3/5/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
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Many
newspapers, including New York Times and Washington
Post require subscriptions, but without one we can see a few articles each
month. We can also check with our local
libraries to find out how to get online access through them.
1.
Over the
weekend, with some bemusement, Trump said regarding China’s Xi Jinping’s recent
elimination of term limits: "He's now president for life. President
for life. No, he's great. And look, he was able to do that. I think it's great.
Maybe we'll have to give that a shot someday."https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/03/politics/trump-maralago-remarks/index.html So, yes, that was the president of the
United States playing around with the idea of dictatorship in the US. We know
his communications team will play if off as a joke but who makes those jokes?
Let’s contact our MoC to say that there is nothing funny about these comments
at all and that we expect them to defend the Constitution.
2.
The
Washington Post published a piece over the weekend (with 22 sources) regarding
Trump’s increasingly erratic and churlish moods as Special Counsel Mueller
continues on and in the wake of Hope Hicks’ departure from the White
House:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pure-madness-dark-days-inside-the-white-house-as-trump-shocks-and-rages/2018/03/03/9849867c-1e72-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html?utm_term=.303ae226f3ab And in the midst of these dark
moods, Trump seems hell-bent on starting a trade war: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-was-angry-unglued-when-he-started-trade-war-officials-n852641 Let’s let our MoC and the purported
“adults in the room” know that supporting this madness is not patriotic: A) Gary Cohn, Director of the
National Economic Council, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW,
Washington, DC 20500, B) Secretary of Defense James Mattis, US Dept of Defense,
1400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC, 20301-1400, C) 3) Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson, US Dept of State, 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC
20520, and D) General John Kelly, Chief of Staff, The White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500
3.
For
reasons that are hard to explain, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has taken the
stance that war with North Korea would be “worth it” in the long run:
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/376548-lindsey-graham-war-with-north-korea-would-be-worth-it-in-the-long-run Let’s let Senator Graham know that the
millions expected to die in such a conflict would not find it worth it:
4.
A
recording of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt from a decade ago revealed this
stance: “There aren’t sufficient scientific facts to establish the theory
of evolution, and it deals with the origins of man, which is more from a
philosophical standpoint than a scientific standpoint,” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/02/scott-pruitt-epa-evolution-theory-abortion-gay-marriage-433284 Let’s let Administrator Pruitt know
that in addition to seeking a leader for the EPA who does not abuse taxpayer
funds, we are also looking for someone who believes in science: https://www.epa.gov/home/forms/contact-epa or on Twitter at @EPAScottPruitt
5.
A recent
AP/CIR investigation indicated that African-Americans and Latinos continue to
be routinely denied conventional mortgage loans at rates far higher than white
people (https://apnews.com/ae4b40a720b74ad8a9b0bfe65f7a9c29). This modern-day practice of redlining was
revealed thanks to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records. S.
2155,
the Republican effort to repeal laws protecting consumers from Wall Street,
would exempt 85% of banks from reporting the kind of data that made this report
possible and could get a vote this week. This is yet another reason we need to
stop this gift to Wall Street in its tracks. Let’s see if our senators
are signed on and then contact them to let them know we
want them to oppose this bill.
6.
Trump’s
plans for his wasteful military parade are moving forward, with the White House
calling for the Department of Defense to organize it for as soon as July
4th
(https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/23/trump-military-parade-veterans-day-423405). We cannot let Trump
throw $30 million down the drain to boost his own ego. Let’s contact
our members of Congress and ask them to support S. 2408/H.R. 4980, which would prohibit the use of federal
funds for this idea.
7.
