February 5, 2019
Contact:
press@localprogress.org
National Network of Local Lawmakers Condemns President Trump’s State of the Union Remarks
In response to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, Local Progress Director Sarah Johnson issued the following statement:
“It should come as no surprise that President Trump devoted his State of the Union remarks to demonizing our communities and bullying the nation into funding his deportation machine. Indeed, this has been the tone and theme of his entire presidency. His priorities from the past year have been separating families and detaining children in tent prisons, escalating a rogue immigration enforcement machine’s attacks on immigrant communities, and further concentrating wealth with the country’s billionaires. Two years into his presidency, it is quite clear what kind of president Donald Trump wants to be.
“In contrast, to see efforts fighting for an America where all of us share in our country’s prosperity, look to our localities. For a vision of how we are enriched by our nation’s diversity and immigrant communities, look to our cities and towns. For a courageous response to centuries of structural racism and white supremacy, look to communities across America wrestling with healing and dismantling that legacy.
“In just the past few months, our cities, towns, and counties have made tremendous strides toward equity, inclusion, and social justice. Philadelphia enshrined a fair workweek for more than 100,000 people working in its service industries. New York became the first city to guarantee a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers. Minneapolis, led by nine Local Progress members, approved a historic comprehensive plan centered on racial equity, affordable housing, and fighting climate change. Portland, Maine spoke out against the Trump administration’s inhumane “public charge” rule.
“In response to President Trump’s State of the Union, local progressive leaders are clear in denouncing bigotry and inequality. They demand an end to the funding of hate in our government, and have joined progressive Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib in insisting not one more dollar for a wall, immigration police, or immigrant prisons.”
Local Progress is a network of progressive local elected officials from around the country united by our shared commitment to equal justice under law, shared prosperity, sustainable and livable cities, and good government that serves the public interest.
