{"issues":[{"id":"news","name":"News","slug":"news","description":null,"page_title":null,"icons":{"black":"/assets/images/icons/default-black-issue-icon.svg","grey":"/assets/images/icons/default-grey-issue-icon.svg","white":"/assets/images/icons/default-white-issue-icon.svg"},"cover_image_url":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/m8q3wkaM/66e6ac/explore.jpg","is_following":false,"follower_count":48},{"id":"legislation","name":"Legislation","slug":"legislation","description":null,"page_title":null,"icons":{"black":"/assets/images/icons/default-black-issue-icon.svg","grey":"/assets/images/icons/default-grey-issue-icon.svg","white":"/assets/images/icons/default-white-issue-icon.svg"},"cover_image_url":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/m8q3wkaM/66e6ac/explore.jpg","is_following":false,"follower_count":50}],"legislators":[{"id":3,"chamber":"house","country":"US","first_name":"Pete","last_name":"Aguilar","nickname":null,"party":"D","gender":"M","district":"33","state":"CA","state_name":"California","state_rank":"","birthday":"1979-06-19","senate_class":null,"term_start":"2023-01-03","term_end":"2025-01-03","title":"Rep","twitter_id":"reppeteaguilar","facebook_id":"reppeteaguilar","youtube_id":null,"website":"https://aguilar.house.gov","phone":"+1-202-225-3201","fax":null,"photos":{"small":"https://assets.hosted-assets.com/public/legislator/photo/A000371/small_rep_aguilar_1558565219.jpg","medium":"https://assets.hosted-assets.com/public/legislator/photo/A000371/medium_rep_aguilar_1558565219.jpg"},"represented_district_name":"California 33rd Congressional District","ocd_id":"ocd-division/country:us/state:ca/cd:33","upper":false,"lower":true,"legislative_body_id":3}],"legislative_bodies":[{"name":"United States House","id":3,"district_id":null}],"districts":[],"articles":[{"action_count":0,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2023-03-21T23:39:54.863Z","cta_prompt":"Do you support the use of a mandatory app for asylum seekers?","cta_text":"App For Asylum Seekers?","cta_type":"reactions","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"3.21.23","html_content":"

Immigration rights activists say that the U.S.'s newly released app required for asylum applications is not only beset by technical problems but is failing to recognize the faces of Black and darker-skinned migrants.

What is the app?

The app, CBP One, was released by Customs and Border Protection in Jan. as part of a strategy by the Biden administration to change how they process asylum applications.
It is now mandatory for prospective migrants and asylum seekers to use the app to schedule an appointment with border personnel at a port of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border.
It is also mandatory for immigrants seeking an exemption from Title 42, the COVID-19 public health law that allows border personnel to expel prospective migrants on public health grounds immediately.
By Feb. 10, the app had been used by 20,000 people. Border officials praise the app for reducing detentions and expulsions at the border, and discouraging migrants from making the dangerous journey North without consent from U.S. border security.

Mandatory application photo

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Privacy Impact Assessment says applicants must take a selfie as the first step in the application, which is then searched against photos in a U.S. border security database.
\nIn a statement, CBP said:

\"One of the security features of the CBP One mobile application is the requirement that an individual takes a live photo of themselves each time they access the application. This security feature is designed to prevent bad actors from utilizing the mobile applications.\"

An app beset by problems

Activists say that some of the declines in asylum seekers are attributable to technical issues that make it harder for darker-skinned migrants to book appointments.
The app has difficulty recognizing the photos of darker-skinned applicants and rejects their submitted images. Without their faces being recognized, they cannot be searched in the database, and their application cannot be approved. These repeated rejections impact the ability of applicants to schedule an appointment in a timely manner.
Erika Pinheiro, the executive director of the humanitarian group Al Otro Lado, said:

\"People with darker skin are getting a higher rate of error messages to the point where many of them have been unable to upload a photo at all.\"

In addition to struggling to read features, easy usage of the app has been impacted by geolocation failures and frozen screens. The app also requires a degree of tech fluency and requires users to set up two-factor authentication to log in, creating further = barriers.
Pinheiro said the app is challenging for older mobile phone users, those who cannot afford up-to-date technology, and those residing in rural, low-signal areas.

Inherent bias?

The inability to read the features of darker-skinned applicants is part of a broader conversation about how AI has bias built into the design.
A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that facial recognition technology has the highest success rates when recognizing white, middle-aged men and has the lowest success rate with Black women.
A 2020 Harvard study found that facial recognition has an error rate of over 30% for women with darker skin. Georgetown University researcher Nina Wang said:

\"What we're seeing is essentially that people with darker skins cannot apply for asylum for no other reason than the color of their skin. That is something that seriously negatively impacts people's livelihoods.\"

Felicia Rangel-Samponaro, co-director of a non-profit, said:

“There are about 4,000 Black asylum seekers waiting in Reynosa and at least another 1,000 Haitians in Matamoros. Hardly anyone is getting an asylum appointment. Neither population is being represented as it should.”

The big picture

In the 2022 fiscal year, a record number of 2.76 million migrants were stopped, detained, or expelled at the U.S.-Mexico border, with an influx of migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, and Central America fleeing drug-related violence, environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.
In Dec., there were 221,675 detentions at the border, which fell 42% to 128,410 in Jan.

Do you support the use of a mandatory app for asylum seekers?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Canva/Raw Pixel)

","id":713,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/e912bb/e912bb-Untitleddesign10-Copy.jpg","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/e912bb/e912bb-Untitleddesign10-Copy.jpg","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/e912bb/e912bb-Untitleddesign10-Copy.jpg","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/e912bb/e912bb-Untitleddesign10-Copy.jpg","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/e912bb/e912bb-Untitleddesign10-Copy.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/713-mandatory-app-asylum-seekers-fails-darker-skinned-applicants","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=713","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/713/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":11,"published_at":"2023-03-21T23:39:54.835Z","reaction_config":[{"text":"Support","color":"#333373","stance":"support"},{"text":"Oppose","color":"#DB0F06","stance":"oppose"}],"reaction_config_id":7,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":0,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"713-mandatory-app-asylum-seekers-fails-darker-skinned-applicants","snippet":"Immigration rights activists say that the U.S.'s newly released app required for asylum applications is not only beset by","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Mandatory App for Asylum Seekers Fails Darker-Skinned Applicants","cta_prompt":"Do you support the use of a mandatory app for asylum seekers?","html_content":"

Immigration rights activists say that the U.S.'s newly released app required for asylum applications is not only beset by technical problems but is failing to recognize the faces of Black and darker-skinned migrants.

What is the app?

The app, CBP One, was released by Customs and Border Protection in Jan. as part of a strategy by the Biden administration to change how they process asylum applications.
It is now mandatory for prospective migrants and asylum seekers to use the app to schedule an appointment with border personnel at a port of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border.
It is also mandatory for immigrants seeking an exemption from Title 42, the COVID-19 public health law that allows border personnel to expel prospective migrants on public health grounds immediately.
By Feb. 10, the app had been used by 20,000 people. Border officials praise the app for reducing detentions and expulsions at the border, and discouraging migrants from making the dangerous journey North without consent from U.S. border security.

Mandatory application photo

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Privacy Impact Assessment says applicants must take a selfie as the first step in the application, which is then searched against photos in a U.S. border security database.
\nIn a statement, CBP said:

\"One of the security features of the CBP One mobile application is the requirement that an individual takes a live photo of themselves each time they access the application. This security feature is designed to prevent bad actors from utilizing the mobile applications.\"

An app beset by problems

Activists say that some of the declines in asylum seekers are attributable to technical issues that make it harder for darker-skinned migrants to book appointments.
The app has difficulty recognizing the photos of darker-skinned applicants and rejects their submitted images. Without their faces being recognized, they cannot be searched in the database, and their application cannot be approved. These repeated rejections impact the ability of applicants to schedule an appointment in a timely manner.
Erika Pinheiro, the executive director of the humanitarian group Al Otro Lado, said:

\"People with darker skin are getting a higher rate of error messages to the point where many of them have been unable to upload a photo at all.\"

In addition to struggling to read features, easy usage of the app has been impacted by geolocation failures and frozen screens. The app also requires a degree of tech fluency and requires users to set up two-factor authentication to log in, creating further = barriers.
Pinheiro said the app is challenging for older mobile phone users, those who cannot afford up-to-date technology, and those residing in rural, low-signal areas.

Inherent bias?

