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8/15/18 

Contact Federal Government Officials


Fax legislators for free: 

or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/

 
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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.       Now that we know children can hack our election systems, it is imperative that we switch to paper ballots everywhere until we can be assured that our systems are totally safe.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-10/advocates-say-paper-ballots-are-safest  Let’s contact our MoCs and ask them to co-sponsor, support and vote for the Protecting American Votes and Elections (PAVE) Act (S. 3049/H.R. 6093).  With all we know now, there is not excuse these bills are still languishing in committee. 

2.      Along the same line, in a town in Georgia with 276 registered voters, 670 ballots were cast.  https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article216056560.html  This is under the watch of Brian Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State, who refuses to resign his position while he is running for governor against Democrat Stacey Adams. Let’s contact Kemp and demand his resignation. Let’s also ask our MoCs to put forth legislation that mandates paper ballots.

3.      Despite many organizations coming out against his confirmation, including NAACPNational Education Association, the National Immigration Law CenterNational Women's Law Center, Fight for the FutureHuman Rights CampaignNARALAmericans UnitedAlliance for Justice,  Leadership ConferenceLambda LegalAnti-Defamation LeagueAFL-CIOEverytown for Gun Safety, Sierra Club, and all these health organizations, Brett Kavanaugh’s hearing to become the next Supreme Court Justice begins on Sept. 4.  If the reasons these organizations provide are not enough to block his confirmation, or the fact that all of the necessary documentation for his confirmation will not be available by that date, let’s tell our senators that we do not want any confirmations while Trump is under investigation. 

4.      The Endangered Species Act has saved species from humpback whales to bald eagles - but it's not necessarily in the best interest of big business, so the Trump Administration is coming after it (https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/11/news/economy/endangered-species-act-reform/index.html). We can leave public comments opposing this change at Regulations.Gov here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0009-0001.

5.      Abandoning the cover that their anti-immigrant policies were about the rule of law, the Trump Administration is reportedly planning to make it more difficult for legal immigrants to get citizenship for using programs that help them get a good education or health care for their kids (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/now-trump-administration-wants-limit-citizenship-legal-immigrants-n897931). The change to "public charge" rules could be formally proposed any day. We can find ways to fight back at  https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/takeaction/

6.      Audrey Larson, a 14-year-old inventor from Connecticut, has designed a foldable bulletproof wall to protect students during school shootings. “It’s a foldable two-panel barrier that comes out of the wall for kids to hide behind in the event of a lockdown and, ultimately, in the event of a school shooting,” Larson said Monday on "Good Morning America."  “It's really scary to just think about," Larson said. "And that's kind of what sparked that idea. Some of my friends were having anxiety about being at school and I don't think that's fair to any kid." Her invention won awards at the Connecticut Invention Convention and the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE), ABC news reports. She is now working to secure a patent for her design.  http://thehill.com/homenews/news/401571-14-year-old-designs-bulletproof-wall-to-protect-students-during-school.  Wow, a 14-year-old has to create this as a science project because the GOP won’t take action to pass sensible gun control laws.  Let’s keep the pressure on our MoCs.  

7.      The Rev. Dr. William Barber of Repairers of the Breach  and the Poor People’s Campaign tweeted yesterday, “Sadly, we are witnessing not so much the meaness of Trump as the hypocrisy of the Republican Congress. Imagine Obama calling any woman a dog. Do you think he would get a black privilege pass like Trump Is getting a white privilege pass?”  Let’s ask our GOP MoCs this question.

8.     When the current Congressional recess ends, there will be only 11 legislative days to debate and vote to renew the Violence Against Women Act (H.R. 6545) before it expires on September 30. This law provides funding for many programs that address this grave problem but faces increasing opposition from the GOP.  http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/401257-vawa-reauthorization-even-if-the-democrats-lose-they-win While our MoCs are back home, let's tell them how important renewal of this important law is: Democratic reps need to hold strong on not compromising key parts of VAWA, and Republican reps need to get on the right side of this issue by co-sponsoring H.R. 6545 and voting for it.   

