2/6/20
NATIONAL
ISSUES
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Contact all Federal
Members of Congress
(includes contact info and
links to social media)
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
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IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL: Trump was acquitted on
both counts in the Senate yesterday: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/05/801429948/not-guilty-trump-acquitted-on-2-articles-of-impeachment-as-historic-trial-closes Let’s
reach out to our respective Senators to say either thank you (for voting to
convict) or you made the wrong choice (for voting to acquit). If our Senator(s)
voted for acquittal and is up for re-election this cycle, let’s also add that
we will work to ensure that they are not re-elected.
BILL TO
LOWER DRUG PRICES: In his State of the Union on Tuesday evening,
Trump implored Congress to “to pass bipartisan legislation to “dramatically”
lower the cost of prescription drugs.” https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/481533-trump-calls-for-bipartisan-bill-to-dramatically-lower-drug-prices The good news is that the House already has
and it is awaiting action in the Senate:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/5/21123917/state-of-the-union-democrats-chanting-hr3-bill Let’s contact our Senators and remind them
that Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act ( H.R. 3)
is just waiting for their approval.
BLACK LIVES
MATTER AT SCHOOL WEEK: This week
is the third national Black Lives Matter Week of Action, a "national
movement organizing for racial justice in education." The demands of BLM
Week of Action include: 1.) End zero tolerance, 2.) Mandate Black History and
ethnic studies, 3.) Hire more black teachers, and 4.) Fund counselors not
cops. Let's learn more about the week of action at the Black Lives Matter at School website, then, for the
educators among us, let's use the activities and lesson plans available in
the 2020 Curriculum Resource Guide to help educate our
students about racial justice and community activism. If we are not educators,
let's still encourage our local schools to participate in the week of action.
WHITE
SUPREMACY ON SPOTIFY: From Sleeping Giants:
For over two weeks, activist groups have been flagging up the podcast of
Patrick Casey, leader in the American Identity Movement (previously Identity
Evropa) on Spotify. Spotify hasn't responded. Maybe if all of us send an email
we'll hear back? Help us put it on their radar. We got everything you
need right here: Contact info: Dustee Jenkins, Head Of Global Communications
and PR, Email: dusteej@spotify.com.
E-mail template available here.
IOWA AND
THE DNC: First, there was
the Iowa primary debacle, which has raised the spectre not merely of
mismanagement, vote rigging, and obfuscation but, more importantly, of the
dangers of cellphone apps and Internet voting; if it did nothing else, it reinforced
the necessity of paper ballots: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/05/802883801/lessons-learned-from-the-iowa-caucuses-and-danger-signs-ahead
Beyond this, Tom Perez’s leadership of the DNC is being seriously called into
question based on his nominations for the 2020 Democratic Convention
committees: https://readsludge.com/2020/02/05/bloomberg-surrogates-have-seats-on-dnc-rules-committees/
Then there are the DNC rules, used to exclude all remaining non-white
candidates from the debate stage but suddenly changed, apparently to
accommodate the inclusion of white billionaire Mike Bloomberg:
https://www.newsweek.com/tomperezresign-trends-2020-democrats-accuse-dnc-chair-changing-rules-michael-bloombergs-benefit-1485545
None of this serves us as Democratic voters; if we hope to win this
election, we must insist that the DNC show us and the country that it is fair,
democratic, and transparent in its operations: #TomPerez or 202-863-8000 or 430
South Capitol St. SE, Washington DC 20003 or comment page at https://democrats.org/contact-us/.
MITT
ROMNEY: Utah GOP Senator Mitt Romney voted to convict
Trump on Article 1 of the impeachment articles: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/02/05/mitt-romney-break-with/
While we may not agree with Romney on policy, let’s take a moment to thank him
for doing the right thing siding with his country, and not party, and crashing
the narrative that this was solely partisan: https://www.romney.senate.gov/
STOP
NATIONAL ARCHIVES FROM DESTROYING RECORDS ON IMMIGRATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY: The White House is
giving the National Archives permission to delete thousands of records on
treatment of immigrants in detention facilities and environmental issues including
endangered species, offshore drilling inspections, the safety of drinking
water, and documents related to the “enforcement (or non-enforcement) of
health, safety and environmental laws and regulations.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/opinion/archives-document-destruction.html.
Let’s make sure to tell our MoCs that we expect strong oversight on this
issue and that they must find funds to keep our records intact, lest we slip
even further into fascism and planetary catastrophe.
