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Sign this PetitionOver 4 Million Views for “People’s State of the Union” by MoveOn and MeidasTouch
Over 35 members of Congress attend largest organized boycott in history of the SOTU
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, members of Congress joined MoveOn Civic Action and MeidasTouch on the National Mall for the “People’s State of the Union” boycotting President Trump’s address and instead elevating the voices of Americans directly impacted by the administration’s policies.
Hosted by Katie Phang and Joy Reid and livestreamed nationwide, the event marked the largest organized boycott of the State of the Union address in American history. The People’s State of the Union was watched by more than 4 million through streams from MeidasTouch, MoveOn, PBS, MS Now, partner groups, and more across digital platforms. The counterprogramming event featured 35 lawmakers alongside storytellers, including Jeffrey Epstein survivors, workers, immigrants, federal employees, and families, who shared firsthand accounts of the economic strain, health care challenges, attacks on immigrant communities, and broader threats facing their lives and communities.
“Trump’s State of the Union bore no resemblance to reality,” said MoveOn Executive Director Katie Bethell. “He lied, distorted, and ignored the real stories: The killings of innocent people. The thousands of people who have been impacted by ICE raids. The victims of Jeffrey Epstein. The millions who have lost their health insurance at his hand. But MoveOn members, the American people… we know the true State of our Union. We’ve seen it. We’re living it. And it is not normal.”
Participating lawmakers included Senators Gallego, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Schiff, Smith, and Van Hollen, and Representatives Ansari, Balint, Casar, Clarke, Fletcher, Frost, García (IL), Garcia (CA), Grijalva, Himes, Jacobs, Jayapal, Kamlager-Dove, Larson, Lee, Leger Fernández, McClain Delaney, Menefee, Pingree, Pressley, Ramirez, Randall, Scanlon, Simon, Stansbury, and Watson Coleman. Speakers emphasized that the experiences of everyday people, not political games, define the true state of the nation.
The People’s State of the Union highlighted a people-centered vision focused on affordability, dignity, and democracy, underscoring the stakes facing communities across the country.
Partners of the People’s State of the Union included the American Federation of Teachers, the Center for Popular Democracy, Climate Power, Common Defense, Economic Security Project Action, Families Over Billionaires, Free DC, FWD.us, Indivisible, Interfaith Alliance, the National Education Association, Our Revolution, People Power United, Protect Our Care, Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Vera Action, Voto Latino, and Win Without War.
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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to enact progressive change. We are the home base for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.