Alyssa Franke
@alyssafranke.bsky.social
Internet Gremlin. Doing digital for the ACLU. Probably needs to go outside and touch grass.
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
If you’ve ever found yourself at a holiday meal without the right words to discuss causes you believe in, we’ve got your back.
Gear up to navigate conversations about trans rights, immigrants’ rights, and more.
Gear up to navigate conversations about trans rights, immigrants’ rights, and more.
The ACLU’s Holiday Conversation Guide
Dreading the holiday dinner table? Our experts provide advice to help you navigate the trickiest conversations.
www.aclu.org
November 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
If you’ve ever found yourself at a holiday meal without the right words to discuss causes you believe in, we’ve got your back.
Gear up to navigate conversations about trans rights, immigrants’ rights, and more.
Gear up to navigate conversations about trans rights, immigrants’ rights, and more.
Every health issue I have is genetic that I can document going back at least three generations in my family (and which probably go back even further). What am I gonna do, stand over my great grandma's grave and ask her to take some personal responsibility?
Markwayne Mullin: "Reward people for being healthy. Think about this. Healthcare is the only industry that you're not rewarded for taking care of your responsibility. If you think about homeowners insurance, if you're within 500 feet of a fire hydrant, your insurance goes down."
November 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Every health issue I have is genetic that I can document going back at least three generations in my family (and which probably go back even further). What am I gonna do, stand over my great grandma's grave and ask her to take some personal responsibility?
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
Starting this week, Capital Area Food Bank is providing free food assistance to furloughed federal workers & contractors struggling to make ends meet because of the government shutdown. Simply show your government work I.D. & stock up on shelf-stable items & fresh produce.
October 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Starting this week, Capital Area Food Bank is providing free food assistance to furloughed federal workers & contractors struggling to make ends meet because of the government shutdown. Simply show your government work I.D. & stock up on shelf-stable items & fresh produce.
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
The government doesn't get to decide if your protest is funny, and the government officials can’t punish you for making them the punchline.
May the Force and the First Amendment be with you.
May the Force and the First Amendment be with you.
Man detained for protesting National Guard with Star Wars song sues
Sam O’Hara filmed National Guard troops in D.C. while playing “The Imperial March” on his phone. He never thought his protest would lead to his being detained.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The government doesn't get to decide if your protest is funny, and the government officials can’t punish you for making them the punchline.
May the Force and the First Amendment be with you.
May the Force and the First Amendment be with you.
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
We have the right to free speech, whether the federal government likes it or not.
And we have friends everywhere.
And we have friends everywhere.
BREAKING NEWS: Today, on behalf of D.C. resident Sam O’Hara, we’re suing an Ohio National Guard member and four Metropolitan Police Department officers for violating his constitutional rights and D.C. law—simply for playing a song. 🧵
October 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
We have the right to free speech, whether the federal government likes it or not.
And we have friends everywhere.
And we have friends everywhere.
It's a gorgeous fall day and by god AWS is gonna make sure that every digital staffer goes outside and touches grass today.
a white cat laying in a pile of leaves
Alt: a white cat laying in a pile of leaves
media.tenor.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
It's a gorgeous fall day and by god AWS is gonna make sure that every digital staffer goes outside and touches grass today.
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
This group drove 12 hours from Alabama to rally outside of the Supreme Court as it hears a significant case that could undercut the Voting Rights Act
October 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This group drove 12 hours from Alabama to rally outside of the Supreme Court as it hears a significant case that could undercut the Voting Rights Act
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
Read more about your rights when interacting with military troops or federal agents at aclu.org/deployment_kyr
October 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Read more about your rights when interacting with military troops or federal agents at aclu.org/deployment_kyr
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
It's not too late to RSVP for our Know Your Rights training tonight: aclu.org/KYRtraining_oct6
We’re taking to the streets across the nation on October 18 to protest the Trump administration’s abuse of executive power.