“You
can’t buy a beer at the Florida Strawberry Festival. You can’t bring a bottle
of water or a dog that’s not a service animal. You can, however, sit in the
front row of a Reba McEntire concert with a Smith & Wesson holstered to
your chest. You can ride the Space Roller with a handgun. You can meet the
Strawberry Queen with a handgun. You can stand atop the festival’s new $5.5
million concert amphitheater and look down on the stage, midway or basketball
courts at neighboring Tomlin Middle School, all with a concealed carry permit
and a gun you brought from home.” http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Guns-are-allowed-at-the-Florida-Strawberry-Festival-Beer-bottled-water-and-pets-are-not-_165778447 How safe
can we feel if strangers around us carry concealed weapons? Why would any
celebrity want to perform in front of an audience that may have concealed guns?
Keep the pressure on for sensible guns laws with your state and federal reps.
Election 2018 –
General
1.
The
voting age is 18—but in many states, teens can pre-register to vote when they
are 16 or 17. The organization Rock the Vote has free, state-specific voter
registration toolkits that teens and their mentors can use to run voter
registration drives in their schools and communities. Let’s get our toolkits
here, https://www.rockthevote.org/action-center/host-your-own-event/, and let’s help the young people in our
lives get on the road to voting.
2.
Let’s
check out and use the “Best Practices to Help Students Register and Vote A
Guide for Colleges and Universities” from Campus
Vote Project: http://campusvoteproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Best-Practices-for-Colleges-and-Universities-2015.pdf
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
MA: Today, March 6th, in
Massachusetts, Democratic state rep. Brendan Crighton will be unopposed for the state senate seat for the
Third Essex District.
2.
OK:
OK House of Representatives District 51, Special Election today, March
6. Let’s be voters for Democratic nominee and career educator Charles Murdock.
3.
TN:
On March 6, let’s fight voter suppression by learning how to help
people get the IDs they need to vote. If we’re in or near Nashville, let’s sign
up for Spread the Vote’s Nashville Launch Training: https://www.facebook.com/events/144982169528651/ Not on Facebook? Email kat@spreadthevote.org for info.
4.
TN:
TN State Senate District 14, Special Election March 13. Let’s help
the campaign of Democrat Gayle Jordan, http://gaylejordanforsenatetn14.com/, and let’s be voters for Jordan next
Tuesday!
5.
Midterms
are coming, and nine US House races still don’t have a Democratic candidate: KS-1;
LA-1, 4, 5; NC-3; PA-13, 17, UT-3, and WY.
https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._House_elections_without_a_Democratic_or_Republican_candidate,_2018
If we, or someone we know, is interested in
running in one of these, let’s check out our state’s election office website
for more information about becoming a candidate: https://www.usa.gov/election-office Let’s also check in with our state
Democratic party: https://asdc.democrats.org/state-parties/
Other Actions
1.
West
Virginia teachers rank 48th in the nation in average pay, and many have to rely
on public assistance to get by. They’re also struggling with rising premiums
and co-pays for health insurance benefits. Today, they’re entering their NINTH
day on strike for the salary and benefits they deserve (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/04/590689844/still-no-school-in-w-va-as-salary-snag-ensures-strike-will-go-on). Let’s show them we’ve got their backs.
Progressive activists have set up a strike fund on GoFundMe to help support
teachers and school service personnel while they’re out. We can donate to it
here: https://www.gofundme.com/wv-teachers-strike-fund/.
2.
The
Israeli government is proceeding with a plan to deport thousands of African
asylum seekers, including LGBT individuals whose lives would be in clear danger
in their own countries. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-lgbt-asylum-seekers-in-israel-won-t-be-shielded-from-deportation-1.5868046. SumofUs.org is calling on Turkish Airlines,
Royal Jordanian Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines to refuse to transport these
individuals back to their countries of origin. So far, nearly 150 airline
pilots and crew members have signed on, but it’s now time for these companies,
as a whole, to take a stand. We can learn more and sign the petition here, and we can also contact these airlines
directly by phone, email, or posting feedback on their contact pages. Turkish
Airlines: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/any-questions/get-in-touch/ or 1-800-874-8875; Royal Jordanian Airlines: FFP@rj.com or (212) 949-0060; Ethiopian Airlines: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/QA/EN/services/support/support-feedback or (800) 445-2733
3.
