6/18/20
NATIONAL
ISSUES
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Members of Congress
(includes contact info and
links to social media)
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ADVOCATE
FOR CHANGES TO GOP POLICE REFORM BILL: Yesterday the GOP Senate, without any input or negotiation from
Democrats, revealed their own police reform bill. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/503134-read-break-down-of-senate-gops-police-reform-billUnlike
the Democratic House bill, which “bans chokeholds, eliminates the legal shield
protecting police from lawsuits, mandates the use of body cameras nationwide,
bans military-style weapons for police and creates a national database
disclosing the names of officers with patterns of abuse,” https://thehill.com/homenews/house/501636-democrats-unveil-sweeping-legislation-in-response-to-protests-of-police
and https://www.npr.org/2020/06/08/872180672/read-democrats-release-legislation-to-overhaul-policing,
the Senate bill simply “incentivizes police departments to do these things
by making them ineligible for federal grants if they don’t. This is not
enough, and let’s make sure our Senators know that we expect much more
definitive action on a problem that has been happening for far too long.
Let’s tell our Senators not to support this bill and to advocate for the
provisions in the much stronger House bill.
PROTECT THE
RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION: In
response to disturbing reports speculating that Trump will not concede and
transfer power peacefully if he loses the election, Indivisible and Stand Up
America have instigated an organizing effort to protect the results. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/us/politics/trump-2020-election-voting-rights.html
Let’s find out more and pledge to take action here,
if Trump does not willingly leave office.
CALL SENATORS TO SUPPORT DEMILITARIZING THE POLICE: The events of the past few weeks have shown that police violence is a serious problem we must address. A key step towards that is demilitarizing our police forces by ending the 1033 Program, which funnels military equipment to police departments through our country. https://www.wired.com/story/pentagon-hand-me-downs-militarize-police-1033-program/ We can learn more about demilitarization and the 1033 program here.
https://www.joincampaignzero.org/demilitarization We
can ask our senators to support Senator Brian Schatz’s amendment to the
National Defense Authorization Act to end the 1033 Program, which equips local
law enforcement with used military equipment like armored vehicles and
bayonets.
NATIVE
AMERICAN VOTER SUPPRESSION: “Within
the last decade, a host of new laws have appeared that further disenfranchise
marginalized voters, including Indigenous voters, according to the Native
American Voting Rights Coalition, a nonpartisan alliance of voting rights
advocates. In June, the
coalition published a detailed report on widespread Native
disenfranchisement.” “Frankly, the overt
racism that we saw throughout the field hearings, I think, would be shocking to
the average American. Most people don’t think that type of racism exists
anymore.” https://www.hcn.org/issues/52.6/indigenous-affairs-election-2020-report-indigenous-voters-face-racism-and-suppression Let’s ask our MoCs how they are planning to
address this.
SUPPORT
CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION TO COMBAT POLICE BRUTALITY
Congresswomen
Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Karen Bass, and Barbara Lee have written a resolution
condemning racial profiling, police brutality, and the use of excessive force.
It also calls for better oversight and independent investigations, stronger DOJ
involvement, civilian review boards with clout, and policies to reduce police
violence, and racial profiling. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-george-floyd-protests-ayanna-pressley-racism/ We
can read the resolution here: https://pressley.house.gov/sites/pressley.house.gov/files/A%20Resolution%20Condemning%20Police%20Brutality_0.pdf We can sign here to become a
Grassroots Co-sponsor, then call our Representatives and ask them to support
this resolution:
FIGHT NOMINATION
OF NANCY BECK: “Trump's nominee
to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission is Nancy Beck, a toxicologist
who currently leads chemical and pesticide regulation at the Environmental Protection
Agency. . . "When I heard that Nancy Beck was nominated to head the CPSC,
I was truly and profoundly concerned," says Rachel Weintraub,
the legislative director for the Consumer Federation of America, which
advocates for safe products. "[Beck's] record is one of thwarting consumer
protections, mostly in the realm of toxic chemicals."” https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/16/876309425/scientists-warn-against-consumer-protection-nominee Let’s make sure our senators know we do
not want this nominee confirmed.
