8/15/19
The Rogan's List
team is taking a break until after Labor Day. This has been a long haul
and we want to be rested for what is to come. In the meantime, should you
not want to take a break, please consider signing up and following 1) Jess
Craven's Chop Wood Carry Water (https://bit.ly/2yZEsvj
and/or https://www.facebook.com/ChopCarry/)
, 2) Celeste Pewter's ICalledMyReps - Daily Call List (https://tinyletter.com/Celeste_pewter),
3) Michele Hornish's our Weekly Pep Talk & Action List! (https://smalldeedsdone.com/), and
4) Jen Hoffman's Americans of Conscience Checklist (https://americansofconscience.com/8-11-2019/)
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
|
FIGHTING
ANTI-IMMIGRANT HATE: In
this current peak of anti-immigrant violence, it is important to remember that
the recent mass shootings don't happen in isolation but are part of a growing
ecosystem of politically/socially sanctioned racism. Common-sense gun
control addresses one important aspect of this, but we must fight all
aspects of the problem. MoveOn has compiled a list of actions that
regular people can complete, so let's get to work and help end the climate of
fear and discrimination looming over immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers
in our country today. https://front.moveon.org/take-action-enough-anti-immigrant-violence
DEFEND HEALTH CARE
RIGHTS: "The Department of
Health and Human Services has proposed a rule that aims to dramatically weaken
the Health Care Rights Law, a key component of the Affordable Care Act
that prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, ethnicity, age, or
disability. With this rule, transgender and nonbinary people, all women, and
other communities historically marginalized in health care would lose
protections from discrimination.” Let’s
stop this by submitting our public comment using this form provided by the ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/petition/HHS-1557
IMMIGRATION/CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET: From
executing family separation at the border, to holding
immigrants under bridges and in tent cities, to widespread sexual abuse in child detention centers, and
conducting large-scale raids, ICE and Border Patrol have been
inflicting trauma on countless people. Still, the agencies see an increase in
funding each year, particularly under the Trump administration. In order to
push back against this, Indivisible is focusing on the August recess, then a
September week of action from the 9th to the 13th, to pressure our MoC to
#DefundHate and support funding cuts to ICE and Border Patrol for the next
fiscal year. Let's check out the Defund
Hate Toolkit for specific action ideas, then let's be sure to register
an event for the Day of Action (September 13th), when Indivisibles around the
country will be demanding that our MoC restore ICE and Border Patrol funding to
what it was at the end of FY2016: https://act.indivisible.org/event/local-actions/create/ We
can also sign up for updates by texting Defund Hate to 977-79.
TELL YOUR MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THE CHANGES TO PUBLIC CHARGE: From one
of our own: Congress has the power to block
the regulation’s implementation, and the House of Representatives is already
taking action to protect families. The No Federal Funds for Public Charge Act,
sponsored by Rep. Judy Chu (D-California), has more than 40 cosponsors and is
endorsed by key advocates. As its name suggests, the bill would block funding
of the regulation’s implementation. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) intends to
introduce companion legislation after the congressional recess. “As a
pediatrician, this public charge regulation is an assault on my professional
role—I am unsure how to guide families when I know that enrollment in bread and
butter services that keep them healthy could jeopardize the family unity. This
final rule serves to further intimidate and frighten families who seek needed
services to keep them healthy and productive. Taken together with other looming
harmful proposals, these actions will have detrimental consequences on
immigrant health and well-being,” said Julie Linton, MD, FAAP, Chair, American
Academy of Pediatrics Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health.” https://www.nilc.org/2019/08/12/advocates-vow-to-block-trump-attack-on-millions-of-families-and-american-democracy/
DISABILITY RIGHTS: Early last year, the republican-controlled
House passed H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act, a rollback on
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which would have created unnecessary
challenges in the litigation process for those with disabilities who wish to
file a complaint against a business not in compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/house-passes-bill-critics-say-undermine-disability-rights).
It also removed incentives for those businesses to comply with the ADA.
Fortunately, the bill died in the Senate. However, Representative Ken Calvert
(R-CA-42) has reintroduced this legislation, as H.R. 4099. Let's be sure to call our
representatives in the House and remind them that we do not support this bill,
and that it is on should not be on disabled individuals to educate businesses
on ADA requirements.
