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New Orleans Resists ICE Invasion

CleverNews.Net — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:43:35 -0500

Despite widespread surveillance and a Louisiana law that criminalizes obstruction of ICE with 5 years of hard labor in state prison, the communities still came together and did the right thing to protect their neighbors. We can learn from each other and adopt the tactics that work.

Louisiana has organized caravans who follow ICE around and record everything they do. Everyone has their whistles that they blow when they see ICE. They're holding Know Your Rights training sessions for protesters and for immigrants. They've established local mutual aid networks (formed after hurricane Katrina) to help people get food and medical care. They established a hotline where people can report ICE activity. The legal aid and immigration attorneys are burned out because of the work load, but they're doing the best they can under the circumstances.

We need to have these exact same efforts in every community across the nation. I think these days everyone has a phone with a camera, so recording ICE activity is something everyone can do if you're unable to volunteer for any of the other activities. The hotlines especially need more people to volunteer who are bilingual.

Here's more reporting on what they're doing in The Big Easy.

Address of the Bookmark: https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/new-orleans-resists-ice-invasion-despite-surveillance-and-state-rep...

Lawsuit Seeks DOJ Memo On Trump's Extra-Judicial Murders

Gary Wright II — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:18:25 -0500

The illegal strikes on boats in Latin America have already killed at least 87 people. There is a memorandum from DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) that not only supposedly gives legal authority for the murders of these civilians who allegedly are carrying drugs, but also promises immunity from prosecution for everyone who takes part in the extra-judicial murders.

A new lawsuit is seeking release of the OLC memo and other documents through enforcing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Here's the 11-page Complaint:

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72008925/1/american-civil-liberties-union-v-department-of-justi...

USA Gets Downgraded As We Slip Towards Authoritarianism

Gary Wright II — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:39:39 -0500

The latest report from CIVICUS has downgraded the USA from Narrowed to Obstructed since Trump has taken office. The report measures all the areas that disrupt civil society, and the USA violates almost all of them. 😭 Then next stage is Oppressed and then Closed. The further we fall, the harder it is to get back to an open society. I can't believe how quickly we've fallen in just one year, and there's been no pushback from Congress or the Supreme Court. We have to get organized and come up with a plan for the people to retake control of our government before we lose it.

Here's the full 112-page report.

Address of the Bookmark: https://civicusmonitor.contentfiles.net/media/documents/Embargoed9December.CIVICUSMonitorReport25.pd...

AG Bondi's Memo To Attack "Antifa" And Left-Leaning Groups

Gary Wright II — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:48:28 -0500

I've already written about the dangers of Trump's NSPM-7 memorandum that mobilized the national security apparatus to go after Anti-fascists ("Antifa") and groups that they have broadly defined as "domestic terrorists." The National Security Presidential Memorandum is written so that just about any left-leaning group can be investigated. Here's a link to my post about NSPM-7:

https://cleverpeople.com/blog/view/148545/national-security-presidential-memo-7-targets-activists

Now we have the memorandum that Attorney General Pam Bondi sent out to all of the federal prosecutors. It includes Antifa (which is not an organization in the USA), those with "extreme viewpoints on immigration, radical gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment." She is using the Charlie Kirk assassination as an excuse to prosecute anyone who voices dissent against the Trump administration by labeling them as domestic terrorists.

Our First Amendment right is how we protect all of our other rights. It's imperative that we fight back against such tyranny. Please join your local Indivisible group or seek out another rights organization in your area. We have to get organized and act quickly before we lose our rights!

Here is a link to Indivisible: https://groups.indivisible.org/

This bookmark is the 6-page Bondi memorandum.

Address of the Bookmark: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/s3.indivisibleguide.com/images/Bondi-Memo-December2025.pdf

ICEBlock App Developer Sues Government

CleverNews.Net — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:05:18 -0500

Josh Aaron created the ICEBlock application so that communities could track ICE agents. AG Bondi put pressure on Apple and Google to remove all ICE tracking apps from their app stores and they complied with the request. Joshua has filed a lawsuit that claims "Attorney General Bondi made plain that the United States government used its regulatory power to coerce a private platform to suppress First Amendment-protected expression."

