6/25/19
NATIONAL
ISSUES
DEPLORABLE IMMIGRATION
DETENTION CENTERS: Now that we’ve have our fears substantiated
with eye-witness accounts of what is happening in these centers (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/doctor-compares-conditions-immigrant-holding-centers-torture-facilities/story?id=63879031
and https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/449933-texas-republican-migrant-conditions-in-his-state-the-worst-hes
and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-firsthand-report-of-inhumane-conditions-at-a-migrant-childrens-detention-facility
and https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/06/20/i-have-never-heard-level-inhumanity-lawyers-speak-out-about-border),
we are all looking for ways to help bring an end to these inhumanities. Here are some ways:
ASK
CONGRESS TO FUND CARE FOR CHILDREN IN CAMPS, CREATE STANDARDS: Congress
is working on a supplemental appropriations bill, and so has the power to tell
the Trump Administration how it’s money must be spent and how it cannot. We
can demand that the Office of Refugee Resettlement be funded enough to
care for refugee children and create standards of care for those in government
custody that would prohibit Customs and Border Patrol from treating children
with cruelty.
DEMAND
CONGRESS INVESTIGATE DENTENTION CAMP CONDITIONS: It is time for
Congress to act on the terrible conditions in the Detention Camps and to hold
those responsible for them accountable. A multi-state initiative is underway to demand that Congress conduct
immediate hearings on recent deaths at the hands of ICE/CBP, and on human
rights violations and humanitarian crises at the detention centers. Let’s
participate in this initiative, using these resources: Call to
Action,
https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=8A822CF6465CAD5!398&cid=63D8DE01-96DD-43D0-A4AA-4A7D33BC0BF0&ithint=file%2cdocx&wdLOR=cD5AB8AA7-16C6-491D-A2AC-8CB5A8D0BA4D&authkey=!ALwMiRcGLQ401qM , Draft Letter, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TibDkDlyGMZdrJaQyyurq4yn5Sg_dryMX5xbto7KMf0/edit , Talking Points & Research,
DONATE
TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY LEGAL AID FOR CHILDREN IN CAMPS: Holly Cooper,
Co-director of the Immigration Law Clinic at UC Davis, is one of the few
attorney with legally mandated access to some of the worst facilities where the
children are being held. Her team is doing vital work, investigating, advocating
and suing to help the children. Over the weekend has already been an outpouring
of support for this work, and now we can add ours too. We can click
here to donate to Together Rising’s fight for the rights of children in
Detention camps. https://togetherrising.org/how-you-can-help-end-child-detention-horrors-today/
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DEFENSE OF
CONCENTRATION CAMP CONDITIONS: Perhaps by now we have seen the nauseating video of Department
of Justice attorney Sarah Fabian attempting to defend the notion that soap,
toothbrushes, and sleep are not critical components of “safe and sanitary
conditions”:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2019/jun/23/us-government-lawyer-detained-children-do-not-need-soap-blankets-video Let’s
take a moment to report her to the Inspector General at the DOJ for violation
of civil rights: https://oig.justice.gov/hotline/contact-civil.htm
HELP
PEOPLE RELEASED FROM DETENTION CAMPS: Once
people are released from Detention Camps, their struggles are far from over. If
we would like to assist local groups that provide support to people released
from the Detention Camps, we can check out these local groups, and, if we are
able to, donate to them: https://www.facebook.com/AnnunciationHouse/
and https://www.facebook.com/lasamericasIAC/
We can also follows this advice: https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/blog/2019/6/21/what-can-you-do-to-help-immigrants-whose-rights-are-under-attack
HELP
CHILDREN DETAINED IN CAMPS: If we
are looking for more ways to help the children suffering in detention
camps, we can check out this: https://www.mother.ly/news/how-to-help-immigrant-children-separated-from-parents
and this list of organizations to support by volunteering or donating: https://helpdetainedchildren.org/
CONTRIBUTE
TO BAIL FUNDS FOR IMMIGRANTS IN CAMPS: Posting bail is one way to help aspiring immigrant families get out of
the camps. If we are able to contribute funds, we can check out this
state-by-state list of agencies that will accept our donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10sV2Ij06ougixJHqG6hzY9kg-tCv7FSIg7pii1LZ3LE We can also find and
donate to a bail fund in our city through the National
Bail Fund Network.