SUPPORT
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER: Last night at the end of the State of the Union
Address, Speaker Pelosi calmly and methodically tore up her copy of Trump’s
speech in front the TV cameras, claiming, “he shredded the truth, so I shredded
his speech.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/05/nancy-pelosi-unleashes-on-trump-after-state-of-the-union-110825.
Pelosi has received some backlash for her action, so let’s support her by contacting
her office (202) 225-4965 or sending her a message on Facebook or
Twitter.@SpeakerPelosi.
NOMINATE
ADAM SCHIFF FOR A PROFILE IN COURAGE AWARD: Despite the Republican Senate’s complicity in the impeachment cover-up,
we can nominate House Intelligence Committee Chair and Lead Impeachment Manager
Adam Schiff for his relentless diligence, determination, and perseverance in speaking
truth to power. If we haven’t watched his “Midnight in America” closing
argument, let’s watch it here. And then let’s nominate Congressman Schiff for a
Profile in Courage Award by going to this link. The deadline is February 15.
DEMAND THAT JUDGES SERVE INDEPENDENTLY OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: According to Ashley Tabbador of the National Association of Immigrant Judges, one of the reasons that immigration cases are backlogged is because the judges are employees of the U.S. Attorney General which has established quotas and deadlines, making it difficult for judges to take the time to do their job as an impartial arbiter of justice. https://www.npr.org/2020/01/29/800938026/immigration-judges-association-argues-for-courts-independent-of-attorney-general. Judge Tabbador recently gave testimony on this issue to the House Judiciary Committee. Let’s contact the chair of that Committee, Jerry Nadler, as well as our own Representative and ask them to support legislation that would allow immigration judges independence from the political agenda of the Justice Department.
SUPPORT THE
RESISTANCE REVIVAL CHORUS: The Resistance Revival Chorus
is working on their first album, This Joy. Their music and mission is
infectious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dom2Na_6pdU
and https://www.topic.com/the-rebirth-of-resistance-choirs Let’s follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResistanceRevivalChorus/
and subscribe to their newsletter to keep up with their activities: https://mailchi.mp/402f49bd4157/rrc#header If we want to start our own local chapter, we
can use their toolkit: https://medium.com/@resistancerevivalchorus/resistance-revival-chorus-tool-kit-260ed7438977
REJECT THE
COVER-UP PROTESTS: If we attended one of the over 300 #RejectTheCoverup
protests on Wednesday evening, let’s take the time to share photos on
social media and thank the organizer of the one we attended.
ELECTION/VOTING
PRIMARIES/CAUCUS CALENDAR: From Ballotpedia:
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New Hampshire
(statewide)
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Primary election
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February 11, 2020
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Wisconsin
(statewide)
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Primary election
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February 18, 2020
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Nevada (statewide)
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Primary election
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February 22, 2020
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South Carolina
(statewide)
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Primary election
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February 29, 2020
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US SENATE BATTLEGROUNDS. Ballotpedia has
identified these seventeen (17) senate seats: a) ALABAMA. Democrat Doug Jones is up for re-election in
this red-leaning state. b) ALASKA: Republican Dan Sullivan is running for
re-election. As of now, no Democrats have filed to run in the primary in this
red state. c) ARIZONA: Republican Martha McSally has been in this
seat (formerly John McCain's) since 2019. Ballotpedia lists this special
election as a "toss-up." d) COLORADO: Republican Cory Gardner has held this seat
since 2015 in this toss-up race. e) GEORGIA: Republicans Kelly Loeffler (Special Election info) and David Perdue are both up for
re-election in this historically red state. f) IOWA: Republican Joni Ernst is running for a second
term. Iowa leans red. g) KANSAS: Republican Pat Roberts has held this seat since
1997 and is retiring after his 4th term. Kansas leans red. h) KENTUCKY: Republican Mitch McConnell is now finishing
his 6th term (since 1985). Kentucky has been historically red. #DitchMitch.
i) MAINE: Republican Susan Collins is wrapping up her 4th
term. Ballotpedia expects her race to be a toss-up. j) MICHIGAN: Democrat Gary Peters seeks his 2nd term in
this blue-leaning state. k) MINNESOTA: Democrat Tina Smith has held this seat since
2018 when Al Franken resigned. Minnesota trends blue. l) MONTANA: Republican Steve Daines seeks a 2nd
term in this red state. m) NEW HAMPSHIRE: Democrat Jeanne Shaheen seeks her 2nd
term in this blue state. n) NEW MEXICO: Democrat Tom Udall is retiring at the end
of this second term. NM trends blue. o) NORTH CAROLINA: Republican Thom Tillis is seeking a
second term. This race is expected to be a toss-up. n) p) TEXAS: Republican John Cornyn is seeking a 4th term in
this red state. If we are voters in these battleground states, let's
get to know the Democratic primary candidates now. If we are not in
one of these states, let's consider "adopting" a senate seat to
support.
