9/19/19
NATIONAL
ISSUES
(Including Emails & Twitter)
Fax
legislators for free:
Or use Resistbot: https://resist.bot/
Or use StampsLicked to
have messages hand-delivered to our own legislators: https://stampslicked.org/
White
House contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
|
IMPEACHMENT: Former
Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski testified yesterday in front of the
House Judiciary Committee and the layers of his lies were eventually revealed
under questioning by Committee Consultant Barry Berke: https://www.newsweek.com/barry-berke-corey-lewandowski-twitter-lies-media-house-hearing-1459881 Let’s
let our MoC know that we are tired of the corruption and obstruction and that
we expect impeachment to proceed.
TORTURE AND HUMAN
RIGHTS? Trump “has nominated yet another official with a
pro-torture background—Marshall Billingslea, who serves as assistant Treasury
secretary for terrorist financing. This time, however, the nomination contains
a particularly searing irony. If confirmed, Billingslea would become the top
U.S. executive branch official directly responsible for human rights policy:
undersecretary of State for civilian security, democracy and human rights.” https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/17/trump-billingslea-torture-human-rights-228112 Let’s let our senators know that we do not
want Billingslea to be confirmed in this position that is supposed to support
human rights.
COMMONSENSE BIPARTISAN GUN
REFORM: From one of
our own: Sandy Hook Promise call to action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ORGANIZERS AND
COALITION BUILDERS: There's a new model for bringing diverse
local groups with common political goals together--the Action Council. Check
out this 3 minute video https://cutt.ly/SoCalBlueVideo showing how it
worked in LA to flip 5 Congressional swing districts in the 2018 midterms.
Here's how the model looks at a glance: https://cutt.ly/AC-At-A-Glance Here's
a link to a detailed Action Council playbook: https://cutt.ly/ACPlaybook Not
sure who can sit down together to share information? Check out this "What
groups can talk to what groups" graphic:
https://cutt.ly/AC-Talk Feel free to
pass the info on--it's not copyrighted. Questions? Give a shout to admin@socalblue.org
SPEAK OUT AGAINST
BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS: Border wall construction in Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument has begun, a project that the National Parks Service claims
will threaten more than 20 archeological sites and ecologically sensitive
areas. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/politics/archaeological-sites-border-wall.html
and https://www.hcn.org/articles/opinion-borderlands-border-wall-construction-in-organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument-is-a-travesty.
This fight has already been through the court system and the Supreme Court
overturned a ruling by a lower California court blocking the project. While
it may seem like there’s nothing we can do at this point, continuing our outcry
by publicizing this travesty, speaking out to our MoCs and raising the issue with
2020 candidates can keep this in the public eye and hopefully prevent future
ecological destruction.
IMMIGRATION: The Department of Justice is drafting a proposal which would significantly increase the fee immigrants have to pay to appeal their deportation cases from $110 to $895-$995 (https://bit.ly/2mnVaBC, https://bit.ly/2mgvvur). This increase could prove unattainable for many immigrants, and prevent them from accessing due process. While the proposal has not been published in the Federal Register yet, we can still fight back and make sure everyone is ready if/when the proposal does get published. Let's first share the news to spread awareness, then let's contact the Department of Justice and tell them that their proposal to increase fees to appeal deportation cases would violate due process and we do not support it: Phone: 202-353-1555, or mail: Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001
SAVE HOUSTON ACTIVIST/BUSINESS
LEADER FROM DEPORTATION:
Roland Gramajo, a
Houston businessman and immigration rights activists was arrested and is being
held in detention after inviting ICE to dialogue at a community meeting to
quell fears about federal immigration raids. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/us/ice-houston-activist-deportation.html.
Gramajo has raised five children in the U.S., and recently received a
commendation from the Houston City Council for his service and leadership. Let’s
tell DHS 202- 282-8000; DHSSecretary@hq.dhs.gov;
https://homelandsecurity.ideascale.com/;
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity/;
Twitter: @DHS.gov)
to stop targeting
community leaders and direct their efforts to deporting actual criminals and
drug traffickers. Let’s also contact ICE’s Houston Community Relations Office
(281-774-4917 or CommunityRelations.Houston@ice.dhs.gov and ask them to free
Gramajo.