TRUMP
CORONAVIRUS “SUPERSPREADER” RALLY:
In Tulsa, OK, where Trump plans to rally thousands of supporters on Saturday at
an indoor arena, residents, businesses and nonprofits joined a suit to get
organizers to enforce social distancing protocols and abide “by the
government-mandated CDC guidelines with respect to mass events,” claiming the
rally could act as a “superspreader” event in a state where coronavirus rates
are already increasing: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/17/879193876/judge-denies-request-to-force-coronavirus-safety-measures-at-trumps-tulsa-rally and https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-reports-259-new-coronavirus-cases-wednesday-1-additional-death/32893461 They
lost--despite insisting that they’d file the same suit “If Joe Biden, if the
[Oklahoma City] Thunder, if Garth Brooks was wanting to have a 19,000-person
event. . . .“ Even Dr. Fauci would not attend such a rally for health
reasons. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/course-not-fauci-says-he-wouldn-t-attend-trump-rallies-n1231262
Let’s tell the mayor of Tulsa, GT
Bynum, a Republican who won’t himself attend--https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-06-17/dont-ask-tulsas-mayor-about-trump-rally-plans --to
put a stop to this madness, and likewise tell OK’s Republican governor, Kevin
Stitt: Bynum: 1-918-815-9268 and Stitt at #GovStitt or https://www.governor.ok.gov/contact/leave-comment
PETITION TO
RENAME EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE:
"It’s far past time to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after Rep. John
Lewis, a civil rights icon that nearly gave his life on that bridge,” said
Michael Starr Hopkins. “Edmund Pettus was a bitter racist, undeserving of the
honor bestowed upon him. As we wipe away this country's long stain of bigotry,
we must also wipe away the names of men like Edmund Pettus." We
can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/governor-of-alabama-rename-the-edmund-pettus-bridge-after-rep-john-lewis
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
TUESDAY
PRIMARIES: KY, NY, VA:
Tuesday, June 23, primaries will be held in Kentucky, New York, and Virginia. Let’s
get out the vote!
SUPPORT
CAMPAIGNS FROM WHEREVER WE ARE:
Common Purpose Now, a non-profit based in Washington state, works with local
partners across the country, following their
lead to provide support that they request (such as fieldwork on a campaign).
While the organization previously arranged for volunteers to travel (using
their own funds) to swing states for on-the-groundwork, everything is currently
remote. That means there are lots of opportunities to *remotely* help campaigns
in AZ, ME, MI and more. Common Purpose also has trainings, lectures, and
discussions. They put young, diverse people in key positions and support their
development as leaders. Here's where we can sign up to help: https://cpnow.org
TEXT
WITH BLACK VOTERS MATTER: “Black Voters Matter is
dedicated to building power across the south! We need your help to do so!” Let’s sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hSLgv-0KVTFcJcuIi-mGoqHq5EclnhSG4o5eCtnu0D4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Fill out this form to sign up to help and we'll notify you when the campaigns are launching!
Fill out this form to sign up to help and we'll notify you when the campaigns are launching!
STATE/LOCAL
ALL: RELEASE
INMATES FROM COVID-INFESTED PRISONS: While COVID rates in many states are
decreasing, in prisons they have increased by 73%. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/coronavirus-inmates-prisons-jails.html
and https://www.mic.com/p/coronavirus-deaths-in-prisons-have-skyrocketed-73-in-a-month-22985167
This is just one more reason why we must
ask our governors,
local sheriffs and state legislators to release all inmates who
don’t pose a threat to public safety, including those who can’t make bail and
are awaiting trial, non-violent offenders, and immigrant detainees.
MA: SUPPORT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN OUR STATE: We have a historic
chance to strengthen our democracy and expand our choices at the ballot box
through Ranked Choice Voting, https://voterchoice2020.org/about/ which
lets voters rank candidates on the ballot in order of
preference: first, second, third, etc. If one candidate gets
a majority of the first-choice votes, they win. If not, the candidate
with the least votes is eliminated, and those votes
count instantly towards the next choice on each voter’s
ballot. The process continues until one candidate gains the majority and
wins. https://ballotpedia.org/Ranked-choice_voting_(RCV)
If we would like to support Ranked Choice Voting, we can complete this form
and help put it on the ballot. After filling it out, we will be redirected
to sign the official petition. We must be a registered voter
in Massachusetts to sign it: https://sign.voterchoice2020.org/
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS/GROUP ACTIONS/TWEETSTORMS
JUNETEENTH:
Whoever we are, let’s be
sure to turn up at a live or virtual event on Friday, June 19th, afternoon
or evening to make clear our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
To find an event in any area throughout the country, let’s check here: https://map.sixnineteen.com/
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
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
READING/WATCHING/LISTENING
U.S.
plummets to 10th spot in World Competitiveness Ranking - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-plummets-to-10th-spot-in-world-competitiveness-ranking/
Face-Masks
May be the Key Determinant Of the Covid-19 Curve - https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2020/06/13/face-masks-may-be-the-key-determinant-of-the-covid-19-curve-study-suggests/#6794fa5c6497
How you
can be an ally in the fight for racial justice - https://ideas.ted.com/how-you-can-be-an-ally-in-the-fight-for-racial-justice/
Susan
Rogan: Librarian, Grandmother, Activist - https://newfacesofdemocracy.org/susan-rogan-librarian-grandmother-activist/
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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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