John,
When Trump put kids in cages and separated mothers from their children during his first administration, Americans rose up, protested, confronted their representatives and forced the country to reckon with the evil being done in our name.
Protest against family separation at the Tornillo immigration detention center, June 17, 2018.
Family separation was formally announced on May 7, 2018. Because of the intense, unrelenting public pressure to stop it, Trump was forced to rescind the order on June 20th of that same year, just 44 days later.
Operation Metro Surge, which has so far deployed 3,000+ federal agents to harass, kidnap, brutalize and kill the residents of Minnesota, began in early December. Because of the intense public documentation of the abuses and public protest in Minneapolis, including a general strike on January 23rd, and because of the national outrage over the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, the hostage-taking of children, and the complete jackbooted thuggery of federal agents against their fellow Americans, Trump is beginning his retreat from Minnesota.
It is rare for Trump to rescind an executive order or retreat in the face of opposition. It only happens when the pressure from the American people is overwhelming.
In describing how power works in America, Abraham Lincoln said that the power of the people is the most awesome force in the country.
More powerful than the courts, the legislatures and even the presidency.
“Public sentiment is everything,” he said. “With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.”
We must keep the pressure up, press the advantage that has been won at incredible sacrifice, and not only force the administration to continue its retreat but set the ground for overwhelming victory at the polls in November.
Heading into the 2018 midterms, Republicans held a 235–193 majority. Because of Trump’s deep unpopularity and because of the way in which protests had shaped public sentiment, Trump’s party lost 40 seats that year, giving Democrats a significant majority and their largest pickup since 1974.
Trump is even more unpopular today than he was in 2018. His margin in the House is even narrower (218-213). His policies are directly and very publicly killing people, including U.S. citizens. The brave people of Minneapolis are shaping public sentiment through their actions —documenting, protesting, and peacefully pushing back — and if we can follow their lead and keep up this pressure we have a real chance of winning political power in the 2026 midterms and stopping Trump.
As dark as these days are, let’s remember that we are not without power to fight back. Let’s acknowledge that there is a way through this. Take inspiration from those who risk their lives to document abuse and inform their fellow Americans, those who protest peacefully and break through to the conscience of this country, those who are unwilling to give up or give in.
Do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Keep up the fight.
-Beto
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Resources:
Stand with Minnesota - a directory of organizations helping Minnesotans to resist and survive the attack on their freedoms and lives.
Keep the pressure on the Senate Democrats to vote no on DHS/ICE funding this week. This is our best near-term opportunity to provide a check on the abuses we’re seeing across the country:
Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
Join a protest or march. Seeing your neighbors exercise their first amendment rights in the freezing cold and in the face of this administration’s intimidation has a way of waking you up and focusing your attention. Here is a listing of all related events in Mobilize.
Fund the candidates who must win. In addition to winning the House, we need to pick up Senate seats in November if we’re going to stop these abuses and ensure accountability for the crimes committed. While some primaries are still in play (Texas), we have nominees who could use your help right now:
Join our work to reach, register and turn out Texas voters targeted for voter suppression and intimidation by the state. Make them the margin of victory. Volunteer with Powered by People.