IMPEACH BRETT
KAVANAUGH: Once again, more
allegations have risen about Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanuah’s past
history of sexual assault. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/15/us/brett-kavanaugh-allegations-trump-impeach.html
and https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brett-kavanaugh-sexual-misconduct-accusation-sets-off-calls-for-supreme-court-impeachment/.
Several 2020 Democratic candidates are now calling for his impeachment.
Notably absent from the call is Vice President Joe Biden, whose stance on
misogyny has been suspect since the Anita Hill hearings. Let’s contact VP
Biden’s campaign on email or Twitter (@JoeBiden) and tell him that if he wants
any credibility on women’s issues, he should join the call to impeach
Kavanaugh. Let’s also tell our MoCs that we want to see action on Kavanaugh’s
impeachment.
WIN IN 2020! SUPPORT
THE BIG 5 BATTLEGROUND FUND: The
Movement Voter Project https://movement.vote/ supports
local, community-based organizations in key states that work to get out the
vote, particularly among young people and communities of color. MVP just
announced its Big Battleground Fund, which will give sorely needed money to the
best local groups organizing in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida
& Arizona. Let’s watch this explanatory video,
https://vimeo.com/352199770 ,
and if we can, let’s donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/big5-simple
CLIMATE CHANGE &
ENERGY INVESTMENTS: Experts
in the US energy investment sector are warning that, if we manage to keep
climate change to under 2C degrees of warming, prices for fossil fuels (including
those from fracking) will fall low enough to waste over $1.6 billion in
investments currently planned by oil & gas companies. That is fully
one-third of their total planned investments that could end up as
"stranded assets," and a huge risk for the global economy. To avoid
this risk, companies say they need a clear message from government about what
environmental policies and costs it will put on them, so we all need
to keep pushing our MoCs to strongly commit to meeting our Paris Agreement
promises and, for those of us who are investors, we need to do the
work of finding any energy investments hidden in our portfolios and eliminating
those whose profitability depends on ruining our world. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-29/putting-a-price-on-the-risk-of-climate-change
DEMAND FAIR COURT PROCEDURES FOR IMMIGRANTS SEEKING DEPORTATION AND END FAKE COURT DATES: Yet another way that immigrants seeking a legitimate legal process to request asylum and fight deportation are thwarted by the system is through being given fake court dates, forcing them to travel at great expense, only to find that their cases are not on the court calendar. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article234396892.html?. After the Supreme Court ordered that they can’t give deportation notices without a date, the United States Customs and Immigrations Services is issuing “dummy dates” to keep an immigrant deportable, without notifying the courts. Let’s ask our MoCs what can be done to stop this practice.
HOMELESSNESS: Not content with putting immigrants in
concentration camps along the southern US border, Trump has now turned his
attention to homeless people; last week, after visiting LA, administration
officials announced that they are considering razing tent camps and “creating
new temporary facilities or refurbishing government facilities” to satisfy
Trump’s directive to “get these people off the streets.” Officials insist they
will not force homeless people into new facilities, but White House economists
said Monday that the police might be used to address a recent spike in
homelessness; they declined to say what role police might play:
https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/white-house-floats-humane-policing-to-clear-homeless-from-streets/563066/
or https://beta.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/16/trump-prepares-big-push-homelessness-white-house-floats-new-role-police/
Unfortunately, it’s hard not to imagine the worst. Let’s tell the
White House and Tomas Philipson, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors
(CEA), that we want housing subsidies, not police, to end homelessness:
202-395-5084 or 1800 G Street, Washington DC 20502.
URGENCY OF CLIMATE
CHANGE: 16-year-old Greta Thunberg appeared before
Congress this week urging our legislators to do something about climate
change. “"If you want advice for
what you should do, invite scientists, ask scientists for their expertise. We
don't want to be heard. We want the science to be heard." https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/17/greta-thunberg-to-congress-youre-not-trying-hard-enough-sorry ““I don’t want you to listen to me,” she
said. “I want you to listen to the scientists.” Her remarks lasted barely a
minute. “And then I want you to take real action.”” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/climate/greta-thunberg.html We’ve done it before, but we must do it
again. Let’s contact all our MoCs so
they know that we know this is a problem that must be addressed.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDED: From Party Chair Ben Wikler: For the next four
years, Wisconsin state politics will carry an almost unprecedented intensity
and level of historical significance. Wisconsin faces a pivotal local and state
Supreme Court race in the spring of 2020, will host the Democratic National
Convention in 2020, and will be a – maybe THE – critical swing state in the
2020 presidential election. The 2020 state legislative elections will also
shape redistricting in 2021, which will determine the state’s political future
for a decade to come. And in 2022, the state will hold deeply competitive and
consequential statewide elections, including for Governor and US
Senator. For the sake of the state’s future – and the nation’s – the
Democratic Party of Wisconsin seeks a passionate, experienced, and highly organized
manager and leader as the next Executive Director. If we are interested in the pivotal
position of Executive Director for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, or know
someone who would be a good fit for it, we can find out more at wisdems.org
ELECTION/VOTING
KY: VOTER REGISTRATION ISSUES: “More than 150,000 registered Kentucky
voters were improperly placed on an “inactive list” that could jeopardize their
right to vote in November, the state Democratic Party said Monday.” https://www.apnews.com/4b056486ba6340938fc56a8ef02fbb5e To be safe, let’s check our current voter
registration status. We need all of us
to vote McConnell out.
