Alt National Park Service
@altnps.bsky.social
The official "Resistance" team of U.S. National Park Service. Our website: www.ourparks.org
created November 13, 2024
883,565 followers 1,622 following 3,619 posts
view profile on Bluesky Posts
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Sorry to all those stuck working today. The best way to honor them is by staying home and relaxing so we don’t encourage businesses to stay open. To those in jobs that are always necessary and rarely get a break: thank you for your sacrifice and service. We know many don’t get the day off.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
We hope to see you out there at the nationwide protest today. Let’s raise our voices, honor the workers who’ve been cast aside, and keep fighting for the dignity and security every worker deserves. We hope you enjoy the day, you’ve earned it. 💚
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the government is still on track to spend more this year than last. As we gather with friends and family, let’s also stand together. Labor Day is not only about enjoying a well-earned rest it’s about remembering the struggles and sacrifices that built this holiday in the first place.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Today we celebrate the strength and resilience of working people everywhere. Nearly 300,000 federal employees have lost their jobs this year not because of necessity, but because of a political agenda. And while people’s lives were destroyed in the name of “saving money,”
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Links: apnews.com/article/immi... www.reuters.com/world/us/us-... www.fox13seattle.com/news/lawyers...
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
It took a federal judge to step in and block the deportation, blasting the midnight raid tactics as a betrayal of due process and human dignity. Maybe Border Patrol should focus on fighting fires. After all, the military is busy in D.C. spreading mulch.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
And it doesn’t stop there. Immigration officials tried to deport a group of Guatemalan children in the middle of the night, literally pulling them from their beds to put them on a plane out of the country.
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He’s lived in the U.S. since age 4 and has a visa application pending. Instead of helping fight the flames, agents drove straight into a fire zone just to check IDs of the crews risking their lives.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Last week, Border Patrol agents arrested a firefighter while he was assigned to battling the Bear Gulch Fire in Washington State’s Olympic National Forest.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Targeting firefighters while they work. Dragging children from their beds in the dead of night. MAGA will go to any length. We’ve said it before, eventually the monster comes for us all!
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Some Links: www.thedailybeast.com/proud-boys-s... lawandcrime.com/high-profile... www.yahoo.com/news/article...
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Their proposal? A special panel (similar to the one created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks) that would award them damages for what they claim were “unfair prosecutions.” The very people who fueled a violent insurrection now want the government to cut them a check.
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But now they’re demanding more. In recent weeks, those same rioters and their lawyers have been lobbying the Justice Department, pushing for financial restitution.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
On his first day back in the White House, Trump granted clemency to the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. That pardon gave them their freedom and even seemed to satisfy their initial calls for revenge.
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Links: www.wusf.org/politics-iss... www.wesh.com/article/sign... people.com/trump-admini...
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
We are literally becoming a police and military state under this administration, when chalk at a memorial is treated like a crime, it’s not about “safety.” It’s about this administration having complete control on the American people.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
FDOT crews wash away chalk memorials as soon as they appear. Police presence has been constant. What was once a symbol of love and remembrance is now patrolled and erased.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
On Friday night, a man was actually arrested for leaving chalk footprints at the memorial. A judge later threw out the charges for lack of probable cause, the state is deploying police to prevent grieving communities from drawing rainbows in chalk.
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Signs now read “Defacing Roadway Prohibited” and even “Defacing Sidewalk Prohibited,” meaning mourners can’t even chalk nearby sidewalks.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
The Florida Department of Transportation removed the painted crosswalk earlier this month and has since stationed officers and crews at the site to stop the community from re-creating it with chalk.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
This is just sad. We’ve posted about this before. Now here is what is going down. The rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse memorial in Orlando (created to honor the 49 lives lost in the 2016 shooting) has now become the target of state enforcement.
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EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!” We know Trump is still stuck on his 2020 loss, but election laws are controlled by the states, and an executive order on this has no real force. At the end of the day, it’s just a piece of paper with no real meaning.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
States already have some form of voter ID requirement in place. So Trump’s latest post is just political theater. He says he’ll issue an executive order requiring voter identification for all U.S. elections. On Truth Social he declared: “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Trump is again threatening Chicago with a takeover on social media. We will again say those who trade liberty for the illusion of temporary safety deserve neither. We are not, and will not become, a military state. Remember freedom is something they can never take away, no matter what they tell you!
