3/3/20
NATIONAL
ISSUES
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
|
HOW TO WASH
OUR HANDS: The World Health
Organization and Johns Hopkins Medical School show us the best hand-washing
technique to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus. Let’s watch and learn,
and let’s share with our networks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisgnbMfKvI
DIVERT
BORDER WALL FUNDS TO CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY—Senator Elizabeth Warren has introduced the “Prioritizing Pandemic
Prevention Act,” which will redirect all monies, both appropriated by Congress
and snatched up from other accounts by the Trump administration, from the
xenophobic border wall to a meaningful response to the coronavirus
outbreak. https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-warren-unveils-legislation-to-de-fund-presidents-border-wall-use-funds-to-combat-coronavirus-outbreak Let’s
tell our Senators to co-sponsor this bill.
CORONAVIRUS/RACISM: As fear of COVID-19 spreads, racism and
xenophobia is spreading with it, putting Asian Americans at risk of
discrimination and violent attacks (https://lat.ms/37zzODe). Members of the Congressional Asian
Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) have sent a letter, calling on members of
Congress to help prevent further fear and violence and "share only
confirmed and verifiable information about COVID-19 and dispel
misinformation," (https://bit.ly/2TyQs0P). Let's read through the letter, then contact our MoC at the state
and federal level, and urge them to do the same. Let's also continue checking
our own actions, and talking to our friends, family, and neighbors to ensure we
are stopping xenophobia in its tracks.
TRUMP’S
CORONAVIRUS CONSPIRACY THEORY:
Whether or not Trump really believes, with Rush Limbaugh, that the CDC (as
opposed to just the Democrats) is out to get him by sowing fear and bringing
down the all-important stock market, he sure sounded like it at Wednesday’s
news conference, as Greg Sargent points out in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/27/trump-just-pushed-one-his-worst-conspiracy-theories-yet/
and https://www.factcheck.org/2020/02/factchecking-trumps-coronavirus-press-conference/
Full of words about the preparedness of the US for an epidemic, Trump failed to
mention that he has, while in office, eliminated the National Security Council
position meant to coordinate responses to pandemics, ignored an expert panel
that warned that the US is unprepared for global health threats, and recommends
in the current budget that the CDC be cut by 16%, the World Health Organization
by 53%, the Pan American Health Organization by 75%, and the Department of
Health & Human Services by 10%. We need to urge our MoCs to think
globally and take charge of this (not yet) health crisis, given Trump’s
apparent concern only with the financial well-being of the wealthy and not the
public’s health.
REVERSE MPP
(REMAIN IN MEXICO): On Friday,
the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared the MPP was illegal and ordered an
immediate end. After the government complained, the court stayed its decision
and invited more arguments today and tomorrow. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/28/810440516/federal-court-again-blocks-trumps-remain-in-mexico-program.
It’s likely that even if the court upholds its initial decision, Trump will
appeal to the Supreme Court. Even worse than MPP, however, are the PACR and
HARP programs that fast-track applicants and send them to apply for asylum in
other countries. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/ban-on-attorney-access-for-asylum-proceedings-in-inhumane-cbp-jails-key-to-trumps-attack-on-asylum/.
Let’s tell our MoCs to pass legislation that clearly prohibits these
policies.
ASK ALABAMA
GOVERNOR TO REPRIEVE DEATH SENTENCE FOR WRONGLY CONVICTED NATE WOODS: Nathaniel Woods is going to be executed on March
5th, for a crime he did not commit. He was wrongly charged and wrongly
convicted, and may soon be wrongly executed. Woods was charged with planning to
kill a police officer, but the actual convicted killer maintains there was no
plan. https://eji.org/news/nathaniel-woods-alabama-execution/
Overcharging and inadequate legal
representation has led him to the brink of execution, but we can speak up for
him now. This injustice is unacceptable. We need to fight together to save Nate
Woods. We can click here to learn more about how badly Nates case has
been handled for the beginning, then send a letter to Kay Ivey, the Governor of
Alabama, and her colleagues telling them to asking for a reprieve of
execution so that new crucial evidence in Nate’s case can be reviewed. https://savenate.com/ It will take
minutes and could save a life.
