Press Release

Grassroots protests in cities across the country to expose how Palantir profits from billions in taxpayer dollars while powering Trump’s authoritarian agenda.

Washington, DC  — This weekend, starting Friday, August 22,  Our Revolution, the nation’s largest grassroots progressive organization, will join with labor, immigrant rights, and community groups to launch a nationwide weekend of action exposing Palantir — the surveillance giant at the heart of Trump’s authoritarian project.

Actions will target Palantir offices and sites of power from San Francisco and Palo Alto to Washington, D.C., New York City, Denver, Los Angeles, and beyond — spotlighting how Peter Thiel’s Big Brother machine is looting public coffers, building a surveillance state, and weaponizing technology against immigrants, workers, and activists.

The Stop Palantir Weekend of Action begins Friday with high-visibility protests in San Francisco and Palo Alto (in partnership with Planet Over Profits and Worker Power USA) and continues on Saturday, August 23, with coordinated actions in Washington, D.C., New York City, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Syracuse, Milford, OH and Escondido, CA.

The actions will expose how Palantir profits from billions in taxpayer dollars while powering ICE raids, predictive policing, military targeting, and mass digital surveillance. At the same time, Trump allies like JD Vance and “AI czar” David Sacks embrace Palantir executives at elite donor retreats, cementing a dangerous fusion of Big Tech and authoritarian politics.

“Palantir is not just another tech company. It is Peter Thiel’s Big Brother machine, designed to surveil, control, and divide — and funded by our tax dollars,” said Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution. “This is how oligarchs dismantle democracy: with pay-to-play contracts, AI-driven policing, and mass surveillance of immigrants, workers, and activists. We’re fighting back because our communities will not be laboratories for their authoritarian experiments.”

WHAT: Stop Palantir Weekend of Action – protests and press conferences in 10 cities exposing Peter Thiel’s surveillance empire

WHEN: Friday, August 22 – Saturday, August 23, 2025

WHERE:

• Washington, D.C. – 1025 Thomas Jefferson St NW
• New York City – 620 6th Ave
• Denver – 1200 17th St (with 50501)
• Seattle – [local site TBD]
• Los Angeles – [local site TBD]
• Syracuse – [local site TBD]
• Milford, OH (near Cincinnati) – [local site TBD]
• Escondido, CA – [local site TBD]
• San Francisco – [local site TBD]
• Palo Alto – [local site TBD]

WHO: Grassroots leaders, labor and immigrant rights activists, coalition partners including Our Revolution, Planet Over Profits, Worker Power USA, 50501, and local community organizations

RSVP: HERE

VISUALS:

• Large coordinated protests in 10 cities
• Banners reading “Stop Palantir” and “Defund Oligarchs”
• Grassroots leaders and impacted community members sharing stories
• Media backdrop in front of Palantir offices nationwide

###

Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, DNC Chair Ken Martin introduced a significant resolution aimed at curbing the corrosive influence of unlimited corporate and dark money in the Democratic presidential primary process—a reform effort that, if adopted and implemented, could drastically reshape the future of Democratic politics.

The resolution, scheduled for a key vote at the Aug. 27th DNC summer meeting in Minneapolis, directs the DNC Committee on Reforms to promptly identify “real, enforceable steps the DNC can take to eliminate unlimited corporate and dark money in its 2028 presidential primary process.” It also calls on the committee to develop a detailed set of legislative proposals for the DNC to present to Democratic Congressional leadership to push for lasting change at the federal level.

“For the last 15 years, the disgraceful Citizens United ruling has unleashed a flood of spending from dark money groups and corporate Super PACs that has drowned out working people’s voices and sidelined the progressive candidates our party needs to challenge the corrupt billionaire class,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution. “This resolution is a crucial step to ensure the Democratic presidential nominee is chosen by everyday people—not deep-pocketed donors and the special interests they serve. We urge every DNC member to rise to the moment, back this fight, and put power back where it belongs—in the hands of voters, not the billionaires.”

Our Revolution—the nation’s largest independent political organizing group—has been at the forefront of efforts to curb the power of big money in politics since its founding by Senator Bernie Sanders following his historic 2016 presidential primary campaign.

Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese is available for interviews to discuss the significance of the resolution and the broader grassroots movement to reform America’s broken campaign finance system. For interview requests, please contact: media@ourrevolution.com.

###

Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

As Trump Escalates Series of Authoritarian Crackdowns Targeting Independent Centers of Power, Our Revolution Launches Petition Urging Congress to Block His Latest Power Grab — Calling Out the Manufactured Crisis as a Diversion from the Epstein Scandal and a Stark Example of Authoritarianism Merging with Oligarchy to Shield the Powerful and Well-Connected

Washington, DC — Our Revolution unequivocally condemns President Donald Trump’s dangerous and authoritarian federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and his threat to deploy National Guard troops in the streets of our nation’s capital. This alarming move is the latest in a series of escalating crackdowns, from academia and the media to law firms, government offices, and cities led by political opposition — targeting independent civic centers of power as well as public officials who have challenged him.