The inability to read the features of darker-skinned applicants is part of a broader conversation about how AI has bias built into the design.
A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that facial recognition technology has the highest success rates when recognizing white, middle-aged men and has the lowest success rate with Black women.
A 2020 Harvard study found that facial recognition has an error rate of over 30% for women with darker skin. Georgetown University researcher Nina Wang said:

\"What we're seeing is essentially that people with darker skins cannot apply for asylum for no other reason than the color of their skin. That is something that seriously negatively impacts people's livelihoods.\"

Felicia Rangel-Samponaro, co-director of a non-profit, said:

“There are about 4,000 Black asylum seekers waiting in Reynosa and at least another 1,000 Haitians in Matamoros. Hardly anyone is getting an asylum appointment. Neither population is being represented as it should.”

The big picture

In the 2022 fiscal year, a record number of 2.76 million migrants were stopped, detained, or expelled at the U.S.-Mexico border, with an influx of migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, and Central America fleeing drug-related violence, environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.
In Dec., there were 221,675 detentions at the border, which fell 42% to 128,410 in Jan.

Do you support the use of a mandatory app for asylum seekers?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Canva/Raw Pixel)

","custom_cta_text":"App For Asylum Seekers?","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3291,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Mandatory App for Asylum Seekers Fails Darker-Skinned Applicants","issue_ids":["news"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":56,"allow_advocacy":false,"comments_count":1,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":1,"created_at":"2022-12-08T20:24:05.331Z","cta_prompt":"Join the event!","cta_text":"RSVP here!","cta_type":"custom","cta_url":"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversations-with-secretary-mark-esper-tickets-469303478337","current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"12.8.22","html_content":"

Please join us for our next installment of Conversations with Secretary Mark Esper featuring Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

As a NATO member state, Lithuania is on the frontline for the alliance against Russia and is one of the most vocal advocates for a united effort to counter the Kremlin’s foreign aggression. Lithuania also hosts one of NATO’s multinational battlegroups which helps to provide strong deterrence and defense for the whole alliance. These types of actions demonstrate Lithuania’s solidarity, determination, and ability to defend NATO members’ territory and populations.

To further the conversation on this issue, the McCain Institute seeks to convene experts to discuss the United States’ strategic security partnerships and how they address some of the most pressing challenges of our time – an increasingly aggressive Russian state, mounting international authoritarianism, the global plague of disinformation, and strategic competition. This event is part of a public conversation series between Dr. Mark T. Esper, the John McCain distinguished fellow and former U.S. secretary of defense, and experts on various issues related to challenges and threats to U.S. national security.

MODERATOR:

Dr. Mark T. Esper, John McCain Distinguished Fellow and Former US Secretary of Defense

@MarkTEsper

PANELISTS:

Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister of Lithuania

@IngridaSimonyte

","id":698,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/267c6d/267c6d-Esper-Convo-Twitter-Graphic--1024x576.jpg.webp","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/267c6d/267c6d-Esper-Convo-Twitter-Graphic--1024x576.jpg.webp","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/267c6d/267c6d-Esper-Convo-Twitter-Graphic--1024x576.jpg.webp","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/267c6d/267c6d-Esper-Convo-Twitter-Graphic--1024x576.jpg.webp","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/267c6d/267c6d-Esper-Convo-Twitter-Graphic--1024x576.jpg.webp"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/698-event-conversations-secretary-mark-esper-lithuanian-prime-minister-ingrida-simonyte","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=698","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/698/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":4,"published_at":"2022-12-08T20:24:05.316Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":54,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"698-event-conversations-secretary-mark-esper-lithuanian-prime-minister-ingrida-simonyte","snippet":"Please join us for our next installment of Conversations with Secretary Mark Esper featuring Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"EVENT || Conversations with Secretary Mark Esper: Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė","cta_prompt":"Join the event!","html_content":"

Please join us for our next installment of Conversations with Secretary Mark Esper featuring Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

MODERATOR:

Dr. Mark T. Esper, John McCain Distinguished Fellow and Former US Secretary of Defense

@MarkTEsper

PANELISTS:

Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister of Lithuania

@IngridaSimonyte

","custom_cta_text":"RSVP here!","cta_url":"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversations-with-secretary-mark-esper-tickets-469303478337"}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3264,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"EVENT || Conversations with Secretary Mark Esper: Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":19,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2022-06-21T13:35:01.128Z","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"6.21.22","html_content":"

Tune in to hear Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Bill Gates, discuss the infamous Eastman Memos and how they were used by President Donald Trump to attempt to seize election materials and tools following the 2020 election. Bill was re-elected to another four-year term on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in 2020. Maricopa County is the fourth largest county in the United States with a population of over 4.5 million people. Bill represents over 900,000 residents as a Maricopa County Supervisor. He was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board, a position he held in 2019 when, among other things, Bill negotiated a re-organization of the Maricopa County Elections Department with then-Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes. Prior to joining the Board of Supervisors, Bill served on the Phoenix City Council from 2009-2016, including a stint as Vice Mayor in 2013.

We Hold These Truth’s Ask the Expert Series brings you answers from a diverse group of leaders in their fields of study and practice on issues affecting American democracy. These short videos are part of a broader panel conversation which are hosted by the McCain Institute’s Defending American Democracy Series – an event series focused on restoring faith in fact-based journalism and countering mis- and disinformation.

This panel is part of the Defending American Democracy series with support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

","id":634,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/D0PIgeTFE_Y/0.jpg","xsmall":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/D0PIgeTFE_Y/0.jpg","small":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/D0PIgeTFE_Y/0.jpg","medium":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/D0PIgeTFE_Y/0.jpg","large":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/D0PIgeTFE_Y/0.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/634-ask-experts-eastman-memos","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=634","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/634/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":9,"published_at":"2022-06-21T13:35:01.115Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":19,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"634-ask-experts-eastman-memos","snippet":"Tune in to hear Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Bill Gates, discuss the infamous Eastman Memos and how","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Ask the Experts: What were the Eastman Memos?","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","html_content":"

This panel is part of the Defending American Democracy series with support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

","custom_cta_text":null,"cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3229,"video_aspect_ratio":"16x9","video_dimensions":"200,113","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/D0PIgeTFE_Y","title":"Ask the Experts: What were the Eastman Memos?","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":48,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":3,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":3,"created_at":"2020-05-04T17:58:39.126Z","cta_prompt":"Will your vote challenge the status quo; defend the dignity of all people; and support causes greater than one’s self?","cta_text":"Record Video","cta_type":"record_video","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"5.4.20","html_content":"

Almost two years ago, we made the call for Mavericks – people who challenge the status quo; people who defend the dignity of all; and people who work in service of a cause greater than oneself. Thousands, maybe millions, have answered the call.

As the 2020 Election approaches, we need mavericks more than ever before. Like the original maverick, Senator John McCain, we ask you to use your vote to challenge the status quo, defend the dignity of all people and support causes greater than one’s self.

Watch the video and let us know how you plan on Maverick Voting. Post your responses and videos here and/or on Twitter and Facebook pages and take the pledge if you haven’t already at https://www.mavericksneeded.org/.

","id":219,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/QlNPLoI-F1o/0.jpg","xsmall":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/QlNPLoI-F1o/0.jpg","small":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/QlNPLoI-F1o/0.jpg","medium":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/QlNPLoI-F1o/0.jpg","large":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/QlNPLoI-F1o/0.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/219-do-plan-practicing-maverick-voting","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=219","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/219/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":8,"published_at":"2020-05-04T17:58:39.123Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":31,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"219-do-plan-practicing-maverick-voting","snippet":"Almost two years ago, we made the call for Mavericks – people who challenge the status quo; people who defend the dignity of","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"How do you plan on practicing Maverick voting?","cta_prompt":"Will your vote challenge the status quo; defend the dignity of all people; and support causes greater than one’s self?","html_content":"

","custom_cta_text":"Record Video","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":641,"video_aspect_ratio":"16x9","video_dimensions":"480,270","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/QlNPLoI-F1o","title":"How do you plan on practicing Maverick voting?","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":49,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":2,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":2,"created_at":"2021-03-04T18:07:43.123Z","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"3.4.21","html_content":"

Arizona - AZ AZCentral

New Mexico - NM Albuquerque Journal

Oregon - OR The Oregonian

Nevada - NV Las Vegas Review Journal

California – CA Los Angeles Times

Washington - WA The Seattle Times

Utah - UT Deseret News

Colorado - CO The Denver Post

Hawaii - HI Honolulu Star Advertiser

Alaska - AK Anchorage Daily News

","id":395,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/e0773c/West%20region.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/e0773c/West%20region.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/e0773c/West%20region.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/e0773c/West%20region.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/e0773c/West%20region.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/395-local-news-source-guide-western-region","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=395","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/395/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":10,"published_at":"2021-03-04T18:07:43.121Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":44,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"395-local-news-source-guide-western-region","snippet":"Arizona - AZ AZCentral New Mexico - NM Albuquerque Journal Oregon - OR The Oregonian Nevada - NV Las Vegas Review Journal","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Local News Source Guide - Western Region","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","html_content":"

Arizona - AZ AZCentral

New Mexico - NM Albuquerque Journal

Oregon - OR The Oregonian

Nevada - NV Las Vegas Review Journal

California – CA Los Angeles Times

Washington - WA The Seattle Times

Utah - UT Deseret News

Colorado - CO The Denver Post

Hawaii - HI Honolulu Star Advertiser

Alaska - AK Anchorage Daily News

","custom_cta_text":"Share","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":1095,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Local News Source Guide - Western Region","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":15,"allow_advocacy":false,"comments_count":3,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":3,"created_at":"2019-11-25T15:26:21.848Z","cta_prompt":"Second annual John McCain Prize for Leadership and Public Service awarded to people of Hong Kong","cta_text":"Contact Reps","cta_type":"contact_reps","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"11.25.19","html_content":"

The second annual John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service has been awarded to the people of Hong Kong in recognition of their fight for democracy. The award, which was presented to the people of Lesbos, Greece, last year was presented this year to former lawmaker Emily Lau Wai-hing and activist Figo Chan Ho-wun on Saturday, November 23rd. The two accepted the award from Cindy McCain, the wife of late Senator John McCain, alongside the Halifax Security Forum, on behalf of all protesters in Hong Kong.

