10/24/19
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
|
IMPEACHMENT/NOVEMBER
RECESS: From November 2nd
thru the 11th, the House will be on recess, with many representatives back in
their home districts. Just like we did during their October recess, let's make
sure to make impeachment a focal point during townhalls and in-person meet ups
with our representatives. We can find a townhall or event near us here, or if there isn't
one yet, we can register one here. Whether we are able to attend an event in-person or
not, let's also be sure to call our reps and ask them one question: Do you
think it's OK to ask a foreign power to interfere in our elections? Then, let's
take note of their response and share it on social media. We can find more
information and toolkits at https://www.impeachnow.org/
FEDERAL JUDICIARY
NOMINATION: Just a reminder
that a confirmation vote is still pending for Steven Menashi, the Trump aide
with a long history of racism and xenophobia, who is now poised to assume a
lifetime appointment the U.S. Court of Appeals. His confirmation hearing was a
sham, marred by Menashi's refusal to answer legitimate questions about his
record and work for the White House, which frustrated both Democrats
and Republicans. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/11/steven-menashi-trump-judicial-nominee-1489457
and https://educationvotes.nea.org/2019/09/20/devos-ally-would-be-a-disaster-as-appellate-judge/
and https://www.naacp.org/latest/naacp-calls-withdrawal-steven-menashi-nomination/ We can't allow a bigoted ultraconservative
extremist to skew our judiciary further Right, so let's tell our Senators to
vote a loud "No"!
IMPEACHMENT VOTE
RALLIES: “The night before the
House of Representatives takes a historic vote to impeach Trump, we'll head to
every congressional office and public square to declare that Nobody Is Above
the Law as representatives finalize their positions and senators look on.” The coalition
behind this effort is impressive. Let’s
click here to learn about events, how we can create one, materials to use, and
more: https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/
PRESSURE REPUBLICAN
SENATORS ON IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: The Senate will be making its own rules for
Trump’s impeachment trial, and it is crucial that the process be open and transparent
and allow for the consideration of all of the evidence. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/467024-mcconnell-to-republicans-defend-trump-on-process
Let’s (1) call on both our Senators
to publicly support a fair and open impeachment trial, and (2) connect
sympathetic voters in key states to their Senators so that they can ask the
same—use this tool from Indivisible: https://act.indivisible.org/signup/impeachment-senate-calls/
ADVOCATE FOR AN
UNACCOMPANIED IMMIGRANT CHILD FACING DEPORTATION: The
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, a human rights organization,
seeks volunteers to become Child Advocates in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio,
Harlingen, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, or Washington, D.C. Let’s read the job description and
requirements and consider filling out a volunteer application: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/volunteer-at-the-young-center
GOP BREAKS RULES AND
STORMS TESTIMONY ROOM: “Dozens
of House Republicans, including Reps. Steve Scalise—the House minority whip—and
Matt Gaetz, dramatically barged into a secure room where the deposition of a
Defense Department official was being held as part of the impeachment inquiry
into President Donald Trump. Only lawmakers from the House Intelligence,
Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committee, the panels conducting the inquiry,
were allowed in the room where the testimony of Laura Cooper, the deputy
assistant secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, was taking
place. Some of the Republicans allegedly
brought electronic devices into the room to take photos and recordings, a move
that breaches the classified room's ban on electronic devices.” It is a violation that can result in job loss and jail time.
https://www.newsweek.com/gop-lawmaker-who-stormed-closed-door-impeachment-deposition-criticized-sharing-audio-recording-1467375 If we have a GOP Congressperson, let’s get in touch to say that this behavior is unacceptable on every level and we are disgusted at their utter disregard of the facts of the matter. And let’s make sure they know that we will remember their behavior in November 2020.
https://www.newsweek.com/gop-lawmaker-who-stormed-closed-door-impeachment-deposition-criticized-sharing-audio-recording-1467375 If we have a GOP Congressperson, let’s get in touch to say that this behavior is unacceptable on every level and we are disgusted at their utter disregard of the facts of the matter. And let’s make sure they know that we will remember their behavior in November 2020.
FAKE “NEWS” SITES: Let's
heed this warning from Harvard's Nieman Lab. Time to get more savvy about where
we are getting our new. Look-alikes with misinformation do not help any of us. https://www.niemanlab.org/2019/10/watch-your-url-local-news-outlets-have-to-ward-off-more-politically-funded-local-competitors-ahead-of-2020/
GOP TN SENATOR BLOCKS
ELECTION SECURITY BILLS: Senate
Republicans blocked three election security bills on Wednesday, marking the
second time in as many days they've stymied legislation. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
and Ron
Wyden (D-Ore.) asked for unanimous consent to pass three
election-related bills. But they were blocked by Sen. Marsha
Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who noted that the unsuccessful attempt was
the latest by Democrats to pass election security bills in the Senate ahead of
2020. “You know, it’s not a good sign if you’re doing the same thing over and
over and expecting a different result," Blackburn said.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/467130-senate-gop-blocks-three-election-security-bills-for-second-day If this is our senator, ask her why she
will let Russians influence our elections and tell her It’s not a good
sign to expect they will do anything differently. If she is not our senator,
we can still Tweet her and ask the same question. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) · Twitter Then, we can ask our GOP reps how they voted
and when we can expect better, more protective legislation from them.