9.      In an op-ed piece and on a radio show, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has put the blame for California wildfires on “environmental terrorist” groups saying that logging would alleviate some of the problem.  http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/401736-zinke-environmental-terrorist-groups-responsible-for-california  It has been determined that humans cause 95% of these fires, not always intentionally.  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/08/news-california-wildfire-arson-human-cause/  Zinke’s words are part of a bigger scheme that’s been in the pipeline for years--to open up more sensitive areas, such as Sequoia National Monument, for logging. The Sierra Club is conducting a national campaign to make sure this doesn’t happen. We can find out more and sign the petition here. Let’s also tell Zinke that we should concentrate on ways to ameliorate the causes of these fires rather than finding ways to line industry pockets. 

10.  The Union of Concerned Scientists reminds us: “Don't forget August 16 is the last day to submit a public comment on the EPA's restricted science proposal. Learn more on why the EPA should not restrict the science they use to protect us at act.ucsusa.org/RestrictedScience, or submit a comment directly at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OA-2018-0259.

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.       From Postcards to Voters:  We receive inquiries all the time from volunteers wanting to meet others near them and write #PostcardsToVoters together.  Here's a chance for you to meet new volunteers who live near you. If they write to us (or post online) asking for a nearby writing event, we can refer to the list of events and try to match them up, If you have an upcoming one-time event or if you have a recurring event, please submit the details to us using this form:   https://goo.gl/QAL9oA

Election 2018 – By State

1.       Upcoming voting dates and deadlines:

August 17
New York (state)
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary
August 18
Florida
Early Voting Begins
Primary
August 20
Wyoming
In person absentee voting ends
Primary
August 21
Wyoming
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary (same day registration)
August 21
Alaska
Election date
Primary
August 21
Wyoming
Election date
Primary
August 23
Oklahoma
Early Voting begins
Runoffs
August 25
Oklahoma
Early voting ends
Runoffs
August 25
Guam
Election date
Primary
August 25
Florida
Early Voting ends
Primary
(source:  by date:  https://goo.gl/gjFv2u   by state:  https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)

2.      Upcoming Primaries:

A)    Tuesday, 8/28



Other Actions


2.      While this year's Unite the Right 2 rally had a significantly smaller turnout than last year, we should not take that as an indicator that the fight against white nationalism and supremacy has been won. Instead, let's make sure that we are doing our part at the local level to confront white supremacy in our communities. Indivisible has created a guide, including a great list of resources, to help us both identify our own privilege, as well as to stand up to white supremacy. Let's read through the guide, then go through the additional resources, and commit to taking anti-racist steps to work towards racial justice and achieving a more equitable community.

3.      Let's support Puerto Rico and pass on this news! "Critics of the Trump administration's response to the hurricanes that ravaged Puerto Rico last year are launching a seven-figure campaign to mobilize displaced Puerto Rican voters ahead of the midterm elections – and planning big demonstrations in New York and Florida to mark the anniversary of Hurricane Maria."  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-coalition-plans-7-figure-campaign-aimed-at-puerto-rican-voters/ Let's follow and support the groups behind this initiative, Latino Victory Project http://latinovictory.us and Power4PuertoRico https://www.power4puertorico.com. And go to the protests, if we can! 

4.      From one of our own:  FLIPCivics is a Facebook page for gov 101 - type posts designed to spark interest in and raise the level of civics literacy. (Some original content also tweets and posts from others will be shared if they relate to civics ed.) It will be shared via the FLIP nation network. Please share posts to your networks to help broaden their reach and intended effect.  

5.      Earlier this month, 18-year-old Sergio Salazar, a DREAMer who has been in the country since he was two years old, was taking part in a peaceful anti-ICE protest and was arrested.  https://theintercept.com/2018/08/07/fbi-pressed-detained-anti-ice-activist-for-information-on-protests-offering-immigration-help Let's call the DHS at 202-282-8495 and say: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m from [CITY, STATE] and I'm calling to demand the immediate release of Dreamer Sergio Salazar from the Webb County Detention Center in Laredo, Texas, his "A" number is 207-966-313. Attacks on non-violent peaceful protestors is an unethical and immoral treatment of immigrants by ICE and DHS. Thanks!  (h/t Chop Wood/Carry Water) 


6.      Joseph Curatone, the mayor of Somerville, MA has announced that he is boycotting Sam Adams beer, a Massachusetts local favorite, after the co-founder of the company publicly thanked Trump for tax cuts. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/401754-massachusetts-mayor-boycotting-sam-adams-beer-after-its. Let’s follow the mayor’s example and tell Sam Adams that we are boycotting any company that expresses public support for this administration and its cruel policies against hard-working immigrant families. We can contact Sam Adams on their website, their Facebook page, or via Twitter @SamuelAdamsbeer.

