10/29/20
Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls. - Nanette L. Avery
NATIONAL ISSUES
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE:
As we wind down towards a
handful of days until November 3rd and with uncertainty about what will
follow, let's pause to take a moment to say thanks to those who have
walked with us over the past four years: an organizer, a friend, a journalist,
a politician, a neighbor. An email, a text, a postcard, a tweet - let's express
some gratitude.
COURT
REFORM: With the support of
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a large portion of the Senate, Trump
has appointed three justices to the Supreme Court and over 200 federal judges
in lower level courts (https://n.pr/3jBOrvV, https://bit.ly/2TKcgap). This
will have a decades-long effect on our judiciary system in the U.S. and it
serves as a reminder that our activism needs to take on all branches of
government. For those of us who are unfamiliar with what activism looks
like in the courts, let's read through the Center for American Progress's Structural Reforms to the Federal Judiciary. This
is a long, but essential read to get us prepared for the work ahead. Then,
let's check out Demand Justice's four key court
reforms, and use their action tool to email our senators and tell them that
we want to see legislative efforts to reform our courts.
TORTURE IN
ICE FACILITY: Cameroonians
in the Adams County Correctional Center, a CoreCivic concentration camp, are
being tortured by ICE officers, forcing them to either sign or fingerprint
deportation orders (https://bit.ly/2TKjaMR).
These asylum seekers have escaped a country which tortures its own citizens and
is so abusive that even the Trump
administration cut trade benefits to the country. Let's
contact our MoC and tell them that we expect them to take action to stop
torture in these concentration camps, and let's demand that they take action
to #AbolishIce and protect human rights for all
immigrants being held in the U.S.
SHUT DOWN
IRWIN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND STOP HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES: Last week, “The Squad” Reps. Pressley (D-MA);
Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY); Omar (D-MN) and Tlaib (D-MI) sent a letter to the UN
Commission on Human Rights asking them to launch an independent investigation
of the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Abuses at the Irwin
County Detention Center, where immigrant women were being sterilized against
their will. https://tlaib.house.gov/media/press-releases/tlaib-ocasio-cortez-omar-pressley-lead-call-international-investigation-0.
The letter was signed by several other Congresspeople and a large list of legal
and human rights advocacy organizations. Project South has put together a toolkit that frames this action as part of a larger
campaign to shut down the Irwin County Detention Center as a first step toward
abolishing ICE. Let’s check out this resource and also ask our MoCs to support a
full investigation into the medical neglect & human right abuses, to shut
down the Irwin County Detention Center, and release all immigrants detained
there.
RAISE
AWARENESS ABOUT CONDITIONS IN REFUGEE CAMP IN MATAMOROS AND END MPP (WAIT IN
MEXICO) PROGRAM: Oh Mercy, a
short documentary film scheduled to be released later this fall, depicts the
deteriorating and desolate conditions of the refugee camp in Matamoros, Mexico,
where months have morphed into years as asylum seekers wait to have their cases
heard across the border in Texas. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, these
families have no choice--if they go back to their countries (which is what our
government wants them to do) they will be killed. https://www.valleycentral.com/news/oh-mercy-short-film-sheds-light-on-plight-of-migrants-at-matamoros-tent-encampment/.
Let’s watch the three-minute trailer for this documentary, and then let’s send
the link to the Biden campaign and to all our MoCs, asking Biden to make ending
MPP a priority if he wins the election, and demanding that our MoCs do
something immediately to end this cruel assault on immigrant justice.
CONTINUING POST OFFICE PROBLEMS: “Empty mailboxes, uncounted ballots, late
medication, missed rent payments – those are among the real-world impacts
of the struggles of the U.S. Postal Service.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/20/usps-complaints-mail-delivery-predate-furor-over-cost-cutting/5606887002/
We know that DeJoy and the Board of Governors are part of the problem and we
have already reached out to them for assistance. If we
have, or know of, specific postal issues, let’s send a complaint to the USPS Office
of Inspector General: https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint
TRUMP CONTINUES ATTACK ON CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE: Erik Noble, a former White House campaign
data analyst and climate change skeptic, who was recently appointed the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) chief of staff,
removed Craig McLean from his post as NOAA's acting chief scientist: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/climate/trump-election-climate-noaa.html or
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2020/10/former-nasa-chi.html
A critic of Trump’s false reporting about Hurricane Dorian in the fall of 2019,
McLean had had the audacity to ask the new Trump-appointed staff to endorse
NOAA’s scientific integrity policy, according to which fabrication,
falsification, and the political manipulation of research data is
prohibited; McLean was immediately replaced as chief scientist by Ryan
Maue, a well-known climate change skeptic, who has challenged connections
between climate change and extreme weather events, most recently the California
wildfires: https://distincttoday.net/2020/10/28/trump-administration-fires-top-noaa-scientist/
Trump’s attacks on science will not end with the election, whatever its
outcome. We must continue to
protest NOAA’s repudiation of climate change science: 828-271-4800 or 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128, Washington, DC 20230.
