📢 Join Us—Defend Democracy, Honor Sacrifice
🗽We honor our troops and veterans by standing up for freedom—not fascism. Together, we can champion our rights, freedoms, rule of law, democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, an
📢 Together, we rise! People Power United champions progress and power to the people. Join us by becoming a free or paid subscriber. Make your voice heard.
Great news—People Power is growing!
I know the constant stream of headlines, threats, and attacks on our rights and freedoms can feel overwhelming. You're not alone in feeling that way. But despite it all, people power is growing because we recognize that we have more in common than what divides us. We see each other's humanity. We know that none of us are truly safe until all of us are safe. And we believe deeply that every person deserves dignity, respect, and the chance to thrive.

Today, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our armed service members, veterans, and their families. Your sacrifices have made this country stronger. And we will not forget. We will not stop. We will fight for you—just as you have fought for us.
At the same time, I must speak a brutal truth: our nation has failed many of you. Too many of our leaders have become greedy, self-serving, and disconnected from the promises they swore to uphold. Among the most shameful examples is 34-time convicted felon President-but-not-a-leader and commander-in-chief Donald Trump, who betrayed the very people he was sworn to protect. On January 6, 2021, as violent extremists attacked the U.S. Capitol, Trump—then commander-in-chief—refused to act. He stood by while Capitol Police were assaulted and our democracy was under siege. His inaction disgraced the memory of every soldier who ever swore to defend the Constitution.
But that was not his only betrayal. Trump has endangered our national security by sharing classified information and unlawfully hoarding documents meant to be returned to the American people. He has repeatedly praised Nazis, Hitler, Putin, and other authoritarian leaders—spitting in the face of the generations of Americans who gave their lives fighting against fascism and tyranny.
Under Trump's second term, things have only gotten worse for our troops and veterans. In 2025, his administration moved to cut over 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs, slashing staffing back to 2019 levels. Trump and congressional Republicans are also pushing to privatize VA hospitals and clinics, putting access to care at risk—especially for veterans in rural communities.
Life-saving clinical trials for veterans with aggressive diseases like metastatic cancer and kidney failure were halted due to budget cuts, stripping over 1,000 veterans of critical treatment options.
Even more alarming is the recent firing of key staff from the National Security Agency (NSA) and Cyber Command, which appear to be politically motivated.
This isn't leadership—it's the abandonment of our values, troops, and veterans.
Trump defiles the sacrifices our troops and veterans have made as he uses the presidency to enrich himself and his allies, trample due process, and ignore the courts. This isn't just corruption—it's a total abandonment of duty and a shameful betrayal of our veterans and their families.
That’s why, when our so-called leaders betray the will of the people, we must call out their corruption, expose their deceit, and replace them with leaders who fight for liberty and justice for all—not just the wealthy and powerful. This is how we honor our veterans. Join us in choosing freedom over fascism.
We created the Freedom over Fascism pledge to honor those who've sacrificed for our democracy—and to remind us that each of us has a role to play. If this pledge speaks to your heart, please consider signing on:
I refuse to be silent.
I refuse to live in a nation that abandons kindness and respect for hatred and contempt.
I refuse to ignore the harm that is happening in my community.
I refuse to be complicit in helping a nation move from striving toward freedoms and rights for all to a country of the haves and the have-nots.
I refuse to believe this is someone else's problem. I must hold our leaders accountable to the people; if they do not listen, I will join others in doing the work to replace them.
I refuse to live in a nation that abandons the rule of law for tyranny.
I refuse to make excuses.
I refuse to live in a nation that disregards science, silences experts, devalues the contributions of dedicated public servants, and replaces truth with lies, rhetoric, and propaganda.
I refuse to look the other way.
I refuse to believe I cannot cause change.
We must unite and champion laws that protect and empower all community members. The days of only advocating for "my issue" are gone. I understand we may not agree on all issues, but there are many issues we can agree on. Our communities are stronger when we are united and advocate for one another.
I will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
Today’s call to action
Click here to add your name: Don't Force our Troops to March for Trump's Ego
Click here to sign the petition: Unite for Veterans
Help us spread the word! 💥 Drop a comment, tap that heart, and share this Substack post.
Follow us on YouTube and show some love ❤️ for our newly released song and music video: Power to the People: We Rise
Click here to check out our updated newsletter landing page!
We’ve reorganized everything to make it easier for you to take action and get involved:
Speak Out –Find all our petitions, letter-writing campaigns, and calls to action in one place—including actions from People Power United, our partners, and coalition allies.
Show Up – Discover upcoming events, rallies, protests, and more near you.
Join People Power United – Explore ways to become part of our growing movement to champion progress and power to the people.
It’s never been easier to raise your voice, take action, and build people power!
Unite for Veterans, Unite for America Rally on June 6th
🗓 Friday, June 6, 2025 🕑 2:00 PM ET📍 National Mall, Washington, D.C. (Between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol) Let the world see our strength and solidarity. 👉 Click here to signup.
No King's Day on June 14th
Join the National Day of Action for No King's Day on June 14th
Click here to find a location near you on Mobilize
Click here to view on a map
Click here to signup to host an event for NO KINGS DAY
Thanks for taking action!
We are not just resisting—we are reclaiming, rebuilding, and rising. Let’s do it together.
With fierce resolve and people power,
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United
Together, we can champion progress, protect our rights and freedoms, and hold our leaders accountable to the people’s will. By speaking out, showing up, and building power, we’ll defend democracy, uphold the rule of law, and inspire voters to take meaningful action—so that everyone in our community can thrive.
Here is how you can stay connected to our work:
Click here to Subscribe to our newsletter on Substack.
Click here to Subscribe to our events and communications list.
📢 Together, we rise! People Power United champions progress and power to the people. Join us by becoming a free or paid subscriber. Make your voice heard.
Excellent reminders, Laurie. Your words inspire me.
Barb