Melissa Schwartz
@mschwartz3.bsky.social
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Seasoned strategic and crisis communicator; perpetual resistance fighter. Team
@DemocracyForward.org
reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 24 hours ago
Libraries are a cornerstone of American democracy. Yet President Trump and his extremist allies want to defund our libraries, ban books, and jail librarians. Hereās how weāre fighting back.
#NationalLibraryWeek
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
7 days ago
The Trump-Vance admin is more focused on playing political games than making life better for the American people. DOJ's sensationalized report is an attempt to target prosecutors who,for decades, protected access to reproductive care by safeguarding patients, providers, and facilities from violence.
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Justice Department releases report accusing Biden-era DOJ of uneven enforcement of FACE Act law
The report claims the Justice Department under Merrick Garland "violated the rights of Americans" by only applying the law to support those in support of abortion rights, not those who worked at anti-...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/justice-department-report-face-act-biden-era-doj-enforcement/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
7 days ago
The truth is under attack at our national parks. We need your help to protect it.
#OurParksOurHistory
Learn more and take action:
https://democracyforward.org/act/our-parks-our-history/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
7 days ago
This ruling proves that litigation is working. Proud of our team at
@democracyforward.org
for their continued work to shed light on DOGE's misuse of data in court. The public deserves answers, and we will keep fighting until we get them.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
8 days ago
Access to child care should never be political. We know it, and the courts do, too. Protecting this vital funding ensures children can continue to be cared for, providers stay in business, and working families are supported while our case continues.
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CA child-care workers praise injunction to keep federal funds flowing
Child-care workers in the Golden State and the families who depend on them are breathing a sigh of relief after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administrationās attempt to
https://app.publicnewsservice.org/story/ca-child-care-workers-praise-injunction-to-keep-federal-funds-flowing/6297fb11-2e39-40dc-981a-3724ca3faa35
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
11 days ago
The DOJās Civil Rights Division is entrusted with enforcing federal voting laws. But under President Trump, it's made an unprecedented effort to access and share state voter data with DHS and reportedly coordinated with election deniers. Weāre suing to expose the truth ahead of the 2026 elections.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
11 days ago
Happy 96th birthday, Dolores Huerta! I am forever in awe of your strength, courage and dedication to the fight for justice for all people and communities.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
12 days ago
We sued to protect funding and access to our nationās libraries and museums, and WON. This settlement puts an end to the Trump-Vance adminās attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services while ensuring that libraries and museums can continue serving millions without disruption.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
14 days ago
Although this case should not have been allowed to proceed in the first place,
@democracyforward.org
will continue the fight to hold the FDA accountable and to ensure its review of abortion medication is grounded in scientific evidence ā not alt-right ideology.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
14 days ago
The courts are clear: President Trump is not above the law or our Constitution. We'll continue using every legal tool available to protect people and communities against the harms inflicted by the Trump-Vance admin's destructive agenda.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
17 days ago
The courts continue to serve as a critical bulwark against the Trump-Vance regime. CEO
@skyeperryman.bsky.social
joined
@thinkbigpicture.skystack.xyz
to break down how our cases are blocking much of the adminās agenda.
https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/skye-perryman-democracy-forward-trump
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The Pro-Democracy Advocates Who Are Suing Trump And Winning
Democracy Forward is fighting every day to ensure the courts hold the line against Trump and his authoritarian project
https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/skye-perryman-democracy-forward-trump
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
18 days ago
Racking up wins this week
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
18 days ago
President Trumpās so-called "Religious Liberty Commission" is not about religious liberty - it's about promoting Christian Nationalism. Separation of church and state is under accelerated attack. Weāre suing on behalf of a diverse faith coalition to fight back.
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Diverse Faith Leaders, Groups File Motion to Block Administrationās So-Called āReligious Liberty Commissionā
One-Sided Commission Using Secretive Advisory Group to Promote Narrow and Exclusionary Understanding of Religious Liberty
https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/diverse-faith-leaders-groups-file-motion-to-block-administrations-so-called-religious-liberty-commission/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
19 days ago
We arenāt shedding a tear over Pam Bondiās removal as U.S. Attorney General. But it wonāt change our day (or night) job. We will keep fighting in court to protect the American people.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
19 days ago
Pam Bondi is out as the U.S. Attorney General. But our fight for justice and the rule of law continues. No matter who is in charge of the DOJ, we will keep showing up in court to protect people and communities.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
19 days ago
Read my full statement:
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Skye Perryman on Attorney General Pam Bondiās Firing: Accountability Must Follow
Washington, D.C. ā Following President Trumpās statement that he has fired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman issued the following statement: āPam Bondi...
https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/skye-perryman-on-attorney-general-pam-bondis-firing-accountability-must-follow/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
20 days ago
WIN: A federal court blocked the Trump-Vance admin's unlawful attempt to freeze $10B in child care funding across 5 states. This decision restores critical support for families, providers, and small businesses, and makes clear this admin cannot weaponize public funding to serve a political agenda.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
20 days ago
BREAKING: Court REJECTS Trump-Vance adminās attempt to double down on unlawful grant restrictions that would push nearly 200,000 Americans into homelessness ā instead reaffirming our win protecting critical solutions to homelessness.
