NFDW Call to Action: Jenks urges citizens to call U.S. Representatives, Senators to stop Trump from ending Census a month early

National Federation of Democratic Women President Cindy Jenks

By Cindy Jenks
President, National Federation of Democratic Women

Donald Trump has struck again.

He is ratcheting up his attack on the Census in a way that will impact marginalized communities that are difficult to reach.  President Trump has “dramatically escalated his attacks on a fair and accurate count – with last week’s announcement that the Census will end one month early.” (Common Cause August 11, 2020)

By ending the count a month early, the final count will be incomplete.

From day one, Trump has tried to remove undocumented people from the Census.  He tried to have a citizenship question added to the Census that would have had a chilling effect on immigrant participation.  The Supreme Court ruled against that Trump tactic, but Trump then took another direction by asking all U.S. Departments to send their information on undocumented workers to the Commerce Department that runs the Census.

Once the Census is complete, the data will be used to drive redistricting for legislative seats.

These districts will be final for another 10 years when the next Census is taken.  Federal dollars will be allocated based on this data.  An undercount means fewer funds for the areas with the greatest needs.  By ending early, a possible recount could be ordered by the Courts because of the inadequate information recorded.

We must protest against Trump’s egregious attempt to hurt those in our country who need help the most.

Call your Representatives and Senators and demand that they stop Trump’s attack on getting a fair and accurate Census.  Do not stop the Census count early. There is too much at stake here to allow Trump to get his conniving way on this.  Call today and ask your colleagues to call, too.

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