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colleagues in an email Friday that he was submitting what he called an “involuntary resignation.” He explained that ever since his whistleblower complaint became public, the agency’s actions against him amounted to retaliation that ultimately drove him out of his position.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
The Social Security Administration official who exposed that the Department of Government Efficiency had left millions of Americans’ personal data vulnerable says he has been forced to resign due to retaliation. Charles Borges, who served as the SSA’s chief data officer, told
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signed a letter challenging the leadership of Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump. We shared their letter of dissent about a week ago.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
If you aren’t completely loyal to the regime or dare to voice dissent, you risk being removed. Time and again, anyone who stands up is pushed out. Most recently, the Environmental Protection Agency dismissed eight employees after they
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Kari Lake, a Trump ally now serving as acting chief of the agency that oversees VOA, posted on X that layoff notices were issued to 532 staff members.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
The Trump administration announced that it plans to dismiss nearly all remaining employees at Voice of America, escalating tensions with a federal judge who had previously blocked efforts to overhaul the government-funded broadcaster.
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Everyday Americans are held to a higher standard, facing serious consequences for even small mistakes, while those in power from the so-called “party of law and order” keep breaking the rules without accountability.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
We want to apologize if it feels like we’ve been venting a lot lately. It’s just hard to ignore that nearly every move from this administration seems to be illegal, unlawful, or outright unconstitutional and yet nothing happens.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
temporary, setback to his deportation agenda. Judge Jia Cobb, sitting in Washington, D.C., found that the administration’s plan to use the fast-track process to detain immigrants deep inside the country, with little or no due process, is unlawful.
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The judges made it clear the international emergency powers law the administration leaned on “does not authorize the tariffs imposed by the Executive Orders.” Links: www.investors.com/news/trump-t... www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/u...
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Go figure, yet another illegal action. In a major blow to Trump’s global trade war, a federal appeals court ruled that many of his tariffs were issued illegally, upholding an earlier decision from the federal trade court.
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Denying Palestinian officials this same access breaks with that precedent. It isn’t just unusual, it’s a dangerous deviation from norms the United States has upheld for decades!
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Syria (all under broad U.S. sanctions) still attend the UN General Assembly without obstruction. Their presence underscores a long-standing commitment to international law and the principle that diplomacy, not isolation, takes center stage at the UN.
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Under the UN Headquarters Agreement, the United States is required to provide access to representatives traveling to the UN, regardless of political disputes. That’s why, year after year, delegations from countries like
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effectively blocking them from attending next month’s United Nations General Assembly. By tradition and by obligation, the U.S. issues visas to allow foreign leaders to participate at U.N. headquarters in New York, even for governments under some of the harshest American sanctions.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
This isn’t normal, but then again, nothing they do ever is. And yes, this is fucked up, but so is almost everything else coming out of this administration. So here’s what’s going on. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States will not grant visas to Palestinian officials,
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And if we let it slide, it sets the precedent that Congress doesn’t matter, the people don’t matter, and the only will that counts is the president’s.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
If one man can erase billions in spending with the stroke of a pen (overruling the representatives of 330 million Americans) that’s not democracy. That’s authoritarianism.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 was written specifically to stop presidents from doing exactly this after Nixon tried the same power grab. Even Republicans like Collins admit this violates the law.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
We may not always like every decision they make, but those choices reflect the will of the people through their representatives. When a president bypasses Congress and unilaterally cancels funding they’ve already approved, it’s not just reckless it’s illegal.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Guess Trump didn’t learn his lesson after all Senator Susan Collins. Let’s be clear about why this is authoritarian. Congress is the branch of government elected by the American people to decide how our money is spent.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Senator Susan Collins of Maine denounced the move as unlawful, saying that any attempt to rescind funds already appropriated by Congress without its approval is a direct violation of the law.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
This escalation in the long-running battle between Trump and Congress over control of spending quickly drew criticism, including from the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
When a president decides to disregard the will of the American people, you’re right, that’s the mark of authoritarian rule. The White House has notified Congress that it plans to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding that lawmakers had already approved, doing so without their consent.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Don’t forget: Nationwide protest hosted by 50501 this Labor Day!