REPORT
SOCIAL MEDIA SUPER TUESDAY DISINFORMATION: Today, on Super Tuesday, we can expect our social networks to be
flooded with disinformation, but we can work with global activist organization Avaaz
https://secure.avaaz.org/page/en/ to stop it. As
the Super Tuesday social Media front line eyes and ears, we can report any
disinformation we see to Avaaz here: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/disinfo_form_super_tuesday_b/
Working with fact-checkers and partners to investigate our tips, Avaaz can then
expose the fakes, report on them, and make sure that social platforms take
action. We can also see the many ways Avaaz is fighting disinformation, and
join in if we would like, here:
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/disinfo_hub/
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/disinfo_hub/
WE DO NOT
SUPPORT TORTURE: From one of our own: “I was scared to be killed and leave my
children without a mother,” a woman from Honduras told Physicians
for Human Rights (PHR) as she sought a safe haven in the United States
after she and her children fled violence. Migrant parents take the difficult
journey to the United States in hopes of protection for their families, but
what they encounter at the border is cruelty, confusion, and having their
children forcibly taken into custody by U.S. immigration officials. They are
sometimes not even told where their children are being held. According to PHR’s newest report, this
constitutes torture: https://phr.org/news/asylum-seeking-families-separated-by-u-s-government-experienced-torture-phr-concludes-in-new-investigation/ Let’s sign and share this PHR petition: https://secure.phr.org/secure/not-just-trauma-torture
CURB
EFFORTS TO DENATURALIZE IMMIGRANT CITIZENS: The Justice Department has established an office to revoke citizenship
of naturalized immigrant citizens. Its supposed goal is to revoke citizenship
from those who are proven “terrorists, war criminals, sex offenders, and other
fraudsters,” but there’s legitimate fear that the office could use its powers
more broadly, putting all naturalized American citizens at risk. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/politics/denaturalization-immigrants-justice-department.html
and https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/02/28/department-of-justice-steps-up-efforts-to-target-naturalized-citizens/
Let’s ask our MoCs to introduce legislation that clearly curbs the powers and
funding of this new office and assures that naturalized citizens have the same
rights as all American citizens.
DIVESTING
THE GLOBE: “ In a major win for
environmental organizations and Indigenous groups, JPMorgan Chase on Tuesday
announced that it will not finance oil and gas extraction in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge, nor will it continue financing many coal-related enterprises,
including thermal coal mines and coal-fired power plants across the world.” https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/jp-morgan-chase-will-halt-financing-arctic-oil-gas-drilling
Divesting from fossil fuels is an effort long supported by indigenous people, students
and those interested in climate, but the call to divest is now coming from
others as well. https://www.cjr.org/covering_climate_now/climate-beat-newsletter-big-oil.php and https://apnews.com/83593b884fcba7ca1527a8ef6cae41b3
Let’s learn how we can all become part of this change with Mazaska Talks - Money Talks and let’s get our organizations involved as
well: https://mazaskatalks.org/pledge We can also like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MazaskaTalks/
and follow them on Twitter: @MazaskaTalks
ADVOCATE FOR SEA WALL TO PROTECT NEW YORK FROM FLOODING DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE: After a Trump tweet mocking the project, a sea wall designated to protect New York City from flooding was “indefinitely postponed.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/nyregion/sea-wall-nyc.html and https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-25/u-s-army-corps-suspends-key-study-of-nyc-storm-protections With climate change forcing rising sea levels, let’s remind our MoCs that they have allocated this money and ask them to follow through on assuring that one of our country’s key economic centers is protected.
