***IMMEDIATE ACTION***ATTEND THE “PEOPLE’S STATE OF THE UNION,” NOT TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS [02-19-26]
Donald Trump will deliver his State of the Union address next Tuesday evening—a self-congratulatory, authoritarian rant designed to boost his ratings and normalize his power-grabs. Senator Murphy expects he’ll “tell 40 different lies, call Democrats names [and] paper over his corruption”—with Democrats’ attendance giving it “a veneer or respectability.” Senator Van Hollen refuses to normalize this moment when Trump’s “marching our country toward fascism” or be a prop as “Trump shreds our Constitution and attacks our democracy.”
So, Democrats are creating a counter-narrative–a “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall coinciding with Trump’s address—featuring Democratic lawmakers speaking with people hurt by Trump’s economic and healthcare policies, fired federal workers, immigrants targeted by Trump’s masked secret police, and children and adults warehoused and mistreated in ICE concentration camps.
Since Trump’s obsessed with attention, TV ratings, and ego-stroking, Democrats walking out or boycotting the speech entirely will send him and the country an unspin-able message.
The People’s State of the Union is also the best way for Democrats to offer a cohesive message of resistance to Trump’s policies—which they failed miserably to do last year.
Let’s thank Senator Merkley for committing to attend the rally, urge our other Members of Congress to stand with him and those so seriously harmed by Trump’s cruel and disruptive policies, and ask them to convince their colleagues to join them.
Just think of the powerful message a half-empty House will send to both those fighting valiantly against Trump’s unconstitutional behavior and the many others not yet courageous enough to join the resistance?
ACTION One: Call the Senate and the House.
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
REP. BONAMICI: Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | D.C. office: 202-225-0855
REP. BENTZ: Medford office: 541-776-4646 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
REP. DEXTER: Portland office: 503-231-2300 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
REP. HOYLE: Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | D.C. office: 202-225-6416
REP. BYNUM: Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 | D.C. office: 202-225-5711
REP. SALINAS: Salem office: 503-385-0906 | D.C. office: 202-225-5643
