On the evening of the president’s constitutionally mandated address to Congress, a coalition of advocacy groups, journalists, and lawmakers gathered at the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C., to host the People’s State of the Union. Organized by the progressive advocacy group MoveOn and the MeidasTouch Network, the event served as a formal boycott of Donald Trump’s official State of the Union address. According to organizers, the alternative gathering was designed to highlight the real-world experiences of Americans they argue are ignored by the current administration.
MoveOn Executive Director Katie Bethl opened the event by explaining the rationale behind the demonstration. She stated that the official address would distort reality and fail to address critical domestic issues, including the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), healthcare access, and justice for victims of Jeffrey Epstein. Bethl characterized the event as the largest organized boycott of any State of the Union in history, drawing parallels to the first such boycott conducted by the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus during the Nixon administration.
Independent journalists Joy Reid and Katie Fang served as the hosts for the evening. They framed the gathering as a necessary platform to hear from individuals directly impacted by current policies, contrasting the stories of everyday citizens with what they described as a false official narrative. The event also featured an invocation by Reverend Paul Brandeise Rousinbush, a Baptist minister and president of the Interfaith Alliance. Rousinbush criticized the current administration’s approach to religious freedom, accusing it of weaponizing religion for a white Christian nationalist agenda. He called for a spiritual movement dedicated to equality, dignity, and a united community.
The Vision Behind the People’s State of the Union
Several elected officials chose to attend the Capitol Mall event rather than the official address. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut addressed the crowd, explaining his absence from the Capitol chamber by stating that the administration is attacking democratic institutions and ignoring average citizens in favor of wealthy interests. He focused heavily on the actions of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, calling for a halt to their funding until they comply with the law.
Senator Murphy then introduced Ferish Day Ganjave, an advocate from Connecticut who arrived in the United States as a refugee in 2011. Ganjave, who founded the advocacy organization Elena’s Light, shared the ongoing fears within immigrant communities. She described how shifting federal policies, healthcare cuts, and ICE activities have created profound instability, causing families to fear traveling for work or medical appointments. Ganjave emphasized the need for stable federal support, family preservation, and policies rooted in dignity and humanity.
Representative Summer Lee of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District also spoke, contrasting the president’s anticipated narrative of a booming economy with the economic struggles of working-class families. Lee argued that everyday people are facing severe challenges, including the gutting of healthcare, attacks on unions, and the fear of deportation. She shared a story about a constituent’s family currently facing separation due to ICE enforcement without a stated cause.
In a significant policy announcement during the event, Representative Lee stated she would be introducing articles of impeachment against Pam Bondi. Lee accused the Department of Justice of obstructing justice by refusing to comply with a subpoena to release the full, unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein. She concluded her remarks by advocating for comprehensive policy shifts, including Medicare for All and a living wage, while calling for solidarity among working people to counter corporate consolidation and authoritarianism.
Overall, the People’s State of the Union served as a large-scale platform for dissent, bringing together political figures and impacted citizens to articulate an alternative vision for the country’s future during a highly polarized political moment.
Here are five notable quotes from the leaders and speakers at the People’s State of the Union event:
Katie Bethl (Executive Director of MoveOn) > “We’re boycotting because do we know that Donald Trump’s State of the Union will bear no resemblance to what’s actually happening in this country today. He will lie, distort, and ignore the real stories.”
Reverend Paul Brandeise Rousinbush (President of Interfaith Alliance)“All across America, people of diverse faiths and beliefs are showing up, are speaking out, and are proving that love for our neighbors and commitment to our democracy will prevail against the cruelty, immorality, and authoritarianism of this administration.”
Senator Chris Murphy (U.S. Senator for Connecticut)“I am not at the State of the Union speech tonight because Donald Trump is making a mockery of this great institution and he doesn’t deserve an audience. I’m not at the State of the Union speech tonight because these are not normal times and Democrats have to stop behaving normally.”
Ferish Day Ganjave (Refugee Advocate and Founder of Elena’s Light)“When families felt secure, they built. When mothers feel safe, they lead. When children feel [stable], they dream. And when we protect our people, we [strengthen] the entire nation. This is not politics. This is humanity. This is America.”
Representative Summer Lee (U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th District)“While they’re terrorizing immigrant communities right now, they’re cutting healthcare. They’re gutting worker protection. They’re union busting. [They] are handing tax breaks to billionaires and sending the bill to the rest of us. That’s the con. That’s the scam. And working people are done falling for it.”
Also read, “Americans Deserve Better”: Spanberger’s Democratic Response Rebukes Administration’s Record