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Constantly amazed by the compassion people show! 💜
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
The Trump administration plans to deploy more than 200 Homeland Security officers to a naval installation outside of Chicago to start an immigration enforcement campaign in the city.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
In Atlanta, staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathered to applaud colleagues who resigned following the firing of Director Susan Monarez. With four top officials stepping down, many now feel that the CDC is effectively finished.
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She initially told Kennedy she would step down, but later refused. In retaliation, Trump fired her. The White House confirmed the dismissal today during a press conference.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
For clarification on yesterday’s post. Susan Monarez, CDC Director, who had been pushing back against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was cornered with an ultimatum that she resign or be fired.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Links: www.iowapublicradio.org/political-ne... www.reuters.com/world/us/jud... www.axios.com/local/salt-l...
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
You’re the ones making the difference by showing up to protests, spreading the truth, going out to vote, phone banking, writing emails, and refusing to be silent. Every action pushes back, and with every day, the resistance grows stronger. Tomorrow, there will be more of us.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
So what is this showing? It’s showing the resistance is growing. Grassroots groups are spreading across the country and mobilizing at every level. But in the end, it all comes down to you.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Her win erased the GOP’s supermajority in the Iowa Senate, forcing Republicans to now work with Democrats on key confirmations. The result part of a broader trend of Democrats overperforming by 10–15 points in recent special elections.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Instead of Republicans cruising to victory, Drey flipped the seat by an 11-point margin of her own (an over 20-point swing).
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
So why the urgency? Because the political landscape is shifting. Just this week in Sioux City, Iowa, Democrat Catelin Drey won a special state Senate election in a district Trump carried by 11 points in 2024.
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On his social media platform, Trump accused the “activist Judiciary” of trying to strip Republicans of their advantage and demanded outrage from Utah citizens. He has since turned his attention to Indiana, discussing new redistricting pushes there.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
It’s crazy that the Trump administration feels the need to go against the will of the people of Utah. It’s a very telling sign that we are pushing toward authoritarianism when he is willing to undermine voters in Utah of all places.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Although lawmakers later weakened that reform in 2020, the courts stepped in (first the Utah Supreme Court in 2024, then a district court in August 2025) to uphold the principle that voter-approved safeguards against gerrymandering cannot simply be tossed aside.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Back in 2018, Utah voters approved Proposition 4, a ballot initiative designed to curb gerrymandering by creating an independent redistricting commission and establishing fair-mapping standards.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Trump lashed out after an Utah judge ordered state lawmakers to redraw the congressional map, calling the ruling “absolutely unconstitutional.” But the decision is firmly rooted in Utah’s democratic process.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
The reality is simple our rights are not bargaining chips. Liberty is not something you trade away for “temporary safety”, because when you do, you lose both.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Yet MAGA propaganda insists Trump is “protecting” you, while branding dissenters as supporting criminals. That’s a fake choice built on fear, not fact.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Americans do not want to live under a military state, that was never the American dream. Our country was founded on the promise of liberty, not soldiers patrolling our streets. The Constitution is clear: the military does not police civilians.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
The truth is, temporary safety measures imposed by force rarely stay temporary. History shows that once freedom is surrendered, it is almost never freely given back. And just like Franklin, we’re here to say no.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
reshaped by executive whim, and broad powers are justified under the vague banner of “ensuring public order.” Just like in Franklin’s time, the deal on offer is a scam: we hand over essential liberties, and what we get back isn’t real safety it’s control, submission, and fear.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Fast forward nearly 270 years, and here we are in Washington, D.C., watching this lesson repeat itself. Once again, people in power are demanding we give up freedoms in exchange for the illusion of “safety.” Federal troops and militarized police flood the streets, agencies are
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during the French and Indian War unless their estates were exempt. Franklin and the Assembly pushed back, warning that surrendering the people’s rights of self-governance for a promise of temporary protection was a dangerous trade-off.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
He wasn’t being poetic he was speaking for the Pennsylvania Assembly during a bitter fight with the colonial governor. The Penn family, who owned the colony, refused to pay taxes for defense
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
We’re going to go on a rant for a minute, and yes we’re bringing some history with us. Back in 1755, Benjamin Franklin wrote words that still echo today: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
We saw all your comments yesterday on our post about celebrity chef and D.C. icon José Andrés, and we agree with you he truly deserves the Nobel Peace Prize! 💚
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Monarez was pressured by Kennedy to endorse controversial vaccine policy changes, including dismantling the CDC’s long-standing vaccine advisory committee and revising guidance on COVID-19 shots. When she resisted, Kennedy reportedly gave her an ultimatum: resign or be fired.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Her departure followed clashes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly over his reshaping of the advisory panel that guides the agency on vaccine matters.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Susan Monarez, who had only recently taken over as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stepped down after a turbulent first month marked by sweeping vaccine policy changes and staff reductions.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced this month that the state will open a second immigration detention facility, dubbed the “Deportation Depot,” at a former state prison located west of Jacksonville.