CLIMATE
CHANGE LIES: It’s called,
internally, “Goks uncertainty language” after Indur M. Goklany, an Interior
Department official recently promoted ed by Trump, who has led the effort to
introduce debunked, misleading, or inaccurate information about climate change
into at least nine agency reports--things like that rising carbon dioxide
levels are beneficial to the environment or that there is no scientific
consensus about global warming: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/485442-trump-official-inserted-debunked-climate-change-language-into-scientific
The Bureau of Reclamation, which first published Goklany’s misinformation
and which is in charge of dams and water resources, insists that the bureau has
“no formal requirement to include specific language in any document”; let’s
tell them and the Interior Department that WE require that the language be
true—and that those who circulate lies face some consequences: Bureau of
Reclamation, 202-513-0501 or Brenda Burman, Commissioner, Bureau of
Reclamation, 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240-000; Department of Interior,
202-208-3100 or 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240-000.
POSTCARD
TIME: From one of our own – Here is a ready-to-print
list of postcarding opportunities for this week. Let’s grab some friends and head to a
local coffeeshop and get writing! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q5oithfDmSijorwGSCXqq3rPifx81--qmhddRi0deRs/edit
ELECTION/VOTING
PRIMARIES/CAUCUS CALENDAR: https://ballotpedia.org/Elections_calendar
STATE-BY-STATE GUIDE TO SUPER TUESDAY: The face of Super Tuesday is changing quickly
with Pete Buttegieg and Amy Klobuchar dropping out within a 24-hour period. If
we live in a Super Tuesday state (AL, AR, CA, CO, MA, ME, MN, NC, OK, TN, TX,
UT, VA, VT) and haven’t voted yet, here’s a voting guide: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/02/811028381/your-state-by-state-guide-to-super-tuesday Let’s
get out there to have a say in the Democratic primary.
SUPER TUESDAY SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION STATES: If we’re not
registered to vote but want to vote on March 3, 2020—Super Tuesday—we can do so
if we’re in the following states: CA, CO, ID, IL, MI, MN, NH, UT, VT, WA
(according to Rock the Vote, https://www.facebook.com/rockthevote/photos/a.95488458672/10157765351768673/?type=3&theater ) Let’s
share—and go to the polls!
SUPER TUESDAY TEXTING: When We All Vote has a texting
team. We can sign up and help remind people to get to the polls today,
this is an easy way to do it. We can
sign up here: https://action.whenweallvote.org/page/s/join-the-texting-team
(h/t Chop
Wood Carry Water)
WRITE TO VOTERS! We can help get out the vote with Postcards to Voters.
Currently, two campaigns are running with long lists of addressees: a) Florida
Vote By Mail: Miami-Dade County. We can help reach more than 500,000
Miami-Dade registered Democrats to encourage them to sign up for Vote By Mail.
b) Campaign 197: Jill Karofsky for Wisconsin
Supreme Court. We are writing to more than 400,000 registered Wisconsin
Democrats to make sure they know about experienced judge Jill Karofsky for the
April 7 election. Let's request 5 addresses for one of these campaigns
today.
VOTE AT HOME: DemLabs is
helping Vote at Home to
collect comments from people on the value of voting by mail. Please help
by recording a short 30-second video clip and sharing with others too. We
can record the video from a phone or laptop - in any language. Some of these
clips will be used to create a short campaign video after Super Tuesday
to encourage more people to get mail ballots. Let’s use this
link: https://flipgrid.com/voteathome
MAKE CALLS TO TURNOUT GUN SAFETY VOTERS: It’s time to elect a
gun safety majority, so let’s join #Turnout2020, and get out the
vote (GOTV) for gun safety in key swing states. Funded by the Progressive
Turnout Project, this Newton Action Alliance phone program aims to drive voter
turnout in key Senate and Presidential battleground states, by making phone
calls to voters likely to benefit from a social nudge by a fellow voter. We can
sign up for phone bank shifts at home or in local community centers.
