Rogan's List

6/11/20

NATIONAL ISSUES

Contact all Federal Members of Congress (includes contact info and links to social media) https://www.contactingcongress.org/ Fax legislators for free: Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php Senate:  https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php Or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/ Purchase stamps, postcards, and other mailing supplies:  https://store.usps.com/store/ White House contact:  https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house

END MILITARY POLICING:  If the militarized policing we have witnessed over the past two weeks is not alarming enough--https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/police-militarization-fails-to-protect-officers-and-targets-black-communities-study-finds or https://www.pnas.org/content/115/37/9181 --the armed soldiers without insignia or identifying emblems or name badges clearing protesters in DC’s Lafayette Park should be; when asked, many of these apparently federal agents refused to identify which agency they work for.  As of the last official count, the federal government employed over 132,000 armed civilian law enforcement officers-- https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/fedlawenforceoff2016.pdf --only about half of them work for the big “brand name” agencies and more than half work for agencies led, under Trump, by temporary acting officials:  https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/05/protests-washington-dc-federal-agents-law-enforcement-302551  We must call on our MoCs to deal not only with local police brutality but also with the use (and proliferation) of unidentified soldiers to stop us from exercising our constitutional rights and join with 1200 ex-DOJ officials-- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/10/bill-barr-ex-doj-staffers-want-review-ag-role-clearing-protesters/5334704002/--to call for a review of Attorney General William Barr’s role in the Lafayette Sq. events: 202-353-1555 or Main Switchboard: 202-514-2000 or DOJ, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20530-0001.

COVID STILL WITH US:  “A total of 14 states and the US territory of Puerto Rico have recorded their worst week yet for new coronavirus infections, with Texas hitting a record high in Covid-19 hospitalizations, all while restrictions to curb the pandemic are being relaxed across America.”  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/09/coronavirus-cases-uptick-detected-some-us-states  “Population-wide face mask use could push COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels for national epidemics, and could prevent further waves of the pandemic disease when combined with lockdowns, according to a British study on Wednesday.”  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-masks-study/widespread-mask-wearing-could-prevent-covid-19-second-waves-study-idUSKBN23G37V  Let’s do our part to ward off this infection by wearing masks and encouraging others to do so as well. Let’s also find ways to maintain our social distancing boundaries:   https://www.stripes.com/news/us/how-to-stand-your-ground-on-social-distancing-without-alienating-family-and-friends-1.632923

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WORKERS CALL FOR BARR INVESTIGATION ON HIS ROLE IN ENFORCEMENT ON PEACEFUL PROTESTORS:  “Some 1,260 former federal prosecutors, judges and department officials penned a letter Wednesday asking DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate after law enforcement used chemical agents and rubber bullets to scatter the peaceful crowd. If the Attorney General or any other DOJ employee has directly participated in actions that have deprived Americans of their constitutional rights or that physically injured Americans lawfully exercising their rights, that would be misconduct of the utmost seriousness, the details of which must be shared with the American people,” the former officials wrote on Medium.  https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/502074-over-1200-doj-alumni-call-for-probe-of-barrs-role-in-crowd-clearing We can join them by writing, calling or tweeting and ask him to proceed with the investigation and determine Barr’s role in this illegal action. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, at U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530-0001 Phone: (202) 514-3435 or tweet him here: @JusticeOIG

INVESTIGATE NY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BRUTALITY AGAINST LEGAL OBSERVERS: At a protest, last Thursday evening, the New York Police brutally arrested many legal observers who were clearly identifiable in neon green hats, on the bogus charge of violating curfew, which they’re exempt from.  https://gothamist.com/news/round-green-hats-nypd-accused-deliberately-targeting-legal-observers-brutal-bronx-mass-arrest? and https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2020/06/08/letter-demands-nypd-discipline-after-legal-observers-were-detained-illegally-searched-during-bronx-protest/?slreturn=20200510134220. This is unacceptable and one of the reasons that we need to take bold action against an overall system rooted in racism that has become far too authoritarian. Let’s complain to NYC Police Commissioner Dermott McShea and New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio and demand that they immediately investigate and suspend all the police officers involved in this action.  