Apple has previously removed apps at the request of oppressive governments around the world, but this is the first time they've taken down apps at the request of the USA. We really need these tracking apps and websites. This Complaint is pretty thorough (except it's missing the addresses of the parties and will have to be refiled). I hope Joshua Aaron wins this one! ✊

Here is the 39-page Complaint.

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72003579/1/aaron-v-bondi/

The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act Is Released

Gary Wright II — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:34:52 -0500

The National Defense Authorization Act is what funds our military, but way too much of the bill always gives outrageous amounts of money to defense contractors. Much of the "dark money" is for projects that are classified, so there's no way to track their spending on them. This is where most of our taxpayer money goes, but politicians on both sides refuse to cut the spending. It infuriates me that we spend so much on our military industrial complex, yet they say we can't afford universal health care like most civilized countries, or afford social safety nets for people who are struggling. They also sneak hundreds of items into the must-pass bill that they know they can't get passed through the normal lawmaking process. The amount of spending in this bill each year is obscene! $900.6 BILLION dollars this year?

House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act helps advance President Trump and Republicans’ Peace Through Strength Agenda by codifying 15 of President Trump’s executive orders, ending woke ideology at the Pentagon, securing the border, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos." WTF?!?

Most lawmakers never have time to read the full document, but they vote on it anyway. Here's the full text of the bill which is 3,086 pages long.

Address of the Bookmark: https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/NDAA.pdf

The People's Indictment of Trump: A Unified Declaration of Illegitimacy

Gary Wright II — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:18:44 -0500

On Saturday, December 13th at 2PM there will be 3,000 protesters from Refuse Fascism surrounding the White House with crime tape and delivering The People's Indictment. I wish I had the time and money to join them! ✊

It's pretty scary how far and how quickly our country has fallen into fascism, especially when you write all of the reasons down in one document. Here's a link to the indictment which is worth reading, and to the Refuse Fascism website where you can subscribe, donate, or volunteer.

Address of the Bookmark: https://refusefascism.org/uncategorized/the-peoples-indictment-of-donald-trump-a-unified-declaration...

ICE Is Using Attack Dogs

CleverNews.Net — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:18:11 -0500

Senator Patty Murray tells the story of her constituent Wilmer Toledo-Martinez who was mauled by an ICE attack dog. ICE lured him out of his house by telling him a lie (all cops lie!), then another ICE agent released the attack dog on him once he exited his home. ICE then delayed his medical care for hours. He required stitches, antibiotics, and another medication. They never provided him with the other medication he was prescribed. There are photos of his injuries. He's currently being held at the Northwest ICE processing center.

Toledo-Martinez was brought to the US at age 15 and is undocumented, but he was not resisting arrest or attempting to flee when the ICE dog attacked him. He was detained in front of his wife and two young children, who are all US citizens.

It doesn't surprise me, but this is the first time I've heard of them using attack dogs. They are trying to instill fear into our communities and their repeated acts of violence are achieving that goal. ICE and CBP agents are essentially domestic terrorists with a badge. 🤬

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/06/us-senator-ice-attack-dog-horrific-injuries

SCOTUS To Hear Birthright Citizenship Case

Gary Wright II — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:42:05 -0500

The Supreme Court just granted certiorari to hear Trump's plan to overturn the 14th Amendment guarantee of birthright citizenship. That means that at least 4 of the 9 justices voted to hear the case, which has been ruled unconstitutional by all of the lower courts. The Questions Presented file hasn't been filled in yet, but Trump has been arguing against the text of the Constitution that says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Trump claims that migrants aren't "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" so babies don't get citizenship unless both parents are citizens at time of birth. Nobody has ever interpreted the law this way, so I'm shocked that SCOTUS has even agreed to hear this case.

If immigrants aren't "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" then doesn't that mean they also wouldn't be subject to federal or state laws? Trump's interpretation of the 14th Amendment defies all logic, but here we are. What will the corrupt SCOTUS do?

