It’s Friday, Washington Democrats!

Celebrating Black History Month

Every February we not only celebrate the history of Black people and their enormous contributions to our state and nation, but also those Black icons who are making history right now! Today, I want to recognize Attorney General Nick Brown who became the first Black person elected to statewide office in Washington state history. AG Brown has been hard at work defending our constitutional rights. Just this week, his coalition of four states blocked the Trump administration’s attempts to end birthright citizenship.

We also have amazing Black lawmakers in our state legislature who are creating opportunity and building protections in our state to overcome the Trump administration’s inhumane policies.

Washington House of Representatives: 

• Rep. Jamila Taylor – 30th LD 
• Rep. Natasha Hill – 3rd LD 
• Rep. April Berg – 44th LD
• Rep. Brandy Donaghy – 44th LD
• Rep. Debra Entenman – 47th LD
• Rep. David Hackney – 11th LD
• Rep. Melanie Morgan – 29th LD
• Rep. Julia Reed – 36th LD
• Rep. Brianna Thomas – 34th LD
• Rep. Kristine Reeves – 30th LD
• Rep. Shaun Scott – 43rd LD 
• Rep. Chipalo Street – 37th LD 

State Senate

• Sen. John Lovick – 44th LD
• Sen. T’wina Nobles – 28th LD

A HUGE thank you to ALL of our Black lawmakers who are making history in Washington state!

I also want to recognize the tremendous work of Washington Democrats’ own African American Caucus led by Caucus Chair Satin-Desiree Arnett. Satin and her members do important work to highlight the unique voices and solutions that benefit their community. If you’re interested in learning more about Washington Democrats’ African American Caucus please reach out to [email protected].

Working for Washington

The horrors of the Trump administration continued this week. Whether it’s deleting public health websites, signing Executive Orders dehumanizing trans people, or allowing an unelected, unappointed billionaire access to the personal tax information of every American – these are dark times for our democracy. Also this week, we learned that Trump has nominated known conspiracy theorist and white supremacist Joe Kent to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. Washington voters in Southwest Washington rejected Kent’s extreme brand of politics twice in a row because they understand how dangerous and unfit he is to have a role in our government.

Developments are happening fast and Washington Democrats are here to help you parse what’s going on and how we can resist these assaults on our democracy most effectively. Senator Patty Murray has been working to identify the real world impacts of Trump’s chaos while Representative Adam Smith has joined with his fellow ranking members to demand answers about how the Department of Government Efficiency may be breaking U.S. law. I was also incredibly proud of the 1,500 vocal protestors in Olympia who stood up for the rights of their fellow Americans. 

DNC Vice Chair Update

Unfortunately, the DNC Vice Chair race did not go as we had hoped. I made it to the final ballot and came in 6th out of 19 candidates. I was elected as the Association of State Democratic Committee’s’ Western Region representative to the DNC Executive Committee. I wish the best to the new leadership team, particularly Chair Ken Martin and Vice Chairs Artie Blanco, Malcolm Kenyatta, and David Hogg. The party will need all of us to ensure that we are in fighting form to win elections across this country. 

Thank you so much for all of your support through this process. I was so proud to take our wins in this Washington to the national stage. 

I am so grateful to be here, in our beloved Washington, where I get to feel proud and secure to live in a state that is led by the most incredible Democratic leaders in the country. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me, from grassroots activists, youth leaders, labor leaders, Governors, my Senators, members of Congress, state legislators, DNC members, and many more. 

I will continue to do the work, as I always do. I will continue to uplift not only my Asian American Pacific Islander community, but all communities that are often overlooked by the Party. I love coming from the West and we will continue to innovate, build, and win, and someday I hope the National party will see us as the model that we are. 

Until then, let’s work to build a winning DNC that is accountable, transparent, inclusive, and effective. I am proud to continue to do that as Washington State Democratic Party Chair.

Storybanking

Here in the real Washington, we are gathering resources for those communities most harmed by Trump policies and executive orders. We are also asking our supporters (including folks like YOU) to share their stories of how Trump policies and executive orders are impacting them in the real world. 

Here’s a story from Hillary Moralez, former Snohomish County Democrats Chair:

“I was proud to be elected as the first Mexican-American chair for my county democrats, which leads me to my story. Donald Trump coming back this second time is worse than the first in that never have I had so many people reach out to me in concern about my own status in this country. It’s ridiculous, I want to say, because I’m American. I was born here, and so were both my parents, and all my grandparents. And yet, Donald Trump has been in office less than a full month and my friends and family are urging me to cancel plans to leave the country for vacation. What if I’m not allowed back in? 

