Award-winning actress and activist Kerry Washington has issued an urgent call to action, urging Americans to pressure lawmakers to block future funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following recent events in Minneapolis.
In a post shared on her Instagram account, Washington warned that what is unfolding in Minnesota could happen anywhere in the country.
“The time to take action is NOW,” she wrote. “Because if you think what’s happening in Minneapolis cannot happen in your city or your state, it can.”
Washington accompanied the post with a video walking followers step-by-step through how to contact their members of Congress using the U.S. Senate switchboard. She shared the phone number, 202-224-3121, and provided a sample script for callers to use when speaking to lawmakers or their staff.
“These people need to hear from us because they work for us,” Washington said in the video. “We pay their salaries with our tax dollars. You are not powerless over what’s happening in Minnesota. There is something that I can do about it, and there is something that you can do about it right now.”
In the sample message, Washington urged constituents to tell lawmakers: “ICE murdered our neighbors in Minneapolis and is terrorizing communities across the country. You’re elected to protect us, not fund this violence. Block future ICE funding now.”
Washington acknowledged that calling a senator or representative can feel intimidating, especially for people who have never done it before. However, she stated that such actions are effective.
“Every call is logged. Every voice adds weight,” she said, encouraging viewers to make calls immediately and to share the video with friends to multiply its impact.
During the video, Washington demonstrated the process by calling the Senate switchboard and connecting to the office of Senator Alex Padilla of California. She then repeated the scripted message, underscoring her point that constituents should contact both of their senators. Click here to watch Washington’s full video urging Americans to support her call.
Washington also described the collective action as a response to fear and despair.
“When I’m feeling afraid or hopeless, action with like-minded people always helps me feel better,” she said, adding that fighting injustice through concrete steps can be empowering.
She closed the video by urging viewers to take part, ask questions in the comments, and report back on their calls.
“We’re in this together,” Washington said.
The post has drawn widespread attention online, adding to a growing wave of public figures using social media to mobilize grassroots political action around immigration enforcement and federal accountability.