Giving this award to the people of Hong Kong makes the Halifax Security Forum—a network of international experts, academics, military officials, entrepreneurs and authors—the first international organization to recognize the struggles of the city’s people. This certainly comes at a delicate time: last week, the US Congress almost unanimously voted to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. This act would impose stricter monitoring of Hong Kong and, should any action be taken by the government to erode at the city’s freedoms, sanctions against China. President Trump, who has been in the process of working out a new trade deal with Beijing as a focal point of his re-election campaign, has yet to comment on whether he will sign the act into law or not.

In this context, the Halifax Forum’s recognition of the Hong Kongese could be seen as a challenge to Beijing itself. However, the Forum stands firm in its decision. Cindy McCain, who is also a board member of the Forum, said that she hopes “this tribute to those who are struggling for their rights in Hong Kong will encourage more people around the world to raise their voices in support of their cause, especially in my country’s government. They are fighting for something larger than themselves.”

Article: People of Hong Kong awarded 2019 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service – an honour that comes at delicate time in US-China relations

","id":114,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/84e01a/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%2010.25.39%20AM.png","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/84e01a/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%2010.25.39%20AM.png","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/84e01a/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%2010.25.39%20AM.png","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/84e01a/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%2010.25.39%20AM.png","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/84e01a/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%2010.25.39%20AM.png"},"issue_slugs":["news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/114-people-hong-kong-receive-leadership-award","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=114","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/114/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":5,"published_at":"2019-11-25T15:26:21.846Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":{"state":"","region":"country","geolocate":true,"select_path":"Contact Reps : Federal : Geolocate","lower_chamber":"house","upper_chamber":"senate","chamber_choice":"all","state_required":false,"default_message":"This issue is important to me.","chosen_legislators":["3"],"lower_chamber_name":"House","upper_chamber_name":"Senate"},"share_count":3,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"114-people-hong-kong-receive-leadership-award","snippet":"The second annual John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service has been awarded to the people of Hong Kong in recognition","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"People of Hong Kong Receive Leadership Award","cta_prompt":"Second annual John McCain Prize for Leadership and Public Service awarded to people of Hong Kong","html_content":"

Article: People of Hong Kong awarded 2019 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service – an honour that comes at delicate time in US-China relations

","custom_cta_text":"Contact Reps","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":898,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"People of Hong Kong Receive Leadership Award","issue_ids":["news"],"legislator_ids":[3]},{"action_count":7,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":1,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":1,"created_at":"2019-12-04T19:22:29.919Z","cta_prompt":"A bipartisan group of lawmakers are banding together to support America's diplomats","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"12.4.19","html_content":"

The ongoing impeachment hearings in Washington, DC have had the unintended consequence of dragging down the morale of America’s foreign service as U.S. diplomats have been caught up in the partisan crossfire. To remedy this, four members of congress, two Republicans and two Democrats, have announced the creation of the Diplomacy Caucus. The caucus will bring together lawmakers of both parties in the interest of strengthening the U.S. diplomatic corps through legislation. Do you feel that America’s public servants are being protected enough by Congress, or is the creation of this caucus a necessity?

Article: With State Department Under Fire, Lawmakers Form a Diplomacy Caucus

","id":119,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/a2c50b/brandon-mowinkel-H2b1a5WNSW0-unsplash.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/a2c50b/brandon-mowinkel-H2b1a5WNSW0-unsplash.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/a2c50b/brandon-mowinkel-H2b1a5WNSW0-unsplash.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/a2c50b/brandon-mowinkel-H2b1a5WNSW0-unsplash.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/ZBVBgDke/a2c50b/brandon-mowinkel-H2b1a5WNSW0-unsplash.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/119-introducing-diplomacy-caucus","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=119","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/119/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":6,"published_at":"2019-12-04T19:22:29.917Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":3,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"119-introducing-diplomacy-caucus","snippet":"The ongoing impeachment hearings in Washington, DC have had the unintended consequence of dragging down the morale of America’s","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Introducing the Diplomacy Caucus","cta_prompt":"A bipartisan group of lawmakers are banding together to support America's diplomats","html_content":"

Article: With State Department Under Fire, Lawmakers Form a Diplomacy Caucus

","custom_cta_text":null,"cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":898,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Introducing the Diplomacy Caucus","issue_ids":["news"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":3,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2023-03-14T22:18:53.501Z","cta_prompt":"Should the U.S. be doing more to help fight against gender-based violence?","cta_text":"Gender-Based Violence","cta_type":"reactions","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"3.14.23","html_content":"

Protests against femicide, oppression, restrictive abortion rights, pay disparities, and gender-based violence erupted across Latin America and the Caribbean on March 8, International Women's Day.
\nProtests were held throughout the region — from Montevideo, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Quito, Bogota, Mexico City, Quito, San Salvador, and Buenos Aires — representing a wide demographic of women, from students to indigenous leaders to workers.
Protestors clashed with police in Monterrey, Mexico, and set a government palace gate on fire.
On March 9, women in Mexico abstained from both work and unpaid labor. The tradition, which began in 2020, was dubbed \"Un día sin nosotras\" (a day without us) and is an act of solidarity with victims of violence and a demonstration of female contributions to society.

What's the picture of gender-based violence?

Last year, 4,473 women in Latin America were killed because of their gender, which amounts to 12 murders per day. These numbers only reflect reported crimes.
\nLatin America and the Caribbean have some of the worst rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the world. In 2020, a woman was killed every 30 hours in Argentina, while in 2019 alone, nearly 4,000 Mexican women were killed.
\nA 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that one in three women in the region was subjected to violence, and between 17% and 53% reported experiencing domestic abuse.
Honduras has the highest rate of femicides in the region, with 4.7 femicides per 100,000 women, followed by the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, who works with the U.N's regional office, said:

\"[O]ur obligation is to redouble efforts so that the women and girls of our region can truly exercise their right to live a life free of violence and discrimination.\"

Ni Una Menos

You might recognize the Argentinian-founded women's rights movement Ni Una Menos from our site banner, but perhaps not realize their profound impact on the conversation about women's rights and gender-based violence.
Founded after the murder and rape of Lucia Perez, it means \"not one woman less.\" It inspired mass demonstrations and the birth of women's rights collectives in Chile before spreading to the entire region.
\n#NiUnaMenos has promoted treating femicide as a violation of human rights and creating an official registry of femicide cases. \n
Argentina’s president Alberto Fernández praised Ni Una Menos during his inaugural speech and established a new Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity.

Should the U.S. be doing more in the fight against femicide?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Code Pink)

","id":712,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/023fc2/023fc2-cb3961-download5.jpg","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/023fc2/023fc2-cb3961-download5.jpg","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/023fc2/023fc2-cb3961-download5.jpg","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/023fc2/023fc2-cb3961-download5.jpg","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/023fc2/023fc2-cb3961-download5.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/712-protests-south-america-highlight-femicide-gender-based-violence-crisis","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=712","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/712/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":11,"published_at":"2023-03-14T22:18:53.471Z","reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#333373","stance":"yes"},{"text":"Maybe","color":"#9F1962","stance":"maybe"},{"text":"No","color":"#DB0F06","stance":"no"}],"reaction_config_id":6,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":2,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"712-protests-south-america-highlight-femicide-gender-based-violence-crisis","snippet":"Protests against femicide, oppression, restrictive abortion rights, pay disparities, and gender-based violence erupted across","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Protests in South America Highlight a Femicide and Gender-Based Violence Crisis","cta_prompt":"Should the U.S. be doing more to help fight against gender-based violence?","html_content":"

Protests against femicide, oppression, restrictive abortion rights, pay disparities, and gender-based violence erupted across Latin America and the Caribbean on March 8, International Women's Day.
\nProtests were held throughout the region — from Montevideo, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Quito, Bogota, Mexico City, Quito, San Salvador, and Buenos Aires — representing a wide demographic of women, from students to indigenous leaders to workers.
Protestors clashed with police in Monterrey, Mexico, and set a government palace gate on fire.
On March 9, women in Mexico abstained from both work and unpaid labor. The tradition, which began in 2020, was dubbed \"Un día sin nosotras\" (a day without us) and is an act of solidarity with victims of violence and a demonstration of female contributions to society.

