A college student fighting for democracy

I've lobbied for bills from gun violence prevention to education. I've researched mental health and youth in government. I've campaigned for local elections and federal ones.

For the last year, I've remained nonpartisan, working as a leader in Illinois mental health policy for the state. But now that my term has ended, and the state of everything, I am going to use this blog to educate, mobilize, and organize.

Today, the Trump Administration announced that it would withdraw 2,000 National Guardsmen from Los Angeles, about half of its originally issued forces.

They've been there for a month, and were originally mobilized for largely peaceful protesters that were egged on and enflamed by the actions of the LAPD and the announcement of the deployment of the California National Guard by President Trump. According to similar deployments, this likely cost U.S. taxpayers between $45-75 million.

Videos kept surfacing; horrible, awful videos of police officers trampling protesters with horses when they thought no one was watching. Officers intentionally aimed and shot rubber bullets at reporters and peaceful passersby trying to get to their apartments. Police command are knocking protestors down only to pick them up again and do it.

Let's be clear. The withdrawal of some troops will be lauded as a win, and the ever-moving Western news cycles will continue forward. But the disgrace to democracy that happened in Los Angeles will one day be referred to as a turning point, and if we all choose to move on, then the war of perception has already been lost.

The fact that an administration can pinpoint a student, a student who is a legal citizen of this country ineligible for deportation, and attempt to deport him simply based on his difference of opinion, should terrify all Americans, regardless of party.

The deportation of Mahmoud Khalil is illegal and unconstitutional. We must collectively understand that it isn't about deporting an undocumented immigrant, or an ICE crackdown. It is the attempted REVOKING of legal citizenship. If they can do this to one person, they can do this to all of us, simply based off of an expression of free speech.

Mahmoud is missing. ICE didn't seem to know his paperwork, and the location where his wife, an American citizen, was told he was, does not know where he is. He was last detained by ICE and American law enforcement.

The U.S Government has detained and dissapeared a United States citizen and all of us, politicians alike, are helpless to do anything about it.

Yesterday, Park Rangers and employees at Yosemite National Park hung an upside-down flag at the top of El Capitan on one of its busiest days in an effort to protest staff cuts and the disrespect shown to our park rangers.

Recently the Trump administration fired 1,000 park rangers and 3,400 members of the Forest Service. This was part of DOGE's efforts to cut spending and save money, but the effects this will have on US tourism could be worse than the money saved by cuts. In 2024, the national parks brought in $55.6 billion in profit. In some parks, like Grand Teton, there are less than 5 rangers per park, and these cuts are devastating.

The National Park Service gets 1/15th of a percent of the federal budget. This wasn't about saving money, otherwise, the efforts would be on tax cuts for the 1%, inflated defense contractor money, and failed government audits.

An upside-down flag is a sign of extreme distress. It was hanging on one of our country's most popular tourist spots, the highest pinnacle of American natural beauty.

This is more than politics. It's not Democrat vs. Republican, let's make that clear. It's about democracy, and the President is fighting the judiciary on over twenty of his executive orders. Why should we, the working people, have our decisions made by a cabal of billionaires? Change starts with us.

I said that this blog would be a source of education and action, and so right now I call on both.

Yesterday, Trump's Department of Education gave colleges 14 days to end any race-based programs, scholarships, or hiring practices or lose federal funding. This includes any scholarships offered to specific racial or ethnic groups, affinity groups, or centers set up for any specific ethnicities. This wipes out representation for millions of students countrywide. Let's be clear: this is not about equality, it is about erasure.

Erasure of history and identity.

In high school government classes, we learn that the premise of American democracy is equal opportunity. That's not possible without making up for the injustices faced by the marginalized in our country.

We can make a difference. Call your lawmakers. If you are a student in a group or scholarship affected, contact your local ACLU and file suit.

This statement, written by me and signed by activists and organizers from across the United States, feels like an apt thing to share in the wake of everything going on.

"On Tuesday, November 5th, Donald Trump was reelected as the 47th President of the United States of America. Many of us hoped to see Kamala Harris become the first female President. Many of us woke up Wednesday feeling sad, upset, or let down. Many of us fought to propel her into office.

The President-elect ran on a campaign built from fear. He relied on promises about the persecution of LGBTQ+ people, dangerous mass-scale deportations, failed trickle-down economic policy, climate denial, and foreign diplomacy that jeopardizes the sovereignty and safety of the citizens of Ukraine and Gaza.

In the face of that, we have an important message. To the women in America—we love you. To the LGBTQ+ folk in America—we love you. To the people of color and the marginalized in America—we love you. Let our words stand as a deep and unwavering hug of warmth and safety to always protect our communities from hate and violence. Let our voices sing the song of justice and unity.

As youth activists and leaders from across the country, we represent the future of America. Democracy chose a candidate whose Project 2025 blueprint echoes the dark hallmarks of fascism.

Today, and everyday, we, the young people, vow to never let hate overcome the bedrocks of our American freedoms.

To all the young people, we must keep fighting, keep organizing, and keep leading—because in times of darkness, where the deck of hate seems stacked against us, we still have our wall of love. What makes us special is we recognize that the principles of America are built on hope. And with hope, anything is possible.

We are proud to be Americans, but we are going to fight for an America that is proud to have us in it.

Signed with love, unity, and hope,

Aydin Tariq; Activist, Policy Writer

Esmée Silverman; Founder, Queer Youth Assemble

Ava Sunders; Students Demand Action

Grace Varughese; Students Demand Action

Reem Khalifa; Students Demand Action

Faith “Scout” Cardillo; Founder, Bulletproof Pride

James Crocker; Democratic Strategist

Jay’Shun Mathews; Founder, Black Youth Empowerment Network

Nahom Sisay; Community Organizer, United Nations Youth Advisor

Zadyn Grey; Head of Programs, Queer Youth Assemble

Vienna Cavazos; Queer Youth Activist

Laney Heggemeyer; Students Demand Action

Regardless this election is going to be nail-bitingly close. Everyone please remember to vote with your heart and your conscience, and remember that POLLS AMD PREDICTIONS DONT MATTER IF NO ONE VOTES 💜