NY: REGISTER IN
TIME FOR DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES NOW: Although the 2020 primaries are not until April, if we have not already
done so, we must register by October 11 if we want to vote in
them. Whatever the intentions in setting this deadline were, it does not
help increase voter participation, so let’s make sure that we do get a chance
to have a voice in our party’s choices. We can find out more about the
October 11 voter registration deadline for the April Democratic Primaries here and
let our friends know about this very early deadline too: https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingDeadlines.html
STATE/LOCAL
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
PETE BUTTIGIEG
TALKS TO DEMOCRATS ABROAD: If
we're overseas voters, we may want to take advantage of this online forum,
organized by Democrats Abroad, today, September 19. It's a good chance to let
Mayor Pete know what's of concern to Americans living abroad. Sign up
to participate here:
GLOBAL CLIMATE
STRIKE: “On September 20,
three days before the UN Climate Summit in NYC, young people and adults will
strike across the US and world to demand transformative action be taken to
address the climate crisis. Millions of us will take the streets to demand a
right to a future, and we’re inviting you to #strikewithus
Find a strike near
you to attend on September 20 on the map . . . If you don’t see an event in your area, organize
one! We’ll provide everything you need to get started in planning something in
your community, so no experience is necessary.”
Future Coalition
is reporting over 1000 events on the map. Let’s check out more here: https://strikewithus.org/ (scroll down page to see map of locations) If we are outside the U.S., let’s check out
this site for opportunities: https://globalclimatestrike.net/
We also have access to this Climate
Strike Arts Kit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xwo8dPjzjJFNHLC-REojFTUBRTK1PrwOS5L4E-I4Hj0/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link If we are unable to attend an event, we can
join digitally: https://digital.globalclimatestrike.net/
WE THE PEOPLE MARCH: Two days to go
until the We The People March in Washington DC with many sister marches
available too:
https://www.wethepeoplemarch2019.org Corey
Lewandowski’s testimony at the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday was a
strong reminder of why we need to get out in the streets to defend our
democracy. Let’s get to DC if we can and a sister march if we can’t. Many
will make last minute decisions about whether or not to go. Let’s
particularly think about asking friends and family in the mid-Atlantic who may
have easier travel options.
LOS ANGELES AREA: “DETAINED IN AMERICA: CHILDREN SPEAK” AT THE
JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM—At this special event, which is free and
open to the public, Japanese-American children will read from the letters of
Japanese-Americans imprisoned in US concentration camps during World War II,
followed by children reading quotes from currently detained migrant children.
There will also be a screening of Estrella, a film written and produced by 7th graders
from Illinois. Let’s attend, Saturday, September 21, 2019, 1:30 p.m. to
3:30 p.m. Details here: http://www.janm.org/events/
READING/WATCHING
Trump wants you
to think he's racist so you won't notice he's corrupt and killing jobs (by Jason Sattler, @LOLGOP on
Twitter) - https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/18/trump-2020-strategy-focus-on-racism-not-corruption-job-losses-column/2351179001/
Recession Already
Grips Corners of U.S., Menacing Trump’s 2020 Bid - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-09-09/a-manufacturing-recession-could-cost-trump-a-second-term
Merriam-Webster
adds 'they' as nonbinary pronoun - https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/461755-merriam-webster-adds-they-as-nonbinary-pronoun
The silenced:
meet the climate whistleblowers muzzled by Trump - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/17/whistleblowers-scientists-climate-crisis-trump-administration
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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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