The Placer County Democratic Party Condemns President Trump’s Missile Strikes on Iran
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
THE PLACER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONDEMNS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S MISSILE STRIKES ON IRAN
The Placer County Democratic Party strongly condemns the recent missile strikes launched by President Trump against targets within Iran. Going against his promise to keep the U.S out of foreign conflicts, these attacks represent a dangerous escalation that risks dragging our communities—and the world—into more endless war.
“We are everyday people—teachers, veterans, nurses, and neighbors—and we’re tired of war being waged in our name without our consent,” said JT Weddell, speaking on behalf of the Placer County Democratic Central Committee’s (PCDCC) Communications Committee. “These strikes don’t make us safer. They make the world more unstable.”
“The actions by President Trump are shocking and are reminiscent of the government’s manufactured crisis that led up to the invasion of Iraq. Saturday night’s strikes set a very dangerous precedent and endanger the lives of U.S. servicemembers and citizens currently abroad,” said Nick Bennett, Chair of the PCDCC and an Iraq War veteran.
The PCDCC is calling on our elected officials at the local, state, and national levels to speak out against this needless military incursion and to demand a return to good-faith diplomacy. The PCDCC also urges local residents to contact their representatives and make their voices heard.
The Placer County Democratic Party Condemns The Incendiary Rhetoric and the Stoking of Violence from Trump and Kiley
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
THE PLACER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONDEMNS THE INCENDIARY RHETORIC AND THE STOKING OF VIOLENCE FROM TRUMP AND KILEY
The Placer County Democratic Party expresses unequivocal opposition to the incendiary rhetoric of President Trump and Congressman Kevin Kiley of California’s 3rd Congressional District insinuating rebellion and calling for the use of violence against the people of Los Angeles. On June 9, 2025, Trump posted the following statement on Truth Social:
This is an unprecedented and shameful act by a President of the United States to openly advocate for and condone the use of excessive and unnecessary force against the American People. Such escalation will only provoke more resistance in communities already distrustful of law enforcement and who are on edge due to ICE raids. This endangers those who are peacefully and lawfully exercising their right to protest, as well as law enforcement personnel.
Only mere days from the largest U.S. military parade since the end of the Gulf War, Trump and his allies such as Rep. Kiley are intentionally using language to cast recent events as acts of insurrection and secession. Trump’s June 7th Presidential Memorandum states that “[t]o the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion..” To fan the flames further, Rep. Kiley has taken to social media and televised media to absurdly insinuate that the Governor of California is seeking secession. To flagrantly accuse people of inciting rebellion for resisting the brutish enforcement of what many view as unjust laws is wrong and only contributes to the sanctioning of violence instead of de-escalation and reconciliation. Our nation has a long history of protesting laws and government actions that are harmful to communities. Even when unrest occurs, it is a dangerous precedent to carelessly throw around the label of sedition.
The Placer County Democratic Party stands with those who seek to peacefully protest against the trauma and unrest caused by heavily-armed and masked federal agents swooping into communities to seize people’s friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members.
Placer County Democrats Host Memorial Day Weekend Screening of Award-Winning LGBTQ+ Military Documentary
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Placer County Democrats Host Memorial Day Weekend Screening of Award-Winning LGBTQ+ Military Documentary
LINCOLN, CA — Over Memorial Day weekend, the Placer County Democratic Party hosted a powerful community event honoring veterans and LGBTQ+ service members with a screening of the award-winning documentary Surviving the Silence. The event was followed by a conversation with Col. Pat Thompson and Barbara Brass, the couple at the center of the film, who shared their decades-long journey of service, love, and activism.
The documentary tells the story of Col. Thompson, who was tasked with expelling a fellow Army officer who admitted she was a lesbian while secretly maintaining her own same-sex relationship. The film explores the personal toll of hiding their love, the painful contradictions in military policy, and how their quiet resistance helped shape the movement that led to the allowing of all Americans to serve, regardless of who they love.
Attendees were deeply moved by the couple’s candid reflections and their transformation into outspoken activists. Col. Pat and Barb remain active in the Placer County community, holding weekly rallies and speaking events.
“Memorial Day reminds us of the sacrifices of those who served. We must honor all who have served with courage, including those forced to do so in silence,” said Nick Bennett, Chair of the Placer County Democratic Party and Army veteran.
In an era where LGBTQ+ rights in the military are again under political attack, the stories shared at this event offered both a warning and a call to action.
The Placer County Democratic Party remains committed to celebrating service, defending civil rights, and creating space for conversations that inspire justice and change.