LAWYERS NEEDED TO PROTECT THE VOTE—The Voter Protection
Corps is “building a state-by-state playbook to combat both intentional voter
suppression tactics and disenfranchisement caused by insufficient planning.”
The Corps is recruiting legal volunteers to help anyone who is eligible to vote
to register, vote, and have that vote counted. Let’s read more and join
the Voter Protection Corps: https://www.voter-protection.org/#get-involved
NEVADA CAUCUS - FEB. 22. Nevada uses
caucuses to select candidates. We can read about the process and how to
participate at Las Vegas Sun. We can find our precinct caucus locations
and early voting information here. This year’s caucus will start at noon on
February 22. If we are Nevada voters, let's make a plan to participate.
SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY- FEB. 29. South Carolina will be
the fourth and final state to hold a Democratic primary election in February.
If we are SC voters, we can find all the information we need at South Carolina Election
Commission. Let's make a plan to vote.
FIND ELECTION INFORMATION AT EQUAL VOTE LOCAL WEBSITE: As the election season gears
up, there is so much to keep track of and now we have a handy way to do it.
Equal Vote Local National has just unveiled their 2020 electoral
calendar. We can click here to find elections listed in chronological
order, color coded by voters, candidates and officials. We can also check out
their state by state map which contains information for each state about
candidates, media outlets, board of elections, state legislative contacts,
progressive groups, election calendars and voter information: https://www.equalvotelocal.com/
STATE/LOCAL
CA: FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE ALL YEAR WITH MONTHLY CLIMATE
ACTIONS:
We still have a chance to prevent the worst
aspects of climate change, but only if we act now. Fortunately, LA Forward has
put together a guide of 1 personal and 1 political action we can take each
month to fight climate change. With a focus on real systemic change, we can
help slash emissions and keep warming down. Even if we live outside of Southern
California, there are actions we can take. We can find more
information, get the Climate Action Guide and sign up for monthly email updates
to fight climate change here:
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
ATTEND LOVE NOT HATE EVENTS ON THE BORDER:
FEBRUARY 14-17. Four days’ worth of activities are being planned for the weekend of
February 14-17 as part of the witnessing actions on the border of Brownsville
Matamoros. These include attending tent courts, witnessing deportations at the
Brownsville Airport, vigiling at the courthouse, and participating in several
protest rallies. Let’s see if we can attend and/or let our friends and
neighbors know. The schedule is here. More information is available on the Witness
at the Border Facebook Page.
NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE TO CLOSE THE CAMPS—Tsuru for
Solidarity, a non-violent, direct action project of Japanese American social
justice advocates, is leading the planning of a gathering of Japanese Americans
from across the country in Washington, DC, June 5-7, 2020. The purpose
of the gathering is to express solidarity with immigrant and refugee
communities under attack in the US. Attendees will bring 125,000 paper cranes
(tsuru) to represent the Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in
concentration camps by the US government during World War II. We can support
the pilgrimage by holding “Tsuru Fold-ins” to bring to D.C. or to mail them to
Tsuru for Solidarity by May 1, 2020. To organize a fold-in,
receive updates, register to attend and learn of other ways to participate,
let’s visit: https://tsuruforsolidarity.org/2019/11/13/125000-paper-cranes-to-dc-in-june-2020-for-tsuru-for-solidaritys-national-pilgrimage-to-close-the-camps/
READING/WATCHING
Fact-checking
Donald Trump's 2020 State of the Union address - https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/feb/05/fact-checking-2020-state-union-address/
'Tidal
wave of voter suppression' washes over states, lawyer says - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/presidential-voting-season-tidal-wave-voter-suppression-washing-over-multiple-n1128041
10
fact-checks of Rush Limbaugh, Medal of Freedom winner - https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/feb/05/10-fact-checks-rush-limbaugh-medal-freedom-winner/
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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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