She called on city leaders to be “more outspoken” in upholding Philadelphians’ rights.
PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday, City Council passed a resolution condemning the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard to American cities, including Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago. Over a dozen Philadelphians came to City Hall from a broad range of local organizations to testify in support of the resolution. Republican Councilmember Brian O’Neill cast the sole opposing vote.
“In his second term, Trump is ramping up his efforts to intimidate and silence people in cities,” said Councilmember Kendra Brooks, who introduced the resolution. “What we do in this moment will be judged by history and we need leaders ready to fight. We need to be more outspoken because it’s the right thing to do. And because it’s the best way to keep us safe from his administration.”
Councilmember Brooks pointed to Mayor Brandon Johnson in Chicago and legislators in nearby counties as examples of proactive leadership to protect communities from Trump’s attacks. She also drew a contrast between Philadelphia’s approach during Trump’s first term and his second term.
“In 2020, when Trump tried to undermine our elections, Philly became the focus of the nation,” she said. “We came together in protest and made sure our votes were counted. Every one of our city leaders, from the Mayor to our Republican city commissioner to Working Families Party activists, spoke out about his attacks. Throughout his first term, we put resources on our city websites, pursued aggressive legal strategy, and passed laws to protect people from federal attacks.”
Community members and leaders of a variety of Philadelphia organizations spoke in support of the resolution, describing the impact on communities and highlighting the need for local leaders to speak out forcefully against escalating attacks.
“Since the Guard’s arrival in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, I have seen friends, including citizens born here in the United States arrested because of their race or because they were speaking another language,” said Teofilo Reyes, Organizing Director for Make the Road PA. “And as someone who speaks Spanish daily, I fear that I, too, could be unfairly targeted for nothing more than the language I use with my family and community. Chicago has successfully forestalled a federal invasion through the coordinated opposition of its residents and leaders. We can do the same here.”
“The National Guard coming to cities like Philadelphia takes away our freedom and our rights,” said Ms. Joan, a Philadelphia nanny and member of the National Domestic Workers Association – Pennsylvania Chapter. “We have seen in other cities like Washington DC where the National Guard has caused chaos, parents taken away from their kids, people pulled out of cars and worksites to be deported, immigrants quitting their jobs, not going to school, work, or the doctor. This creates an unbelievable and inhumane amount of fear for families.”
“Our neighbors have seen far too much increase of surveillance technology in their day-to-day lives,” said Hannah Sassaman, Executive Director at People’s Tech Project in Philadelphia. “Increased National Guard presence, coordination with the police, and increased ICE presence only creates more risk to all of our Philadelphia neighborhoods; chilling attendance at school, economic activity, and pushing families away from needed healthcare, community connections, and access to the services that keep us healthy and safe.”
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