7/9/19
Let’s
attend one of the many vigils on Friday, July 12th via Lights for
Liberty in protest of the concentration camps. There are now over 550
protests in all 50 states and many other countries:
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
|
CONTINUED IMMIGRATION ATROCITIES: As the awareness grows of the Trump
administration-made humanitarian crisis, there are many ways we can help. Past Rogan’s List suggestions
are still appropriate to work on: http://roganslist.blogspot.com/2019/06/62519-nationalissues-deplorable.html and http://roganslist.blogspot.com/2019/06/62719-please-note-that-rogans-list.html
and http://roganslist.blogspot.com/2019/07/7219-nationalissues-addresses-district.html,
and http://roganslist.blogspot.com/2019/07/7419-nationalissues-addresses-district.html
Here are more:
HELPING IMMIGRANTS/FiGHTING
DETENTION: Yes
Magazine and Beacon both
have great lists of actions, large and small, that we can take to help
immigrants and fight the administration’s horrific family detention policies. Let’s
check these out.
PUT PRESSURE ON COMPANIES PROFITING FROM MIGRANT DETENTION CAMPS: Last week, the Wayfair employees made a huge impact when they walked off the job after finding out that their company was contracted to provide furniture for one of the new detention camps in Texas. https://www.npr.org/2019/06/26/736308620/wayfair-employees-protest-sale-of-furniture-to-migrant-detention-center. However, Wayfair is only one of many companies who are directly or indirectly profiting off the administration’s horrific immigration policies. Wear Your Voice Magazine has compiled a long list of organizations who have benefitted, including popular companies like Amazon. Let’s keep putting pressure on these companies to cancel all business dealings with ICE. Let’s also contact the DNC and individual politicians and ask them to reject all donations from the GEO Group, which runs many of these prisons.
BORDER PATROL AGENT SECRET
HATEFUL FACEBOOK GROUP: Last week Propublica released information about a
secret Facebook group of border patrol agents that used hateful, racist, and inflammatory
language toward immigrants and Latinx lawmakers. https://www.propublica.org/article/secret-border-patrol-facebook-group-agents-joke-about-migrant-deaths-post-sexist-memes.
DHS Chief Kevin McAleenan reports that the agents have been “disciplined,” and
that the comments are not reflective of border patrol agents as a whole. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/border-patrol-agents-disciplined-offensive-facebook-posts/story?id=64176660.
However, McAleenan is also insisting that the conditions in the
migrant camps are adequate, and that reports from the government’s own inspector general
are 100% insubstantiated. And reports are now surfacing the Customs and Border
Protection knew about the Facebook group as early as 2018, and they did nothing
until this hit national media. Let’s contact DHS (202-282-8000; DHSSecretary@hq.dhs.gov; https://homelandsecurity.ideascale.com/; Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity/;
Twitter: @DHS.gov) and demand that any border patrol agent who
cannot treat the people in their charge with dignity and respect be immediately
fired, and let’s also contact our MoCs to make sure they follow through with
the investigation into the issue that they’ve promised.
ICE USING FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY: In
first known case of ICE agents using facial recognition technology to scan
drivers' licenses for surveillance purposes, it has just emerged that,
unbeknownst to drivers, ICE and the FBI have used this technology to search
drivers’ licenses in states where undocumented immigrants are issued
licenses; the two agencies were reportedly given access by DMV offices
directly, without going through state legislators: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48907026 We
need not only to urge our lawmakers, both federal and state, to make this
unchecked secret surveillance of ordinary people illegal but to tell our
state Departments of Motor Vehicles that they have neither the authority nor
our willingness to cooperate with ICE and the FBI in this way.
AMNESTY INTERNATONAL CALLING FOR
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS: “Amnesty
International is calling on Congress to hold public hearings over what the
human rights organization calls “a campaign of intimidation,” launched by the
federal government that targets activists and lawyers helping migrants along
the U.S.-Mexico border.” https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/south-county/story/2019-07-02/amnesty-international-accuses-border-patrol-of-harassing-intimidating-humanitarian-aid-workers Let’s tell our MoCs that we agree with
Amnesty International and want these hearings.
CAMPS IN U.S.: “2600 Magazine has compiled a full listing of Customs and Border Patrol
stations, a number of which are being used to imprison migrants, immigrants,
and/or refugees, many of whom are children. In the interests of openness, we
are sharing that info here. Please note that not every facility in this list is
being used for this purpose, but many existing camps are either at one of these
addresses or are being managed there. And the potential for expansion is ever
present. This is also only a partial list of the total number of camps, as
others are operated by different branches of the government, as well as by
private companies.” https://concentrationcamps.us/ Let’s
use this information to help with our efforts.
