The AoC Checklist features clear, well-researched actions for Americans who value democracy, equality, voting, and decency. We are a big tent for all people who want a kinder, flourishing nation.
This Week’s Actions
Action 1: Demand accountability in classified security breach.
Thank you to the 546 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Your two senators and one House rep (call, write, or email).
Script: Hello, my name is _____, contacting you from [ZIP], concerned that high-ranking officials messaged classified war plans over Signal, an unsecured app, two hours before a real-time military operation. This breach of security could have endangered military personnel and violates basic operational security protocol. I am asking Sen./Rep. [NAME] to hold the following people responsible: Vice President Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Thank you.
Bonus action: Digital activism—to keep this issue in the public eye, engage with social media posts (like, comment, share) and online articles (use links above) about this incident to increase coverage and accountability.
Source: AoCC, Michele Hornish
Action 2: Exercise your right to know what information the government holds about you.
Thank you to the 204 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) has probably accessed personal information about you, but a recent court ruling found that DOGE may be required to disclose this access in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 if you file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Take action: Download this FOIA request template PDF and print, sign, and mail it to the address on the form. Note: Filing such a request requires you to identify yourself, and it is illegal to submit a request on behalf of someone else or under false pretenses. Only request one for yourself.
Source: AoCC
Action 3: Help 100 Americans vote by providing required IDs.
Thank you to the 164 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
President Trump’s new executive order would require proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote. This policy would disenfranchise millions—especially minority and low-income voters who struggle to obtain official records. Our longtime partner, ProjectID has been meeting this challenge for the 26 million who Americans lack ID, but it costs an average of $40 per person. We have a goal: Let’s show up for our neighbors and cover 100 IDs this month!
Donate: Support ProjectID’s efforts to provide Americans with the ID they need to vote. (If you give, share your amount here so we can match the first $400!)
Source: ProjectID
Action 4: Object to removing non-binary option on student federal aid (FAFSA) forms.
Thank you to the 317 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
The current administration is changing the Department of Education Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, forcing students to misgender themselves by removing the nonbinary and “prefer not to answer” options. This action is discriminatory and perpetuates stigma against marginalized students.
Write: Submit a public comment to the Federal Register (click the green box “Submit a comment”) by April 7, 2025. Choose from any of the points below to create a unique comment (copy/paste content is rejected).
- I urge the Department of Education to protect the rights and dignity of all students.
- Return the “nonbinary” or “prefer not to answer” options to FAFSA forms.
- Eliminate the gender question completely as it has no relevance to aid applications.
- Make this question optional and not required.
- DoE is creating barriers to accessing essential financial aid for education.
- This contributes to the stigma and mental health challenges among trans and nonbinary students.
- It undermines the Department of Education’s responsibility to support all students equitably.
Source: Rogan’s List
Action 5: Restore legal services for unaccompanied children.
Thank you to the 224 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (call, write, or email).
Script: Hello, my name is _____, and I’m reaching out from [ZIP] to object to because I’m appalled that the federal government would halt funding for the Unaccompanied Children Program (UCP). This move cuts vital services for approximately 26,000 kids, including legal representation in a system that is virtually impossible for them to navigate alone. I’m urging [Sen./Rep. NAME] to publicly denounce the termination of this program and work across the aisle for complete restoration of unaccompanied children’s legal services. Thank you.
Bonus: Make a donation to help Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) continue providing critical legal services to unaccompanied children.
Source: The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Acacia Center for Justice
Action 6: Protect the right of women to vote.
Thank you to the 281 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Your one House representative (call, write, or email).
Script: Hi, my name is _____ and I’m from [ZIP], asking you to oppose H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, which would enact broad purges of voter rolls and force voters to prove their citizenship when registering. Almost 10 percent of Americans lack the required documentation, including many women who changed their names when they married. This law could have a chilling effect on women voters. Please assure me of your “no” vote on H.R. 22. Thank you.
Source: The Brennan Center
Action 7: Oppose requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote.
Thank you to the 76 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Both of your state legislators (look up).
If you live in FL, ID, IL, IN, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA, and WV, your state has introduced legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote.
Look up your state’s bill(s) to find the legislation number.
Script: Hi, my name is _____ and I’m reaching out from [ZIP] to express my concern that requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote would radically upend voter registration, create harmful confusion in the electoral process, and block millions of Americans from exercising their legal right to vote. I want Sen. [NAME] to vote “no” on [BILL NUMBER(S)]. Thank you.
If you live elsewhere: Donate to the Voting Rights Lab to support the work of protecting our electoral integrity.
Source: Voting Rights Lab
Action 8: Oppose the rollback of critical HIV prevention programs.
Thank you to the 120 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Dept. of Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. by phone at 202-690-6392 or 202-690-7000 1-877-696-6775 or by postcard at 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201.
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] to oppose the proposed defunding and downsizing of domestic HIV prevention and research programs. Cutting support for these programs would have catastrophic consequences for the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. I urge you to do everything in your power to support critical, lifesaving federal HIV prevention and research programs. Thank you.
Bonus: Sign the HRC Petition (you will be automatically signed up for email updates and text messages).
Source: HRC
Action 9: Oppose efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
Thank you to the 196 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (write, call, or email).
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] to oppose the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Eliminating it would risk federal student loans, discrimination law enforcement, and aid to schools serving low-income students and those with disabilities. Please use your congressional authority to oppose H.R. 899 and any other bill that seeks to further weaken this vital and already embattled department. Thank you.
Source: Black Women’s Health Imperative
Action 10: Demand the reinstatement of protected status for at-risk residents.
Thank you to the 136 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (call, write, or email).