VOTER SUPPRESSION IN GEORGIA: Things were predictably a mess in Georgia on Tuesday with voter suppression galore during the primary and peek of what is to come in November: https://apnews.com/44b2c660322b51252fe3a47327fc91f9 Let’s call for resignations of Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger: https://gov.georgia.gov/contact-us and  https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/general/secretary_brad_raffensperge

INVESTIGATE VOTER SUPPRESSION IN GEORGIA: Georgia’s primary revealed significant problems in minority areas including long lines, malfunctioning voting machines, and non-delivery of ballots to people who requested them by mail. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/georgia-secretary-state-launches-investigation-after-unacceptable-voting-problems-n1228541. While the Republican Secretary of State has launched an investigation, the governor Brian Kemp, who was the former Secretary of State, has a history of past voter suppression issues. We need to make sure that the investigation is fair and unbiased and that every voter in Georgia has equal access to the ballot box in November. Let’s ask our MoCs to hold a Congressional investigation. Let’s also check out how we can help Stacy Abrams’ organization, Fair Fight which is fighting back against voter suppression, in Georgia and beyond.

THREE FREE SAFETY APPS FOR PROTESTORS: “Police violence and digital surveillance shouldn't be used to intimidate peaceful protestors. These free apps protect protestors exercising their First Amendment right to "assemble peaceably and to petition their government".” Let’s check these out and use them: https://mailchi.mp/thedemlabs/protestpeacefullly

ELECTION/VOTING

2020 ELECTION CALENDAR: This resource is searchable by date and state -  https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/2020-state-primary-election-dates.aspx

REMINDER- CHECK VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS:   Let’s make sure to regularly check our voter registration status. States are purging voters routinely--we don't want to get caught off guard. Take 1 minute and check right now: I Will Vote  Then, let’s check how to vote by mail in our state. Many rules have changed due to the pandemic and we may be able to vote with a mailed ballot. We can find our state's latest voting rules here: How to Vote By Mail in Every State

GA:  REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT:  From one of our own:  Georgia voters—don’t stand in long lines for the Presidential election in November!!  Apply for your absentee ballot TODAY! Request that application by calling the registrar or absentee ballot clerk in the county where you are registered to vote or download it. You can find it at: https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Fillable%20Absentee%20Ballot%20Form%202020.pdf 
Just copy that address and paste it into your browser. If you are only requesting an absentee ballot for the November election, you do not need to give a reason for wanting to vote by mail. Do it today to get your ballot 45 days prior to November 3.

PROTEST AND VOTER REGISTRATION:  From one of our own:  Going to a rally or march? Print one of these QR and text codes from HeadCount (a national, non-profit voter registration org) and stick it on your sign!!! The code will take them to a page with three options: to register to vote, to get their friends to pledge to vote, and to check their registration status.   With the pandemic going on, the tried and true methods of registering people to vote are just not feasible - tabling and canvassing aren't happening anytime soon and that is a problem. This is a GREAT way to help. Another thing you can do is to comment the following when you see someone posting about a march: Please help get folks registered to vote by adding these QR/text codes to your sign:

https://www.headcount.org/unitedwevote/

STATE/LOCAL

ALL: FIND OUT THE OF LEVEL POLICE VIOLENCE IN OUR STATES AND DEMAND CHANGE: It’s time to hold our state leaders accountable for police violence. Using this tool, we can look up our state to find out where our it ranks in terms of police violence, learn about the disproportionate impact it has on Black people in many states. We can use this information to demand a change in policies and practices that threaten black lives: https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/states

ALL: PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS:  The consensus is that the Georgia primary election was a “catastrophe,” with up to 7 hour waits at some of the few polling stations, insufficient testing of a new ballot system or training of poll workers, vote-by-mail ballots not delivered, affidavit ballots in short supply, and so on:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/10/georgia-primary-catastrophe-voting-groups-blast-long-lines-other-malfunctions/5332904002/ or https://www.npr.org/2020/06/09/873054620/long-lines-voting-machine-issues-plague-georgia-primary This is how elections are stolen.  In the absence of federal oversight, we must all contact our state or local boards of elections and make it clear that we expect them to guarantee a fair and efficient process for November:  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/tuesdays-primaries-offer-lessons-for-november  While we’re at it, Fair Vote offers a handy list of nonpartisan voter registration organizations:  http://archive.fairvote.org/?page=2467