IMMIGRATION-
PRESSURING COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT ICE: From Sleeping Giants: Deloitte U.S. CEO Dan Helfrich is sitting
on $104 million worth of contracts with ICE. He's also on the board for an
organization called Street Soccer USA. Street Soccer USA is dedicated to
fighting poverty and empowering underserved communities by introducing them to
soccer. Last year, Soccer Street CEO Lawrence Cann announced their new national
board members - including Dan - by saying: “Our commitment to our communities
is long term. Our cup series and our new national board are part of building
and sustaining that long-term commitment. In today’s environment, where
immigrant communities feel under threat, it’s more important than ever that we
build strong community institutions..." Today, we're reaching out to
Lawrence to let him know that Dan's involvement with ICE and family separation
should be a deal breaker. Contact: Lawrence Cann, CEO at Street Soccer USA,
Email: lawrence@streetsoccerusa.org We
can use the template available at Sleeping Giants here.
TELLING MIGRANT
CHILDREN’S PERSONAL STORIES: Amplify the Children
is providing declarations from detained migrant children and asking the
community to amplify their stories in in a number
of easy ways. Let’s consider getting involved in this very important
project.
BARR SHOULD RECUSE
HIMSELF INJEFFREY EPSTEIN CASE: As
the saga around alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s supposed suicide
continues, one thing is clear. Attorney General William Barr should not be
handling the case. In addition to what is looking more and more like an obvious
cover-up, this article in Time Magazine gives clear legal and ethical
reasons why Barr should recuse himself. Let’s contact the Department
of Justice (202-353-1555; 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC,
20530-0001; website form; Facebook;
Twitter: @TheJustice Dept.) and demand Barr’s recusal. Let’s also contact our
MoCs and ask them to demand Barr’s recusal.
RACISM AT USCIS (KEN
CUCCINELLI): Acting Director of the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Ken Cuccinelli, started a wretched tear of racism by
rewriting the New Colossus poem that is at the base of the Statue of Liberty
and then, when pushed later, said that the poem is really about only Europeans
coming to the United States: https://apnews.com/290fe000b4584ddca46a6eb36a74a703 Cuccinelli’s
white supremacy makes him wildly unfit for this role. Let’s call for his
resignation: publicengagementfeedback@uscis.dhs.gov and on
Twitter at @USCISCuccinelli
MORE VILENESS
FROM STEVE KING: Notoriously racist Congressman Steve King (R-IA) took
a new tack today and questioned whether there would be any world population
left if not for incest and rape: Steve King challenger: 'Rape and incest' comments don't reflect
Iowan values Let’s call for King’s resignation:
https://steveking.house.gov or
on Twitter at @SteveKingIA and support his Democratic opponent, JD
Scholten: https://www.scholten4iowa.com
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: Planned Parenthood said Wednesday that it
will leave the federal family planning program unless a court puts a hold
on new rules that bar clinics from referring patients for abortions; the
administration says it is ready to operate the Title X family planning program
without them, although Planned Parenthood has been its largest provider--about
4 million women are served nationwide under the program. It is unclear how many
patients would be affected were Planned Parenthood to leave. Claiming the
administration’s new policy is “unethical and dangerous,” amounting to a “gag
rule” on clinicians, Planned Parenthood said it “will be forced to withdraw” on
Monday unless the full court intervenes:
https://www.apnews.com/7db4a0d937f24010845f7caeeb2a1ebd
Let’s send our support and, if possible, our donations to Planned Parenthood
as they defend our right to crucial reproductive care and information:
DOWNLOAD AND SHARE
THE MASSIVE WORKPLACE RAIDS ACTION TOOLKIT:
In these dangerous times
for our immigrant friends, families and neighbors, it is good to be ready to
take action on their behalf. Before, or even when, an ICE raid happens, we
can turn to this Toolkit prepared by The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Coalition, which covers key steps to take like building a robust legal defense,
supporting the affected families and organizing the community and more. When
we click this link, we can check out the Massive Workplace Raids Toolkit, learn
from it, then share with our groups and our friends.