What's the picture of gender-based violence?

Last year, 4,473 women in Latin America were killed because of their gender, which amounts to 12 murders per day. These numbers only reflect reported crimes.
\nLatin America and the Caribbean have some of the worst rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the world. In 2020, a woman was killed every 30 hours in Argentina, while in 2019 alone, nearly 4,000 Mexican women were killed.
\nA 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that one in three women in the region was subjected to violence, and between 17% and 53% reported experiencing domestic abuse.
Honduras has the highest rate of femicides in the region, with 4.7 femicides per 100,000 women, followed by the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, who works with the U.N's regional office, said:

\"[O]ur obligation is to redouble efforts so that the women and girls of our region can truly exercise their right to live a life free of violence and discrimination.\"

Ni Una Menos

You might recognize the Argentinian-founded women's rights movement Ni Una Menos from our site banner, but perhaps not realize their profound impact on the conversation about women's rights and gender-based violence.
Founded after the murder and rape of Lucia Perez, it means \"not one woman less.\" It inspired mass demonstrations and the birth of women's rights collectives in Chile before spreading to the entire region.
\n#NiUnaMenos has promoted treating femicide as a violation of human rights and creating an official registry of femicide cases. \n
Argentina’s president Alberto Fernández praised Ni Una Menos during his inaugural speech and established a new Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity.

Should the U.S. be doing more in the fight against femicide?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Code Pink)

","custom_cta_text":"Gender-Based Violence","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3291,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Protests in South America Highlight a Femicide and Gender-Based Violence Crisis","issue_ids":["news"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":25,"allow_advocacy":false,"comments_count":3,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":3,"created_at":"2022-12-07T20:44:51.774Z","cta_prompt":"Ukraine has attacked a series of Russian bases and airfields with drone strikes","cta_text":"Share your thoughts!","cta_type":"comment","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"12.7.22","html_content":"

A series of unprecedented Ukrainian drone strikes hit three targets deep inside Russian territory this week, nine months into the war that has upended regional and global geopolitics.

Ukrainian Drone Strikes

\nThe latest drone strike hit an oil facility near an airfield 80 miles from the Ukrainian border, in the Kursk region of Russia. There were no fatalities.\n
\nThe two attacks on Monday, however, left three dead and four wounded at the Dyagilevo base, 300 miles from the border. Dyagilevo lies only 100 miles from the Russian capital, Moscow, creating what some commentators have called a “psychological blow”. \n
Engels base, 370 miles from the border, was also attacked on Monday. The base is used to store the nuclear-capable strategic bombers that have been responsible for many of the air strikes on Ukraine.
\nThe drones were launched from Ukrainian territory, but an anonymous source has also claimed that special forces close to the base helped guide the drones to their final target.\n
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the strikes, nor have they denied involvement.

Russia’s Reaction

According to Russian security forces, the drones were intercepted and were found to be Soviet-era jet drones.
\nThe attack was followed by a barrage of cruise missile attacks by Russian forces on Ukrainian targets, which included civilians, and led to multiple fatalities. The Russian attacks have left half of Kyiv without electricity. \n
\nVladimir Putin made a cryptic comment following the attack, threatening to take drastic measures to protect Russian territory, prompting fears of a nuclear retaliation. \n
Statements aside, the attack has led analysts to speculate about the vulnerability and geographical insecurity of Russia’s strategic military bases.

Global Reaction

\nUkraine’s supporters have avoided supplying the besieged country with weapons so as to avoid escalating the war, but these attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s willingness to take bold offensive measures. \n
\nThe global communities resistance to supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons has not deterred them. Ukroboronprom, the state-owned weapons manufacturer is completing the development of a new drone equipped with a 165-pound warhead and a range of 600 miles.\n

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

","id":697,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/34d8ae/34d8ae-e8056d-twitter.jpg","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/34d8ae/34d8ae-e8056d-twitter.jpg","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/34d8ae/34d8ae-e8056d-twitter.jpg","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/34d8ae/34d8ae-e8056d-twitter.jpg","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/34d8ae/34d8ae-e8056d-twitter.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/697-three-ukrainian-drone-strikes-hit-russia-week","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=697","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/697/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":4,"published_at":"2022-12-07T20:44:51.743Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":22,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"697-three-ukrainian-drone-strikes-hit-russia-week","snippet":"A series of unprecedented Ukrainian drone strikes hit three targets deep inside Russian territory this week, nine months into","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Three Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Russia This Week","cta_prompt":"Ukraine has attacked a series of Russian bases and airfields with drone strikes","html_content":"

A series of unprecedented Ukrainian drone strikes hit three targets deep inside Russian territory this week, nine months into the war that has upended regional and global geopolitics.

Ukrainian Drone Strikes

\nThe latest drone strike hit an oil facility near an airfield 80 miles from the Ukrainian border, in the Kursk region of Russia. There were no fatalities.\n
\nThe two attacks on Monday, however, left three dead and four wounded at the Dyagilevo base, 300 miles from the border. Dyagilevo lies only 100 miles from the Russian capital, Moscow, creating what some commentators have called a “psychological blow”. \n
Engels base, 370 miles from the border, was also attacked on Monday. The base is used to store the nuclear-capable strategic bombers that have been responsible for many of the air strikes on Ukraine.
\nThe drones were launched from Ukrainian territory, but an anonymous source has also claimed that special forces close to the base helped guide the drones to their final target.\n
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the strikes, nor have they denied involvement.

Russia’s Reaction

According to Russian security forces, the drones were intercepted and were found to be Soviet-era jet drones.
\nThe attack was followed by a barrage of cruise missile attacks by Russian forces on Ukrainian targets, which included civilians, and led to multiple fatalities. The Russian attacks have left half of Kyiv without electricity. \n
\nVladimir Putin made a cryptic comment following the attack, threatening to take drastic measures to protect Russian territory, prompting fears of a nuclear retaliation. \n
Statements aside, the attack has led analysts to speculate about the vulnerability and geographical insecurity of Russia’s strategic military bases.

Global Reaction

\nUkraine’s supporters have avoided supplying the besieged country with weapons so as to avoid escalating the war, but these attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s willingness to take bold offensive measures. \n
\nThe global communities resistance to supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons has not deterred them. Ukroboronprom, the state-owned weapons manufacturer is completing the development of a new drone equipped with a 165-pound warhead and a range of 600 miles.\n

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

","custom_cta_text":"Share your thoughts!","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3264,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Three Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Russia This Week","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":0,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2022-06-16T13:26:18.198Z","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"6.16.22","html_content":"

Tune in to hear Brian Corley discuss the difference between Russia’s attempts to manipulate the 2016 Presidential election and mis-, dis-, and mal-information (\"MDM\") used in the 2020 election. Corley has served as the Supervisor of Elections for Pasco County, FL since 2007 and in that time has presided over 70 elections with more than 2 million votes cast. During his tenure, the Pasco County Election’s office continues to be recognized for innovation, efficiency, and transparency in serving the voters. He previously served in senior managerial positions with the Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court, as well as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

He is a state-certified election administrator by the Florida Department of State and is the past president of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections. He has testified numerous times before Florida Legislative Senate and House committees on election and voting related issues.

Nationally, Corley has been a featured speaker and panelist with such organizations as The Bi-Partisan Policy Center, The Elections Assistance Commission, The International Association of Government Officials, The Center for Internet Security, The Pew Charitable Trusts “Voting Information Project” Committee, The National Election Center (Election Cybersecurity Taskforce), the “Vote at Home” Advisory Council, the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Government Operations and is an instructor with the Florida Certified Election Professional Program.

