Champions
These champions for democracy have shown incredible courage.
A group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers on Capitol Hill on November 18th, speaking out ahead of a House vote to release the full Epstein files. They urged the government to stop politicizing their trauma and to prioritize transparency and justice. In a deeply moving moment, the survivors held up photos of themselves at the ages when they were victimized, underscoring the lasting impact of their experiences. Their bravery and dignity stand as a powerful testament to their unyielding courage.
Chicago Senior Pastor​
A Chicago pastor was shot in the leg by pepper balls by Illinois state police while leading a peaceful protest outside of an ICE detention facility. He speaks on the importance of demanding accountability from officials and frames his activism in moral and theological terms. Pastor Woolf is clear in his message: "We have to challenge dehumanization at every single point we find it as people of faith."
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https://baptistnews.com/article/a-conversation-with-michael-woolf-about-ice-and-chicago/
Wyoming Librarian​
Library director Terri Lesley of the Campbell County Public Library System in Wyoming was fired in 2023 after refusing to censor or restrict LGBTQ+ literature, insisting that libraries uphold free access to information and defend constitutional principles. This week she won settlement in a wrongful termination suit, which she hopes will deter future attempts to ban books.
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Former Head of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases​
RFK Jr fired Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, NIH vaccine whistleblower, after she spoke out in favor of childhood flu vaccines. The successor of Dr. Fauci, Dr. Marrazzo has worked tirelessly to try to preserve millions of dollars of pediatric cancer and HIV reserach funding. She is one of the brave clinicians to have stood up to RFKs uncientific and dangerous actions.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-fires-nih-vaccine-whistleblower-dr-jeanne-marrazzo/
Illinois Army National Guard
Captain Dylan Blaha has served for over 12 years in the Illinois Army National Guard, including deployments to Afghanistan and Germany. In this video, he bravely urges his fellow National Guard members to honor their oath to the constitution. He reminds them "every military member is legally required to disobey an unlawful order". This is critical because 19 states have announced internal deployments of the National Guard in the coming weeks and months (as of August 25th).
More Than 50 Texas State Legislators
On August 4th, about 30* Texas State Legislators fled the state to break quorum and prevent a vote on the GOP's plan for congressional redistricting. These gerrymandering efforts have been blatantly designed to secure five more Republican seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The lawmakers work normal day jobs and only make $600 per month as legislators. However, they must pay a fee of $500 per person per day for breaking quorum. They have also received lawsuits and threats of arrest.
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*As of August 10th, there are more than 50 Texas Democrats that fled the state.
Idaho Middle School Teacher
Until this past spring, Sarah Inama taught middle school world civilizations in Idaho. In January, parents in a nearby school district complained about a bulletin board that had rainbows on it. The board was taken down and Inama's school principal told her to remove her classroom's poster, which said "Everyone is welcome here" and featured 10 hands with various skin tones. After reconsidering the message she wanted to send to her students, she put the poster up again but was told it violated the state's ban on critical race theory. Although Inama eventually resigned, she also received thousands of letters and emails that commended her courage.