HEALTHCARE/PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICING: Earlier this
year, a pair of bills (H.R. 1046/S. 377) were introduced into the House and Senate,
which would allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to lower the cost
of prescription medication. Just this month, Trump has announced that he is
preparing an executive order to lower the cost of prescription drugs, though it
is not entirely clear which medications would qualify for the lowered costs (https://cnb.cx/2XtDpCy, https://nyti.ms/2NAzy1R). With
this issue back in the headlines, let's use this moment to contact our MoC and
ask them to support the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act. We
can find a call script at Indivisible: https://act.indivisible.org/call/medicare-negotiation-and-competitive-licensing-act/
SECRETARY OF LABOR ALEXANDER
ACOSTA: There is reinvigorated scrutiny on the role that now
Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta played in the previously lenient treatment
of freshly indicted alleged sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/451953-jeffrey-epstein-charged-with-sex-trafficking-crimes-involving-minors Let’s
call for Acosta’s resignation:
https://www.dol.gov/general/contact(Secretary
of Labor information is further down on the page of this contact link)
PUBLIC HOUSING AT RISK: "Tens of thousands of poor children — all
of them American citizens or legal residents — could lose their housing under a
new rule proposed Friday by the Trump administration. The rule is intended
to prevent people who are in the country illegally from receiving federal
housing aid, which the administration argues should go to help only legal
residents or citizens."
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/10/722173775/proposed-rule-could-evict-55-000-children-from-subsidized-housing "Mixed"
households including undocumented members will be displaced by this rule. Let's
let the administration know we oppose this needless cruelty by submitting our
comment here. Tuesday July 9 is the last day to submit comments: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/10/2019-09566/housing-and-community-development-act-of-1980-verification-of-eligible-status
CHINA RELATIONS: The Washington Post has published
the full text of a letter from 100 members of “the scholarly, foreign policy,
military and business communities, overwhelmingly from the United States,
including many who have focused on Asia throughout [their] professional
careers.” They express their deep concern “about the growing
deterioration in U.S. relations with China”; they continue “Although we
are very troubled by Beijing’s recent behavior, which requires a strong
response, we also believe that many U.S. actions are contributing directly to
the downward spiral in relations” and offer seven “propositions” for Trump’s
consideration:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/making-china-a-us-enemy-is-counterproductive/2019/07/02/647d49d0-9bfa-11e9-b27f-ed2942f73d70_story.html Given
that that the White House will surely ignore it, let’s make sure our MoCs do
not by sending them a copy of this letter.
MUELLER
REPORT: Robert Mueller is testifying before Congress on Wednesday,
July 17, before both the House Judiciary and House Intelligence committees. If we still
haven’t read the Report or watched The Investigation in 10Acts as
performed by celebrities: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jeGZ-xL6FNU and https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/07/02/the-mueller-report-is-the-surprise-hit-of-the-summer/,
PBS
news gives us the main facts in 30 minutes. Be informed and watch or
read the transcript here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/all-of-the-mueller-reports-major-findings-in-less-than-30-minutes
POSTCARDING: From one of our own – here we can find a
document with current write-ups that we can share with our own postcarding
group:
HONEY BEES: We all
know that bees are essential to the existence of the human race and that they
are going extinct due to the excessive use of pesticides. https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/bee-extinction-means-end-humanity.html So, it is very questionable that the Trump
administration suspended the data collection of its Honey Bee Colonies report due to science
cutbacks. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/451839-agriculture-department-suspends-data-collection-for-honeybees-after Let’s ask out MoCs to make sure the data
collection continues and that science is supported financially.
PUBLIC COMMENTS NEEDED: From one of
our own: Comments and actions week
ending July 14, 2019 includes more Alaska, Drinking water, Nuclear weapons,
LCBTQ health, Redefining how the government measures things - poverty rates,
pollution index. LGBTQ and Trans rights, RoundUp, HUD targeting undocumented
residents: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S2j48YfjUIE51Tn-Pf9KuiuLgryt7ZNR/view
UPDATE
SECURE OUR ELECTIONS: From one of our
own: HR 3351,
the House Bill that appropriated $600 million for states to purchase secure
voting systems before 2020 has passed and is now awaiting action in the Senate.
Because this bill is an appropriations bill, it does not require the Senate
majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to bring it to the floor. However, it DOES
require at least two Republican Senators to join the Democrats to get this much
needed funding approved. We are asking
each of you: If you
live or know someone who lives in Florida, Oklahoma, and/or Alaska, please help
us to encourage your your Senator to support the Senate appropriations bill. We
CAN make this happen. If you are able to help, please contact Stephanie
at: stephanie.chaplin20@gmail.com THANK YOU for
all your continued work to Secure our Elections!