Here's the court docket for Trump, et al. v. Barbara, et al. (SCOTUS Case #25-365).

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-365.html

Free Alabama Movement's Nine Demands

Gary Wright II — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:06:49 -0500

There's a list of nine demands that FAM is making for their planned February 8th statewide prison work stoppage. They all seem very reasonable to me, but they can't do it alone and they need our help! Instead of quoting the voices of the incarcerated, here's a link to their website so you can read for yourself and stay informed.

Address of the Bookmark: https://freealabamamovement.wordpress.com/

Abortion Clinic "Safety Zone" Overturned In Clearwater, Florida

Gary Wright II — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:32:42 -0500

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) has remanded for a preliminary injunction an abortion clinic safety zone case back to the lower court. Sounds like they may need more clinic escorts to ensure people aren't being intimidated!

A three-judge panel on the 11th Circuit wrote: "Seeking to protect the safety of those driving into and out of the parking lot of a local abortion clinic, the City of Clearwater, Florida created a “vehicular safety zone.” The buffer zone applied to most pedestrians, forbidding entrance to a 38-foot stretch of public sidewalk (28 feet of which cross the clinic’s driveway) during business hours."

The pro-lifers claim the safety zone around the Bread And Roses Woman's Health Center in Clearwater, FL impedes their First Amendment rights. The "sidewalk counselors" hang out and harass any pedestrians or vehicles they see coming near the clinic, so a safety zone was established by the city. The 11th Circuit thinks the First Amendment concerns prevail in this case because of the SCOTUS ruling in McCullen v. Coakley.

Here's their full 38-page opinion.

Address of the Bookmark: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202313501.pdf

Bondi Issues Memo Directing Actions Against "Antifa"

Gary Wright II — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:36:02 -0500

This will open the door for them to investigate anyone who opposes Trump's fascist agenda. It says, "These domestic terrorists use violence or the threat of violence to advance political and social agendas, including opposition to law and immigration enforcement; extreme views in favor of mass migration and open borders; adherence to radical gender ideology, anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity." Like I said, this is written so broadly it could target just about anyone who opposes the MAGA agenda. We are all in danger! When is our next protest march???

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/bondi-orders-law-enforcement-investigate-us-groups-over-acc...

Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act

Gary Wright II — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:46:32 -0500

Senators have introduced a bill that would expand Title 18 of US Code to specifically include federal immigration officers. It would make doxxing a federal officer with the intent to obstruct criminal or immigration enforcement a felony with fines and up to five years in federal prison. 🤬

So, let's talk about doxxing and let me introduce y'all to what's called reverse image searches. There are services that allow you to upload a face and it will identify the person. There is pimeyes dot com that does an excellent job, but it requires paid monthly subscriptions with different levels of service. Grok is good at doxxing based on text searches, but is not reliable for seeking other information because of its Nazi bias. Here's an article with more info on pimeyes, and it has a list of some free alternatives.

Address of the Bookmark: https://dataconomy.com/2023/03/06/what-is-pimeyes-free-alternatives-how-to/

SCOTUS Allows Racial Gerrymandering In Texas

Gary Wright II — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:52:09 -0500

Using the map, Texas could add up to 5 more seats in the House of Representatives. Justice Kagan wrote the dissent. The unsigned order says that Texas is “likely to succeed on the merits of its claim,” and that the lower court “failed to honor the presumption of legislative good faith” when assessing the state legislature’s motives. The lower court ruled that the map was racially gerrymandered. It will be interesting to see if SCOTUS allows the California map. The three liberals voted no, so it looks like the vote was likely 6-3. Here's the 20-page court's opinion (the dissent starts on page 4).

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a608_7khn.pdf

DOJ Ends LGBTQIA+ Safety Standards In Prisons

Gary Wright II — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:21:42 -0500

This decision will get people raped and murdered! DOJ is in the process of revising the federal standards related to the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in order to align with Trump's executive order on "gender ideology extremism" that only recognizes two sexes: male and female. A 2015 survey from criminal justice group Black and Pink found LGBTQIA+ prisoners were over six times as likely to be sexually assaulted as the general prison population. They will also be housing transgender people in the wrong prisons based on their sex at birth.

