Jim Vondruska, Block Club Chicago
The Hands Off message was both broad and simple: we told the Trump administration to keep their hands off the people, programs, places, planet, rights, and freedoms that we hold dear, and we call on our elected leaders and everyday people to act.
Across the nation, over 1400 Hands Off events took place on April 5th. (Learn more about Chicago’s event via Sun-Times, Block Club Chicago, CBS Chicago, ABC Chicago.)
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Stream on You Tube
Good news! For those of you who were not able to register in time, the Townhall will be streamed live on Mike Quigley’s You Tube channel
See you there in person or virtually.
Over 100 people packed the town hall with US Congressman Mike Quigley Thursday night. Just as he is using his voice and his vote to oppose the Trump regime, he urged the audience to do the same.
Our actions are having an effect both on encouraging our elected officials to resist; and, on bolstering the efforts of people who are already resisting. Keep writing and calling your representatives.
Stream the town hall here
A BBC report claims that “it takes around 3.5% of the population actively participating in peaceful protests to make serious political change.” These findings are based on a book by Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University.
For other non-affiliated actions you can visit The Big List of Protests.
For Tesla actions, visit Tesla Takedown Site.
ILS is not affiliated with nor does it endorse these actions but provides them as information you might find interesting.
From the ACLU:
You don’t need a permit to protest in response to breaking news and you don’t need a permit to march in the streets or along sidewalks, as long as you’re not obstructing traffic or access to buildings.
When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police.
If you believe your rights have been violated, when you can, write down everything you remember, get contact information for witnesses, and take photographs of any injuries.
If you get stopped by the police, ask if you’re free to go. If they say yes, calmly walk away.
If you get arrested, you have the right to ask why. Otherwise, say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don’t sign, say or agree to anything without a lawyer present.
If you get stopped by a member of the military or any law enforcement officer at a protest, you have the right to remain silent or to tell them that you’ll only answer questions in the presence of an attorney -no matter your citizenship or immigration status.
Action via Indivisible:
Last week Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, though he lacks the authority to unilaterally abolish a federal department established by Congress. This order instructs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to facilitate the department’s closure, setting the stage for further action while avoiding immediate legal challenges.
Trump’s goal is to weaken public education by starving the department of resources, potentially leading to its legislative abolition by Congressional Republicans. This follows recent layoffs of half the department’s staff.
Without the DOE, millions of students and families will face dire consequences: ballooning class sizes, loss of teaching jobs, and diminished support for students with disabilities. Title IX protections will be rolled back, and funding for disadvantaged students will be jeopardized.
This effort aligns with a long-standing GOP goal to dismantle federal oversight, driven in part by billionaires seeking profit from privatized education. We must organize to protect public education and push back against this assault.
👉 Here’s how you can fight back!
📞 Call to Demand Senate Democrats Take Immediate Action Against Trump’s Education Cuts
📞 Call to Demand House Democrats Take Immediate Action Against Trump’s Education Cuts
✉️ Email to Demand Democrats Take Immediate Action Against Trump’s Education Cuts
Take Action! Let’s flood the newly recognized federal agency of DOGE with requests.
Simply fill out the fillable Privacy Act request form HERE, and mail it in to DOGE. This “agency” has been systematically accessing government computer data systems, and now has an obligation to respond to specific information demands from any of the 340 million U.S. citizens who exercise their legal right to defend their privacy and establish the security of their private information.
Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Atlantic Bar & Grill, 5062 N Lincoln
Register
We have new members join almost every day so let’s all get together to get to know each other. Of course, we’ll talk politics! We’ll also plot and plan for future actions, maybe even get crafty with some protest signs and postcards.
Our representatives need to hear from us whether we agree with their positions or don’t agree. Be sure to tell Senator Duckworth and Congressman Mike Quigley that you appreciate their NO vote on the CR.
Call:
Duckworth: (202) 224-2854
Quigley: (202) 225-4061
Email:
Duckworth: https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/connect/email-tammy
Quigley: https://quigleyforms.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/
Unfortunately, Senator Durbin voted with 10 other Democrats to approve the CR.
Call:
Durbin: (202) 224-2152
Both our Senators are non-committal and need to hear from us before the vote. The phone numbers for their Washington offices are below. If you cannot get through, please send a fax, either directly, if you can, or by using the link to the free fax service below. Sending an email is also possible using the links below:
Call:
Durbin: (202) 224-2152
Duckworth: (202) 224-2854
Fax:
Durbin: (202) 228-0400
Duckworth: (202) 228-0618
Free fax: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php
Email:
https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/connect/email-tammy
The government will shut down on March 14 unless Congress passes a new spending bill. Republicans are pushing a MAGA continuing resolution (CR) that proposes extreme cuts, threatening Social Security, housing, food security, and veterans’ benefits. This is not a “clean” CR; it’s a slush fund that increases Trump and Elon Musk’s power over federal spending.
Democratic Senators must not support this CR. Instead, they should leverage their position to demand a bill that rejects extreme cuts and protects abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrant communities.
