A "BACKDOOR" Download

Free for you.

This image from last week rung a bell for some people. Someone found it posted on a lamppost in the Washington DC area.

So, in case you can use it, here is a free download:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hjth8oensabpnipvyi5va/TH-7-31-25-Back-Door.png?rlkey=d22uc5j38frq42s8ojqxcfndc&st=uo55homr&dl=0

Having a great week in the woods upstate. Will be posting new work next week.

Meantime:

Here’s good trouble from our friend Laura Conwesser:

According to a Human Rights Watch report, as of June 20th of this year, 56,000 people were in detention centers on any given day—the highest number in the history of U.S. immigration. 72% of those detained had no criminal history. We have been hearing about the horrific conditions in these facilities. In fact, there is currently a hunger strike in process in the detention center in Florida which is cynically called Alligator Alcatraz. In the 24 hours prior to my writing this email, 4 ambulances were photographed rushing people, presumably detainees, out of the facility. ICE is not allowing constitutionally mandated inspections. Congress needs to investigate and end these abuses now. Use this easy tool to add your voice. There is also a bill in Congress to shut down the Florida detention center. Tell your representatives to pass the bill now. here

This is a repeat, but it is so important. ICE is kidnapping people while wearing face masks and military gear. There is no way to identify them or hold them accountable for their terrible actions. Several bills have been introduced in Congress: Representative Nydia Velázquez and Senator Alex Padilla have introduced legislation to ban the use of masks by ICE and other law enforcement agents. Senator Padilla’s bill, the VISIBLE Act, would require federal immigration officers to display identifying information clearly and mandate public reporting to ensure transparency in enforcement actions. Rep. Velázquez’s bill in the House would ensure that those entrusted with enforcing the law cannot hide from accountability. In addition, Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman have introduced the No Secret Police Act, which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia, and bans use of non-tactical masks. These bills won't stop ICE's totalitarian tactics, but it will help hold them accountable. Join the ACLU and send a message to Congress here. You can also sign with the Workers Circle here.

As we saw in Los Angeles in June, Trump has no problem deploying the military in our cities to enforce his totalitarian deportation plans. He is now planning to send the National Guard to more cities, at the same time he is repurposing military bases as immigrant detention centers. Please sign here to add your voice to the opposition.

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Did you go to Harvard? Do you know people who did or who are the parents of students or potential applicants? Tell President Garber and Harvard leadership that they must not capitulate to Trump. They should be smart enough to know that he will just escalate his totalitarian demands, but so many other schools have failed to understand that. If you are an alum, you might have a group chat that can speak directly to the Board. The rest of us can sign here.

Insider stock trading by members of Congress has been going on for a long time and must stop. AOC and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) have introduced bipartisan legislation to stop it. Sign here to tell your member of Congress that you want congressional stock trading to stop.

You may remember the Genius Act, which passed with a shocking number of Democratic votes. Now we have the Clarity Act, This legislation, also drafted by the crypto industry, would weaken oversight and open the floodgates to fraud on a national scale. It would strip consumer protections, set the stage for the next financial crash, and let Trump and his family profit from their shady crypto schemes with zero consequences. It has passed the House, but it looks like we might be able to defeat it in the Senate. Please call your Senator and tell them to vote NO on the Clarity Act. You can find their number here. I would encourage you to put all your representatives' numbers in your speed dial. You know they will get used.

In true Trumpian fashion, the United States is sending too little money too late to help alleviate the famine in Gaza, and they are funneling that money through GHF, a quasi-military, for profit group that is using deadly force at distribution centers. Please tell Congress that we must help the people of Gaza. Let's fund a responsible, experienced, UN-led response to the crisis. here Indivisible is also urging us to call our Senators and tell them to ensure that aid flows to Gaza freely and safely. Find your Senator.

Consistent with their total disregard for saving our planet, Trump and his corporate buddies are determined to end the Endangered Species Act. You can use this easy tool to let your representatives know that you, and a large majority of Americans, want to protect endangered species.

Another repeat: T-Mobile is preparing to make a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink, helping the richest man in the world get richer and do more damage. Tell T-Mobile not to sign with Starlink here. If you have a T-Mobile account, consider switching to a different company. There are lots of good deals being offered. And if you do leave T-Mobile, let them know why.

Although Congress cut funding for public media, all is not lost. They are currently drafting the appropriation bill for 2026. Use this tool to tell your lawmakers to allocate funds for public broadcasting. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has already announced that they are shutting down. Let's try to save the rest. In a related issue, The League of American Orchestras is asking us to tell our representatives that we think it is important that the arts survive in this very scary time. You can use their tool. Also ask your representatives to protect the NEA and the NEH here.

New York has decent gun laws, better than many other states. However, that did not prevent the mass shooting in Manhattan on Monday evening, July 28. Newtown Action Alliance has a tool to let your representatives know that you want a ban on assault weapons.

For those of you in NYC, there are now two bills in the City Council, Intro 217 and 425, that would fight against the use of facial recognition surveillance which is inherently discriminatory against people of color. Call Speaker Adrienne Adams and urge her to support these bills. 212-482-6731

Republicans know that they cannot win in 2026 if there are fair elections, so they are trying to cheat by gerrymandering in Texas to steal five Congressional districts. States like California, Illinois and New York can fight back. For those of you in NY State, let Gov. Hochul that you want her to ensure that the Independent Redistricting Commission protects Democratic districts and corrects some of the damage done in 2022. You can call her at 1-518-474-8390 or send her an email here.

On Monday August 4 at 6:30, there will be a demonstration in NYC at Columbus Circle to demand an end to Israel's starvation of the Palestinian people.

On Friday August 15, the Visibility Brigade will be leading #Be Brave Day with events at overpasses across the country. If that doesn't work for you, you can write something on the sidewalk or put up a sign in a store window. You can get more information here and here. I will post updates as we get closer.

The next big day of protest will be Labor Day, 9/1/25. Stay tuned.

As always, thank you very much,

Laura