This panel is part of the Defending American Democracy series with support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

","id":631,"image_urls":{"small":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/GVxPcldEhyE/0.jpg","medium":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/GVxPcldEhyE/0.jpg","large":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/GVxPcldEhyE/0.jpg","thumb":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/GVxPcldEhyE/0.jpg","xsmall":"https://img.youtube.com/vi/GVxPcldEhyE/0.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/631-ask-experts-2016-russian-election-interference-vs-2020-electoral-disinformation","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=631","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/631/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":9,"published_at":"2022-06-16T13:26:18.186Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":0,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"631-ask-experts-2016-russian-election-interference-vs-2020-electoral-disinformation","snippet":"Tune in to hear Brian Corley discuss the difference between Russia’s attempts to manipulate the 2016 Presidential election and","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Ask the Experts: 2016 Russian election interference vs. 2020 electoral disinformation","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","html_content":"

This panel is part of the Defending American Democracy series with support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

","custom_cta_text":null,"cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3229,"video_aspect_ratio":"16x9","video_dimensions":[200,113],"video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/GVxPcldEhyE","title":"Ask the Experts: 2016 Russian election interference vs. 2020 electoral disinformation","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":44,"allow_advocacy":false,"comments_count":4,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":4,"created_at":"2019-10-08T16:57:59.427Z","cta_prompt":"Should protesters have to pay for police? Tell your Rep. how you feel.","cta_text":"Contact Reps","cta_type":"contact_reps","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"10.8.19","html_content":"

Republican Representative Jim Banks responded to September’s climate protests by introducing a bill that would force arrested protestors to pay for police overtime.

Rep. Banks (R-Ind.) said \"Hoosier taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for illegal protests — it is a violation of their 1st Amendment rights.”

Despite Banks’ statements, such a bill would erode First Amendment protections and make citizens less likely to protest.

\nArticle: GOP lawmaker to introduce bill requiring arrested DC protesters pay for police overtime\n

Banks claims that this bill would not prohibit other demonstrations or protests, but historically speaking, many of our nation’s most important civil rights victories have come from protests that led to arrests. It seems likely that adding financial responsibility on top of the threat of arrest may prevent would-be-activists from participating in future protests.

Is this an intimidation tactic? If so, is it a violation of our First Amendment rights?

What do you think? Should activists ever be on the hook for police overtime?

","id":89,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/dc7cc9/WHTT_ArrestedProtestersPayPoliceOvertime_TakeAction_20191007.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/dc7cc9/WHTT_ArrestedProtestersPayPoliceOvertime_TakeAction_20191007.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/dc7cc9/WHTT_ArrestedProtestersPayPoliceOvertime_TakeAction_20191007.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/dc7cc9/WHTT_ArrestedProtestersPayPoliceOvertime_TakeAction_20191007.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/dc7cc9/WHTT_ArrestedProtestersPayPoliceOvertime_TakeAction_20191007.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["legislation","news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/89-congressman-introduces-bill-requiring-arrested-protesters-pay-police-overtime","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=89","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/89/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":5,"published_at":"2019-10-08T17:09:45.576Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":13,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"89-congressman-introduces-bill-requiring-arrested-protesters-pay-police-overtime","snippet":"Republican Representative Jim Banks responded to September’s climate protests by introducing a bill that would force arrested","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Congressman Introduces Bill Requiring Arrested Protesters to Pay for Police Overtime","cta_prompt":"Should protesters have to pay for police? Tell your Rep. how you feel.","html_content":"

Republican Representative Jim Banks responded to September’s climate protests by introducing a bill that would force arrested protestors to pay for police overtime.

Rep. Banks (R-Ind.) said \"Hoosier taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for illegal protests — it is a violation of their 1st Amendment rights.”

Despite Banks’ statements, such a bill would erode First Amendment protections and make citizens less likely to protest.

\nArticle: GOP lawmaker to introduce bill requiring arrested DC protesters pay for police overtime\n

Is this an intimidation tactic? If so, is it a violation of our First Amendment rights?

What do you think? Should activists ever be on the hook for police overtime?

","custom_cta_text":"Contact Reps","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":27,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Congressman Introduces Bill Requiring Arrested Protesters to Pay for Police Overtime","issue_ids":["news","legislation"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":15,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":3,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":3,"created_at":"2019-10-22T14:57:04.556Z","cta_prompt":"Should deepfake videos be considered protected speech?","cta_text":"React","cta_type":"reactions","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"10.22.19","html_content":"

California recently became the second state to pass a bill restricting the use of “deepfake” technology to spread false information about political candidates.

Specifically, the bill applies to instances where deepfake technology is used to intentionally spread false information about a candidate within 60 days of an election.

The bill includes exceptions for parody and satire, as well as cases where the broadcaster or publisher makes it clear that the media has been manipulated.

Article: California Becomes The Second State To Restrict Political “Deepfakes”

The bill has already drawn harsh criticism from free speech advocates, including the ACLU, who claimed \"this bill will not solve the problem of deceptive political videos; it will only result in voter confusion, malicious litigation, and repression of free speech.”

It’s worth noting that libel and defamation have never been protected by the first amendment, and many deepfake videos could be classified as libel or defamation.

Do you think outlawing deepfake videos is an attack on the first amendment? Can we stop the spread of misinformation without relying on censorship? Let us know in the comments below.

","id":100,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/843872/WHTT_PoliticalDeepFake_Explore_20191021.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/843872/WHTT_PoliticalDeepFake_Explore_20191021.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/843872/WHTT_PoliticalDeepFake_Explore_20191021.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/843872/WHTT_PoliticalDeepFake_Explore_20191021.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/843872/WHTT_PoliticalDeepFake_Explore_20191021.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["legislation","news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/100-new-california-law-prohibits-political-deepfakes","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=100","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/100/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":6,"published_at":"2019-10-22T15:29:37.361Z","reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#333373","stance":"yes"},{"text":"Maybe","color":"#9F1962","stance":"maybe"},{"text":"No","color":"#DB0F06","stance":"no"}],"reaction_config_id":6,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":2,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"100-new-california-law-prohibits-political-deepfakes","snippet":"California recently became the second state to pass a bill restricting the use of “deepfake” technology to spread false","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"New California Law Prohibits Political Deepfakes","cta_prompt":"Should deepfake videos be considered protected speech?","html_content":"

California recently became the second state to pass a bill restricting the use of “deepfake” technology to spread false information about political candidates.

Specifically, the bill applies to instances where deepfake technology is used to intentionally spread false information about a candidate within 60 days of an election.

The bill includes exceptions for parody and satire, as well as cases where the broadcaster or publisher makes it clear that the media has been manipulated.

Article: California Becomes The Second State To Restrict Political “Deepfakes”

It’s worth noting that libel and defamation have never been protected by the first amendment, and many deepfake videos could be classified as libel or defamation.

Do you think outlawing deepfake videos is an attack on the first amendment? Can we stop the spread of misinformation without relying on censorship? Let us know in the comments below.

","custom_cta_text":"React","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":27,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"New California Law Prohibits Political Deepfakes","issue_ids":["news","legislation"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":1,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2021-03-04T18:07:00.175Z","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"3.4.21","html_content":"

Illinois - IL Chicago Tribune

Idaho - ID Idaho Statesman

Indiana - IN Indianapolis Star

Iowa - IA The Des Moines Register

Kansas - KS Wichita Eagle

Michigan - MI Detroit News

Minnesota - MN Duluth News Tribune

Montana - MT Billings Gazette

Missouri - MO St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Nebraska - NE Lincoln Journal Star

Wyoming - WY Casper Star-Tribune

Ohio - OH Cincinnati Enquirer

Wisconsin - WI Wisconsin State Journal

North Dakota - ND Bismarck Tribune

South Dakota - SD Rapid City Journal

","id":394,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/4c91d0/Midwest%20region.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/4c91d0/Midwest%20region.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/4c91d0/Midwest%20region.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/4c91d0/Midwest%20region.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/4c91d0/Midwest%20region.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/394-local-news-source-guide-midwest-region","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=394","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/394/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":10,"published_at":"2021-03-04T18:07:00.169Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":1,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"394-local-news-source-guide-midwest-region","snippet":"Illinois - IL Chicago Tribune Idaho - ID Idaho Statesman Indiana - IN Indianapolis Star Iowa - IA The Des Moines Register Kansas","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Local News Source Guide - Midwest Region","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","html_content":"

Illinois - IL Chicago Tribune

Idaho - ID Idaho Statesman

Indiana - IN Indianapolis Star

Iowa - IA The Des Moines Register

Kansas - KS Wichita Eagle

Michigan - MI Detroit News

Minnesota - MN Duluth News Tribune

Montana - MT Billings Gazette

Missouri - MO St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Nebraska - NE Lincoln Journal Star

Wyoming - WY Casper Star-Tribune

Ohio - OH Cincinnati Enquirer

Wisconsin - WI Wisconsin State Journal

North Dakota - ND Bismarck Tribune

South Dakota - SD Rapid City Journal

","custom_cta_text":"Share","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":1095,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Local News Source Guide - Midwest Region","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":31,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":1,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":1,"created_at":"2023-03-07T21:45:28.276Z","cta_prompt":"What should the U.S. be doing to help?","cta_text":"Contact U.S. Reps","cta_type":"contact_reps","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"3.7.23","html_content":"

Tragedy in Iran

Over the past three months, more than 1,000 schoolgirls in Iran have been hospitalized with respiratory symptoms in a series of suspected poisonings. The attacks are becoming more frequent and international outrage is growing.
The first incident was reported last Nov. in the city of Qom, south of Tehran.
This weekend indicated an apparent escalation of the attacks, with seven hundred suspected poisonings in the southeastern Khuzestan province. Saturday was the worst day yet, with incidents reported at dozens of schools and social media images captured showing multiple girls being transported to hospitals.
Most girls reported the same symptoms, including respiratory difficulties, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

What's the background of the attacks?