DEFUND PRIVATE
PRISONS: From one of our own: Let’s help defund private prisons. Does
your state or Local government contract with CoreCivic and GEO?
Read @KristinMinkDC’s article to find out. https://medium.com/@kristinmink/state-local-government-contracts-with-corecivic-and-geo-ba04dbb5b171 Let’s: Postcard. Call. Protest. Get Loud. Write letters to the editor. (also one new in MI: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/05/private-prison-to-reopen-to-house-non-us-citizen-criminals.html )
Read @KristinMinkDC’s article to find out. https://medium.com/@kristinmink/state-local-government-contracts-with-corecivic-and-geo-ba04dbb5b171 Let’s: Postcard. Call. Protest. Get Loud. Write letters to the editor. (also one new in MI: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/05/private-prison-to-reopen-to-house-non-us-citizen-criminals.html )
ELECTION/VOTING
ELECTION SECURITY: Despite all that’s surfaced on
election irregularities, eight states are still planning to use paperless
ballots with no tracking systems in 2020. https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/457168-report-says-eight-states-to-use-paperless-voting-in-2020-despite?userid=200565.
Let’s tell Moscow Mitch (Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell) (202-224-2541)
and our Senators that this is unacceptable, and they must pass measures that
guarantee that every U.S. vote is trackable. If we live in Texas, Louisiana,
Tennessee, Mississippi, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky or New Jersey, let’s contact
our state legislators, our governor, and the Board of Elections and demand
trackable ballots.
ELECTION SECURITY: “No debate on Election
Security should go forward without first agreeing that Voter ID
(Identification) must play a very strong part in any final agreement. Without
Voter ID, it is all so meaningless!” So, Trump tweeted on Tuesday as
Democrats pressured Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring two
election security bills to the Senate; both have passed in the House. The
House legislation requires the use of paper ballots, funds the Election
Assistance Commission, and mandates candidates, campaign officials, and their
family members to notify the FBI if foreign governments offer assistance:
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/457340-trump-voter-id-must-play-very-strong-part-in-deal-on-election
Our senators must resist Trump’s efforts to disenfranchise us and, apparently,
be told that we expect them to guarantee our votes by demanding that McConnell
bring election security to a vote.
FAIR FIGHT 2020:
“After spending the beginning of 2019 mulling a presidential run and ruling
out a run for Senate, Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams announced a new
multi-million dollar initiative on Tuesday that's aimed at beefing up voter
protection operations in 20 battleground states throughout the 2020 election cycle.”
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stacey-abrams-launches-multi-million-dollar-voter-protection/story?id=64952124 Let’s check this out and see how we can
help: https://fairfight.com/fair-fight-2020/
STATE/LOCAL
MOST:
TELL GOVERNOR TO TAKE A PUBLIC STAND ON FAMILY SEPARATION: Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Wolf has put out a call for ICE to cease all arrests that result
in child separation in his state. https://m.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/gov-wolf-calls-for-ice-to-cease-all-arrests-that-result-in-child-separation-in-pa/.
Let’s ask our governor to demand that ICE cease arrests that lead to family
separations in our state.
MANY: COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS: “A coalition
of 22 Democratic-led states has sued the Trump administration over its decision
to ease restrictions on coal-fired power plants.” https://www.wkar.org/post/michigan-joins-21-states-suing-trump-administration-over-new-coal-rules?
( the NYT now says 29 states: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/climate/states-lawsuit-clean-power-ace.html)
As Michigan’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, posted on her Facebook page on
9/13, “Climate change is real. And very bad. I look forward to having someone
in the White House who appreciates this concept again. This is not a political
statement. It’s science.” Let’s make
sure our states are part of this coalition and if they are not, ask why and
tell them to get on board.
MANY: ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: “Massachusetts and California say they’ll
go to court to fight the Trump administration’s overhaul of the Endangered Species Act.” https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/08/12/endangered-species-act-trump-lawsuit-massachusetts-healey/ If we live in any other state, let’s tell
our governor that we want our state to be part of this fight.