Join us on October 6 at 8pm ET to make sure you’re prepared to protest safely. RSVP at aclu.org/KYRtraining_oct6
Join us on October 6 at 8pm ET to make sure you’re prepared to protest safely. RSVP at aclu.org/KYRtraining_oct6
October 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It's not too late to RSVP for our Know Your Rights training tonight: aclu.org/KYRtraining_oct6
Algorithmic timelines that keep pushing more and more "suggested content" has made it practically impossible to keep up with your friends and family on social media in any meaningful way. If it's not a wedding, a new baby, or a funeral, it's not going to appear on your timeline anymore.
October 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Algorithmic timelines that keep pushing more and more "suggested content" has made it practically impossible to keep up with your friends and family on social media in any meaningful way. If it's not a wedding, a new baby, or a funeral, it's not going to appear on your timeline anymore.
My mom and I talked about the impact of 9/11 recently, how much I saw on TV, and how she didn't realize how much we'd seen until a CNN commentator told parents to turn the TV off to protect kids.
Now horrific footage is being piped directly into kids' phones. I can't even imagine parenting today.
Now horrific footage is being piped directly into kids' phones. I can't even imagine parenting today.
Do you have a kid or teen who either saw or had to actively avoid seeing the Charlie Kirk shooting video on social media? Please DM me if you're willing to discuss it for a Washington Post story I'm working on. Thanks.
September 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
My mom and I talked about the impact of 9/11 recently, how much I saw on TV, and how she didn't realize how much we'd seen until a CNN commentator told parents to turn the TV off to protect kids.
Now horrific footage is being piped directly into kids' phones. I can't even imagine parenting today.
Now horrific footage is being piped directly into kids' phones. I can't even imagine parenting today.
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
A National Guard report accidentally emailed to the Post says veterans and active-duty troops view the D.C. deployment with "shame and alarm" @alexhorton.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
National Guard documents show public ‘fear,’ troops’ ‘shame’ over D.C. presence
Internal documents reviewed by The Post reveal, with rare candor, how domestic missions rooted in politics risk damaging Americans’ trust in the military.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A National Guard report accidentally emailed to the Post says veterans and active-duty troops view the D.C. deployment with "shame and alarm" @alexhorton.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
The First Amendment protects our right to record ICE officers and law enforcement in public, whether Secretary Noem likes it or not.
DHS Claims Videotaping ICE Raids Is ‘Violence’
The expanded definition has justified assaults on journalists who have documented detentions of immigrants.
prospect.org
September 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The First Amendment protects our right to record ICE officers and law enforcement in public, whether Secretary Noem likes it or not.
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
President Trump deployed the National Guard to DC to create fear and grab power.
No matter what federal agents and troops must uphold the Constitution. Know your rights if you're stopped by the police or federal troops.
No matter what federal agents and troops must uphold the Constitution. Know your rights if you're stopped by the police or federal troops.
Know Your Rights in Encounters with Law Enforcement and Military Troops | ACLU
The recent militarization of D.C. is a reminder of how quickly government power can expand. Our guide explains what to do if you’re stopped by police or troops.
www.aclu.org
September 4, 2025 at 6:31 PM
President Trump deployed the National Guard to DC to create fear and grab power.
No matter what federal agents and troops must uphold the Constitution. Know your rights if you're stopped by the police or federal troops.
No matter what federal agents and troops must uphold the Constitution. Know your rights if you're stopped by the police or federal troops.
Once again, I must remind everyone that DC has the best Attorney General ✊
NEW: We are suing to block the unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to DC.
Armed soldiers should not be policing American citizens on American soil.
The forced military occupation of the District of Columbia violates our local autonomy and basic freedoms. It must end.
Armed soldiers should not be policing American citizens on American soil.
The forced military occupation of the District of Columbia violates our local autonomy and basic freedoms. It must end.
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Once again, I must remind everyone that DC has the best Attorney General ✊
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
Residents are finding all sorts of ways to fight ICE: They're recording and reporting. They're wheatpasting and sharing know-your-rights materials. And they're stepping up to care for each other, from delivering groceries to walking kids to school. 51st.news/dc-residents...