On Sept. 13, 22-year-old Jina “Mahsa” Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for “improperly” wearing her hijab and died in custody three days later. Following Amini's death, protests engulfed Iran against the oppressive regime and human rights violations.
Girls and women are at the forefront of the protests and activism, as many are taking off their hijabs and rallying around the message of \"women, life, freedom.\"

Who is to blame?

Some activists believe the attacks are a form of revenge against schoolgirls for participating in the protests. Government officials said the attacks are believed to be a deliberate attempt to force the closure of girls’ schools, possibly by religious groups.
\nDeputy Health Minister Younes Panahi said:

“[T]he poisoning of students of Qom was intentional and caused by available chemical compounds. Some people wanted all schools to be closed, especially girls’ schools.”

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has blamed the poisonings on Tehran’s enemies. Raisi said:

“This is a security project to cause chaos in the country whereby the enemy seeks to instill fear and insecurity among parents and students.”

Deputy governor Reza Karimi Saleh of the Tehran suburb Pardis said that a fuel tanker seen next to schools in three different cities is likely involved in the poisonings and that the driver was arrested.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that the Ministry of Health will reveal the results as soon as they have analyzed them. He said:

“[D]uring field investigations by the relevant bodies, suspicious samples have been found, which are being examined at laboratories in order to identify the causes of complications in students.\"

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the attacks \"unforgivable\" and said that the perpetrators should be sentenced to death if the attacks are found to be deliberate.\n

Is Pirouz the cheetah connected to the poisonings?

The recent death of the last surviving Asiatic cheetah cub born in captivity, Pirouz, and the ongoing Iranian conservation efforts, have added a new layer of grief for protestors and activists.
Pirouz became a symbol of oppression by the Islamic Republic after its inclusion in Shervin Hajipour's song \"For..\", the unofficial anthem of the \"Woman, Life, Freedom\" protest movement.
Social media users drew connections between the death of Pirouz and the schoolgirl poisonings. One user wrote:

\"[P]oisoned schoolchildren, now a poisoned cheetah. Iran’s #Pirouz - One of the last remaining Asiatic cheetahs in the world needs specialist care that the Islamic regime is not providing.\"

Human rights in jeopardy

Human rights activists have compared the attacks to those carried out by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Boko Haram in the Sahel, who are violent opponents of female education.
The former Iranian reformist vice-president Massoumeh Ebtekar said that authorities must:

“[P]ut an end to misogynistic fanatics once and for all.”

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said:

“We’re very concerned about these allegations that girls are being deliberately targeted under what appear to be mysterious circumstances.”

The U.S. State Department urged Iran to investigate the poisonings. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said:

“We want those investigations to be thorough and complete, and we want them to be transparent. Little girls going to school should only have to worry about learning. They shouldn’t have to worry about their own physical safety, but we just don’t know enough right now.”

Jason Brodsky, the policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), was critical of Kirby's statement, writing on Twitter:

“How can the Biden administration expect Iran’s regime to conduct a ‘transparent’ investigation into the chemical attacks? How did the Mahsa Amini ‘investigation’ pan out?”

What should the U.S. be doing to help Iranian girls and women? Tell your reps what you think.

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo credit: Flickr/Taymaz Valley)

","id":711,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/155433/155433-Iran_Protests_52383779726.jpg","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/155433/155433-Iran_Protests_52383779726.jpg","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/155433/155433-Iran_Protests_52383779726.jpg","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/155433/155433-Iran_Protests_52383779726.jpg","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/155433/155433-Iran_Protests_52383779726.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/711-female-education-attack-1-000-schoolgirls-poisoned-iran","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=711","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/711/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":11,"published_at":"2023-03-07T21:45:28.223Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":{"state":"","region":"country","country":"US","geolocate":true,"select_path":"Facilitate Advocacy : United States : Federal Reps : Geolocate","lower_chamber":"house","upper_chamber":"senate","chamber_choice":"all","state_required":false,"default_message":"","chosen_legislators":[],"lower_chamber_name":"House","upper_chamber_name":"Senate","geolocate_state_chamber_choice":"none","geolocate_federal_chamber_choice":"none"},"share_count":24,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"711-female-education-attack-1-000-schoolgirls-poisoned-iran","snippet":"Tragedy in Iran Over the past three months, more than 1,000 schoolgirls in Iran have been hospitalized with respiratory symptoms","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Female Education Under Attack as 1,000 Schoolgirls Poisoned in Iran","cta_prompt":"What should the U.S. be doing to help?","html_content":"

Tragedy in Iran

Over the past three months, more than 1,000 schoolgirls in Iran have been hospitalized with respiratory symptoms in a series of suspected poisonings. The attacks are becoming more frequent and international outrage is growing.
The first incident was reported last Nov. in the city of Qom, south of Tehran.
This weekend indicated an apparent escalation of the attacks, with seven hundred suspected poisonings in the southeastern Khuzestan province. Saturday was the worst day yet, with incidents reported at dozens of schools and social media images captured showing multiple girls being transported to hospitals.
Most girls reported the same symptoms, including respiratory difficulties, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

What's the background of the attacks?

On Sept. 13, 22-year-old Jina “Mahsa” Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for “improperly” wearing her hijab and died in custody three days later. Following Amini's death, protests engulfed Iran against the oppressive regime and human rights violations.
Girls and women are at the forefront of the protests and activism, as many are taking off their hijabs and rallying around the message of \"women, life, freedom.\"

Who is to blame?

Some activists believe the attacks are a form of revenge against schoolgirls for participating in the protests. Government officials said the attacks are believed to be a deliberate attempt to force the closure of girls’ schools, possibly by religious groups.
\nDeputy Health Minister Younes Panahi said:

“[T]he poisoning of students of Qom was intentional and caused by available chemical compounds. Some people wanted all schools to be closed, especially girls’ schools.”

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has blamed the poisonings on Tehran’s enemies. Raisi said:

“This is a security project to cause chaos in the country whereby the enemy seeks to instill fear and insecurity among parents and students.”

Deputy governor Reza Karimi Saleh of the Tehran suburb Pardis said that a fuel tanker seen next to schools in three different cities is likely involved in the poisonings and that the driver was arrested.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that the Ministry of Health will reveal the results as soon as they have analyzed them. He said:

“[D]uring field investigations by the relevant bodies, suspicious samples have been found, which are being examined at laboratories in order to identify the causes of complications in students.\"

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the attacks \"unforgivable\" and said that the perpetrators should be sentenced to death if the attacks are found to be deliberate.\n

Is Pirouz the cheetah connected to the poisonings?

The recent death of the last surviving Asiatic cheetah cub born in captivity, Pirouz, and the ongoing Iranian conservation efforts, have added a new layer of grief for protestors and activists.
Pirouz became a symbol of oppression by the Islamic Republic after its inclusion in Shervin Hajipour's song \"For..\", the unofficial anthem of the \"Woman, Life, Freedom\" protest movement.
Social media users drew connections between the death of Pirouz and the schoolgirl poisonings. One user wrote:

\"[P]oisoned schoolchildren, now a poisoned cheetah. Iran’s #Pirouz - One of the last remaining Asiatic cheetahs in the world needs specialist care that the Islamic regime is not providing.\"

Human rights in jeopardy

Human rights activists have compared the attacks to those carried out by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Boko Haram in the Sahel, who are violent opponents of female education.
The former Iranian reformist vice-president Massoumeh Ebtekar said that authorities must:

“[P]ut an end to misogynistic fanatics once and for all.”

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said:

“We’re very concerned about these allegations that girls are being deliberately targeted under what appear to be mysterious circumstances.”

The U.S. State Department urged Iran to investigate the poisonings. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said:

“We want those investigations to be thorough and complete, and we want them to be transparent. Little girls going to school should only have to worry about learning. They shouldn’t have to worry about their own physical safety, but we just don’t know enough right now.”

Jason Brodsky, the policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), was critical of Kirby's statement, writing on Twitter:

“How can the Biden administration expect Iran’s regime to conduct a ‘transparent’ investigation into the chemical attacks? How did the Mahsa Amini ‘investigation’ pan out?”

