…“As I was & have been speaking in my personal capacity & in my capacity as union representative, I am not required to ask for permission to speak on behalf of me or my co-workers,” Mei told WaPo. “Especially speaking on behalf of my co-workers as the #union president, that is a right that I am granted by the Federal Labor Management statute. So I do not need to ask for permission.” [this why #Trump hates educated people. They know their rights.]

…The threat of Mei’s dismissal has sparked concerns & outrage among other USDA workers & members of the Federal Unionists Network, who argue that the move is part of a concerted effort by the #Trump admin to chill #speech among federal employees.

At the time Mei spoke to MSNBC, the information she shared was publicly available through a variety of news articles & guidance from anti-hunger advocates, think tanks & organizations.

The next day, #USDA informed Mei that the process to remove her from her position had begun. In correspondence reviewed by WaPo, an official in the USDA human resources dept told Mei that she will be let go 30 days after the #shutdown ends. The agency accused Mei of discussing USDA programs & funding “without prior approval.”

The employee, Ellen Mei, a program specialist at the #Food & #Nutrition Service who is furloughed, was interviewed on MSNBC on Oct 2, during the early days of the #shutdown, to talk about how the impasse in Washington would impact her team, as well as the work they do. Mei is also president of the National Treasury Employees #Union’s Chapter 255, which represents employees at #USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service in the Northeast.

#Trump #law #labor #SNAP #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech

“If we believe that citizens should receive notice when the #government subpoenas their phone bill, great! Perhaps this revolutionary new policy—which #CivilLiberties groups would probably support—should be the law. But then the law should protect the civil liberties of all 320 million Americans, as the #EqualProtectionClause of the #Constitution demands, not just the 100 Americans in the #Senate,” #JamieRaskin added.

But as fear spread, so did something else — neighbors stepping up for one another & finding creative ways to show up for vendors & restaurant owners. This includes a grassroots effort to organize so-called “buy out” events meant to allow vendors who fear being detained by #immigration agents to go home early.

#Beatings. #SexualAssault. #PsychologicalAbuse. These are some of the horrors endured by the >250 men the #UnitedStates sent to #ElSalvador on flimsy evidence of gang membership, acc/to a new comprehensive report released on Wednesday by #HRW & #Cristosal, a #HumanRights group focused on #CentralAmerica.

#Trump #law #Constitution #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #Rendition #StateSponsoredAbduction #CECOT #DueProcess #InternationalLaw #HumanitarianLaw #CrimesAgainstHumanity
https://www.hrw.org/report/2025/11/12/you-have-arrived-in-hell/torture-and-other-abuses-against-venezuelans-in-el

@charlotteclymer

I don't know the numbers at the moment but my thoughts are for my fellow vets on the streets of #AmeriKKKa, about 25-30% of 771,000 people who don't even have the US #Constitution rights we swore to defend to protest simply because we ARE #homeless