3½ Percent
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
ICE.
ICE who?
ICE see you've got an injunction blocking racial profiling—looks like we'll have to follow the law after all.
Welcome to issue #3 of 3½ Percent. We document how communities across the country are organizing, innovating, and building resilience in response to current federal policies.
Here we see local governments allocating resources for immigrant support, courts blocking discriminatory enforcement practices, interfaith coalitions defending civil liberties, and grassroots campaigns protecting voting rights. From city council resolutions in California and Minnesota to activist organizing in North Carolina, these stories demonstrate concrete actions communities are taking to protect vulnerable residents and uphold democratic values.
LA Court Injunction Halts ICE Racial Profiling as Organizers Share Successful Tactics
A federal court issued an injunction blocking ICE's racial profiling practices in Los Angeles, marking a significant legal victory against federal immigration enforcement overreach. The Nation's latest "Start Making Sense" podcast examines this court ruling alongside lessons from veteran organizer Michael Ansara on proven community organizing strategies that deliver results.
Read more at: The Nation Politics
Interfaith Coalition Rallies at State House Against Anti-Free Speech Bill, Backs Immigrant Trust Act
Jewish, Muslim, and civil rights organizations held a joint news conference and rally at the state house to oppose proposed anti-free speech legislation while urging lawmakers to pass the Immigrant Trust Act. The coalition demonstrates how diverse faith and advocacy groups are uniting to resist restrictive policies while advancing protective measures for immigrant communities. This coordinated interfaith response shows communities building bridges across religious lines to defend both constitutional rights and vulnerable populations.
California Advocacy Group Launches First-of-Its-Kind Helpline to Counter Prison-to-ICE Transfer Pipeline
Freedom for Immigrants has launched Project Keep Away, a free helpline available to people incarcerated at two California women's facilities to help them avoid transfer to ICE detention upon release from prison. The initiative directly addresses a pipeline that funnels approximately 1,500 incarcerated people per year in California alone into immigration detention centers, representing 70% of all people currently in ICE custody nationwide. The helpline provides information on reducing transfer likelihood and guidance for those who may face ICE detention, creating a concrete support system that counters federal immigration enforcement at a critical intervention point.
Nonprofits Mobilize Legal Resources to Defend Birthright Citizenship Rights
Nonprofit Quarterly has published guidance for organizations preparing to challenge a controversial executive order targeting birthright citizenship protections. The resource equips community organizations with legal frameworks and advocacy strategies to defend constitutional rights through coordinated resistance efforts. This represents a clear example of how nonprofit sectors are organizing proactive responses to protect vulnerable communities from federal policy changes.
Read more at: Nonprofit Quarterly
Minneapolis City Council Passes Resolution Opposing Federal Mass Deportations
The Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution calling on the Trump administration to halt mass deportation operations. This formal action demonstrates how local governments can use their platforms to publicly oppose federal immigration enforcement policies and signal solidarity with immigrant communities. The resolution provides a template for other municipalities seeking to take official stands against federal deportation efforts.
North Carolina Activists Launch 'Court the Vote' Campaign Against Voter Suppression
North Carolina activists have launched the "Court the Vote" campaign to combat voter suppression efforts in the state. The initiative demonstrates how local organizers are developing targeted strategies to protect voting access and counter restrictive voting policies. This campaign provides a model for grassroots groups in other states facing similar challenges to voting rights.
LA Pastor Launches Hunger Strike to Free Detained Iranian Christians
Pastor Ara Torosian has begun a hunger strike to protest ICE's detention of Iranian Christian asylum seekers from his congregation who fled religious persecution in Iran. The direct action demonstrates how faith leaders are using civil disobedience tactics to challenge federal immigration enforcement when it targets vulnerable populations seeking refuge. This case highlights the growing movement of religious communities actively resisting policies that separate congregants and criminalize those fleeing persecution.
Read more at: Religion News Service
Disability Community Celebrates Pride Month Despite Federal Attacks on Rights
Despite mounting federal assaults on disability protections—including attacks on landmark legal safeguards, Department of Education targeting, and Medicaid cuts—disability advocates are marking Disability Pride Month with community celebrations and organizing efforts. The mobilization demonstrates how communities are building solidarity and resistance even as the Trump administration promotes eugenicist rhetoric and dismantles critical support systems. These local celebrations serve as both acts of defiance and platforms for organizing future advocacy campaigns.
Read more at: Mother Jones Politics
This issue reveals communities choosing concrete action over symbolic gestures. From Goleta's $100,000 immigrant support fund to Freedom for Immigrants' prison transfer helpline, local leaders are allocating real resources to counter federal policies. Courts in Los Angeles blocked racial profiling, while interfaith coalitions in multiple states united across religious lines to defend both free speech and immigrant rights. Minneapolis formalized its opposition through city council resolution, and North Carolina activists launched targeted voter protection campaigns.
These stories demonstrate a pattern: communities are building infrastructure for sustained resistance rather than relying on protests alone. Faith leaders risk personal sacrifice through hunger strikes, disability advocates celebrate pride despite federal attacks, and legal organizations coordinate nationwide constitutional challenges. The breadth spans from city budgets to courtrooms to grassroots organizing, showing how democratic institutions at every level can serve as bulwarks against authoritarian overreach. Each action creates precedent and practical support systems that other communities can adapt and expand.
*Know of community organizing or resistance stories we should cover? Forward them our way. Support this work by sharing 3½ Percent with others building community power.