6/27/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
********************************
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.
The House
is supposed to vote on the Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) compromise (meaning between
more/less conservative GOP members) immigration bill tomorrow. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/26/house-vote-wednesday-compromise-immigration-bill/734022002/ Following
the failure of the more conservative immigration bill last week, they are
hoping this will pass. However, once
again, given the time they have had to pull together a bill, this one is
lacking, no matter what they try to tell you.
Let’s take a look at what Indivisible has to say about it and follow
their cues for our actions: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/paul-ryans-anti-immigrant-anti-family-immigration-bills/ Let’s
also tell our reps that we want a real compromise bill (i.e., bipartisan).
2.
Even
though the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Trumps Muslim Ban, there are
still ways for us to fight it. We can start by using Postcards for America’s
action kit (https://docs.google.com/document/d/176hbkYXMgIKRBfQCgxUfQAwRHiKheAmvgRP7hD8sihw/mobilebasic) to demand our Congressional Representatives
block funding to implement it, effectively preventing it from taking place.
When we click on this link, we will find information about S. 1979 and H. R.
4271,
contact info for key committee members, our own Members of Congress, and a
sample letter to send.
3.
Trump is
trying to weaken labor protections, so we must fight twice as hard to make them
stronger. Farm workers have long been left out of overtime protections under
the Fair Labor Standards Act. Now, Democrats led by Kamala Harris and Raul
Grijalva have introduced the Fairness for Farmworkers act to make sure they get
the same treatment as all other workers (https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2018/06/25/senators-harris-feinstein-want-farm-workers-get-overtime-pay/731816002/). Let's join the United Farm Workers in
telling our reps to support this bill. We can send them a message here.
4.
“A farm
bill that opponents say would harm endangered
species,
land conservation efforts, small-scale farmers and food-stamp recipients passed the U.S. House of
Representatives 213 to 211, with every House Democrat and 20 Republicans voting
against it, The Center for Biological Diversity reported.” https://www.ecowatch.com/farm-bill-passes-house-2580286425.html Let’s
make sure to tell our Senators to remove these requirements from their version
of the Farm Bill, S 3042. 5calls.org has more information and a call script here. While we are at it, let’s tell them that the
pesticide industry should not be the real winners with this bill.
5.
Secretary
of Health and Human Services Alex Azar says he is powerless to reunite the
families who have already been separated unless the law preventing children
from being in detention for more than 20 days is changed. http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/legal-challenges/394174-azar-hhs-cant-reunite-families-under-current-law. Let’s tell Secretary Azar (202-205-5445; https://www.facebook.com/HHS/; Twitter: @HHS.gov) that this cannot be an
excuse for child abuse, and that parents with children claiming legal asylum
deserve the right to due process without being incarcerated. We can remind him
that most undocumented immigrants do show up for
their court appointments and
it is not worth the emotional trauma or the taxpayer dollars to incarcerate
these families, together or separately, for the few that don’t.
6.
Last
year, the US contributed $360 million to the work of UNRWA, the UN Relief &
Works Agency; this year, Trump has reduced the US contribution to $60 million,
seriously threatening food aid to an estimated 5.3 million people, some in Gaza
and at least 400,000 in Syria, as well as education, medical care, and
emergency assistance to Palestinian refugees.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/feb/21/trump-cuts-un-agency-for-palestinian-refugees-millions-in-jeopardy-generation-radicalised We must insist to our MoCs and to UN Ambassador Nikki Haley—@nikkihaley or https://usun.state.gov/contact--that we want the richest nation on earth to share its wealth with those in need.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/feb/21/trump-cuts-un-agency-for-palestinian-refugees-millions-in-jeopardy-generation-radicalised We must insist to our MoCs and to UN Ambassador Nikki Haley—@nikkihaley or https://usun.state.gov/contact--that we want the richest nation on earth to share its wealth with those in need.
7.
On June
19th, the Trump Administration announced that it would withdraw the United
States from the United Nations Human Rights Council. A petition to Trump,
which says: "We the People of the United States wish to remain a member of
the United Nations Human Rights Council" is now circulating, and we can
sign it here: https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/we-do-not-quit-on-human
8.
Trump
markets fear to his followers, then lets them think he alone can keep them safe
in a paternalistic/authoritarian style.
However, in terms of his claims that immigration increases violent crime,
studies show otherwise. https://www.npr.org/2018/05/02/607652253/studies-say-illegal-immigration-does-not-increase-violent-crime Let’s use this information to speak with our
MoCs about the real needs of immigration reform.