ALL: POLICE REFORM:  The effort to reform municipal police departments has acquired a new urgency and a new currency in the past week; in NYC, LA, DC, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, local policymakers are urging that funds be redirected from the police to a variety of  education and/or anti-poverty efforts.  In Minneapolis, the city council has just voted, in a veto-proof majority, to dismantle and replace the police department:  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/07/minneapolis-city-council-defund-police-george-floyd#maincontent  If we are curious as to what this might look like, check out: https://www.mpd150.com/resources/  In the meantime, let’s call our mayors and insist that police budgets are totally out of control and must be cut.

ALL:  DEMAND OUR CITY COUNCILS REFORM POLICE DEPARTMENTS NOW:

City councils determine policies for our police departments and now is the time to demand that they implement changes to protect Black lives in our communities. We can start by reading this twitter thread by Celeste Pewter for key questions to ask our city councils.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1270548314048434176.html  We can also click here to find emails to send to our local government officials and council members to reallocate egregious police budgets towards education, social services, and dismantling racial inequality via this crowd-sourced tool: https://defund12.org  (This tool is designed to help you hold state policy-makers accountable for police violence. It uses data on police killings that have happened from January 2013 through December 2019. You can use the tool to compare U.S. states to identify which states have the highest levels of police violence. You can also see how police violence disproportionately impacts black people in many states. In doing so, we hope you will be better equipped to hold policy-makers accountable for changing the policies and practices that make their states more likely to threaten black lives. And after you've explored this tool, click here to learn which police departments bear the most responsibility for this violence.)

RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS/GROUP ACTIONS/TWEETSTORMS

VOLUNTEER TO ADOPT A BATTLEGROUND STATE FOR 2020 VICTORY: The election may hinge on six key states and a Vote Save America has just launched a strategy to win them.  The Adopt a State Program is brand-new remote mobilization program that will help us directly support the work of organizers and candidates in these six key battleground states that will be most important to winning a progressive majority on Election Day—no matter where we live. After months working with the most effective state parties, political strategists, and progressive organizations on the ground in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to find out where we can help the most, they will only send us actions that will make a real impact. We’ll get first rate training to become part of the best group of digital organizers out there. This custom live training series will include four sessions on Thursday evenings in June, curated to help make us the most effective organizers we can be. When we sign up, we’ll learn the messaging that works best, and the remote and in-person opportunities that will help us make the biggest possible impact on the outcome of its races:  https://votesaveamerica.com/subscribe/

GET TRAINED TO VOLUNTEER VIRTUALLY FOR BIDEN: The upcoming 2020 Presidential Election will be crucial in deciding the fate of our country and our democracy. After 2016, we know we cannot be complacent, but must do everything possible to defeat Trump and get our country back on track. One way to start is to help Joe Biden's campaign which is looking for volunteers right now. We can click here to join an Action Center trainings (which will be offered 75 times between May 27 and November 1) and learn how to use our online organizing hub to volunteer virtually for Joe:  https://www.mobilize.us/joebiden/event/149561

MASS POOR PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY & MORAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON: “The Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington is going digital! On June 20th, we will hold the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in this nation’s history. A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. On June 20, the 140 million poor and low-wealth people across this nation will be heard!”  We can sign up here:  https://actionnetwork.org/forms/rsvp-for-june-20-2020-mass-poor-peoples-assembly-moral-march-on-washington

READING/WATCHING/LISTENING

“Be wary of things that are purely symbolic”: How to join the conversation on race - https://www.vox.com/2020/6/9/21285062/ijeoma-oluo-interview-talk-race-book-george-floyd-protests

To White Parents Who Want To Be Allies At This Time - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-parents-allies-black-lives-matter-movement_n_5edc0ed8c5b64a0af20f1f14

Want to be an Antiracist?  Here’s a Place to Start - https://crooked.com/articles/antiracism-resources/

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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