With cellphone cameras and tip lines, D.C. residents find small ways to fight ICE
How neighbors and school communities are organizing against the immigration crackdown.
51st.news
August 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Residents are finding all sorts of ways to fight ICE: They're recording and reporting. They're wheatpasting and sharing know-your-rights materials. And they're stepping up to care for each other, from delivering groceries to walking kids to school. 51st.news/dc-residents...
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
me last week:
“There was, and is, no external crisis facing the United States. But for reasons of both personality and political ambition, Trump needs a crisis to govern — or rather, to rule. And if the actual conditions of reality will not give him a state of exception, he’ll create one himself.”
“There was, and is, no external crisis facing the United States. But for reasons of both personality and political ambition, Trump needs a crisis to govern — or rather, to rule. And if the actual conditions of reality will not give him a state of exception, he’ll create one himself.”
FLAG: Trump says he might declare a national emergency to keep National Guard troops in D.C.
"If I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want."
"If I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want."
August 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
me last week:
“There was, and is, no external crisis facing the United States. But for reasons of both personality and political ambition, Trump needs a crisis to govern — or rather, to rule. And if the actual conditions of reality will not give him a state of exception, he’ll create one himself.”
“There was, and is, no external crisis facing the United States. But for reasons of both personality and political ambition, Trump needs a crisis to govern — or rather, to rule. And if the actual conditions of reality will not give him a state of exception, he’ll create one himself.”
Reposted by Alyssa Franke
'A member of the District of Columbia National Guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Task & Purpose that the move to arm Guardsmen was unnecessary.
“Us being out there is not sending a message other than clear provocation to our own populace,” the National Guard member said.'
“Us being out there is not sending a message other than clear provocation to our own populace,” the National Guard member said.'
Pentagon authorizes National Guard troops in DC to carry ‘service weapons’ trib.al/BozJBzE
Pentagon authorizes National Guard troops in DC to carry 'service weapons'
President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 11 that National Guard troops would deploy to Washington, D.C., to help lower crime.
trib.al
August 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
'A member of the District of Columbia National Guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Task & Purpose that the move to arm Guardsmen was unnecessary.
“Us being out there is not sending a message other than clear provocation to our own populace,” the National Guard member said.'
“Us being out there is not sending a message other than clear provocation to our own populace,” the National Guard member said.'
A National Guard driver in a 14-ton mine-resistant vehicle ran a red light and t-boned a civilian car. The fire department needed to use the jaws of life to extract the driver.
Totally safe!
Totally safe!
Trump: "We are going to make DC totally safe. When people come from Iowa, Indiana, all of the beautiful places, they're not going to go home in a body bag."
August 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
A National Guard driver in a 14-ton mine-resistant vehicle ran a red light and t-boned a civilian car. The fire department needed to use the jaws of life to extract the driver.
Totally safe!
Totally safe!
There was never any reason to drive 14-ton mine-resistant ATVs around Capitol Hill — except to be backdrops in the Trump administration's photoshoots. And now DC residents are paying the price.
Get these off our streets.
Get these off our streets.
The driver of the National Guard’s 14-ton mine-resistant ATV ran a red light, struck a vehicle & injured the driver requiring jaws of life extraction.
These vehicles are designed for warfare, not our neighborhood streets—they don’t belong here.
👇
These vehicles are designed for warfare, not our neighborhood streets—they don’t belong here.
👇
Driver of National Guard vehicle gets red-light ticket after collision
A crash involving a D.C. National Guard vehicle and SUV on Capitol Hill left the civilian driver with a minor head laceration Wednesday, officials have said.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:19 PM
There was never any reason to drive 14-ton mine-resistant ATVs around Capitol Hill — except to be backdrops in the Trump administration's photoshoots. And now DC residents are paying the price.
Get these off our streets.
Get these off our streets.