STOP MANDATED DNA
COLLECTION FROM MIGRANTS: Currently,
officials only collect DNA from migrants who are being prosecuted for
criminal offenses, but a new rule will enable the administration to
collect DNA from nearly any asylum seeker who is detained when crossing through
official entry points. https://thehill.com/latino/466685-fbi-moving-to-collect-dna-from-asylum-seekers-detained-migrants-report.
The argument is that this will help in fighting crime, but the reality is that
the crime rate for both legal and undocumented immigrants is much lower than it
is for U.S. Citizens. Let’s make sure to submit a comment on the federal register and also
ask our MoCs to do something about this flagrant invasion of privacy and
violation of human rights.
STOP THE “REMAIN IN
MEXICO (MPP) PROGRAM”: There are
currently over 50,000 refugees waiting in Mexico for their claims to be
processed. The Facebook page, Witness
Tornillo, Target: MPP (Migrant Protection Protocol) has begun to document
the numerous ways that the process is stacked against asylum seekers. Court
dates are randomly assigned and often changed with minimal attempt to
communicate to these refugees when they are due for court appearances.
Conditions on the border towns are dangerous and unsanitary, and people are
consistently experiencing shortages of food and water. Now Mexico is attempting
to move people away from the border, making it harder for U.S. witnesses and
volunteers to help with shelter and court appointment. https://www.krgv.com/videos/new-site-to-offer-matamoros-migrants-temporary-shelter/.
While overcrowding is a serious issue, the real issue here is the U.S.’s
treatment of asylum seekers who should have the right to have their cases heard
in a timely and fair manner. Let’s make sure to join the Facebook page for
updates on MPP and also speak with our MoCs about ending the Remain in Mexico policy.
LINDSEY GRAHAM
LYNCHING COMMENT: After Trump compared the Impeachment Inquiry to a
lynching, Senator Lindsey Graham doubled-down on his support of Trump making
this comment: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/466878-graham-backs-trump-this-is-a-lynching-in-every-sense Let’s
contact the South Carolina Bar Association to say that Senator Graham’s
behavior is not in keeping with the expectations they hold for their members: https://www.scbar.org/about-us/contact-us/ Let’s
also let Senator Graham know that we find his behavior deplorable: https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/office-locations
RESEARCH SHOWS LARGE
CAPACITY MAGAZINE BANS WORK: The
American Journal of Public Health has just published a new study on whether
large-capacity magazine bans are effective in reducing high-fatality mass
shootings. The key finding is that LCM bans appear to save lives. We
can read more about the study’s key findings here: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1186347142388109312.html?refreshed=yes
We can also read the abstract and the entire article here: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305311 Let’s call our reps to cosponsor and support H.R. 1296 to Ban Assault Weapons. If we like, we can also use this link from the Brady Center to send a letter to key Representatives: https://secure.everyaction.com/RNt90ROWKU6HmZK0nJ8OaA2?
We can also read the abstract and the entire article here: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305311 Let’s call our reps to cosponsor and support H.R. 1296 to Ban Assault Weapons. If we like, we can also use this link from the Brady Center to send a letter to key Representatives: https://secure.everyaction.com/RNt90ROWKU6HmZK0nJ8OaA2?