This bookmark has an article with more reporting on their efforts.

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.npr.org/2025/12/04/nx-s1-5630490/prison-doj-safety-memo-changes-trans-lgbtq-inmates

Taking A Life: Archie Hamlett's Story

Gary Wright II — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:50:20 -0500

The Alabama prison system is so broken and cruel, we have to change it! Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is doing great work, and they have an excellent series called "Taking A Life." Reporter Beth Shelburne just added a note to her substack telling about what happened to Archie Hamlett. The utter cruelty is astounding! I encourage y'all to subscribe to her Moth To Flame newsletter (free or paid) and also check out Alabama Appleseed.

Please take a moment to read and think about what they did to Mr. Hamlett, and then help us fix the system: ✊

Address of the Bookmark: https://substack.com/@bethshelburne/note/c-182883322

"Power of the Purse: Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism in the Congressional Appropriations Process"

Gary Wright II — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:36:49 -0500

GOP's Obsession Attacking LGBTQIA+ People - Across 12 must-pass federal funding bills, MAGA members of Congress have proposed more than 50 anti-LGBTQIA+ provisions. We've seen similar laws proposed in each of the states. They've attacked our health care, drag shows, pride flags, DEI efforts, non-discrimination rights, and everything else they can think of. Trump has used recission powers to strip away already-approved funding from housing, HIV prevention, health care, and so much more. They have stopped all foreign aid that helps protect our communities in developing nations. Trump has used executive orders to target us, and refuses to acknowledge Pride or World AIDS Day. Their unrelentless attacks against the transgender community has been dangerous and heart-breaking to watch.

Human Rights Campaign has just released this updated 16-page report called "Power of the Purse: Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism in the Congressional Appropriations Process" that examines this problem further.

Address of the Bookmark: https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/documents/Appropriations-Report-Dec-2025-...

ACLU Sues Louisiana For Act 399 (Obstructing ICE)

Gary Wright II — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:41:26 -0500

On August 1st, Act 399 went into effect in Louisiana and so the ACLU has filed a lawsuit because it violates the 1st and 14th Amendments. The law amended Louisiana’s obstruction of justice statute to threaten imprisonment with hard labor and thousands of dollars in fines for people who “knowingly commit any act intended to hinder, delay, prevent or otherwise interfere with or thwart federal immigration enforcement efforts.”

This law is written so broadly, that people are scared to hand out Know Your Rights pamphlets or provide any assistance to immigrants. There are other states who are passing similar laws, so we need this win in Louisiana to set a legal precedent to take out the same law in other states.

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.kplctv.com/2025/12/03/aclu-files-lawsuit-against-louisiana-challenging-law-it-says-viola...

California Portal For Reporting Federal Officer Misconduct

Gary Wright II — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:20:14 -0500

With ICE/CBP's new crackdown on Afghan immigrants in northern California, now is a good time to have a portal to report their misconduct. Please share this link with folks in California!

Address of the Bookmark: https://oag.ca.gov/reportmisconduct

Formal Complaint Filed Over Trump And Hegseth's Extra-Judicial Murders

Gary Wright II — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:10:01 -0500

The family of Alejandro Andres Carranza Medina has filed a formal complaint with the Inter American Commission on Human Rights. Carranza was a 47 year old fisherman from Columbia who was killed when Pete Hegseth and Trump carried out missile strikes against a boat he was on. The US claimed they fired at a boat full of Venezuelans, but it actually contained Columbian citizens. They have not provided any evidence that the boat was carrying drugs, but even if true they didn't interdict the ship and arrest anyone - they carried out extra-judicial murders.

This bookmark takes you to more reporting.

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.inquisitr.com/pete-hegseth-accused-of-murdering-colombian-fisherman-in-formal-complaint-...

