[ [link removed] ]Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde used her platform to challenge Donald Trump
to show mercy and humility. Will you add your name to thank her and
encourage other leaders to do the same?

Dear MoveOn member, 

On Tuesday morning, the day after the inauguration, Bishop Mariann Edgar
Budde stepped up to her pulpit for the National Prayer Service. She looked
directly at President Trump and Vice President JD Vance—both seated in the
front row—and issued a direct, earnest plea. 

"I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared."^1

Bishop Budde went on to express compassion and care for LGBTQ+ children
and families, as well as for immigrant communities and those seeking
refuge. "God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we
were all once strangers in this land," she added toward the end of her
sermon.^2

[ [link removed] ]While billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg do and say
anything to appease Trump in pursuit of lining their own pockets, Bishop
Budde exemplifies a brave refusal to be complacent in the face of
unchecked power. Add your name to show your solidarity with her!

It shouldn't be surprising for religious leaders to call for mercy or for
people with public platforms to plead the case of those marginalized in
our society. Unfortunately, from tech CEOs to media company executives to
the country's leading bankers, we've seen civic and industry "leaders"
seek to ingratiate themselves with Donald Trump—with their policies, their
donations, and their silence. That's what makes Bishop Budde's example so
important—as a model for others and a critical reminder to tens of
millions of us that there are people who will speak the truth even when
it's uncomfortable.

Bishop Budde is the first woman to serve as bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Washington. The National Prayer Service at the Washington
National Cathedral coming the day after the inauguration is a longstanding
tradition. Her sermon—attended by Trump and Vance along with their
families—was grounded in the morals of her faith and shared values of
compassion, care, and unity.

Trump wasted no time lashing out at Bishop Budde—defaulting to petty
insults and calling her "not compelling or smart."^3 Trump even went so
far as to demand an apology. And conservative leaders and far-right
pundits, eager to get on Trump's good side, swarmed to follow his lead,
attacking Bishop Budde and dismissing her impassioned plea.^4

It's only Week 1—and Trump and conservatives are already showing us
exactly how they will respond to critiques of this administration. And we
have to show them how we will fight back.

[ [link removed] ]When anyone bravely speaks out against this administration, they need
to know that we have their back. Will you add your name to thank Bishop
Budde and show your solidarity and support?

Donald Trump is hurling insults at Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for her
compassionate sermon. Add your name to thank her for her courageous act!

[4]Sign the petition

On his first day in office, Trump issued 46 presidential actions,
including 26 executive orders. Many of these executive orders threaten
LGBTQ+ communities and immigrant communities specifically, including
unpopular and unconstitutional directives like ending birthright
citizenship.^5

Instead of focusing on the issues that everyday people are struggling
with—affording basic needs like health care, housing, and food—Trump and
Republicans decided to spend the week sowing chaos. These executive orders
are meant to exhaust, desensitize, and divide Americans in order to
distract from the administration's real agenda: making their wealthy
friends like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg even wealthier. 

Her clear-eyed and heartfelt sermon served as a reminder to all Americans
of our duty and responsibility not to any single president or
administration but to each other—our neighbors, friends, and family. It is
what we can and should expect from any community leader in this moment, as
communities face truly unprecedented attacks from Trump. When more and
more civic and business leaders step up, when more high-profile Americans
use their platforms to call for peace and mercy, it will inspire countless
others across the country to do the same.

[ [link removed] ]Click here to thank Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for using her platform
to voice the fears and pleas for compassion echoed by Americans across the
country. We'll share the petition and comments with her so that she knows
she is not alone in her call for mercy.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Aliya, Kenia, Alexis, Julia, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Transcript: Trump Seethes as Bishop Calls Him Out in Heartfelt
Plea," The New Republic, January 22, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

2. Ibid.

3. "Trump demands an apology from bishop who asked him to 'have mercy' on
LGBTQ+ people and migrants," Associated Press, January 22, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

4. "Right-wing media attack Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde after she asks
Trump to 'have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared,'"
Media Matters for America, January 22, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

5. "Breaking Down All of Trump's Day 1 Presidential Actions," Time,
January 21, 2025
[link removed]

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you.
It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online
petitions. You can [ [link removed] ]start your own petition here.

Want to support MoveOn's work? Donald Trump and his MAGA allies expect us
to give up. But we will not give them what they want. We will never stop
working to defend our fundamental freedoms and protect our democracy.
MoveOn has been leading the movement against right-wing extremism for 26
years, and we promise you that we will still be here every step of the way
forward.

Will you donate to power MoveOn's work to protect our freedoms and
democracy under Trump's administration?



Donate: [ [link removed] ]$5 monthly
Donate: [ [link removed] ]$15 monthly
Donate: [ [link removed] ]$50 monthly

[ [link removed] ]Donate another amount monthly

[ [link removed] ]Or make a one-time gift





You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]