Three Wins Today April 30, 2025
I know today was hard, but please look for the wins, cause they existed and they matter a whole lot.
In Indiana, over the last several days, international student plantiffs of two lawsuits with ACLU Indiana, have gotten their visas back. ACLU IN Legal Director, Ken Falk said:
The last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for these students. They faced enormous financial, academic, and emotional hardship as a result of DHS’s actions, and we’re relieved that they once again have their student status. They deserve to continue their studies here in Indiana.
Here’s to more and more visas being returned, and this never needing to happen again.
Mohsen Mahadawi was released on bail today. He should have just been released, but, sadly, that’s not the world we live in right now.
The fact that he is out on bail is a huge win, and, I have no doubt Becca Balint’s rally at the State Department yesterday helped.
Two weeks ago Lena Kotler Wallace was removed from the Decatur GA Board of Education meeting for voicing opposition to the removal of DEI. Last night, the programs were reinstated.
The first two stories are incredible, but this last one has even more power. They don’t have the backing of the ACLU, or their Senators or rep, but they won anyway.
I always say, “our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them.” And it’s stories like this that just prove that time and time again!
I don’t always have the spoons for keeping up with what’s going on day to day, but even when my spoons are low I can almost always come and read your three wins posts and it helps so much. I’ve shared your Substack with my mom, two aunts, and two uncles, and they all have subscribed and followed your posts for around a month now. Thank you so much for all of the clear, hard work you do for all of us. Being able to point to your messages and having some of the more difficult to wade through political speak broken down when it’s needed is incredibly helpful and a powerful tool to wield. I know it’s hard, frustrating, and incredibly weighty everything you’re doing here, but it really is greatly appreciated.
Also, because of your daily dems doing the work posts, a few weeks ago I was able to follow the trail of links enough to make my way to my local indivisible chapter online, which I hadn’t known about previously. I don’t always have the time, but when I do I’ve been able to use their emails to know when and what to say so I’ve now managed to email state reps, senators, the governor, and some others in an attempt to make sure our voices are heard on the many bills and other issues that need opposed.
Living in a red state is particularly hard right now, especially considering it WAS a swing state when I was younger. It feels like there’s so much to fight against right here just for my kids’ education to remain protected, much less everything else going on, not to mention the hot mess on the national level, but getting these positive notes coming through even on hard days makes the biggest difference. They remind me I DO have a voice and I CAN use it. Thank you thank you thank you.
We are reading! I have shared your excellent substack with friends and family. Thank you so much, Ariella, it is so encouraging to receive these "smaller" wins we don't get in the usual news. You are a treasure! Keep up the fantastic work!