Weekly Call To Action - April 27, 2025

Quote of the Week:

“Imagine if I had done any of this.” — Barack Obama, quoted by USA Today, April 4, 2025

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Federal Actions:

Thank Rep. Strickland for Standing up for Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Immigrant Detainees

Photo: Strickland Website

Background:

• Federal judge temporarily halts order for details on any efforts to return Abrego Garcia to US - AP News
• Wife of wrongly deported Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia forced into safe house after government posts address online

Representative Strickland has provided the following information (adapted from an email response to a constituent) regarding her view of the wrongful detainment and deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador:  

The Trump Administration’s disregard for the Supreme Court and constitutional law is unacceptable. I support Senator Van Hollen’s efforts to reach Mr. Garcia and remain committed to restoring due process in immigration. I’ve demanded ICE transparency, called for an end to private detention centers, and cosponsored the American Dream and Promise Act to protect Temporary Protected Status holders. My Democratic colleagues and I will continue fighting the Administration’s harmful actions and advocating for fair, lawful immigration policies. 

Action: Let’s thank Representative Strickland for standing up for immigrant detainees.

• Marilyn Strickland, Phone: 202-225-9740; Contact Form

Script:  I am your constituent and live at [address]. Thank you Representative Strickland for standing up for the rights of Mr. Abrego Garcia and all immigrant detainees, for fighting this Administration’s harmful actions, and for advocating for fair, lawful immigration policies. I will have your back as you continue to take BOLD and outspoken actions.

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Last Chance to Stop the Save Act: Protect the Vote
“The most extraordinary attack on voting rights in American History”

Source: Vector

From the Rapid Response Federal Watchdog team

Background:

• Brennan Center for Justice
• Democracy Docket

Since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, no major federal law has curtailed voting rights—until now. The SAVE Act, driven by fear and misinformation, poses a serious threat to our right to vote. It would require in-person proof of citizenship using a passport or birth certificate—documents only 1 in 10 Americans have on hand. It also ends online registration and forces in-person sign-up, creating barriers for millions. Even worse, it overrides state authority, mandates voter roll purges, and tosses out mail-in ballots that arrive after polls close—disenfranchising young voters, people of color, and low-income Americans.

The House has passed it. If the Senate does too, it becomes law. Tell your senators: Reject the SAVE Act. Voting is a right—let’s keep it that way.
 
Action: Contact both our Senators and urge them to reject the SAVE Act. 

• Senator Patty Murray, Phone: 253-572-3636 or Contact Form 
• Senator Maria Cantwell, Phone: 253-572-2281 or Contact Form 

• Email both Senators at once using Democracy.io. 

Script: I am your constituent and live at [address]. Please use EVERY TOOL you can to prevent the passage of SAVE, be it floor speeches, social media, field hearings, and public appearances. I’m a voter and I have your back on this. Requiring in-person verification disproportionately burdens rural voters, who may need to travel long distances to comply, and seniors and others who lack transportation to government offices. SAVE directly attacks women: people who have changed their last names will need a new passport. ​

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Help American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Enroll in Electronic Payment of Dues

Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

From Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Craven, April 23, 2025 – by way of notification from the AFGE leadership team
Background: Trump administration ends union dues collection for most feds without notice

The Trump regime issued an executive order illegally eliminating dues deductions for 330,000 AFGE members, threatening the union’s existence. AFGE has launched a campaign to get members to enroll into e-dues so they can remain AFGE members, and more than 100,000 people have been successfully enrolled. However, they need to reach 230,000 more existing AFGE members to get them to enroll in e-dues. We can help by reaching out to these members in an easy to do phone bank.

Action: Register here for a phone bank session on Tuesday, April 29 at 2 pm PDT (as well as for future dates). An update of the campaign will be given at the beginning of the call, followed by training for new folks joining the effort. Calls can then be made at times that are convenient for the phone banker.

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Ways to Support Our Immigrant Neighbors

Photo by Bill Nino on Unsplash

From our friends at Rogan’s List, April 23, 2025

Our friends and neighbors, our students and teachers, our co-workers and customers are being snatched off the street and abducted to unknown fates. Some of them are being forcibly disappeared for their activism and political views, like Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Badar Khan Suri, and Mohsen Mahdawi. Others are being targeted for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time or because they’re considered easy for the deportation machine to get at. Either way, we need to bring as much pressure as we can to bear on their behalf. Here are a few ways you can do so right now:

Action 1: Donate to the American Immigration Council’s new Immigration Justice Access Fund. Even when those targeted by ICE do get their basic due process rights respected, it’s not always easy for them to get a lawyer or navigate a system not in their native language. AIC is funding travel for volunteer attorneys to attend hearings and interpreters to support those detained.

Action 2: Consider donating to or volunteering with a rapid response hotline to track Trump’s deportation forces and support those they come after. We can find a few national hotlines here or search for one in our own communities.

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ACLU Obtains Supreme Court Order Blocking Deportations

Photo by Predrag Pesic on Unsplash

Background:

• Inside the Urgent Fight Over the Trump Administration’s New Deportation Effort - The New York Times (Doesn’t work unless you have a NYT subscription)
• Supreme Court temporarily halts new deportations under Alien Enemies Act : Trump's Terms : NPR

In the middle of the night on Saturday, April 18, the Supreme Court granted an ACLU emergency request to prohibit the federal government from deporting Venezuelan migrants held at the Bluebonnet detention center in Texas. The ACLU petition alleged the Administration unlawfully violated an earlier Supreme Court order that all detainees are entitled to be given reasonable notice that will allow them to challenge their deportation–an order that the Administration had flouted in many cases, serving English notices to monolingual Spanish speakers saying that they would be deported in just a few hours, without time to talk to an attorney. 

