Topic: Public Citizen

Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, reported that over 1,000 peaceful vigils were organized within 48 hours to protest recent shootings by federal agents. She described the turnout as a demonstration of the magnitude of public outrage regarding the incidents in Minneapolis and Portland.

Robert Weissman, president of the lobbying group Public Citizen, argued on Democracy Now! that the Trump indictment is rooted in a Civil War-era civil rights statute. Weissman described the Trump presidency as a period of constant assault on decency, immigrants, and people of color. The discussion notes that Public Citizen is a 501(c)(4) lobbying organization rather than a traditional non-profit.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the nonprofit group Public Citizen condemned President Trump's national emergency declaration as an "outrageous abuse of power." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated his support for the move despite previous warnings that it could split the Republican Party. Legal challenges are being prepared to contest the president's authority to move funds that were not specifically appropriated by Congress for a "racist wall."