Election 2018 –
General
An election guide
from Postcards
for America: In this Google doc (updated
regularly), each State shows ALL Democratic Candidates running for Congress,
Governor, Lt Gov, Attorney General, Secretary of State (if applicable) with
links to their websites and Twitter. Each has a link to a Twitter Thread, a
Shareable Facebook Post and a Document. For most States, there are also Info
& Links for Voter Registrations, Absentee Ballots, Early Voting & Voter
ID, Age Requirements and being a Poll Worker. Let’s check
this out and use and share it:
1.
In case
the effect of Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocking Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court
nomination was not crystal clear, it came home fully to roost yesterday with
the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote upholding the Muslim Ban:
http://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/394143-supreme-court-upholds-trump-travel-ban Flipping the Senate in November
to Democratic majority is more important than ever. This will be accomplished
through flipping red seats to blue and holding vulnerable blue seats. Let’s
give in whatever ways that we can (time, money, etc.): Flip red to blue: A) Arizona: https://kyrstensinema.com, B) Nevada: https://www.rosenfornevada.com, C) Tennessee: https://www.bredesen.com, D) Texas: https://betofortexas.com and Hold blue in vulnerable states: A) Florida: https://nelsonforsenate.com, B) Indiana: https://joeforindiana.com, C) Missouri: https://clairemccaskill.com, D) Ohio: https://www.sherrodbrown.com, E) North Dakota: https://heidifornorthdakota.com, E) West Virginia:
https://joemanchinwv.com We
need to help these, and other Dem candidates however and wherever we can.
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
June 27
|
Rhode Island
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
June 29
|
Minnesota
|
Early voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
June 30
|
Vermont
|
Early voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
June 30
|
Wisconsin
|
In person absentee voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
July 2
|
Georgia
|
Early voting begins
|
runoffs
|
|
July 2
|
Alabama
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Runoffs
|
|
July 3
|
Tennessee
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
July 6
|
Wyoming
|
In person absentee voting begins
|
Primary
|
(source: by date:
https://goo.gl/gjFv2u by state: https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
Other Actions
1.
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday in favor of
Trump's travel ban and pro-lifers trying to mislead women into not taking
advantage of their reproductive rights (https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/06/26/supreme-court-back-trump-travel-ban.html). This was made
possible by the Republican theft of the Supreme Court vacancy during the Obama
administration, and it's time we fight back. Activists have launched Demand
Justice to ensure the left fights as hard on the courts as the right. Let's
sign up for their alerts here. We can also use this “Digital Action
Toolkit-SCOTUS Ruling” from NoMuslimBanEver for additional
ideas: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zfq0SYNDVQGfQClMctGFt9Rqkdr2214sewk-C7C-pBg/edit
2. We
all know good people who will not comply with unjust work orders. Attorney Jason Rittereiser, candidate for
Congress (WA-08) has announced that his law firm, HKM Employment Attorneys (@HKMLaw
) is launching a nationwide pro-bono legal effort to provide legal counsel to
immigration officers who refuse to enforce the Trump Administration's horrific #FamilySeparation
policy. If we know an immigration
officer who needs this help, let’s share this:
https://hkm.com/federal-employees/ Let’s also thank the firm for their good
deed: https://hkm.com
3. Since
at least 1960, when an anti-segregation sit-in protest began at the Woolworth's
lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, corporations have been forced
to take sides in political fights (https://theconversation.com/corporate-ceos-political-voice-growing-louder-as-they-criticize-trump-policies-like-separating-migrant-children-98684).
Now more than ever, businesses are making their positions on social issues part
of their identities, so let's keep a critical eye on the companies
we frequent or consider frequenting. Here's a well-maintained rating
system to get started (https://2ndvote.com/company-scores/).
Note that this is a conservative-slanted system, so be sure to interpret the
scores in a manner appropriate to one's own political leanings! Let's vote with
our dollars, and let our corporate neighbors know what we think of
their political activities.
4. Postcarding
activism took hold after the 2016 election.
Sometimes we wonder if those little cards really do anything. Time to stop wondering. They work!
https://bluevirginia.us/2018/06/the-mighty-pen-prevails-in-the-digital-age-handwritten-voter-contact-is-a-powerful-secret-weapon
Let’s keep sending postcards! We can
check in with Postcards to Voters
and Postcards for America
for even more opportunities.