“My co-workers at my job have reached out to me to ask me if I’m safe where I live, as they’ve heard about the ICE raids in the Washington area and know about the stories of American citizens being detained all the same. I have never not been proud of my last name, Moralez, or my family history that leads back Mexican revolutionaries, and yet [I] continually get told that maybe it would be a good idea to change my last name to something more euro-centric. 

“This is worse than it’s ever been, and it’s clear why. Trump is acting without any checks and balances, and he’s holding the citizens of our country hostage. I want to be able to travel and not worry about our borders being closed. I want the knot in my chest to loosen when I hear a knock at the door. I worry constantly now that the protections have been removed for employees that I could lose my job for being a woman, or being hispanic. Especially because my job is in a male-dominated field (Tech) that I’ve worked so hard to get into and there is almost nobody like me there.  I’m an American citizen, born and raised, and I shouldn’t fear my country or my ability to live in it. I can’t imagine the terror that is affecting my fellow Mexican-Americans, and the immigrant community. It’s inhumane, it’s cruel, and it’s constant.”

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Hillary. 

If you are interested in sharing your story of the direct impacts of Trump 2.0 on your life, please send an email to [email protected] that includes your name, contact information, which Washington community you reside in, and the story you would like to share. Our Communications team will be in touch within a few business days after you have reached out to help collect your story.

Resources for Resistance

We must be prepared to protect our friends and neighbors from illegal searches and incarceration or the deletion of their rights. As Trump policy directives come into focus, it is more important than ever that we stick together and fight back. Please share the resources below and consider supporting them with your time and money.  If you have ideas on other organizations or services we should be spotlighting – please don’t hesitate to send them to [email protected]. 

Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline is dedicated to the wellbeing of transgender people. Their hotline is staffed by transgender people for transgender people to respond to whatever needs members of the trans community may have. The hotline number is 1-877-565-8860

Gender Justice League: Gender Justice League provides direct support and advocacy for the trans community and assists transgender people in obtaining government documentation that matches their gender identity. You can contact them through the website or call 206-538-0423.

If you see ICE activity taking place or any marked vehicles, please report it immediately to Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network at 1-844-724-3737. 

Know your rights. Do not open the door. “ICE warrants” authorities may claim to have are not legal to enter your home. ICE warrants must be signed by a local judge to enter your home.

If you need legal assistance, call the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project at 1-800-445-5771

Services for immigrants: 

El Centro de la Raza

Refugee Women’s Alliance

Chinese Information & Service Center

East African Community Services

The International Rescue Committee in Seattle

Jewish Family Services – 253-850-4065

Archdiocese of Seattle – 206-274-3194

One America

Congolese Integration Network

Lutheran Community Services Northwest

Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

Resistance in the Courts

As Trump’s unlawful orders and actions reverberate throughout our country, people are standing up and fighting back using the rule of law. From FBI agents to families and doctors to our own Attorney General Nick Brown, we are seeing important cases moving through the courts system. 

Yesterday, the State of Washington and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project presented arguments challenging the Executive Order that seeks to eliminate birthright citizenship. As developments arise, we will keep you informed on how that case is progressing. On Wednesday, a federal judge in Maryland issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Executive Order.

Here are some other cases that will importantly challenge the Trump Administration’s lawlessness:

FBI agents are suing the DOJ out of fear Trump’s allies will put their lives at risk, NOTUS

Families and doctors sue over Trump’s order to halt funding for gender-affirming care, AP

Doctors for America v. Office of Personnel Management, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Health & Human Services, United States District Court for the District of Columbia – Doctors are suing to regain access to critical health-related data that advances public health. 

Democrats in the News

Judge in Seattle continues block on Trump birthright citizenship order, The Seattle Times

Sen. Murray blasts Trump administration over funding feezes that affect WA, The Seattle Times

Majority Leader Pedersen, Speaker Jinkins: Protecting Transgender Youth in Washington State, Senate Democrats

Post on requirement to notify an example of ‘politics at its worst,’ Democrats say, The Spokesman-Review

Trump nominates Joe Kent as Director of National Counterterrorism Center, Oregon Public Broadcasting

Cantwell introduces act to improve wildfire forecasting tools, The Wenatchee World

State Democrats are looking for ways to advance their priorities without help from Washington, Business Insider

What I’m Reading

The Situation: What’s going on at the FBI? Don’t look now but the FBI is resisting the political witch-hunt loosed upon it , Lawfare – I’m encouraged by this thoughtful reporting about rank-and-file FBI agents making efforts to protect their colleagues from Trump’s ideological purge of law enforcement. In these dark times, we should lift up the stories of those who are facing enormous personal peril and yet still manage to stand up for our country in the face of authoritarian efforts.