If we
are students planning to walkout or demo state against gun violence, we can
check this guide for information about our rights to when engaging in civil
civic protests. We can also find safety tips, and how to handle
administrative backlashes. If we know
students who are planning to get involved, we can share this with them too: https://offspring.lifehacker.com/a-students-guide-to-walkouts-and-protests-1823334274
4.
Let’s
support Dick’s recent decision to stop selling assault rifles and raise the gun
purchase age to 21 http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/dicks-sporting-goods-ceo-company-longer-sell-assault/story?id=53403284 by
buying a basketball for $12.99 and donating it to our local elementary school.
We can tweet about it under the hashtag #havesomeballs.
5.
All
around the country, Students are organizing against gun violence, planning
marches, rallies, and walkouts to support the cause. If we are a high school
student or if we know one, we can checkout this organizing guide from
Indivisible:
Although written for college students, the
advice will work just as well on a high school campus. We can learn how to
run meetings, plan events, meet with our Representatives and create the change
so badly needed today. We can also use this event to plan, organize and
publicize our campaigns:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xU48cGVNFUF5EUQg1GUArpZlSnIh0B99 If we are planning an event, we can
use this planning guide to make sure that we as we set priorities and goals, we
are meeting them:
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
March
14th, is the 17-minute #ENOUGH National School Walkout all over the country. Let’s check here to see if there is an event
near us: https://www.womensmarch.com/enough
2.
On March 8th, Free Press and Color of
Change are organizing a virtual town hall with leaders from Black Lives Matter,
Center for Media Justice, Color of Change, and Generation Justice among others
to discuss the state of the media 50 years after the Kerner Commission report,
which included a damning critique of how the media contributed to racial unrest
in the 1960s. The registration form for this important meeting is
here:
3.
“On March 24, the kids and families of March
for Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington DC to demand that their
lives and safety become a priority and that we end this epidemic of mass school
shootings. The collective voices of the March for Our Lives movement will
be heard. Join us in DC or march in your own community.” Let’s find out more: https://marchforourlives.com/
4.
The Network for Public
Education is now part of a larger coalition of organizations
called Protect Our Schools that includes
teachers, superintendents and advocacy groups who are planning a National Day
of Action Against Gun Violence in Schools on April 20, the 19th
anniversary of the Columbine massacre. We
can also find more information here: https://networkforpubliceducation.org/2018/03/next-steps-april-20th-day-action/
States
1.
CT:
The National Popular Vote Compact is an agreement among the states to award
their electoral college votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular
vote. It will take effect when enough states have joined to reach the 270
electoral votes needed to elect the President. Currently, 10 states plus DC,
representing 165 electoral votes, have joined the Compact. A National Popular
Vote Bill, H.B. 5421, is now in the CT legislature. Let’s visit http://npvct.com/ and see how we can help pass this bill.
2.
MA:
A program that allowed food stamps recipients to purchase local produce at area
farmers markets is about to run out of money, because the demand was much
higher than anticipated. http://www.gazettenet.com/State-healthy-food-program-to-be-suspended-after-being-too-successful-15928334. This program is a win-win for local
farmers, food stamp recipients, and public health. Let’s contact Governor
Charlie Baker (617)
725-4005 or http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituent-services/contact-governor-office/ and our state representatives to
allocate additional funds to make sure that farmers are supported and people in
need continue to have access to healthy food. We can find contact information
for our state government here.
Reading/Watching
1.
“What Are Active-Shooter Drills Doing to Kids?”
- https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/02/effects-of-active-shooter/554150/
2.
“How an Activist Group Turned to the Dark Side
to Hit Breitbart Where It Hurts” - https://www.gq.com/story/sleeping-giants-breitbart-nra-interview
3.
And, as usual, our weekly dose of Small
Victories - https://mailchi.mp/peaceisloud/small-victories-we-still-have-hope?e=86890239c4
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