janelofton

Teacher Librarian now "in the wild," library, education, democracy advocate, lifelong learner, #GoogleEdu Innovator, CSLA Past Prez, grandma, swimmer, traveler

[Occupy Democrats @OccupyDemocrats]

BREAKING: Trump administration strips Social Security benefits from a Black American cancer patient by claiming that she is “not lawfully present in the U.S.”

This is what Trump’s intentional cruelty looks like in 2026.

Ramona Rakestraw, 59, was born at Parkland Hospital in Dallas in 1966. She has never left Dallas County — not for vacation, not for work, not for anything. And yet somehow, the federal government has decided she is “not lawfully present in the U.S.”

Her crime? Existing while sick.

Rakestraw has battled kidney disease for decades. She endured a transplant. She returned to dialysis. In 2024, she was diagnosed with cancer. Through it all, she survived on Supplemental Security Income — her only source of income — and Medicare Part B.

Then in October, the payments stopped. Why? Because her “immigration status” was suddenly under review.

“I’m not an immigrant,” she said. “I’ve never even left Dallas County — let alone the country.”

Let that sink in. A lifelong Texan. Born in an American hospital. Fighting cancer. Forced to march down to a Social Security office with her birth certificate in hand to prove she belongs in the country where she was born.

And still, she received a letter stating: “We cannot pay you benefits because you are not lawfully present in the U.S.”

This is the human cost of a system so obsessed with rooting out “illegals” that it can’t tell the difference between a Dallas native and a border crossing.

Her Medicare was eventually restored. Her SSI — her only income — was not.

Now she’s appealing, drowning in paperwork while undergoing dialysis and cancer treatment. Sixty days to fight a bureaucratic accusation that should never have happened.

This isn’t about paperwork errors. It’s about a government climate that treats citizenship as suspect and vulnerable Americans as disposable.

Ramona Rakestraw isn’t asking for special treatment. She’s asking for the benefits she’s legally entitled to — the benefits she paid into with a lifetime of perfectly legal existence in this country.

Born in Dallas. Fighting for her life. And now forced to fight her own government just to survive. That’s not just incompetence. That’s a system that’s lost its humanity.

Please like and share this sad story!

[janelofton @jane_librarian]

additional options, please call our Voter Assistance Hotline at 775-574-8683. Thank you!

[janelofton @jane_librarian]

@queijoazul Hi Aline, my name is Jane, and I’m on the ballot cure team with the Nevada Democrats. Official records show that the ballot for you or someone with your name hasn’t been counted due to a signature issue with your mail ballot, and you need to fix it right away to have

[janelofton @jane_librarian]

it count. There are still important close races in Nevada to be decided, and your vote is important. You can check your ballot status at https://t.co/36txW5Wsyv and you can easily fix or “cure” your ballot by calling your elections office at 702-455-6552. For assistance or

[Laurence Tribe 🇺🇦 ⚖️ @tribelaw]

Yep. You know what to do.

[Democratic Wins Media @DemocraticWins]

BREAKING: Former Republican Senator from the swing state of Arizona, Jeff Flake, just announced he is endorsing Kamala Harris. This is huge. Retweet so all Americans see this.

[Protect Kamala Harris ✊ @DisavowTrump20]

RETWEET if you are with Kamala! 🇺🇸

[💙Brittney💙 @AZ_Brittney]

Dolly Parton has given away over 200 million books to children around the world!

Taylor Swift continues to encourage people to register to vote!

Drop a 💙and Repost if you support women supporting women!

[Fair Fight @fairfightaction]

Georgia is *the* battleground state this election cycle.

If you live in Georgia, or know someone who does, now is the time to check your voter registration & make a plan to vote early.

🍑Do it today: https://t.co/1TcHBeDeDw

[Michelle Obama @MichelleObama]

After tonight’s debate there should be no doubt – no room for discussion – @KamalaHarris is the only candidate in this race who is ready to be President.

I am once again urging everyone to roll up their sleeves and DO SOMETHING – phone bank, knock on doors, talk to any and everyone you know and urge them to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Every vote will matter in what will be a close race. We cannot afford to have anyone sitting on the sidelines. There’s simply too much at stake.

Get involved today at https://t.co/YPpaUHVhsI.

[NEA @NEAToday]

"Never under estimate a public school teacher." — @Tim_Walz

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

Tonight, @KamalaHarris showed the world what I have known to be true. She is ready on day one to be President and represents the best of America. Let’s get to work.

[Proud Canadian RN @Celiadumas4]

#HarrisWalzLandslide2024

[Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @HC_Richardson]

Important.

[janelofton @jane_librarian]

@laphonzab @SenAlexPadilla @RepSaraJacobs April 8 is Right to Read Day, so please join me in standing up to censorship in our school and public libraries. Our freedom to read is under attack, defend our libraries and the freedom to read with @UABookBans! https://t.co/dgCKEqBZXu

[janelofton @jane_librarian]

@getSTEAMedup Sending you all best wishes.

[Field Team 6 - Register Democrats. Save the World. @fieldteam_6]

@villaverla When it's time to fill out your ballot, check out https://t.co/74pvRZs9sI. Enter your address & see your sample ballot & all the endorsements!

Mark it, save it, print it, share your recommendations with friends! Easy way to do your election research! #Voterizer #BlueVoterGuide

[School Librarians United @LMS_United]

Infuriating to think what a Super Bowl ad could do to fund school #libraries

[Library of Congress @librarycongress]

We were about $6,999,999 short on funding for a Super Bowl ad with this same message, but maybe if everyone shares it, we will reach the same number of people?