“This is not law and order — it’s tyranny,” said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese. “Trump is starting to target American cities led by Democrats, first deploying troops in LA, now federalizing local police in DC. This is a clear escalation with the threat of military force in Trump’s authoritarian push to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and tighten his grip on power. In the meantime, he’s using this power grab as a diversion from the Epstein scandal. Members of Congress need to connect the dots and step up to intervene before it’s too late. Next up could be Chicago or New York.

Time and again, strongmen have manufactured crises to tighten their grip on local police — the first step toward a nationwide power grab.”

Our Revolution stands with the people of Washington, D.C., and with communities nationwide rising up for justice and democracy. What we saw in Los Angeles is now playing out in the nation’s capital — an authoritarian tactic designed to silence protest and dissent. This is no one-off; it’s becoming a standard playbook Trump can deploy in any city to crush opposition and consolidate power. We urge every elected official, candidate, and organization that claims to defend democracy to speak out and act decisively against this dangerous escalation.

In response to the Administration’s dangerous abuse of emergency powers, Our Revolution is urging its 8 million+ members to demand Congress act now to stop this latest escalation,  circulating a petition calling on lawmakers to block the takeover and troop deployment. Petitions will be delivered to members of Congress this week.

The line between civilian and military authority is one of the most critical protections in a functioning democracy. Trump’s use of a federalized police department alongside the threat of armed troops in our streets is a blatant abuse of power. Congress must act.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution, is available for interviews to discuss Trump’s authoritarian takeover of D.C.’s police, his threat to deploy troops, the growing pattern of crackdowns, and what Democrats must do in this moment to show up for movements, protect vulnerable communities, and fight back against the erosion of democratic norms.

###

Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

Our Revolution members will join a broad coalition of labor, immigrant rights, and community organizations in a national day of action following the money trail from taxpayer dollars to billionaire pockets and the dismantling of democracy — spotlighting Valor Equity Partners and Antonio Gracias in the “No Gracias” campaign as emblematic of corruption, profiteering, and authoritarian power.

Press is kindly asked to RSVP HERE to attend or request interview

New York, NY  — On Tuesday, August 5,  Our Revolution, the nation’s largest grassroots progressive organization, will activate members to join a broad coalition of grassroots organizations for a high‑visibility protest and press conference outside the SoHo offices of Valor Equity Partners. The action will spotlight billionaire Antonio Gracias, a central figure in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, for his role in slashing public programs, driving mass deportation efforts, and spreading dangerous disinformation about immigrants.

As documented in Politico and the Revolving Door Project, Gracias used his leadership position at the Department of Government Efficiency to cut thousands of jobs at the Social Security Administration, embed operatives throughout immigration agencies, and weaponize federal data systems to target immigrants. At the same time, he continued to run Valor Equity Partners, a private equity firm invested in Musk linked ventures, border surveillance technology, and other industries positioned to profit from the very policies he advanced in government.

This protest is part of a national day of action in cities where Valor operates including Palo Alto, Seattle, Chicago, and Miami. It will kick off a sustained campaign to expose billionaires and corporate elites who leverage public positions to funnel taxpayer resources into private profits while advancing an authoritarian political agenda.

“Antonio Gracias represents the dangerous fusion of oligarchic wealth and authoritarian politics,” said Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution. “This is about more than one man — it is about billionaires and big money interests using their access to power to dismantle our democratic institutions, privatize public goods, and profit from fear and division. Our members are mobilizing because we refuse to let the billionaire class loot the public sector, gut essential services, and turn our democracy into a playground for the ultra rich.”

During the action and press conference, advocates will be calling for: 

• Full staffing at the Social Security Administration
• An end to immigrant scapegoating and misuse of federal data
• Public accountability for those who abuse government roles to enrich themselves and dismantle public institutions
• A government that serves the people, not billionaires

WHAT: Protest and press conference targeting billionaire Antonio Gracias, founder of Valor Equity Partners and key ally of Elon Musk, for using public office to weaken public services, build mass deportation infrastructure, and enrich private corporate interests

WHEN: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 – 12:00 PM

WHERE: Valor Equity Partners, 575 Broadway, SoHo, New York

WHO: Speakers from Our Revolution and coalition partners, grassroots leaders, community activists
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:Our Revolution, New York Communities for Change, 50501, We Feed New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Indivisible, Rise and Resist

WHERE: RSVP HERE

VISUALS:
• Large picket line and banners
• Speakers from coalition organizations
• Grassroots leaders and community activists
• Media backdrop in front of Valor Equity Partners’ SoHo office

###

Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.