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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Brett Abrams, press@moveon.org

National Mobilization Against Trump's Illegal Fake Emergency Announced for Presidents' Day--Actions at Noon Local Time Monday

MoveOn, United We Dream, Indivisible, CREDO Action, Win Without War and other groups organizing national actions on Monday in response to Trump undermining democracy to further his racist agenda.

WASHINGTON

Grassroots activists, immigrants and allies, and concerned people nationwide will make Monday, Feb. 18 (Presidents' Day) a National Mobilization Against Trump's Illegal Power Grab, protesting at locations across the United States in response to Trump declaring a national emergency in an attempt to further his racist agenda and ramp up his deportation force.

On Monday, activists nationwide will hold "No Racist Wall. No Power Grab" events in key locations. They will demand that Congress immediately take action to overrule Trump's emergency declaration and rein in Trump's deportation force and humanitarian abuses by ICE and CBP.
The national mobilization comes amid relentless attacks from the Trump administration on immigrants, people seeking asylum, federal workers, and communities nationwide. Other organizations supporting the mobilization include 5 Calls, Action Together Network, America's Voice, American Friends Service Committee, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Center for American Progress Action, Center for Popular Democracy, CREDO, Daily Kos, Delaware Common Cause, Indivisible, Indivisible Chicago, Indivisible Front Range Resistance, J Street, MoveOn, National Council of Jewish Women, North Carolina Justice Center, People Demanding Action, People For the American Way, Public Citizen, RAICES, Rainforest Action Network (RAN), Rise and Resist, United We Dream, and Win Without War.
WHAT: National Mobilization Against Trump's Illegal Power Grab
WHEN: Monday, February 19, 2019 - noon local time
WHERE: People can pledge to attend at: crisisresponse.us / details about individual events will be posted here by Saturday morning
"Let's be clear: There is no national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and Trump's decision to declare a national emergency to address this false crisis is an illegal, unconstitutional power grab that undermines American democracy to advance his racist agenda," said Emma Einhorn, campaign director for MoveOn. "The American people demanded a course correction in the 2018 election, and poll after poll reaffirms a majority want to build an America that welcomes immigrants and people seeking asylum. MoveOn's millions of members have continued to act alongside immigrant communities by taking hundreds of thousands of actions, including opposing Trump's Muslim Ban, defending immigrants who Trump put into risk of deportation by ending DACA and TPS, and standing with all immigrants facing deportation."
"Our most pressing national emergency is that a racist autocrat occupies the White House," said CREDO Action Co-Director Heidi Hess. "The media and politicians should be perfectly clear about what this is: An unconstitutional power grab that threatens our democracy and escalates Trump's attacks on immigrants, communities of color, Muslims and Black and Brown people. Congress must immediately use its power to revoke Trump's declaration and start rolling back the executive branch's emergency powers. House Democrats will undoubtedly move forward right away. Mitch McConnell has already shown himself to be a spineless lackey for Trump's dangerous agenda. We'll soon find out how many congressional Republicans - if any - have what it takes to stand up to Trump when he threatens our democracy."
"President Trump's declaration is an undemocratic power grab based on lies. There is no national emergency at the border and no need to waste billions of dollars on a racist border wall," said Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible. "What Trump has done today is an end-run around Congress and the will of the voters. It presents a dangerous precedent that pushes us closer to autocracy. But the problem is not just Trump, it is also a Republican party that enables his every move. Indivisible stands with immigrant communities and will continue to pressure members of Congress to do their job and put an end to Trump's reckless actions."

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.