What should the U.S. be doing to help Iranian girls and women? Tell your reps what you think.

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo credit: Flickr/Taymaz Valley)

","custom_cta_text":"Contact U.S. Reps","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3291,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Female Education Under Attack as 1,000 Schoolgirls Poisoned in Iran","issue_ids":["news"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":10,"allow_advocacy":false,"comments_count":1,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":1,"created_at":"2022-12-06T21:28:03.087Z","cta_prompt":"Take the poll!","cta_text":"React","cta_type":"reactions","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"12.6.22","html_content":"

What is it?

\nToday, December 6th, 2022, is the Georgia runoff election between Republican Herschel Walker and Democrat Raphael Warnock for a seat in the US Senate. The race for this seat is particularly consequential as a Warnock win would grant Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate, allowing them a greater ability to control bills. On the other hand, a Walker win would maintain the current 50-50 split between parties. Polls will remain open until 7 pm today; at that time, all mail-in ballots must also be dropped off. \n
Among the current Democrats in the Senate, two Senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, are known to vote against their party from time to time. If the Democrats secure the Georgia seat, the party will have a better chance of passing bills even with the opposition of Manchin or Sinema.
\nThe party that wins the seat will strongly influence the Biden administration’s ability to confirm judicial nominees. This will have strong ramifications for the judiciary far beyond the end of the Administration’s first term in January 2025. \n

Why is it important?

If you are a Georgia voter, this is your opportunity to determine whether Warnock or Walker represents you in the Senate. Voting is an individual action that helps maintain and promote American democracy.
The outcome of the Georgia midterm election will be instrumental in determining the extent to which the Biden Administration’s agenda is successfully pursued. Georgia’s second senator will fundamentally determine the legislative course of the 118th Congress.

What can you do?

\nIf you are a Georgia voter, find your polling place here. \n
\nRead about the runoff elections and its implications using live news feeds. \n
\nEnsure that you are consuming verified election media and check your sources for mis-, dis-, and mal-information (MDM.) \n

Authored by Anna Cohen

","id":695,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/c67776/c67776-pexels-element-digital-1550334.jpg","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/c67776/c67776-pexels-element-digital-1550334.jpg","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/c67776/c67776-pexels-element-digital-1550334.jpg","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/c67776/c67776-pexels-element-digital-1550334.jpg","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9Xla8g07/c67776/c67776-pexels-element-digital-1550334.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/695-do-know-happening-georgia-senate-runoff","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=695","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/695/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":4,"published_at":"2022-12-06T21:28:03.043Z","reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#333373","stance":"yes"},{"text":"Maybe","color":"#9F1962","stance":"maybe"},{"text":"No","color":"#DB0F06","stance":"no"}],"reaction_config_id":6,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":5,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"695-do-know-happening-georgia-senate-runoff","snippet":"What is it? Today , December 6th, 2022, is the Georgia runoff election between Republican Herschel Walker and Democrat Raphael","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Do you know what is happening in the Georgia Senate runoff? ","cta_prompt":"Take the poll!","html_content":"

What is it?

\nToday, December 6th, 2022, is the Georgia runoff election between Republican Herschel Walker and Democrat Raphael Warnock for a seat in the US Senate. The race for this seat is particularly consequential as a Warnock win would grant Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate, allowing them a greater ability to control bills. On the other hand, a Walker win would maintain the current 50-50 split between parties. Polls will remain open until 7 pm today; at that time, all mail-in ballots must also be dropped off. \n
Among the current Democrats in the Senate, two Senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, are known to vote against their party from time to time. If the Democrats secure the Georgia seat, the party will have a better chance of passing bills even with the opposition of Manchin or Sinema.
\nThe party that wins the seat will strongly influence the Biden administration’s ability to confirm judicial nominees. This will have strong ramifications for the judiciary far beyond the end of the Administration’s first term in January 2025. \n

Why is it important?

If you are a Georgia voter, this is your opportunity to determine whether Warnock or Walker represents you in the Senate. Voting is an individual action that helps maintain and promote American democracy.
The outcome of the Georgia midterm election will be instrumental in determining the extent to which the Biden Administration’s agenda is successfully pursued. Georgia’s second senator will fundamentally determine the legislative course of the 118th Congress.

What can you do?

\nIf you are a Georgia voter, find your polling place here. \n
\nRead about the runoff elections and its implications using live news feeds. \n
\nEnsure that you are consuming verified election media and check your sources for mis-, dis-, and mal-information (MDM.) \n

Authored by Anna Cohen

","custom_cta_text":"React","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3264,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Do you know what is happening in the Georgia Senate runoff? ","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":0,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2022-06-14T16:28:11.724Z","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"6.14.22","html_content":"

Tune in to hear Secretary of State of Michigan Jocelyn Benson discuss the ways to combat electoral Mis-, Dis-, and Mal-information (\"MDM\"). Secretary Benson is Michigan’s 43rd Secretary of State. In this role, she is focused on ensuring elections are secure and accessible and dramatically improving customer experiences for all who interact with her offices. A graduate of Harvard Law School and expert on civil rights law, education law and election law, Benson served as dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. When she was appointed dean at age 36, she became the youngest woman in U.S. history to lead a top-100, accredited law school. She continues to serve as vice chair of the advisory board for the Levin Center at Wayne Law, which she founded with former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. Previously, Benson was an associate professor and associate director of Wayne Law’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights.

\nArticle: Denver Police Agree to First Amendment Training After Unlawful Arrest of Journalist\n

The right to record police officers have been repeatedly upheld by the courts as an essential element of free speech and free press.

After a 7 month internal investigation, the Denver Police Department agreed to provide First Amendment training for their officers, specifically conceding the right to photograph and record in public.

Is this a win for free speech? Let us know in the comments below.

","id":96,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/f749d3/WHTT_DenverPoliceFirstAmendmentTraining-_Explore_20191014.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/f749d3/WHTT_DenverPoliceFirstAmendmentTraining-_Explore_20191014.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/f749d3/WHTT_DenverPoliceFirstAmendmentTraining-_Explore_20191014.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/f749d3/WHTT_DenverPoliceFirstAmendmentTraining-_Explore_20191014.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/WvoqklEb/f749d3/WHTT_DenverPoliceFirstAmendmentTraining-_Explore_20191014.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["legislation","news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/96-denver-police-agree-amendment-training","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=96","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/96/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":6,"published_at":"2019-10-15T14:16:52.981Z","reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#333373","stance":"yes"},{"text":"Maybe","color":"#9F1962","stance":"maybe"},{"text":"No","color":"#DB0F06","stance":"no"}],"reaction_config_id":6,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":2,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"96-denver-police-agree-amendment-training","snippet":"In July of 2018, investigative reporter Susan Greene filmed an interaction between Denver police and a naked, handcuffed man.","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Denver Police Agree to First Amendment Training ","cta_prompt":"Should recording police count as free speech?","html_content":"

\nArticle: Denver Police Agree to First Amendment Training After Unlawful Arrest of Journalist\n

The right to record police officers have been repeatedly upheld by the courts as an essential element of free speech and free press.

Is this a win for free speech? Let us know in the comments below.

","custom_cta_text":"React","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":27,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Denver Police Agree to First Amendment Training ","issue_ids":["news","legislation"],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":0,"allow_advocacy":true,"comments_count":0,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":0,"created_at":"2021-03-04T18:06:21.302Z","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","cta_text":"Share","cta_type":"share","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"3.4.21","html_content":"

Region: North East

New Hampshire - NH Concord Monitor

New York - NY New York Times

Massachusetts - MA Boston Globe

Connecticut - CT Hartford Courant

Delaware - DE The News Journal

Maine - ME Portland Press Herald

Maryland - MD Maryland Independent

Pennsylvania - PA York Dispatch

Rhode Island - RI The Providence Journal

Vermont - VT Burlington Free Press

West Virginia - WV The Herald-Dispatch

","id":393,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/8f6e67/NE%20region.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/8f6e67/NE%20region.jpg","small":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/8f6e67/NE%20region.jpg","medium":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/8f6e67/NE%20region.jpg","large":"https://ul.weholdthesetruths.org/ul/q_auto/mE5aaeKj/8f6e67/NE%20region.jpg"},"issue_slugs":[],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/393-local-news-source-guide-north-east-region","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=393","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/393/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":10,"published_at":"2021-03-04T18:06:21.300Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":0,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"393-local-news-source-guide-north-east-region","snippet":"Region: North East New Hampshire - NH Concord Monitor New York - NY New York Times Massachusetts - MA Boston Globe Connecticut -","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Local News Source Guide - North East Region","cta_prompt":"Join us and spread the word to your community","html_content":"