COMPLICITY—IMMIGRATION: “Bank of America is the only top six US bank that is currently
lending to private prison companies and has not committed to ending its
financial relationships with the industry.”; “Nearly 75% of immigrants detained
are held in private prisons…”
https://populardemocracy.org/blog/banks-still-financing-private-prisons Let’s tell Bank of America that its refusal to cut financial
ties to the private prison industry makes it complicit in the suffering and
deaths occurring in the Trump administration’s immigrant detention centers, and
we demand that they join JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo in divesting from
private prison companies. Contact: Brian Moynihan, Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer, Bank of America Corporation, N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC
28255.
IMMIGRATION RAIDS: The Trump administration has delayed its threatened immigration
raids https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-raids-delayed-but-trump-today-threatens-deportations-unless-congress-revamps-asylum-2019-06-22/
Let’s remember that anyone, including US citizens, can be
caught up in raids, and all of us, citizens or not, would do well to know our
rights. In solidarity and in a show of prudence, let’s all carry a Know
Your Rights card. Here are some that can be downloaded for free: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards; or
POSTCARDING ISSUES: From one
of our own: https://www.whatifknits.com/2019/06/because-sometimes-you-just-need-an-escapist-mystery-novel/
IRAN: While it's
rare to agree with Trump, let's thank him for restraining from a
military response against Iran,
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2019/06/22/why-trump-didnt-bomb-iran-449575 and
tell both him and our MoCs that we want to see negotiations and a path toward
peace, not another war.
SAUDI ARABIA ARMS SALES: A
handful of Republican Senators joined Democrats in passing resolutions to block
arm sales to Saudi Arabia.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-votes-to-block-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-despite-trump-veto-threat/.
However, Trump has promised to veto the measure, and these resolutions did not
pass by a veto proof majority. Let's remind our Republican MoCs who
support Trump on this issue about Saudi Arabia's alleged role in the killing of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which Secretary of State Michael Pompeo
didn't seem to think worth mentioning in his recent meeting with the Saudi King. And
let's also remind them about Saudi Arabia's role in
creating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and ask them to change
their vote on this issue so that Trump's expected veto can be overridden.
PUBLIC COMMENT NEEDED: from one
of our own: Comments and actions week
ending June 30, 2019 includes Nuclear weapons, LCBTQ health, Redefining how the
government measures things - poverty rates, pollution index. LGBTQ and Trans
rights, RoundUp, HUD targeting undocumented residents, exposing miners to
diesel. Let’s dig in and start
commenting: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?tab=wm&ogbl#inbox/WhctKJVRNJMNwNbRlQMJGwmMtcvtNlQxWCxRLSVKsZDRfDWPLLXwHlPcrVlQSStwGGGNslG?projector=1
SEXUAL ASSAULT
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT: There is yet another credible allegation of sexual
assault against the President and it barely registers in the news: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/24/e-jean-carroll-other-women-whove-accused-donald-trump-misconduct/1546481001/ Let’s
contact our MoC and let them know that these allegations are sufficient
information to proceed with impeachment hearings.
REGISTER VOTERS BY MAIL: Vote Forward makes it easy for us to send letters to
not-yet-registered prospective voters who are likely to vote for Democrats.
Current letter-writing campaigns target AZ, CO, FL, GA, ME, MI, NC, OH, PA, TX,
VA, and WI. Let’s help lay the groundwork for a Big Blue Wave in 2020!
We can write letters on our own, or host a party and involve our friends and
neighbors: https://votefwd.org/
RAVELRY REIGNS:
Ravelry, a knit and
crochet online community with some 8 million members, has announced that it is “"banning support of Donald Trump and his
administration" in any form, including "forum posts, projects,
patterns, profiles" and anything else.”