Article: Imagining the Merger of “Refuse Fascism” and “The General Strike”

Gary Wright II — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:27:30 -0500

Phil Wilson has posted a thought-provoking article on The Resistance and where we go next. We have to reach the critical threshold of 11 million people (experts say it takes 3.5% of the population to overthrow an oppressive regime) and I don't really care which organization is able to get us there. I don't think most people realize how far we've fallen down the fascist rabbit hole in just the past year, so action is urgent. The last No Kings protest drew over 7 million people, so we are almost there! Make sure you sign up for the next No Kings protest that comes up, and with any other change organization that interests you. ✊

Address of the Bookmark: https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/imagining-the-merger-of-refuse-fascism-and-the-general-strike/

Flag-Burning Is Protected Free Speech

Gary Wright II — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:51:29 -0500

When Trump issued an Executive Order that banned burning or desecrating the US flag, many people noticed the irony of him pardoning all of the January 6th insurrectionists who soiled the Capitol and assaulted police officers using flags on poles, yet wanting to imprison those who burn a flag. The Supreme Court has held multiple times that flag-burning is protected under the First Amendment.

On the day Trump signed the order, North Carolina Army combat veteran Jan Carey exercised his rights and burned a small flag on top of some bricks in Lafayette Square across from the White House in protest of the unlawful Executive Order. He announced on a bullhorn what he was doing and why.

US Attorney for DC Jeanine "Wine Box" Pirro 🙄 (a former Fox News host) charged Carey with two misdemeanors that each carry a penalty of up to 6 months in jail. Instead of using the Executive Order as a legal basis (which would immediately fail in court) she drummed up two other charges: Count 1 is for Fire in an Undesignated Area; Count 2 is Lighting a Fire in a Manner that Causes Damage to Real Property or Park Resources.

In other words, they're coming up with reasons for criminal charges against people who exercise their rights. The case has been assigned to DC Federal Chief Judge James Boasberg who has yet to rule on a Motion to Dismiss the case, but has scheduled a status hearing for January 28th.

This bookmark is a link to that court docket.

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71223653/united-states-v-carey/?order_by=desc

Texas Transgender "Bathroom Bill" Goes Into Effect

Gary Wright II — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:50:32 -0500

On Thursday, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act goes into effect which is going to make going to the bathroom more dangerous for women and especially transgender women. There aren't many guidelines on enforcement, so any woman that looks "butch" is likely to get harassed. The transgender population will be forced to use the wrong bathroom, which will increase the violence against them. Public and private spaces have different rules, which will add to the inconsistencies and confusion about the law.

I'm so sorry that Texas passed this discriminatory law, and I'm afraid my trans friends are going to lose even more rights when the Supreme Court issues their opinions in June. We have to stand up and protect our transgender brothers and sisters, wherever they may be. 💜"🏳️‍⚧️- This bookmark has more details about the new law.

Address of the Bookmark: https://apnews.com/article/texas-general-news-44c8d0da41ed27d82ba24f6922e06e8c

Local Indivisible Groups Are Everywhere

Gary Wright II — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:45:46 -0500

After the No Kings protests, many communities across the country created their own Indivisible groups that organizes events at the local level. I'm a member of our local group in Montgomery, and it has lots of really amazing activists in it. I encourage y'all to seek out and join the groups that exist where you live, or create your own group if there isn't one. This is a map where you can find them.

Address of the Bookmark: https://groups.indivisible.org/

"After the DC National Guard Shooting Comes the Big Lie"

Gary Wright II — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:11:39 -0500

Dave Zirin has written an excellent article challenging the big lies being told by the government. I agree with him, the National Guard is not protecting a damn thing during these deployments. Under the Posse Comitatus Act, they aren't legally allowed to enforce civil law. We now have DC police guarding the National Guard, which is insane! Zirin also addresses the lies being told by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey to justify his actions.

I disagree that Trump has had his "Reichstag Fire" moment, because that is coming near the end of his term. I expect one of his radical right-wing militias to carry out a false flag operation of violence and blame antifa for it. Trump is waiting for any excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act, and thankfully we haven't given him any justification. That's why I think he will eventually just fabricate an incident and put us all under martial law.

We have to correct these Big Lies, so here's Dave Zirin's article in The Nation.

Address of the Bookmark: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/dc-national-guard-shooting-occupation-lies/