Region: North East

New Hampshire - NH Concord Monitor

New York - NY New York Times

Massachusetts - MA Boston Globe

Connecticut - CT Hartford Courant

Delaware - DE The News Journal

Maine - ME Portland Press Herald

Maryland - MD Maryland Independent

Pennsylvania - PA York Dispatch

Rhode Island - RI The Providence Journal

Vermont - VT Burlington Free Press

West Virginia - WV The Herald-Dispatch

","custom_cta_text":"Share","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":1095,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Local News Source Guide - North East Region","issue_ids":[],"legislator_ids":[]},{"action_count":13,"allow_advocacy":false,"comments_count":1,"comments_enabled":true,"confirmed_users_replies_count":1,"created_at":"2023-02-27T22:50:26.690Z","cta_prompt":"Should the U.S. deny asylum to anyone \"circumventing\" legal pathways?","cta_text":"border crisis continues","cta_type":"comment","cta_url":null,"current_cta_is_disabled":false,"email_share_body":null,"email_share_subject":null,"formatted_publish_date":"2.28.23","html_content":"

\nOn February 19, seventeen asylum seekers died in a bus crash as they traveled through the state of Puebla, Mexico en route to the U.S. The crash comes days before the start of the public comment period on Biden's strict new asylum rule targeting the U.S.-Mexico border.\n
The proposed rule would make asylum seekers ineligible for U.S. protection if they \"circumvent\" legal pathways.

The Biden administration's approach

\nA proposal released on Tuesday by the Biden administration will ban migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border from claiming asylum in a move to deter people from coming to the border without receiving prior authorization.
\nThe proposal, issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice, will make it mandatory for asylum seekers to use existing, legal pathways to enter the U.S., although the policy will not apply to unaccompanied minors.
Immigration rights activists and fellow Democrats have criticized Biden’s border policies as being akin to those of his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Eleanor Acer, refugee protection director at Human Rights First, said the restrictions on asylum are \"right out of the Trump playbook.\"
Lee Gelernt, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney said,

\"We successfully sued to block the Trump transit ban and will sue again if the Biden administration goes through with its plan.\"

\nThe proposed asylum rules come as the Covid border restrictions, known as Title 42, are set to end on May 11. Title 42 allowed U.S. authorities to expel migrants, regardless of nation of origin, to Mexico, without giving them a chance to claim asylum.\n
The proposal is subject to a 30-day public comment period before being reviewed for final publication. Submit a formal comment here.\n

Recent tragedies

There were forty-five asylum seekers on the bus that crashed last Sunday. They were from Venezuela, Colombia, and Central America.\n
The crash comes a week after a bus carrying sixty-six migrants plunged off a cliff in Panama, killing thirty-nine people. The crash occurred after the bus successfully traversed the Darién Gap, one of the most dangerous regions in the world.\n
An unknown number of people have died attempting to cross the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia en route to the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Panamanian government, roughly 250,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap in 2022 alone, up from 133,000 in 2021.

Crisis at the border

In May of 2022, US law enforcement recorded 239,416 encounters at the Mexico border, the highest monthly number ever recorded.
\nThe International Organization for Migration estimates that there have been over 4,000 deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border since 2014, with countless migrants missing.
In June 2022, 53 migrants were found asphyxiated near San Antonio, Texas, in the deadliest smuggling incident in U.S. history.
\nThere is also a growing rate of unaccompanied minors reaching the border. In the first half of the 2022 fiscal year, 100,336 unaccompanied minors were detained by U.S. border authorities.
A lack of economic opportunities, environmental disasters, and increasing rates of gang violence and retribution have led to the steadily increasing number of migrants and asylum seekers at the border\n
Eduardo \"Eddie'' Canales, the founder of the NGO South Texas Human Rights Center, said,

\"South Texas is a burial ground for many migrants.\"

Do you support the Biden administration's new proposal to address the migrant crisis? Leave a comment.

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Miahuatlan Medical Services via Democracy Now)

","id":710,"image_urls":{"thumb":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/262492/262492-06250c-h5-mexico-bus.jpg","xsmall":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/262492/262492-06250c-h5-mexico-bus.jpg","small":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/262492/262492-06250c-h5-mexico-bus.jpg","medium":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/262492/262492-06250c-h5-mexico-bus.jpg","large":"https://cdn.hosted-assets.com/we-hold-these-truths/ul/q_auto/9XlzgEOA/262492/262492-06250c-h5-mexico-bus.jpg"},"issue_slugs":["news"],"lawmaker_default_message":null,"links":{"self":"https://www.weholdthesetruths.org/articles/710-biden-administration-issues-proposal-restrict-asylum-seekers-comment","article_comments":"/api/article_comments?article_id=710","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/710/signatures?include=user"},"og_description":null,"og_title":null,"private":false,"profile_id":11,"published_at":"2023-02-28T17:54:45.642Z","reaction_config_id":null,"recipient_config":null,"share_count":12,"show_byline_follow_button":true,"show_suggested_profiles":false,"signable_progress":0,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signed":false,"slug":"710-biden-administration-issues-proposal-restrict-asylum-seekers-comment","snippet":"On February 19, seventeen asylum seekers died in a bus crash as they traveled through the state of Puebla, Mexico en route to","status":"published","translations":{"en":{"status":"published","title":"Biden Administration Issues Proposal to Restrict Asylum Seekers - COMMENT NOW","cta_prompt":"Should the U.S. deny asylum to anyone \"circumventing\" legal pathways?","html_content":"

\nOn February 19, seventeen asylum seekers died in a bus crash as they traveled through the state of Puebla, Mexico en route to the U.S. The crash comes days before the start of the public comment period on Biden's strict new asylum rule targeting the U.S.-Mexico border.\n
The proposed rule would make asylum seekers ineligible for U.S. protection if they \"circumvent\" legal pathways.

The Biden administration's approach

\nA proposal released on Tuesday by the Biden administration will ban migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border from claiming asylum in a move to deter people from coming to the border without receiving prior authorization.
\nThe proposal, issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice, will make it mandatory for asylum seekers to use existing, legal pathways to enter the U.S., although the policy will not apply to unaccompanied minors.
Immigration rights activists and fellow Democrats have criticized Biden’s border policies as being akin to those of his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Eleanor Acer, refugee protection director at Human Rights First, said the restrictions on asylum are \"right out of the Trump playbook.\"
Lee Gelernt, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney said,

\"We successfully sued to block the Trump transit ban and will sue again if the Biden administration goes through with its plan.\"

\nThe proposed asylum rules come as the Covid border restrictions, known as Title 42, are set to end on May 11. Title 42 allowed U.S. authorities to expel migrants, regardless of nation of origin, to Mexico, without giving them a chance to claim asylum.\n
The proposal is subject to a 30-day public comment period before being reviewed for final publication. Submit a formal comment here.\n

Recent tragedies

There were forty-five asylum seekers on the bus that crashed last Sunday. They were from Venezuela, Colombia, and Central America.\n
The crash comes a week after a bus carrying sixty-six migrants plunged off a cliff in Panama, killing thirty-nine people. The crash occurred after the bus successfully traversed the Darién Gap, one of the most dangerous regions in the world.\n
An unknown number of people have died attempting to cross the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia en route to the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Panamanian government, roughly 250,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap in 2022 alone, up from 133,000 in 2021.

Crisis at the border

In May of 2022, US law enforcement recorded 239,416 encounters at the Mexico border, the highest monthly number ever recorded.
\nThe International Organization for Migration estimates that there have been over 4,000 deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border since 2014, with countless migrants missing.
In June 2022, 53 migrants were found asphyxiated near San Antonio, Texas, in the deadliest smuggling incident in U.S. history.
\nThere is also a growing rate of unaccompanied minors reaching the border. In the first half of the 2022 fiscal year, 100,336 unaccompanied minors were detained by U.S. border authorities.
A lack of economic opportunities, environmental disasters, and increasing rates of gang violence and retribution have led to the steadily increasing number of migrants and asylum seekers at the border\n
Eduardo \"Eddie'' Canales, the founder of the NGO South Texas Human Rights Center, said,

\"South Texas is a burial ground for many migrants.\"

Do you support the Biden administration's new proposal to address the migrant crisis? Leave a comment.

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Miahuatlan Medical Services via Democracy Now)

","custom_cta_text":"border crisis continues","cta_url":null}},"twitter_share_language":null,"user_id":3291,"video_aspect_ratio":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_url":null,"title":"Biden Administration Issues Proposal to Restrict Asylum Seekers - COMMENT NOW","issue_ids":["news"],"legislator_ids":[]}],"meta":{"pagination":{"current_page":1,"total_pages":31,"total_count":609}}}