riversidecostg

OPPOSITION TO THE UNLAWFUL DETENTION AND DEPORTATION OF INDIVIDUALS LEGALLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES

WHEREAS the Trump administration has repeatedly weaponized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target individuals for their political expression, detain legal residents without judicial oversight, and obstruct access to legal representation—actions that constitute clear violations of the First Amendment (freedom of speech), Fourth Amendment (protection against unlawful searches and seizures), Fifth Amendment (right to due process), and Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection under the law); and

WHEREAS multiple lawful permanent residents and other individuals legally present in the United States—including Mahmoud Khalil, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and Rumeysa Ozturk—have been wrongfully apprehended, held without judicial warrants or charges, denied access to counsel, subjected to prolonged detention and forced removal, or extrajudicially transferred into a prison abroad without due process, often in retaliation for peaceful political expression, reflecting a disturbing pattern of constitutional and human rights violations by immigration
enforcement authorities; and

WHEREAS the detention of lawful permanent residents and other individuals who are legally present in the United States without judicial warrants or formal charges and the use of immigration enforcement to silence protected political speech and intimidate communities is a dangerous escalation of the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party unequivocally condemns the misuse of immigration enforcement to detain and deport individuals who are lawfully present in the United States and simply exercising their constitutionally protected rights particularly when such actions are politically motivated or conducted without due process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party calls on all elected officials, including members of Congress from California, to publicly denounce these unconstitutional actions, demand immediate oversight and transparency from immigration enforcement agencies, and work to ensure the rights of all individuals—regardless of immigration status—are fully protected under the Constitution.

Author(s): Anyse Smith, AD-47; Nathan Kempe, AD-58; Francisco Ramos, AD-47; Edison Gomez-Krauss, AD-36

Affirming Support for the Transgender Community and Condemning Efforts to Undermine Trans Rights

WHEREAS the Riverside County Democratic Party stands firmly for the rights, dignity, and full inclusion of transgender and nonbinary individuals in all aspects of life including sports; and

WHEREAS transgender people continue to face discrimination, legislative attacks, and harmful rhetoric that seek to undermine their rights in areas such as sports, healthcare, education, public accommodations, and legal recognition; and

WHEREAS a growing number of elected officials, including some prominent members of the Democratic Party, have recently failed to fully support policies, particularly in the area of sports, that protect transgender rights, thereby contributing to ongoing harm and marginalization;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party strongly condemns all efforts—whether through rhetoric, policy, or inaction—that undermine the rights and dignity of transgender individuals as well as their gender designation itself; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing transgender rights, holding all elected officials accountable for upholding these values, and advocating for policies that ensure full inclusion, equality, safety, and support for transgender and nonbinary people in Riverside County and beyond.

Author: Brock Cavett, AD-63

Restoring the Pledge of Allegiance to its Secular Origin

WHEREAS the Democratic Party is committed to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution’s principles of equality, inclusivity, and the separation of church and state; and

WHEREAS the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, added in 1954, did not then, and does not now, reflect the diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs held by millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS in recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in the influence of Christian nationalist ideologies in government policies, targeting reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, and promoting religious exemptions that undermine secular governance;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party, in order to reflect the values of diversity, equality, and inclusion, supports reversion of the Pledge of Allegiance to the pre-1954 version which did not contain the phrase “under God;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party supports removing allusions to religious figures and authority in all state affairs, including, but not limited to the removal of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, to ensure that public expressions of patriotism, remain fully secular, to foster a sense of belonging for all Californians regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs.

Author(s): Edison Gomez-Krauss, AD-36