WHEREAS:
Workers deserve a voice in decisions that impact their lives. That is what democracy demands and why unions exist. Through collective power, unions ensure working people’s voices are heard and that our nation’s democratic values are upheld and celebrated. Through our 90-year history, AFSCME members have organized for a voice on the job and have actively participated in electoral politics, policy debates, civil rights struggles and social movements to promote freedom, fairness and democracy for working people; and
WHEREAS:
The principles of freedom, fairness and democracy are facing their greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Powerful forces are trying to strip away our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote, our freedom to have a voice in our own future, including our economic future and our freedom to join together in a union; and
WHEREAS:
As courts have repeatedly ruled, the Trump administration is regularly acting in clear violation of the law and the Constitution. Using the blueprint of Project 2025 backed by extreme legal theories, the Trump administration has violated our free-speech rights, disregarded congressionally appropriated funding, abused the government’s police powers, illegally profited from office, interfered with our elections, detained and deported people in violation of court orders and pardoned those convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021; and
WHEREAS:
Government institutions that for generations served to limit the concentration of power have wilted in the face of this executive overreach. The majority in Congress has abdicated its role in leading a coequal branch of government, allowing the president to abuse constitutional limits on executive power. While the lower courts and certain appellate circuits have blocked many of the administration’s illegal actions, the Supreme Court has shown excessive and unprecedented deference to the president and allowed him to fire the heads of independent agencies, federalize state National Guard units and deport immigrants to countries other than their countries of origin, as well as allowed states to draw new voting maps that diluted the electoral power of Black and Brown citizens; and
WHEREAS:
Many of our nation’s most powerful people and institutions, such as wealthy individuals, major corporations, elite universities, law firms and media outlets that once recognized civil rights and democratic norms have shrunk from the challenge from this administration. Tech and other business tycoons flocked to Trump’s 2025 inauguration and provided hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to Trump vanity projects like the White House ballroom; and
WHEREAS:
Movements for freedom and democracy require planning, organization and training to build, while unity and discipline are needed to reject the use of violence. These are the capabilities AFSCME and other labor unions possess through our organizing and advocacy; and
WHEREAS:
We strengthen the labor movement when we take action to fight antidemocratic power grabs. When we involve our members in mobilizing in defense of our rights, we increase our power and our ability to effectively fight for better conditions and treatment on the job; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME has a long history of leading and acting in coalition with pro-democracy movements at home and abroad. From civil rights struggles and I Am A Man to the fight to end apartheid in South Africa, to workers’ rights protests in Wisconsin and Ohio, we have been a part of movements that fight back when government leaders threaten our fundamental rights; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME has strengthened our ties over the last two years to pro-democracy coalitions that include diverse sectors from civil society who are committed to freedom of speech, free and fair elections and nonviolent protest. These coalitions have mobilized record numbers of Americans from all walks of life to turn out in all 50 states against the administration’s illegal actions, including hundreds of thousands of people attending their very first protest rallies. The ICE protests and community protection efforts in Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and elsewhere showed that people power is the most effective tool to curb an unlawful and unaccountable administration.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME strongly opposes the many harmful unconstitutional and antidemocratic actions carried out by the Trump administration, enabled by the majority in Congress and allowed by the Supreme Court’s reversal of longstanding principles and precedents, including attacks on free speech, voting and civil rights; illegal withholding of funding; and purges of federal employees and independent agencies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the labor movement must be a central part of the effort to stop this illegal power grab. Union members represent a diverse cross-section of Americans from all walks of life. We must join together to defend our freedoms. Unions have the organization, training and scale to help ensure a successful resistance movement; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That we commit ourselves to mobilizing our members, families and communities to work collaboratively with organizations and coalitions participating in nonviolent action to protest against the current administration’s abuses of our Constitution and its democratic principles, and to stand up for freedom, fairness and democracy.
SUBMITTED BY:
International Executive Board