7.      Donald Trump is again tearing apart families- this time with a proposal that, if it moves forward, would target legal immigrants who make less than $63,000 a year and their children. Trump is punishing people who wait years for a visa to come to America, work hard, and build a better life for themselves and their family. As many as 100 million people in the U.S. would fail themselves. Trump's anti-immigrant attacks put families in danger.  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/now-trump-administration-wants-limit-citizenship-legal-immigrants-n897931   Let’s go to Protecting Immigrant Families to learn about how we can get involved in the effort to defeat this anticipated rule. 

8.     New books we should be aware of:  Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements, by Charlene Carruthers, community organizer, educator, and founding national director of the Black Youth Project 100 and The Truth About Social Security by Social Security expert and founder of Social Security Works Nancy Altman

9.      Computing technology shapes our lives now more than ever before, but the subject of ethics in computing is still in its infancy. As in so many technological endeavors, capability outraces judgment, which creates danger. The world's largest organization of computer scientists and engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery, has updated its code of ethics for computing professionals.  
https://theconversation.com/programmers-need-ethics-when-designing-the-technologies-that-influence-peoples-lives-100802  If we think that computing systems ought to be designed to minimize discrimination, exclusion, harassment, and other socially destructive effects, we should be pushing both educational institutions and businesses to teach and adopt these new rules. A good start would be to ask our local high school, or our local college CS department, if they plan to incorporate the ACM's code into their curricula.

Marches/events/webinars/TwitterStorms to attend/organize

1.       On Thursday, August 16, join hundreds of volunteers for a host call to learn how you can plan a successful Organizing for '18 House Party on Saturday, August 25 at 8PM EDT, and start mobilizing folks to volunteer for crucial campaigns this fall, and make their voices heard at the polls this November.  We can sign up for the webinar here:  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4c4n3bQmROGtDI1PKRMpPw

2.      Sunday, August 19, at 8pm we can all join in a TwitterStorm to defeat Kavanaugh.   More information here where we can also find a tweetsheet and a toolkit:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1650660501726704/

3.      Evidence is piling up that Brett Kavanaugh cannot be trusted to protect the right to choose or check executive power (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/brett-kavanaugh-signing-statements.html). So activists across the country are coming together for a 50-state day of action against his nomination on August 26th. Let’s find an event near us or start our own here.

4.      Experts say we are already starting to see the impacts of climate change playing out in real time with extreme weather patterns:  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/extreme-global-weather-climate-change-michael-mann). We cannot wait for action. On September 8th, people all over the world are coming together in a coordinated call for local action for the climate, jobs and justice. We can find a Rise for Climate event near us here, or we can sign up to organize our own.

5.      On September 22 there will be a protest at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago in Florida in commemoration of the first anniversary of Hurricane Maria:   

States


Find elected state officials: https://openstates.org/


1.       MOST:  The California Senate Public Safety Committee has voted to approve AB 931, a bill to address police officers' use of deadly force by changing the standard from "reasonable" to "necessary" (http://sacobserver.com/2018/06/ca-senate-public-safety-committee-passes-of-bill-restricting-use-of-force-video/). While this is an important step, the bill also needs to be approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee before it proceeds to a full Senate vote. If we are in California, let's call our senators and voice our support for this bill. For those of us in other states, let's call our state legislators and ask them to introduce and support similar legislation to help limit the use of force.

2.      MOST:  Overturning citizen ballot initiatives seems to be the Republican strategy-of-the-moment, no matter the vote: in DC, for example, voters approved, by a 12-point margin, raising the minimum wage of restaurant workers to $15/hour, but within a day, a city council member tried to overturn this result. https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/The-Daily-202-By-overturning-ballot-initiatives-13154541.php    These attempts to override the will of voters is happening all over the country—and we need to try to stop it wherever we are.

Reading/Watching

1.       Red Hats and White Hoods - https://johnpavlovitz.com/2018/08/13/red-hats-and-white-hoods


3.      The Teen-Agers Fighting for Climate Justice - https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-teen-agers-fighting-for-climate-justice




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