See Col. Pat Thompson and Barbara Brass’s remarks here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuooFGU30JA
Over 500 CD3 Constituents Demand Answers at In-Person Town Hall That Rep. Kevin Kiley Refused to Hold
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Over 500 CD3 Constituents Demand Answers at In-Person Town Hall That Rep. Kevin Kiley Refused to Hold
ROSEVILLE, CA — On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the Placer County Democratic Party, in collaboration with Democratic clubs and Indivisible chapters across California’s 3rd Congressional District (CD3), hosted a live, in-person Constituent Town Hall in Roseville. The event featured special guest speakers Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-2), who addressed a packed room of local residents about pressing federal issues and the importance of responsive representation.
The town hall was organized due to Representative Kevin Kiley’s (R–Rocklin) continued refusal to meet face-to-face with the people he was elected to serve. Despite a rapidly shifting federal landscape that directly affects local families, Rep. Kiley has failed to offer meaningful public updates, answer constituent questions, or acknowledge community concerns.
“Residents across CD3 are experiencing the harmful impacts of policies supported by Rep. Kiley in Washington, and they are deeply concerned about their futures,” said Nick Bennett, Chair of the Placer County Democratic Central Committee. “Our communities deserve honest answers and accountability — not silence.”
While Rep. Kiley has held two telephone town halls, on March 17 and March 27, many constituents left those calls frustrated, describing the events as scripted and impersonal, with little opportunity for direct engagement or follow-up.
Saturday’s in-person event offered what Rep. Kiley has not: open dialogue, accessible leadership, and a forum for real conversation. Attendees heard directly from two members of the California congressional delegation about federal actions affecting the region, and why staying connected to constituents is more critical than ever.
The Placer County Democratic Party will continue advocating for transparency, accessibility, and leadership that listens.
Response to Kiley’s Attacks against Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
CHAIR MESSAGE
Message from:
Placer County Democratic Central Committee
Chair Nick Bennett
April 2025
Following Tuesday’s rally, where Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke to approximately 30,000 people at Folsom Lake College, Representative Kevin Kiley responded by saying that instead of the “radical policies of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. . . Our communities have chosen a different way. We support law enforcement. We are not sanctuary cities. We support small businesses and workers. As a result, we have maintained a quality of life that doesn't exist in other parts of California. My priority will always be to protect that quality of life. I will fight against the radical socialist policies Bernie and AOC want to inflict on us.”
Kiley says he supports law enforcement, but where is Kiley when it comes to the enforcement of the law? Kiley is silent when the Trump administration ignores court orders and the rights of those living here by violating the due process protections enshrined in our Constitution.
Kiley says that he opposes sanctuary cities, but where is Kiley when legal residents, including permanent residents, who are active and productive members of our communities, are afraid that they will be thrown into an unmarked van because of something they said?
Kiley says that he supports small businesses and workers, but where is Kiley when Trump’s tariffs disrupt the supply chains of small businesses in his district? Where is he when federal workers in his district have their careers derailed for no reason and the Trump administration tries to dismantle unions?
As great as Placer County is, it is not the only place in California that enjoys an enviable quality of life. But we do enjoy a high quality of life here for many reasons. It is because of our great public schools, even though our teachers and librarians are increasingly having their reputations and credibility attacked. It is because we have access to great healthcare, even though Medicaid, which is vital to many of Kiley’s constituents, is on Congress’s chopping block. It is because we have abundant access to some of the most picturesque parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains for recreation and relaxation, even though the Trump administration is stripping away the laws that protect that natural beauty. It is because of the strides that we have made in making sure that every eligible person gets a voice through the election process, even though Kiley and Republicans are trying to add hurdles that will disenfranchise millions of voters. You see, the radical policies being inflicted on our quality of life are not coming from Sanders or Ocasio-Cortez; they are coming from Republicans like Kevin Kiley.
I, too, want our quality of life protected, but as a Democrat, I also want to make sure that everyone has access to that quality of life. That means protecting the employees of the Forest Service who help protect our rural communities from wildfires. That means ensuring that Placer County’s high school seniors have access to affordable higher education and career technical education. That means having a legal system and trade policy that prioritizes fairness and consistency over the whims of a president. That means acknowledging the harm that climate change is doing to our planet and economy instead of trying to erase every mention of it, which Republicans are doing. That means protecting and strengthening protections for workers and consumers who do not have the resources to go up against multi-national corporations in court. All of these issues affect our quality of life, so where is Kevin Kiley on them?
Caring for our neighbors is not socialist. Caring for those who are vulnerable or struggling is not radical. 30,000 people showed up for Bernie and AOC because they believe in a government that uplifts and restores the dignity of people, instead of serving only those who buy access. When people in Placer County and California’s 3rd Congressional District ask where are those who will protect their quality of life from Trump’s chaos and Republican policies that leave our communities suffering and in peril, it will be Democrats who show up.