LIVESTREAM: Information to come, livestream will be provided.
RSVP: To RSVP for the media availability, contact Robyn Shapiro, robyn.shapiro@berlinrosen.com, 202.800.7407
Note: Organizers noted that the address and rally will feature various parts of the resistance but certainly not all of the resistance, which takes many forms and is far larger than can fit into one event.
For News Crews:
There are no tripods allowed by the park service. All cameras must be carried (hand or shoulder)
Equipment cannot be stored under the stage
Equipment cannot be left unattended
Cables must be covered with matting in a cable trough
Everything that has to be carried in has to go on stage if it's not moving around with a person, there are no places for storage