CA:
TELL GOVERNOR NEWSOM TO DROP HIS PRO CHARTER SCHOOL AMENDMENTS: Our State Legislature has passed a strong
Charter School Accountability Bill, but Governor Newsom has added amendments
that weaken it significantly, undermining the ability of local school boards to
deny a charter. Local school districts with publicly elected school board
members must have sole authorizing ability, as they are best familiar with
enrollment trends, family demographics, facilities’ needs, and other details of
day-to-day school administration. We can demand locally elected public
school board oversight by calling Governor Newsom 916-445-2841 to backout his
amendments that water down AB1505 and let state Senators approve a strong
Charter Accountability bill! We can use this script when we
call: Governor Newsom, I am a parent/ community member and support local
school control and strong charter school accountability found in the Assembly
version of AB1505. I DO NOT support the amendments you pushed on behalf of the
California Charter Schools Association. Please recall those changes and sign
into law robust Charter Accountability that ALL California families deserve!”
CA:
FIND NEW STRATEGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS AT EDUCATORS AGAINST ICE
WORKSHOP: Educators in Northern CA, aware of how ICE
threatens our undocumented students and their families, can learn better
ways to protect them at the Educators Against ICE Conference on
Saturday, September 14, 2019. We can network with community
organizers, foster collaboration, learn anti-enforcement and advocacy
strategies. We can also invite our colleagues so that 2-3 educators from
one campus or region can work together. A series of interactive workshops and
lunch will be provided. We can click this link to find out more about
The Educators Against ICE Fall Conference and then, if we wish, apply by
the deadline, August 19th, 2019 at 5pm https://docs.google.com/document/d/12LzuxHORwv2pAUGugA5-I-ABM3CYMqWP43ysW8KDH0E
MI:
IMMIGRATION: Each September, PeaceQuest celebrates
the International Day of Peace through community-wide events and activities
which help us learn how to continue to promote peace. On September 28th,
PeaceQuest will be hosting All Faith
Alliance for Refugees' day-long Greater Lansing Refugee Summit: Expanding
Welcome & Advocacy, where we can learn how to better advocate for
refugees. We can learn more about this event and others on the event
schedule, then let's be sure to show up for at least one activity:
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
NATIONAL NETWORK ASSEMBLY: The first National
Network Assembly, made up of hundreds of local grassroots leaders and 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
GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE—Young people around the world
are taking to the streets September 20-27, 2019, to end the regime of
fossil fuels. Young or old, we can get involved here: https://globalclimatestrike.net/
and here: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/us-climate-strikes/
If we organize our own climate strike event, we can include voter registration
with the help of the Environmental Voter Project: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/
NATIONAL PROTEST – WE THE PEOPLE MARCH: As we have been inspired these past
couple months by the examples set by the citizens of Hong Kong, Russia, and the
Czech Republic regarding the power of protest, we have a chance to come
together to say “Enough” about the degradation of our nation and the office of
the President. Amy Siskind and a group of volunteers have set up a march on
Washington D.C. and other cities across the country for September 21.
“We the People are marching to be seen and heard. We are marching to remind our
elected officials that they work for us. We are marching because the current
regime is a threat to our democracy and values. We are marching to demand action.
Silence and inaction are complicity.” The website and registration page
for the We The People March had the fortunate
problem of heavy traffic with their registration page and have switched to a
new system to handle the flow: https://wethepeoplemarch.org Let’s plan to
travel to Washington for this if we are able to do so to and also sign-up to
receive updates. If we are not able to attend, let’s find or created a
solidarity march (details at website) We need a strong visual statement that we
the people will not abide these lavish abuses to our nation.
READING/WATCHING
The Case That Made an Ex-ICE Attorney Realize the
Government Was Relying on False “Evidence” Against Migrants - https://www.propublica.org/article/laura-pena-gang-database-the-case-that-made-an-ex-ice-attorney-realize-the-government-was-relying-on-false-evidence-against-migrants
Trump Administration Seeks Decertification Of Immigration
Judges' Union - https://www.npr.org/2019/08/12/750656176/trump-administration-seeks-decertification-of-immigration-judges-union
The FBI Told Congress Domestic Terror Investigations Led
to 90 Recent Arrests. It Wouldn’t Show Us Records of Even One - https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-domestic-terrorism-arrest-data
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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
