Each year, the State of the Union address provides an opportunity to take a step back from the daily news cycle and reflect on the state of our democracy. This year, it’s clear our democracy is in crisis.
From the economy to immigration to peace, President Trump made a litany of false claims in his address about his administration’s cruel and harmful policies.
With the midterm elections approaching this fall, we are particularly alarmed by what Trump said about our elections and the grave threats our democracy is facing.
Echoing his destructive lie that the 2020 election was “stolen,” Trump falsely claimed on Tuesday that “cheating is rampant in our elections,” calling on Congress to pass the Save America Act to “stop illegal aliens” from voting.
In reality, this bill offers a “solution” to a problem that doesn’t exist, with expert studies affirming that noncitizen voting is virtually nonexistent and has no bearing on our elections. Instead, this bill would effectively block millions of eligible voters from casting their ballots.
After passing the House earlier this month, the bill is currently being considered in the Senate. Yet even more concerning, Trump threatened this week to abuse executive power to institute national voter restrictions “whether approved by Congress or not.”
This moment must be a wake-up call. After the January 6 insurrection and the past year of Trump’s authoritarian abuses of power, we cannot take these threats against our democracy lightly.
As a Quaker organization, voting rights go hand in hand with our belief in the sacred and equal worth of all people.
As Rev. Adam Russell Taylor of Sojourners wrote this week, “while democratic systems are always imperfect … they provide the best way to honor and affirm every person’s dignity, prevent the abuse of power, and advance the common good.”
In this consequential moment, Congress must stand firm against President Trump’s lies and authoritarianism and recommit to the long struggle for a truly just and inclusive democracy.
Elsewhere
Call to Christians
FCNL’s Bridget Moix joined the Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy. This prophetic call confesses what Christians believe about justice and democracy. It explores how they are called to act in this moment, with “repentance and resistance, courage and conviction, faith and fortitude.” Read more and add your name here.
Anticipating a Vote on War with Iran
Amid escalating tensions, President Trump is threatening to attack Iran without congressional authorization. We expect a vote on War Powers Resolutions in both the House and the Senate next week to stop these strikes.
We cannot allow another war of choice that could have catastrophic consequences for people in Iran and across the region. We need your voice now.
Call Congress and urge them to pass the Iran War Powers Resolution!
Four Years of War, Four Years of Resilience
This Tuesday, February 24, marked four years since Russia launched a full invasion of Ukraine. On this solemn anniversary, FCNL’s Priya Moran spoke with Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP), which is on the ground in Ukraine helping keep civilians safe.
As Priya put it, “Since the invasion, ordinary Ukrainians have mobilized in extraordinary ways.” NP’s role is to support and empower these resilient people.
We need a permanent peace in Ukraine, which is marked by an inclusive, human-centered process. Lasting peace can only be achieved by peaceful means.
Persisting in Loving Our Neighbors
FCNL’s Lauren Brownlee wrote this past week about how we can persist in loving our neighbors in a difficult and chaotic time. We all have a role to play. “The world we seek needs all of us,” she writes, ”and [all of] the diverse ways we love our neighbors.”
Friends Changemaker Weekend in April!
This April, hundreds of advocates will be on Capitol Hill to deliver the urgent message that war is not the answer, at home or abroad. But change doesn’t only come from Washington. We need hundreds more advocates across the country to mobilize in local communities, meetings, and churches.
Will you join us online for our first Friends Changemaker Weekend conference? Learn more and register!