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/24/735460674/ravelry-the-knitting-website-bans-trump-talk-and-patterns Whether or not we are a member, let’s
reach out to them and express our gratitude for their stance: https://www.ravelry.com/contact
STATE SPECIFIC ISSUES
MOST ALL: FIGHTING CHILD MIGRANT
DETENTION, STATE-BY-STATE: The Trump administration's system of mass
incarceration for migrant children is so vast that it is giving lucrative
contracts to companies running detention centers (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/21/us/migrant-shelters-border-crossing.html). As repugnant as that fact is, it is
also vulnerability in this cruel system, because privately owned facilities are
subject to state laws concerning health and safety. Those of us living
in states with detention centers
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_detention_sites_in_the_United_States),
let’s follow Illinois’ example and ban private detention facilities (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/449835-illinois-governor-signs-bill-banning-private-immigrant-detention-centers). Let's contact our state reps and demand that they press the
state health director or state surgeon general to shut down these
unsanitary concentration camps as dangers to public health.
CA: NATIONAL NETWORK ASSEMBLY
RECEPTION/FUNDRAISER: The planners of this summer’s National Network Assembly will
be hosting a reception on Saturday June
29th in San Francisco where we can learn more. Here’s
the link to RSVP. Please feel free
to share with others who want to make an impact. And if you can’t make it
but still want to help, please make a contribution here.
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
PROTEST ABUSIVE
TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN DETENTION CAMPS:
As outrage builds over the
cruel and inhumane conditions in the camps where many aspiring immigrants to
this country are held, plans are being made for a nationwide protest on July
12. We can click this link to find out more about Protest Vigils at
Detention Centers near us, or to start our own: https://www.lightsforliberty.org/ We can also
click here to see Lights4Liberty’s Facebook page and find out more about their
plans and events: https://www.facebook.com/lights4liberty/
MARCH FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE: It has been one year since we gathered for Families Belong Together rallies
across the country. The horrors continue. Thousands more children were
separated before zero tolerance was announced that were never reunited. Over
13,000 children remain in detention for months on end in for profit facilities
with no child welfare oversight or access to legal aid. We welcome children and
families escaping traumatic violence into this country by keeping them in caged
in, overcrowded ice boxes for prolonged periods or sometimes exposed to the
elements left to sleep on the dirt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pcc8ygK0z4&app=desktop
This is NOT who we are. Join Immigrant Justice Now as we
take to the streets again in cities everywhere June 29. We can find events here or how to host one
as well: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/march-for-immigrant-justice
NATIONAL NETWORK
ASSEMBLY: The first National Network Assembly, made up
of hundreds of local grassroots leaders organizers from around the country is
happening in Des Moines, IA, August 22 to 25. https://mailchi.mp/thedemlabs/nationalnetworkassembly
There will be workshops, sessions, and meetings in
which participants will strategize, plan, and learn skills to take home to
their groups. The 2019
National Network Assembly will strengthen the connective tissue between grassroots groups by
bridging multiple networks and organizations that
represent over 1,000 leaders across all 50 states. We can find more information, register to attend, and donate to
the scholarship fund here: https://www.nationalnetworkassembly.org/
We can use this document to invite others to attend: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKWdGLESqQYFVIa3JXQrtsXO9zrZv7ihCdGfnmSZ0-M/edit
TO READ
Read and Watch
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Rebuke of Mitch McConnell at the House Reparations Hearing - https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/watch-ta-nehisi-coatess-rebuke-mitch-mcconnell-house-reparations-hearing.html
“Mr. President, I want out of this abusive
relationship” byDavid
M. Reiss, M.D. and Seth Davin Norrholm, Ph.D.: https://medium.com/@sethdavin/mr-president-i-want-out-of-this-abusive-relationship-8ecbeae8188f
Citizenship Question
Lawsuit Plaintiffs Ask Supreme Court To Delay Ruling - https://www.npr.org/2019/06/12/732191078/citizenship-question-lawsuit-plaintiffs-ask-supreme-court-to-delay-ruling
Donald Trump, again, falsely says Obama
had family separation policy
- https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2019/jun/21/donald-trump/donald-trump-again-falsely-says-obama-had-family-s/
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We can stay up-to-date on
Congress by checking out their schedules. a) The House publishes a
weekly schedule at The Weekly Leader (published and dated Friday)
as well as daily schedules at The Daily Leader. b) The Senate updates
their schedule daily at the Senate Floor Schedule
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