‘Don’t agonize, mobilize.’ Markey, Warren meet virtually with community leaders to discuss T**** agenda.
One day after President T**** took office, Massachusetts’ senators and congressional leaders gathered virtually Tuesday evening with community activists to discuss the state’s future under a second T**** term.
US Senator Edward J. Markey organized the Zoom call that was also attended by his fellow Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Boston.
“We must be resolute in resisting the worst of T****. We have to have a call to action,” said Markey, who co-wrote the Green New Deal climate legislation that Trump targeted in his inauguration speech. “And I am beyond honored and grateful to be joined by Massachusetts action stars tonight.”
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also attended the 75 minute session that drew several leaders of labor, community health, immigration and other advocacy groups.
They vowed a robust community mobilization in response to T****’s recent executive orders and potential future actions regarding immigration, reproductive rights, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Among those who attended were Chrissy Lynch (President, AFL-CIO Massachusetts), Rebecca Hart Holder (President, Reproductive Equity Now), Liz Sweet (Executive Director, MIRA), Tanya Neslusan (Executive Director, Mass Equality), Carol Rose (Executive Director, ACLU Massachusetts), and Porsha Olayiwola (Poet Laureate of Boston).
The theme of the evening was clear: the strength of collective action.
Warren, in brief remarks, assured viewers that she will keep their agendas front and center in the now-Republican controlled senate, urging them to stay engaged in the effort as well.
“This is a time that we remind ourselves and each other that we can all do this separately, and have some effect—but all of us together is where our power lies,” she said. “Organizing, mobilizing, demonstrating, supporting each other.”
Immigration was a key topic of discussion in light of T****’s move to end birthright citizenship Monday afternoon. Attorney General Campbell highlighted the lawsuit she filed Tuesday which seeks to stop the order before it goes into effect. Mayor Wu spoke on her experience as a child of immigrant parents.
“My parents weren’t citizens when I was born in this country,” Wu said. “They achieved that many years later... I am only a citizen because of birthright citizenship.”
Therefore, efforts to resist T****’s order are “extremely personal,” she said.
Markey ended the discussion with an urge that community members: “Don’t agonize, mobilize.”
Rita Chandler can be reached at rita.chandler@globe.com.
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