PROTEST RI AG’S
REFUSAL TO CHARGE VIOLENT DETENTION OFFICERS: Last August, peaceful
protesters at the Wyatt detention facility in Central Falls, RI, were attacked
when a facility captain, Thomas Woodworth, deliberately drove his truck into
the line of protesters, and correctional officers followed up by
pepper-spraying the protesters. RI Attorney General Peter Neronha convened a
grand jury to look into the matter and announced this week that no charges
would be filed. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/protest-group-no-charges-over-pickup-truck-incident-at-wyatt/ Let’s
contact RI AG Neronha and tell him that this decision violates the rights of
Americans to peacefully protest, will embolden the impunity of ICE and its law
enforcement arms, and is unacceptable. http://www.riag.ri.gov/home/ContactUs.php
ELECTION/VOTING
UPCOMING 2019 ELECTIONS: In
order to keep track of upcoming elections, we can use this from Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Elections_calendar
#VOTEPROCHOICE’S 2019 VOTER GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE: On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, there will be
49,000 races on the ballot in 34 states. It’s time to mobilize! #VOTEPROCHOICE is proud to release our
10th online voter guide in 4 years. We’ve distributed over 30 million voter
guides entirely devoted to making sure progressive, prochoice voters vote all
the way down the ballot in every single election. This is, again, the most
comprehensive, easy-to-use, progressive online voter guide available and we
want to get it into the hands 110 million voters from Maine to
California. The 2019 Voter Guide includes: 1) Every election
happening on November 5, 2019 (rolled out in phases based on early voting
dates), 2) Endorsements from 65+ state, local and national progressive
endorsing organizations, 3) Proven “Make a Plan To Vote” technology designed by
Ballot Ready, 4) Anti-choice organizational endorsements as a contrast, and 5) Available
in English and Spanish. Let’s check out
this voter guide (https://www.voteprochoice.us/voter-guide)
and use their
digital share kit, too: https://www.voteprochoice.us/partner-toolkit/
KENTUCKY: GOVERNOR ELECTION GUIDE. Election Day (Nov. 5) is quickly
approaching, with a showdown between Republican incumbent Matt Bevin and
Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear. We can see where both candidates, and
Libertarian nominee John Hicks, stand on key issues in Kentucky at Courier-Journal. If we are Kentucky voters, let's
review the gubernatorial candidates' positions.
LET'S GET OUT THE VOTE IN KENTUCKY! Postcards To Voters volunteers wrote to
13,962 Kentucky voters last weekend! Let's try to make this coming weekend even
more productive with Campaign
171: Kentucky Democratic Slate. Let's request 5 addresses today for
this important campaign.
NC: MAKE SURE STUDENT ID GETS APPROVED AS PHOTO ID TO VOTE:
Postcards for
America reminds us that many North Carolina colleges have not yet had
their student IDs approved as photo IDs needed to vote. The deadline
for private colleges is THIS SATURDAY, OCT 26.
We can check here to see if our schools has not yet applied: democracync.org/wp-content/upl And if they have not, demand our school
administrators submit this form bit.ly/32C9Ugf so students can use their student ID to vote. We can find out more about this at Postcards
for America’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/postcards4USA/posts/2487259778054886ht
IN Virginia, a crucial seat was decided (and lost) by a coin toss! ONE
vote would have saved the day. Every vote counts! Let’s make sure ours does!
LGBTQ & VOTER REGISTRATION—Around 21% of eligible LGBTQ adults are not
registered to vote, compared with 17% of non-LGBTQ adults. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/1-in-5-lgbtq-adults-isnt-registered-to-vote-despite-high-2020-stakes-2019-10-11 Voting
is an important way to protect LGBTQ rights. Let’s share this
information, along with this link to register to vote: https://turbovote.org/
HELP SPREAD THE VOTE: "At Spread The Vote, we work every day to ensure
that people have what they need to vote. 77% of the people we work with have
never voted before and 100% of our clients cannot vote without us." One of
the things this worthy org does is help people get an ID so they can
vote. Let's donate or volunteer if we can: https://www.spreadthevote.org/donate
2020 SENATE RACE: LOOKING AHEAD. 33 Senate seats will be
on the ballot next November. We can review the information at Ballotpedia for information on our own states' races.
STATE/LOCAL
MOST: FACEBOOK ANTITRUST ISSUES: A
total of forty-seven Attorneys General have launched an investigation against
Facebook regarding Antitrust issues (as led by New York AG Letitia James) in a
week when Facebook dominates the headlines for democracy-endangering
reasons: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/22/47-attorneys-general-are-investigating-facebook-for-antitrust-violations.html There’s
a list of involved states and territories at the end of the article. Let’s
be in touch with our own Attorney General if they signed-on to say thank
you: https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general
MA: DISABILITY RIGHTS: In October of 2018, the FDA announced in its Unified Agenda that it would be
implementing a final ban on electrical stimulation devices (ESDs) in the
upcoming year. It has been almost a year since the announcement, and the ban
has still not been issued. Meanwhile, disabled individuals at the Judge
Rotenberg Center continue to be tortured by these shock devices.
Because of the lack of movement at the federal and state levels, Boston
resident Daniel Farnkoff is working to get a proposal on the Massachusetts
ballot in November 2020; he will need to get approximately 80,000 signatures in
order to get the question on the ballot (https://bit.ly/2lvZL4m). The November 2019 deadline
is approaching, and we need help collecting those signatures! We can find
information on how to collect signatures, what is required by law, and which
talking points to use here, then let's sign up to collect signatures.
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
READING/WATCHING
Trump
impeachment: Five takeways from 'explosive' testimony (of Acting US Ambassador to Ukraine Bill
Taylor) - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50146358
This is the
difficult secret to getting people to change their minds - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-is-the-difficult-secret-to-getting-people-to-change-their-minds-2019-10-22
Sacramento
cannabis industry drawn into scandal: What we know about its links to Russia - https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article236340178.html
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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
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