OTHER
30 DAYS OF THANKS: In
November, Americans of Conscience Checklist
(AoCC) is doing 30 Days of Thanks to express gratitude and suggest
donations to the numerous organizations we've been amplifying the last four
years. We're doing this to focus our energy while we wait for election results
to come in. If we want to thank these
groups, too, be sure to follow AoCC on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to give them the recognition they deserve. Let’s
learn more and sign up: https://americansofconscience.com/
ELECTION/VOTING
ELECTION - GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV)
AT THIS LATE DATE, USE DROP BOXES OR VOTE IN PERSON:
For
millions of voters who considered using the U.S. Postal Service to cast their
ballot for the Nov. 3 election, it’s time to find a backup plan, election
administration and postal experts say. Democratic presidential nominee Joe
Biden’s campaign internally switched its language to voters this week,
encouraging them to submit ballots in person or at a secure drop box, according
to campaign officials, rather than through the mail. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/10/27/usps-delays-election-day/
and https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/27/mail-in-ballot-voting-432913
If our plan was to mail our ballot
and you haven’t yet, here’s the new plan: get your gear on and vote in person
or drop your ballot in a secure drop off box. Mail delays make it too late to
use the postal service for your ballot return. Get out and VOTE.
PHONE AND TEXT BANKING TO GET OUT THE VOTE: There’s just a week left before the election, and while poll numbers look
good, we want to make sure the margin of victory is so big that there is no way
Republicans can steal the election or claim voter fraud. Let’s check into
GOTV opportunities with Swing Left, Indivisible,
Togetherfor2020,
ACLU’s People Power,
Vote Save America, Open Progress, People’s
Action, Texas Democratic Party,
and Back To Blue PA and make some last minute texts and phone
calls.
DISABLED VOTERS: We should all,
disabled or not, memorize this number: 866-OUR-VOTE is the Election Protection
hotline from the Lawyers Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law, created explicitly to ensure all Americans,
including the disabled, have an equal opportunity to vote. During the
2016 election, 83% of polling places posed at least one impediment for voters
with disabilities; hopefully, 2020 will be better. But those of us with disabilities, or friends or family members with
disabilities, would do well to check this guide from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/28/928607616/heading-to-the-polls-if-you-have-a-disability-heres-what-to-know
WRONG BALLOTS SENT TO PA VOTERS. HELP THEM SEND IN RIGHT
ONES: Almost
30,000 voters in Allegheny County, PA received the wrong ballots. The right
ones are on the way, but these voters need to be told that new ones are coming
and will have to be returned promptly. We
can help out by signing up to call them here: https://urj.tfaforms.net/462 We will then receive a script and a list of
voters to contact. Every vote counts, so let’s get busy!
WEST WING GOTV SPECIAL
NOW FREE:
“With only one week left until Election Day, HBO Max is
reminding everyone of the power of their vote by making A WEST WING SPECIAL TO
BENEFIT WHEN WE ALL VOTE available
for free viewing for non-HBO Max subscribers at https://www.hbomax.com/watch-free/west-wing-special The special is available to
watch for free now until the end of the year.”
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HBO-Max-Offering-Free-Viewing-of-A-WEST-WING-SPECIAL-20201027 Let’s
watch and share: https://www.hbomax.com/watch-free/west-wing-special
IT’S JUST A STEP TO THE
LEFT: Musician/actor Jack Black and his band, Tenacious
D got into the GOTV scene, too with Rock-y the Vote in support of voting blue. The
effort enlists a number of other famous folks from the entertainment and
political worlds. https://variety.com/2020/music/news/tenacious-d-time-warp-elizabeth-warren-mayor-pete-rocky-horror-vote-video-1234816507/ Let’s
watch and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aZPJBjutY0
ELECTION – SUPPORT CANDIDATES
TWITTER STORM FOR
BIDEN/HARRIS: On November 1, The Blue Wave Report
is hosting a Twitter campaign to amplify #BidenHarris2020. We can Reply,
Retweet, and Tweet the tweets below in your own words. Please use the hashtag #BidenHarris2020. The Twitter Storm begins at 8:00 p.m.