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Appeals Court Rejects Latest Trump-Vance Administration Attack on Funding for Solutions to Homelessness
Boston ā The First Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a Trump-Vance administration request to overturn a court order that is blocking the administrationās attempts to implement unlawful andā¦
https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/appeals-court-rejects-latest-trump-vance-administration-attack-on-funding-for-solutions-to-homelessness/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
20 days ago
Daily reminder: the Trump-Vance administration does not get to decide who deserves to be an American.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
21 days ago
We won a court order BLOCKING the Trump-Vance adminās attempt to revoke lawful status for noncitizens who have permission to live in the U.S. while their cases are considered. The court recognized this policy for what it was ā a cruel and unlawful abuse of power.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
21 days ago
Conversion therapy is one of the most harmful practices targeted at young people. As a result of todayās decision, those practicing this anti-scientific, scam therapy may become more emboldened.
@democracyforward.org
will continue to do everything in our power to protect LGBTQ+ youth.
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Supreme Court rules against Colorado's conversion therapy ban on First Amendment grounds
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado counselor who challenged a law banning conversion therapy for minors, ruling that lower courts failed to apply "sufficiently rigorous First Amendment scr...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-colorado-conversion-therapy-ban-chiles-v-salazar/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=925275018
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
George Takei
22 days ago
A powerful conversation with
@democracyforward.org
CEO
@skyeperryman.bsky.social
on their ongoing fight to hold the Trump administration accountable in the courtsāand how their efforts have been far more successful than you probably think.
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The Pro-Democracy Advocates Who Are Suing Trump And Winning
Democracy Forward is fighting every day to ensure the courts hold the line against Trump and his authoritarian project
https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/skye-perryman-democracy-forward-trump?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1774907030-2
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
22 days ago
The Trump-Vance admin is trying to deny due process rights to people detained in Minnesota. Not on our watch. Weāll keep fighting ā and winning ā in court to ensure everyone can get access to their legal counsel.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
24 days ago
People using their voice is how we make impact in the U.S. CEO
@skyeperryman.bsky.social
joined
@cnn.com
live from the National Mall during
#NoKings3
to talk about today's historic protests across the country.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
25 days ago
Our clients are sleeping in gas masks, regularly taking kids to urgent care, and facing worsening health conditions due to ICE's aggressive and unlawful use of tear gas near their homes. If you're outraged - so are we. We'll keep pushing back in court and on the streets this Saturday at No Kings 3.
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Feds' force restrictions put on hold outside Portland ICE building ahead of No Kings protest
Oral argument on government's motion for a more lasting hold is set for April 7.
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2026/03/appeals-court-puts-hold-on-orders-restricting-fed-response-outside-portland-ice-building.html
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
26 days ago
BIG WIN: We won a court order to again block the Trump-Vance admin from transferring noncitizens out of Minnesota and protect their access to counsel. This decision sends a clear message: the admin cannot evade accountability.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
27 days ago
Know your rights when interacting with ICE. Conoce tus derechos al interactuar con ICE.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
27 days ago
The fight for democracy is at our front door. I started writing Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times because the work we at
@democracyforward.org
do reinforced what we all know: it is not our institutions alone that will save us, it is the people. You can pre-order the book at the link below.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 1 month ago
Beautiful tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner ā who dedicated so much of their lives to fighting for social justice and defending our democracy. Rob and Michele will be remembered not just for the incredible art but also for the lives they changed through advocacy. Let's continue their legacy.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 1 month ago
BREAKING: Court orders the Trump-Vance adminās Interior Dept to restore $14M in grant funding to groups advancing critical conservation work. This win reverses a politically motivated attack against orgs perceived to promote DEI and protects our clients' First Amendment rights.
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Court Reverses Unlawful U.S. Department of the Interior Conservation Grant Cancellations
Nearly $14 Million for Vital Conservation Environmental Work to be Released
https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/court-reverses-unlawful-u-s-department-of-the-interior-conservation-grant-cancellations/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 1 month ago
The public deserves to know how Sec. Pete Hegseth is spending their tax dollars.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 1 month ago
When the Trump-Vance administration tried to cut $12 million in funding for pediatric health services, we sued and won. Today, the admin announced they wouldn't appeal our win, provingāyet againāthis administration backs off when the people call their bluff.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 1 month ago
DOGEās mishandling of government data is reckless at best and dangerous at worst. Reveals like these are EXACTLY why weāre in court over DOGEās unlawful access to the sensitive personal information of millions of people.
