If not now, when?
This is a call to leaders of conscience, regardless of party. Uphold their oaths of office, uphold the constitution. If not now, when?
This week I’ve called our Representative and Senators with messages about Social Security, the Department of Education, illegal deportations, defiance of court orders, and the continuing constitutional crisis regarding the administration’s attempted destruction of the checks and balances among the branches of the federal government. Several times I’ve spoken with staffers, other times I’ve left messages. Each time, I end with something like this:
Now is the time to shut it down. Use every procedural step available to slow down the hostile takeover of the federal government. Don’t wait.
This is a call to leaders of conscience, regardless of party. Uphold their oaths of office, uphold the constitution. If not now, when?
This administration has defined people without criminal histories as “more dangerous” than those with them. It has insisted that only “fraudsters” complain about late Social Security payments. It has diverted federal workers from their jobs in order to scrub websites of target words like diversity, and the history of Black, female, and LGBTQ folk in their spheres. And it is going after mental health services for veterans.
It has wealthy universities like Columbia running scared, and state-supported regionals like the one I teach for panicking. Our university president has issued a statement that if our students lose access to federal funding, we will close.
If not now, when?
Real people suffering real harm around the world, and close to home. Our neighbors, friends, and co-workers; our global family, all suffering or threatened.
If not now, when?
Keep calling, writing, texting, insisting. These representatives work for us, and they swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. The time to do their jobs is now. Let them know we will have their backs if they do, and vote for someone else if they do not.
Be safe and well, take care of yourself and hold your loved ones close. We stand together, and walk forward together, one step at a time.
Cerna declaration on criminal history of deported people: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25591745-cerna-march-17-declaration/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Seniors won’t complain about Social Security: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/social-security-lutnick-doge-checks?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Federal workers on inefficiency: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/03/21/doge-government-efficiency-federal-workers/?
Removal of Black and female stories from Arlington Cemetery website: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/arlington-cemetery-website-dei.html?searchResultPosition=6
Mental health services for veterans: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/us/politics/veterans-affairs-mental-health-doge.html
Columbia University: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/nyregion/columbia-response-trump-demands.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/nyregion/trump-columbia-university-400-million.html