5. Just
in case things are not strange enough, late last week Senator Joe Manchin gave
Senator Claire McCaskill the Heimlich maneuver:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/06/25/claire-mccaskill-has-cracked-rib-after-joe-manchin-performs-heimlich/731640002/ Let’s
pause for a moment in the swirl to thank Senator Manchin for his swift
action: https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe
6. In
addition to upholding Trump’s travel ban on Tuesday, the Supreme Court
blocked a California state law requiring “crisis pregnancy centers” to “post
notices that free or low-cost abortion, contraception and prenatal care are
available to low-income women through public programs, and to provide the phone
number for more information,” ruling that the law violated the Christian-based
centers’ right to free speech. The California Legislature had found that 200
centers in the state used “intentionally deceptive advertising and counseling
practices that often confuse, misinform, and even intimidate women from making
fully-informed, time-sensitive decisions about critical health care.” https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10142094813
We must join Planned Parenthood and others in fighting this on-going war on
women’s rights. To find Planned Parenthood events nation-wide, see https://plannedparenthoodevents.ngpvanhost.com
7. From
Chop Wood/Carry Water: “…please, take a minute and check out this
amazing newsletter, Migratory
Notes. It's written by two immigration experts and has heretofore been used
mostly by journalists. They're trying to spread the word about their
work as they're following and reporting on everything really closely and
have been since right after the election. An EXCELLENT resource. Be sure to
click on the subscribe button if you want to get their newsletter.”
8. Dan
Rather continues to be the conscience of the media and the country. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160564295625716&id=24085780715 Let’s follow him on Facebook and thank
him. Let’s also ask our favorite new
sources to start using Rather’s sensibilities when reporting the news.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
Mass civil disobedience action against the family
detention policy at the border on Thursday, June 28, in Washington,
D.C., sponsored by Women’s March and partners. More info here: https://www.endfamilyseparation.us/
2.
On Thursday, June 28, families, advocates,
and allies will hold a rally beginning at 11am in the park across the street
from the Brownsville Federal Court, where immigrants are being prosecuted en
masse for crossing the border into the United States. More information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1834781589914906/ and here: https://www.aclutx.org/en/events/families-belong-together-rally-border
3.
“On June 29, lawyer moms around the
country are organizing to gather at our senators’ offices and deliver an open
letter stating our opposition to the current federal policy of separating
migrant children from their parents. Each of us would do anything to
keep our children safe. Each of us swore an oath to defend the Constitution. We
will not let this unconscionable practice stand on our watch. Join us. Let's
make some noise.” More info here at Lawyer Moms of America: https://www.facebook.com/events/1308273125973346/
4.
On June 30, thousands across the nation are
organizing with the theme “Families Belong Together” to demand Trump: A) Immediately reverse the “zero-tolerance”
policy which created this crisis, B) Reunite migrant children with their
families. Currently, there is no plan to
reunite thousands of kids with their parents.
End the indefinite detention of children & families, C) We will not
tolerate trading children in cages for indefinite family camps, and D) Donald
J. Trump and members of his administration will be held accountable for this
horror. Let’s find an event to attend or create our own here: https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/search/ If we want to catch a bus to the DC event, we can
find info here: http://rallybus.net/families-belong-together-dc/
States
1.
CA: If we are teachers with retirement savings
managed by CALSTRS, we might want to know that they now have about $13M
invested in Core Civic and The Geo Group, for-profit prison companies making
money off of immigrant misery at the border. We can tell CALSTRS to divest when
we sign this petition created by Mariam Martin and Together We Will San
Jose. Then we can use social media to inform our fellow educators about
this. Let’s make our voices heard! (link:
https://goo.gl/forms/T9fwPoaNSKU1h2K23) goo.gl/forms/T9f
2.
MA: The ICE office
in Massachusetts has abandoned their policy of prioritizing criminals for
arrest and deportation, and are now poised to arrest anyone, including
residents showing up for routine appointments. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mass-ice-agents-to-reinstate-in-office-arrests/ar-AAz4frj
Let’s remind
ICE’s Community Relations Officer (781 359-7511; CommunityRelations.Boston@ice.dhs.gov) that we do not want to see law-abiding,
hard-working people separated from their families. Let’s also insist that
Governor Baker (617-725-4005; https://www.mass.gov/feedback) and our state legislators support the MA Safe Communities Act in order to help
protect our undocumented residents from arrest and deportation.
3.
MI: A
citizen-organized effort, Voters Not
Politicians, got an
anti-gerrymandering proposal on the November ballot. https://wdet.org/posts/2018/06/25/86927-who-should-draw-michigans-political-maps-voters-may-decide-photos-map/ Now, the group
needs canvassers to knock on doors telling voters about the proposal. Let’s see how we can help.
Reading/Watching
1.
“I’ve
Been Reporting on MS-13 for a Year. Here Are the 5 Things Trump Gets Most Wrong
“ - https://www.propublica.org/article/ms-13-immigration-facts-what-trump-administration-gets-wrong
2.
“No,
Donald Trump’s separation of immigrant families was not Barack Obama’s policy”
- http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2018/jun/19/matt-schlapp/no-donald-trumps-separation-immigrant-families-was/
3.
“Majority
of undocumented immigrants show up for court, data shows” - http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2018/jun/26/wolf-blitzer/majority-undocumented-immigrants-show-court-data-s/
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