Thread by @MoveOn

ATTENTION: An alarming new report indicates the Trump administration engaged in improper surveillance of last summer’s #FamiliesBelongTogether protests. 1/8
theintercept.com/2019/04/29/fam…

Hundreds of thousands of Americans joined nearly 800 #FamiliesBelongTogether protests & exercised First Amendment rights to freedom of speech & assembly, lifted voices in solidarity with immigrant families, & rejected Trump admin’s family separation & detention policies. 2/8

These nationwide actions were an example of democracy at its best. The protests were peaceful, lawful, and posed no threat that merited such government surveillance. 3/8

MoveOn members played a key role, alongside members and activists from many organizations. The #FamiliesBelongTogether events page and organizer toolkit were hosted on the MoveOn website. 4/8

Today’s news that Dept. Homeland Security was spying on the protests is more evidence of the Trump administration’s politicization of law enforcement and abuse of power. 5/8

If it turns out that U.S. government agencies were using contractors to collect, compile, or distribute information about the activities of MoveOn and its members, the government may have exceeded its authority and violated our constitutional rights. 6/8

MoveOn will vigorously investigate this report, and if warranted will not hesitate to pursue appropriate legal action. 7/8

We call on the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General as well as Congress to get to the bottom of this and hold those responsible for improper activity accountable. 8/8