ELECTION/VOTING
RURAL VOTER
REGISTRATION AND CANVASSING: “Organizers struggle to reach rural
voters in remote rural areas without connectivity. Campaigns find it
harder and more expensive to inform communities about election issues and the
importance of the census. This reduces the voting power of rural
communities and their ability to bring about change. Organizers can now
register voters and help the census counting using a free mobile app that works
without internet access.” Let’s read
more about this here: https://mailchi.mp/thedemlabs/kobotoolbox?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_4_6_2018_COPY_01)
STATE
SPECIFIC ISSUES
MOST: ABOLISH
PRIVATE PRISONS AT STATE LEVEL: Even though there are many states that do not have any private prisons in
operation, New York, Illinois, and Iowa are the only three states
that have legislation abolishing private prisons. https://www.forbes.com/sites/morgansimon/2019/06/18/new-york-to-become-first-state-to-be-completely-done-with-private-prisons/. Let’s
ask our State Representatives to follow these states’ lead and enact
legislation that would abolish private prisons. We can get more information
from The Sentencing Project.
MA—PROTEST AT BURLINGTON ICE FACILITY: As demonstrations grow around the
country to protest US concentration camps, ICE, CBP, and the entire broken
immigration system, it is good to recognize that the group Burlington (MA) Area
Clergy 4 Justice has been holding nonviolent protests at the ICE office in
Burlington, MA, one day each month for about a year now. They call their
protests “Jericho Walks,” for the Bible story in which the walls of Jericho
come tumbling down. If we’re in the area, let’s support their efforts
and swell their ranks by showing up: Tuesday, July 16, 1PM, Burlington ICE
Office, 1000 District Ave, Burlington, MA. Sign up is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/462908424282285/
MI: VOTING RIGHTS: Throughout the month of July,
the ACLU of Michigan, League of Women Voters of Michigan, Voters Not
Politicians, and Campus Vote Project will be hosting three webinar trainings to
helps us become more educated and engaged in the implementation of Proposal 3, which expands voting rights in Michigan. The
first webinar in the series will take place on the evening of July 10th, and
inform us about what has and has not been implemented from the proposal so far
in 2019, as well as what we can expect for 2020. Let's sign up for the
training so that we can help educate ourselves and other Michiganders about our
expanded voting rights: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/e767102d161cfd66cde7dc3c8da9331e
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
CONCENTRATION CAMPS:
We know the news coming out of the concentration camps is only going
to get more grim as the days go on:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/02/migrant-detention-center-overcrowding-report-inspector-general Let’s
attend one of the many vigils on July 12thvia Lights for Liberty.
There are now over 440 protests in all 50 states and many other countries:
https://www.lightsforliberty.org/
ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY WORKSHOP FOR ELECTED WOMEN
& WOMEN ACTIVISTS: If we are an
elected woman politician or a women social media activist, we can check out
this online seminar from social media experts Cheryl Contee and Rachel
Campbell of Do Big Things. In this online seminar, June 16 at 1pm EST,
we can learn about cutting edge social media strategy and tactics, including
content best practices, the algorithms and mechanics of social media, how to
leverage influencers, and fundraising on social media. They
will have Q&A, so we can ask the experts about our own
situations. We can also learn more about the workshop presenters and their
organization here www.dobigthings.today.
We can sign up here: https://voterunlead.org/event/rep19-voterunlead-present-power-through-education-summer-webinar-series-social-media-for-electeds-with-cheryl-contee/
SIGN UP FOR
CANDIDATE TRAINING: Emily’s List is offering a
Candidate training on Saturday, July 27 in Philadelphia from 9:30
am to 2:30 pm. We can find out more about the event, Run to Win 101, a
free half-day training for pro-choice Democratic women thinking about running
for elected office and sign up, if we choose to, here: https://secure.emilyslist.org/page/s/20190713_email_RunToWinPhiladelphia
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
READING/WATCHING
25 States That Have Restricted Voting
Rights Recently - https://politicalcharge.org/2019/07/08/25-states-that-have-restricted-voting-rights-recently/
The Truth About Trump Collusion and Obstruction in the
Mueller Report - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDf5YIojJfA
Migrant detention centers in
the US are under fire for their 'horrifying' conditions — and there's at least
one in every state. This map shows which have the most - https://www.businessinsider.com/ice-immigrant-families-dhs-detention-centers-2018-6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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