The emergency Court order is straightforward: the Administration may not remove any detainees from Bluebonnet “until further order of this Court.” But though Trump claims he will obey Supreme Court orders, he still says he wants to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants without trials. The ACLU has filed another petition asking the Supreme Court to explicitly define migrants’ due process rights and is continuing to fight the Administration. The ACLU must press forward to protect migrants in many federal courts all over the country. 

Action 1: Send a message to your Members of Congress using this script to ask them to cut ICE funding used for mass deportations.

Members of Congress (MOCs)

• Senator Patty Murray, Phone: 202-224-2621; Contact Form 
• Senator Maria Cantwell, Phone: 202-224-3441; Contact Form 

• Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Phone: 202-225-9740; Contact Form 

• Or Email all three MOCs at once using Democracy.io. 

Script: I am your constituent and live at [address]. Congress should cut funding to unlawful DHS immigration enforcement in order to prevent President Trump from executing mass deportations without due process in violation of our Constitution. 

Action 2: Make a donation to the ACLU Immigration project 

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Share Your Stories: Our Senators are Listening
Senators Murray and Cantwell continue to want to hear from Washingtonians directly harmed by the current administration’s cruel and chaotic actions. 

Action: Please Tell Your Story Here

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Local Actions:

Thank Olympia City Council Members for Donation to World Relief of Thurston County

Photo source: Photo of Olympia City Council Members

Submitted by OI’s Immigration Justice team
Background:

• City of Olympia will use funds to help immigrant, refugee families. Here’s what it will cost
• World Relief Western Washington Website

On March 4 the Olympia City Council unanimously approved $30,000 in funds to support immigrant and refugee families in Thurston County after federal cuts left many without promised aid. Proposed by Councilmember Clark Gilman, the funds will help World Relief, a nonprofit aiding legal immigrants with housing, jobs, language, and school enrollment. Gilman urged neighboring cities to join the effort for a regional response. Mayor Dontae Payne said the move reflects Olympia’s action-oriented approach and the need for local governments to step up when federal support falls short.

For 80 years, World Relief has supported communities in 100 countries. In 2022, its Thurston County office began resettling refugees, offering housing, orientation, and school enrollment, with plans to expand based on community needs.

Action: Send a letter of thanks to our Olympia City Council members by copying and pasting these addresses into your mail browser: 

Email addresses for City of Olympia Council Members

• [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] 

OR

If you’re feeling really ambitious, considering sending a postcard instead, which council members really appreciate (and in fact, many save as keepsakes), to any one or more of the council members: Dontae Payne, Mayor; Yen Huynh, Mayor Pro-tem; Dani Madrone; Clark Gilman; Kelly Green; Robert Vanderpool; Jim Cooper.

Send To: Olympia City Council 
(Name of Council Member)
PO Box 1967
Olympia, WA 98507-1967

Script: Thank you for voting to approve funds to help the World Relief humanitarian organization support immigrant and refugee families in Thurston County after federal cuts left many without promised aid. Sincerely, [name]

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Thurston County’s Annual Hunger-Relief Fundraiser 

Two Local Community Agencies Have Long Supported the Hungry

Two organizations (which include many of you as volunteers) have been doing their best to supply the needs of the food insecure for many years. This year, more than ever, and it looks like for many years to come, much will depend on these two area agencies: 

• The Thurston County Food Bank and 
• The Community Kitchen. 

All donations are split between the two agencies. Their goal this year is $40,000 but I think, given the current painful reduction in every agency that takes care of people, we need to do better than $40,000. Please donate what you can. We may be using these agencies in the not too distant future.

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Have You Scheduled These Events?

International Workers Day Rallies

Photo by Sean Robbins on Unsplash

International Workers Day is May 1st, and the Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council is celebrating with TWO events!

1. First event, on Thursday, May 1st at the Capitol Theater attend a free screening of the classic Labor film Salt Of The Earth (once banned). The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the film will start at 7:00. There will be a post-film discussion focused on local immigrant justice issues.​
   
2. Second event, on Saturday May 3, let's keep the May Day spirit alive with an All Labor March for single-payer healthcare, immigrant rights, and our essential public services.
   

 
    Plan of Action for the May 3 March:

• Meet at the Tivoli Fountain at the State Capitol (103 Capitol Way S, Olympia, WA) at 12 noon. Wear union colors if you have them - if you’re not currently in a union, red and white are traditional May Day colors. Union membership is not required.
• Walk to the Governor’s Mansion, arriving at 1 pm.
• March to Sylvester Park at Capital and Legion, with arrival planned for 1:30 pm. 
• At Sylvester Park there will be food trucks and music, along with speakers. OI will have tables at Sylvester Park with lots of fun activities.
• Rally will then move to the Tumwater Fred Meyer at 3 pm, for more union activities (picketing).

    Help is needed for the May 3 March:

• Set up starting at noon and clean up at 3 pm at Sylvester Park.  
• If you are able to commit to either of these tasks, please notify us no later than Tuesday, April 29, and put “Volunteer” in the subject line

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Centralia Rally 

What: Pro Union-Pro Labor Rally
When: Saturday, May 3, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: George Washington Park Sidewalk, S. Pearl St., Centralia, Washington
Organized by: Lewis Local Ledger

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Yelm Rally

What: United for Freedom May Day Rally
When: Saturday, May 3, 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: 1st St and E Yelm Ave
Event: Facebook Invitation
Organized by: Angela Taylor