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Links: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p... apnews.com/article/fore...
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
The Trump administration again petitioned the Supreme Court to block the use of billions in foreign aid. The administration urged the justices to overturn a lower court order that requires the government to spend the funds already appropriated by Congress.
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and other extreme weather disasters. Of the 182 FEMA employees who signed the letter, 36 publicly attached their names, while the others withheld their identities out of fear of retaliation.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Federal Emergency Management Agency suspended over 30 employees after they wrote to Congress warning that the Trump administration had severely weakened the nation’s ability to respond to hurricanes, floods,
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
You did it! Thank you for voting. Democrat Catelin Drey has flipped an open Iowa state Senate seat, raise a glass! This victory means Republicans no longer hold a supermajority in Iowa.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Links: www.reuters.com/legal/govern... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... www.latimes.com/california/s... abc7.com/post/charges... www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... immpolicytracking.org/policies/eo-...
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
All in all, what this shows is that the American people have the final word, not Trump.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
But the combination of fabricated narratives and presidentially backed protection for DHS agents makes it more crucial than ever for individuals to document and record encounters because in their absence, misconduct risks being hidden behind administrative impunity.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Taken together, these episodes show that while the administration may push propaganda and pursue heavy-handed prosecutions, the justice system’s guardrails remain. Grand jurors, judges, and internal Department of Justice reviews are still capable of blocking or reversing overreach.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
That, combined with promises of legal representation and indemnification for DHS staff, who know they’re backed by the administration, creates an environment of impunity, where misconduct can be played down or ignored.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
civil and criminal enforcement, all without explicit limitations on the use of force. Though it does not literally state “use any force necessary,” the sweeping language effectively opens the door for broad interpretations in enforcement actions.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Trump’s Executive Order 14159, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” (signed January 20, 2025), they are shielded even further. The order directs DHS to exploit all lawful means to enforce immigration laws, expands detention and removal authority, and authorizes aggressive
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
This pattern underscores why it is absolutely critical for individuals to always record their interactions with federal officials. There is growing evidence that DHS personnel have fabricated or embellished accounts to justify arrests and charges and under
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
These revelations led the DOJ to drop or downgrade numerous charges to misdemeanors, a level of reversal that legal experts characterized as highly unusual. The case highlights how politically motivated prosecutions can collapse once the integrity of the evidence is scrutinized.
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In Los Angeles, following June 2025 protests over immigration policy, dozens of demonstrators were facing federal felony charges. Yet internal reviews uncovered that DHS and other agents had provided false or misleading accounts in many incident reports.
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As a result of repeated failures, authorities downgraded the charges to a misdemeanor. Reid’s defense called it proof the government was “concocting crimes,” while jurors upheld citizen oversight as a counterbalance to prosecutorial aggression.
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In Washington, D.C., federal prosecutors charged Sydney Reid with assaulting an FBI agent during a July 2025 immigration sweep. Remarkably, three separate grand juries refused to indict on felony charges, an extremely rare outcome, as grand juries typically defer to prosecutors.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
The Trump administration has leaned heavily on aggressive federal prosecutions in Washington, D.C., and beyond, but recent cases show how grand juries, courts, and DOJ reviews continue to act as important checks on overreach.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
I’ve lived here for 33 years, and it’s a flat-out lie that half the restaurants have closed because of safety. But restaurants will close because you have troops with guns and federal agents harassing people, making people afraid to go out.” Agree 💯!
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)
Celebrity chef and D.C. icon José Andrés pushed back on Trump’s propaganda in a post on X, writing: “I understand why you are confused… all your time in D.C. you haven’t eaten ONCE outside the White House or your own hotel.
Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) reply parent
Links: wtop.com/liveblog-tod... dc.eater.com/restaurant-n... www.fbi.gov/news/press-r... www.wlwt.com/article/3-oh... time.com/7309133/dc-c... www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...