Tonight, March 3 is the first call night when we invite volunteers
to join us in calling Wisconsin voters to turn out for the April 5 Supreme
Court race. There will be many more ways to call voters and we can
check them out here to find out more, then, if we like, to volunteer to GOTV
for Gun Safety efforts via #Turnout2020:
https://turnout2020.org
ELECTION PROTECTION—There’s a national, nonpartisan coalition of
voting rights defenders with a hotline number. https://866ourvote.org/ Let’s
put this number in our cell phone contacts before we head to the polls, just in
case we need assistance: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Hotlines for
other languages here: https://866ourvote.org/about/
OVERSEAS VOTERS: We have our own Presidential Primary, and our vote
may have 4 times more punch than voting in our home state! Vote today, and
help determine the Democratic Presidential candidates our delegates cast their
vote for at the Democratic National Convention this July! Go to https://www.democratsabroad.org/primary, download
a ballot, fill it out, email it back: it's easy as pie, and doesn't prevent us
from voting for down-ballot primaries in our state. The deadline for emailing
in ballots is midnight, Pacific Time on March 10th, 2020.
P2V ELECTION WATCH: Postcards to Voters' (P2V) volunteers will be
watching returns Tuesday night for two (2) California elections: a) Campaign
192: Ellen Beraud for San Luis Obispo County Supervisor. b) Campaign
193: Ammar Campa-Najjar for Congress, CA District 50. Thanks
to everyone who wrote for these campaigns.
CA: Yes, homeless folks can vote in the presidential
primary. Here's a how-to: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-02-28/homeless-voters-california-presidential-primary-2020
STATE/LOCAL
MI: ELECTION LEGISLATION: From MI
Resistance: "The Michigan Senate’s Committee on Elections has unanimously
passed to the Senate body two bills (Senate Bills 0756 and 0757)
that would implement early processing of absentee ballots and to allow for
absentee counting boards to work in shifts. While the two bills addressing
absentee voting have bipartisan support in the Michigan Senate, Senate Majority
Leader Mike Shirkey intends to block them." Let's call Senator
Shirkey and the Republican sponsors of the bills, and urge them to bring these
bills to the Senate floor for a vote: Sen. Mike Shirkey: 517-373-5932, Sen.
Ruth Johnson: 517-373-1636, Sen. Peter Lucido: 517-373-7670, Sen. Michael
McDonald: 517-373-7315, Sen. Jim Runestad: 517-373-1758, Sen. Peter MacGregor:
517-373-0797, Sen. Aric Nesbitt: 517-373-0793, Sen. Ed McBroom: 517-373-7840
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS/GROUP
ACTIONS
#TheIdesOfTrump: On March 15, together let's make
history by sending 1 million postcards to Donald Trump telling him he is fired. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBq9GTAtsyU&feature=youtu.be
Light
UP America: Mark your
calendar for March 15 at dusk, and follow Vigil for Democracy to stay
updated: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vigilfordemocracy
and Instagram.com/VigilForDemocracy and Twitter.com/vigil4democracy.
This is not another march or rally. It’s a thoughtfully designed non-violent direct-action
campaign, put together by seasoned activists. While you wait, read George
Lakey’s book How We Win, or browse his org’s website: wagingnonviolence.org
READING/WATCHING
What is
coronavirus and what should I do if I have symptoms? - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/what-is-coronavirus-symptoms-wuhan-china-covid-19
Every
Democratic Candidate's "Black Agenda," Ranked - https://www.theroot.com/every-democratic-candidates-black-agenda-ranked-1841959166
EPA
scientists found a toxic chemical damages fetal hearts. The Trump White
House rewrote their assessment
- https://www.revealnews.org/article/epa-scientists-found-a-toxic-chemical-damages-fetal-hearts-the-trump-white-house-rewrote-their-assessment/
The Way
You Define Racism May Stop You From Seeing It - So What Definition Do You Hold? - https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/28/way-define-racism-may-stop-seeing-definition-hold-12287889/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.