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Whistleblower claims ex-DOGE member says he took Social Security data to new job
The Social Security inspector generalās office is investigating allegations that the former DOGE engineer took sensitive data on a thumb drive in a major potential security breach, said people familia...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/10/social-security-data-breach-doge/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 1 month ago
Late last night, a federal court ruled to block dangerous steps in the Trump-Vance adminās new rule that would have dismantled the immigration appeals process. This win in our case safeguards noncitizensā right to due process and stops the adminās attempt to fast-track deportations.
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Donald Trump suffers legal blow over deportation appeals
A judge blocked the administration from implementing a policy that would have let authorities quickly dismiss certain appeals.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-suffers-legal-blow-over-deportation-appeals-11643302
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 1 month ago
Fighting back against the Trump-Vance administrationās unlawful actions doesnāt stop when business hours do. šŖ
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 1 month ago
BREAKING: Our team won a court order BLOCKING the Trump-Vance adminās attempt to fast-track deportations and dismantle due process for non-citizens, including those seeking asylum. This ruling stops the admin from playing games with our immigration system and peoples lives.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 1 month ago
This is a big win for
@democracyforward.org
, our clients, and co-counsel. A stroke of dark irony: Voice of America has played a key role since WWII to combat disinformation, often promulgated by the worldās autocrats. We are pleased to have secured this result as democracy backslides here at home.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 2 months ago
As I said on
@theweekendmsnow.bsky.social
this morning, there are costs to doing the presidentās bidding. Donald Trump canāt pardon a lawyer back into their bar license. We call on all lawyers to oppose efforts to undermine our professional ethics.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 2 months ago
Kristi Noem may be out at the Department of Homeland Security, but that doesnāt mean weāll stop fighting the agencyās unlawful actions.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 2 months ago
The legacy of Bloody Sunday calls us all to fiercely protect the hard-fought freedoms that those before us marched, sacrificed, and suffered for. Together, we can make the promise of democracy accessible for all.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 2 months ago
BREAKING: Court orders DHS to immediately STOP deploying tear gas, smoke grenades, pepper balls, & other toxic chemicals flooding Portland homes, finding residents face *irreparable* harm. This is a critical win for our clients, who've suffered from unconstitutional government violence for months.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 2 months ago
If Trump is serious about ending Noemās tenure, DHS should immediately reverse her decisions to: **put ICE in schools, hospitals, and houses of worship **make it harder for people fleeing autocratic nations to seek asylum **deprive people of due process Until then, we will still be in court.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 2 months ago
BREAKING: In our case challenging the Trump-Vance administrationās cuts to FEMA, a federal court has ordered discovery, including a deposition of Kristi Noem. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
@democracyforward.org
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 2 months ago
More dysfunction from the Trump-Vance administration today. And now, we have been granted permission to depose Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials. The truth will come out.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 2 months ago
Said it before. Will say it again. Courage is the new currency. Iām proud of the firms that pushed back, including my former firms, WilmerHale and Covington. As a mentor who has since passed away once told me, āsometimes you have to get in there and be a lawyer.ā
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/u...
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Trump Administration Abandons Efforts to Impose Orders on Law Firms
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/us/politics/trump-executive-orders-law-firms.html
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Skye Perryman
about 2 months ago
Todayās ruling makes it clear that Sec. Noem cannot silence elected officials who are doing their jobs. The court once again affirmed that oversight is not optional, transparency is not negotiable, and human rights do not disappear at the doors of a detention center.
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 2 months ago
NEWS: We're suing to block the Justice Dept from eviscerating noncitizensā right to appeal decisions in their immigration cases with its new rule. Despite what the Trump-Vance admin may think, everyone ā regardless of citizenship status ā has the right to due process. We will prove it in court.
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Legal Services Organizations Sue to Block Sweeping Immigration Appeals Rule That Eliminates Meaningful Judicial Review
Washington, D.C. ā Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Brooklyn Defender Services, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, HIAS, the American Immigration Council, and National Immigrant Justiceā¦
https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/legal-services-organizations-sue-to-block-sweeping-immigration-appeals-rule-that-eliminates-meaningful-judicial-revieww/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Democracy Forward
about 2 months ago
In our case, a federal judge just confirmed that the Trump-Vance admin violated the law by mishandling the addresses of more than 40,000 U.S. taxpayers by sharing with ICE. We will keep fighting to stop the IRS from putting sensitive data at risk.
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Judge: IRS broke law āapproximately 42,695 timesā in giving DHS data
A court on Thursday issued an opinion on a data-sharing agreement between the taxpayer agency and federal immigration authorities.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/26/irs-data-federal-judge-dhs-illegal/
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reposted by
Melissa Schwartz
Katherine Clark
about 2 months ago
The real state of the union is chaos and crisis. Donald Trump has broken every promise he made to the American people. Together with partners like Skye Perryman at Democracy Forward, weāre fighting on behalf of working families to hold the GOP accountable.
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