Script: Hello, my name is _____ and I’m contacting you from [ZIP] to oppose DHS terminating Temporary Protected Status for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. TPS is a life-saving program that embodies our constitutional obligation to welcome people fleeing violence and persecution, and this legally questionable move could force over 530,000 sponsored people to return to dangerous conditions. I’m calling on [Sen./Rep. NAME] to condemn DHS’ actions and ensure the continuation of TPS in the U.S. Thank you.
Bonus: Contact Secretary Kristi Noem via the DHS comment line at 202-282-8495 or by postcard at Secretary of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.
Source: AoCC
Action 11: Free a community leader from ICE detention.
Thank you to the 238 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
ICE’s unconstitutional detention and attempted deportation of Jeanette Vizguerra, an immigrants rights advocate, is a clear effort by the administration to target political opponents.
Sign this petition demanding the release of Jeanette Vizguerra from ICE custody (uncheck all boxes to unsubscribe from campaign updates) or text HERE TO STAY to 787-57.
Bonus: Donate to support her family’s legal fees.
Source: United We Dream
Action 12: Stop the spread of mis- and dis-information.
Thank you to the 92 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Mis- and dis-information are insidious tools that undermine our democracy and include everything from viral misinformation to deep fakes, and conspiracy theories to state-sanctioned propaganda. One in five Americans receive their daily news from social media platforms and many share “fake news” simply because they’re not paying attention.
Take Action: Learn how to recognize misleading and incorrect information using this LWV guide. To prevent their spread, create your own posts with correct information, but do not reply to or quote false narratives.
Source: League of Women Voters
Action 13: Prepare for the 2025 Elections.
Thank you to the 128 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Are you ready to vote in 2025 elections? More than 100,000 seats are open and up for election in 2025, including governors, municipal governments, school boards, and more. Are you ready?
- Register to vote for the first time (make sure you meet your state’s deadline) or confirm that your voter registration is still valid.
- Update your address or re-register if you’ve recently moved.
- Make a plan to vote by mail or in person.
- Find out who and what is on your ballot.
Source: Rock the Vote
Action 14: Have a hard, brave conversation.
Thank you to the 23 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
One third of Americans did not vote in the most recent federal election. Why not? We won’t know unless we ask. Crossing Party Lines offers free classes about brave conversations that build trust, a healthier democracy, and a shared future. Check this box if you’ve had an open, curious conversation with someone different from you in the past two weeks.
Source: Crossing Party Lines
Action 15: Take action in your own community.
Thank you to the 146 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
It’s our hope that using the Checklist inspires you to become more involved in specific issues and/or local action. In the last two weeks, did you volunteer, do service, advocate, or support a local or state cause? Check the box to let us know!
Source: AoCC
Acts of Gratitude
We believe in gratitude as a tool for change. We will print a letter of thanks from Americans of Conscience with your signature and mail it to the recipient. Your information will be removed from this website no later than four weeks after the Checklist’s publication date.
*An asterisk denotes an Act of Gratitude submitted by a subscriber.
Thank MT state Reps. Zooey Zephyr (D) and SJ Howell (D) for effectively advocating for drag artists’ right to free expression and for transgender children’s right to live with supportive guardians.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these addresses:
ZZ: P.O. Box 5213, Missoula, MT 59806
SJH: P.O. Box 8623, Missoula, MT 59807
Thank you to the 167 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Thank Rep. Bill Keating (D–MA) for speaking out in support of a House colleague in response to intentional disrespect by another.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: 2372 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
Thank you to the 170 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
*Thank UT state Sen. Daniel Thatcher (Utah Forward Party) for supporting the rights of the transgender community and for displaying integrity by leaving an increasingly extreme party.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: 6352 W City Vistas Way, West Valley City, UT 84128
Thank you to the 148 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!
Good News
If you find good news for democracy, equality, and the planet, share it with us here!
- Polling confirms that people from across the entire political spectrum support Bears Ears National Monument and Tribal-informed conservation.
- A federal court temporarily blocks the deportation of Georgetown fellow Badar Khan Suri, who has been detained by ICE for politically motivated reasons.
- SCOTUS’s Chief Justice affirms the independence of the judiciary branch and outlines that judges cannot be impeached due to another branch’s disagreement over judicial decisions.
- Securities and Exchange Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw speaks out against changes in agency guidance that are not in accordance with good-faith interpretations of existing law.
- The presidential administration faces bipartisan criticism from Congress over an unsecured discussion of military plans that leaked to the public.
- A U.S. district court issues a temporary injunction to prevent the deportation of immigration rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra, whom ICE does not have the legal authority to remove from the U.S.
- A discriminatory bill that would ban transgender student athletes from women’s and girls’ sports teams fails to pass the Senate.
- A U.S. district judge condemns the president’s use of an 18th-century wartime law to deport over 200 U.S. residents and defy court orders.
- AZ: An appellate court affirms that Arizonans eligible to vote in federal elections can continue to do so without having to provide proof of citizenship.
- MT: Following a floor speech by Rep. SJ Howell (D), a bill that would have removed transgender and nonbinary children from their supportive parents’ custody fails to pass the state House.
- MT: Following a floor speech by Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D) and other representatives, a bill that would have allowed parents to sue drag performers for practicing their art fails to pass the state House.
- NE: Civil rights icon Malcolm X will be recognized yearly on May 19 for his contributions to the civil rights movement.
- NH adopts a loan program that will create new ways to finance clean energy.
- TX: A scheduled drag show performance at Texas A&M University may proceed after a district court upholds free speech rights.
- UT Gov. Spencer Cox vetoes a bill that would reroute tax money away from public education.
- WA state sues a local county for breaking a state law restricting local compliance with federal anti-immigration initiatives.
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams addresses the number two cause of unintentional childhood death by making a $5.5 M commitment to expand free swimming lessons.
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