📢 Resist & Rising Together Weekly: Good News and Progress from the Resistance
Resist & Rising Together Weekly shares uplifting stories of resistance, resilience, and real progress in the fight for democracy. Each week, we highlight victories for justice, freedom, and equality.
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Resist & Rising Together Weekly: Good News and Progress from the Resistance
Each week, Resist & Rising Together Weekly by People Power United shares stories of courage, creativity, and collective power from people pushing back against fascism and building a better future. While authoritarians try to divide and silence us, we rise—community by community, action by action—to defend democracy, demand justice, and celebrate progress. From victories in the courts and wins for workers to breakthroughs in climate action and moments of solidarity, this movement reminds the world that power in America belongs to the people, not to kings, billionaires, or authoritarians.
Because resistance isn’t just about fighting back—it’s about moving forward. Together, we are writing the story of progress, one act of people power at a time.
Today, we honor the strength, resilience, and courage of the American people—those rising together to reject tyranny and defend our democracy.
✊ Rallies & Protests Highlights
🫖 Boston rebels against Trump immigration policies with an ‘ICE Tea Party’
What happens when protest meets symbolism in the middle of a deportation fight? In Boston, immigrant-rights advocates staged a creatively named “ICE Tea Party” to protest deportation flights and demand more humane immigration policies. Organizers used visual symbolism and public gathering to draw attention to enforcement practices they say are unjust and harmful. Speakers emphasized that local communities have power and a responsibility to push back against federal actions that tear families apart. — The Boston Globe
🕯️ A nightly tradition brings light and hope to children at Michigan hospital
Every night, something quiet but deeply powerful happens outside a Michigan children’s hospital. Families, staff, and supporters gather with candles and lights to show young patients inside that they are not forgotten or alone. The nightly ritual has become a source of comfort for children facing serious illness and a moment of reflection for caregivers and loved ones. What began as a simple gesture has grown into a lasting symbol of collective compassion and resilience. — The Seattle Times
🕊️People Over Power: Human and Civil Rights Wins
🌱 For the first time, Catholic sisters return land to a Tribal nation
Reparations are often discussed in theory—but in this case, they took tangible form. Catholic sisters returned land to a Native tribal nation, acknowledging the role religious institutions played in Indigenous displacement. The transfer followed years of dialogue, reflection, and moral reckoning. Tribal leaders described the return as a meaningful step toward healing, cultural restoration, and self-determination. “This return represents more than the restoration of land — it is the restoration of balance, dignity, and our sacred connection to the places our ancestors once walked.” — The 19th News
🌎People Power in Action: Holding ICE Accountable
🛑 Kansas tribe ends nearly $30 million deal with ICE
What does it look like when a community chooses values over profit? A Kansas tribal nation terminated a nearly $30 million contract with ICE to come up with preliminary designs for immigrant detention centers. Tribal leaders cited concerns about sovereignty, moral responsibility, and the harm caused to immigrant families. Advocates say the decision highlights the power of local and tribal governments to reject participation in deportation systems. — The Seattle Times
⚔️ Military lawyer swiftly fired after defying Trump deportation push
What happens when following the law puts your career at risk? A military lawyer was abruptly fired after refusing to comply with directives tied to Trump’s intensified deportation efforts. “A U.S. Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass deportation goals .…the Trump administration has fired almost 100 judges viewed as too liberal and over the summer eased rules allowing any attorney, regardless of their legal background, to apply to become what recent recruitment ads refer to as a “Deportation Judge.” The dismissal raised concerns about political interference in legal processes and retaliation against ethical resistance. Experts warn the move could weaken the rule of law. — Military Times
⚖️ State-Led Resistance to Federal Abuse
⚖️ Judge orders Trump to end California National Guard troop deployment in Los Angeles
A federal judge ordered Trump to halt the deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, ruling the move exceeded legal authority. The decision emphasized constitutional limits on executive power and the need for coordination with state officials. California leaders argued the deployment created unnecessary fear and escalated tensions. The ruling stands as a significant check on militarized responses to local governance. — NBC News
✈️ Massachusetts Governor Healey demands Trump halt ICE flights from Hanscom
Deportation flights are back—and so is community opposition. ICE resumed charter flights from Hanscom Field in Massachusetts, prompting protests from activists and concern from local lawmakers. Critics argue the flights lack transparency, disrupt families, and proceed without meaningful local consent. Governor Healey in a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security wrote “Flying these residents out of state and away from their support systems and legal counsel — often within hours of arrest — is intentionally cruel and purposely obstructs the due process and legal representation they are owed.“ The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and community accountability. — The Boston Globe
💵 Federal Dollars and Equity for All
🪶 A Tribe Gains Federal Recognition, After a Fight Handed Down Over Generations
After generations of advocacy, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina achieved long-sought federal recognition. The designation affirms the tribe’s sovereign status and opens access to federal healthcare, education funding, and economic resources. Tribal leaders called the decision overdue validation of their identity, resilience, and history. The recognition is expected to strengthen cultural preservation and self-determination for future generations. — The New York Times
👷Movement Wins That Lift Working Families
🛡️ Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administration From Firing Federal Workers in Violation of Federal Law
A federal court blocked the administration’s attempt to fire federal workers in ways that violated civil-service protections. The ruling prevents mass terminations that would have stripped employees of job security without legal justification. Labor advocates hailed the decision as a crucial defense of worker rights and statutory safeguards. The case reinforces that executive power must operate within the bounds of federal law. — Democracy Forward
People Power Rising
Thanks for joining us for Rising Together Weekly: Good News and Progress from the Resistance. See you next week!
A friendly reminder — we’re a community that believes in the power of change and puts in the work to make it happen. It might not seem like much to spend five minutes signing a petition, writing a letter, or making a call, but when we act together, those small efforts add up. That’s how we hold our leaders accountable to the will of the people.
Today’s Calls to Action
Click here to Ban Members of Congress from Trading Stock While in Office
Click here to Demand Congress Reject “Trump-Kennedy Center” Rename
Click here to Tell Your Governor: Reject the Federal School Voucher Program
Click here to Tell Congress: An Oath to the Constitution Requires Saying No to Illegal Orders
Click here to Tell Apple & Google CEOs: End your contracts with ICE NOW.
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Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests), People Power United
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A pretty good summary of what the solidarity of People Power can accomplish. Keep up the great work, Laurie and friends! And keep those links to petitions coming! Folks at the top must hear from us before they'll act on anything, so turn up the volume by signing them!
Your website is always right on and I admire the work you do. Hang in there, sustain as you are appreciated.