Center For Popular Democracy Action Responds to Trump Declaration of National Emergency

“Trump’s fabrication of a national emergency is meant to deter democratic progress,” says Ana Maria Archila

NEW YORK, NY -- In response to Trump’s declaration of a national emergency, Ana Maria Archila, co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy Action released the following statement:

“For generations, we have struggled to make this government one that works for all of us -- to include people of color, women, young people, immigrants and native people. The path has not been straightforward, nor has it been easy, but it has always been for including the voices and the perspectives of all of us in the experiment that we call America.

“Trump’s fabrication of a national emergency is meant to deter this democratic progress.

“Through his invocation of a national emergency around the southern border, Trump has not only threatened our democratic progress, but he has also imposed great pain on immigrant families and those who stand with us. There is no doubt that these actions are motivated by racism and xenophobia. The more that people of color have our voices heard in our democracy, the weaker the white supremacist stranglehold on power. By declaring a national emergency, Trump wants to silence our demands for representation.

“Many of our Members of Congress abandoned us over the past few days and allowed Trump and the Republican agenda to win. They allowed President Trump to win much of his agenda: expanding his deportation force, separating children from their parents, and using our taxpayer dollars to fund the wall. We will remember how they cast aside our needs to cater to a despotic president.

“We thank Members of Congress who stayed accountable to their constituents and refused to trade our humanity for Trump’s agenda. Those members who went to the border, met us in the halls and fought tirelessly for our communities are our true representatives. We will need similar bold leadership moving into future conversations about the Department of Homeland Security’s budget.

“We will not be deterred in our pursuit of democracy. We will continue to show up, to demand representation, and to build a democracy that works for all of us.”