EST. This is a collaborative effort that will help us to trend and campaign for
the Biden-Harris ticket using social media. https://www.facebook.com/events/1075140529590401/
Here is a link to a tweet sheet with pre-designed tweets: https://tinyurl.com/y3apemjb Let’s
tweet!
ELECTION - REGISTERING VOTERS
TOO LATE TO REGISTER? If we, or someone we know, has not yet
registered to vote, it might not be too late, depending where we live. Let’s check
here and register if it is not too late:
https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/
ELECTION - OTHER
DOCUMENT THE POLL
TAPES:
Volunteers NEEDED! Choose whichever group suits you - they're all great! (Some
have training, some have Apps, some ask for uploads.) *This is a very important project - the
photos taken are able to be used as evidence in Court should there be elections
questions. (You know, like when Stacey Abrams & Jon Ossoff totally won
their races, but the evidence was conveniently disappeared…) Let’s choose one:
1) PhotoFinish, a project
from Protect Our Votes working
with Jenny
Cohn (@jennycohn1). Volunteers can
take action to detect potential hacking & voting equipment problems.
Photographer volunteers take photos of precinct poll tapes & then
screenshot to uploader. We can sign up
here: https://www.protectourvotes.com/photo-finish-volunteer-sign-up-form/
2)
SeeSay2020 by DemLabs. Volunteers can expose voter suppression, election
interference, machine problems, intimidation, etc. by using cell phones to report.
Goal is a central ‘citizen owned'
database to help ensure fair voting & vote counts. Here are real examples
so far: https://thedemlabs.org/2020/10/20/dirty-tricks-abound-what-voter-suppression-looks-like-in-2020/ Let’s learn more here: http://seesay2020.com
3) Scrutineers and Reclaim
Our Vote have another option for documenting poll tapes. We can sign up for next (Oct 23) training
here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-quick-election-protection-action-nearly-everyone-can-and-must-do-tickets-125761212171
4) Count the Vote project from SMART Elections is working to protect and
verify the election results. Co-Sponsors
include DemCastUSA and Democracy Counts who did an explanation
video here: https://youtu.be/vsUi10giixo
& a Free App! We can sign up for
Wednesday trainings here: https://www.mobilize.us/smartelections/event/353962/
5)
ValidateTheVoteUSA.org
is seeking volunteers in the 10 swing
states and 4 senate states to photograph the poll tapes on the evening of Nov.
3, to make sure the vote count is accurate. So the election is not
stolen. We are targeting the 10 swing states: FL NC SC TX WI MI GA
PA OH TN, and the 4 senate states: Montana Maine AZ CO. They need volunteers in these states for just
one hour after voting closes. It’s easy and there is a short training. We can sign up here: https://validatethevoteusa.org/register-to-volunteer
LAWYERS NEEDED: “We The
Action was founded on the fundamental premise that lawyers have the power
to do good. None of us can change the world alone. But if each of us gives an
hour here or there, we can do some pretty extraordinary things together.” https://wetheaction.org/our_vision
We the Action is seeking lawyers who can get involved and protect the
vote. We can share this with our lawyer friends and, if we are a lawyer, we
can sign up here: https://wetheaction.org/2020 (h/t)
PROTECT THE RESULTS: What if Trump refuses to accept the results
of the election? Protect the Results is a large coalition of groups
including Indivisible, Common Cause, Greenpeace, ProgressNow Colorado, MoveOn,
Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, Women’s March, and many others, working to mobilize
on Nov. 4 if necessary. Let’s visit the Protect the Results campaign site
and register to mobilize at https://protecttheresults.com/.
BE PREPARED TO STOP A COUP: As Election Day
approaches, it’s important to prepare for a scenario where Biden wins and Trump
refuses to recognize the results of the election and continues with his
enablers to grab power. Choosedemocracy.us
has a number of important resources and tactics every one of us can take to
stop a coup. These include signing a pledge, writing now to election officials in our town to make sure that
they pledge to count every vote, and attending an action on November 4 to protect the results of the
election. We can also sign up for a
Zoom training, and/or read 10 things
we need to know to stop a coup. Let’s check out these important
resources and a make a plan to take action if Trump tries to hold onto power
illegitimately.
DECIDE ON LAST MINITE DONATIONS WITH DECISION MATRIX
TOOL: As Election Day draws near, last minute requests for funding increase.
If we are having difficulty deciding where to donate, we can check out this
online tool. Answering a few simple
questions can help us give where it matters most to us: https://idlewords.com/panic_decision_matrix.htm
STATE/LOCAL
ISSUES
VOTING RULES & DEADLINES: All of the
voting rules and deadlines for all states are listed in one convenient place,
thanks to NPR’s special series “2020 Election: Secure Your Vote”: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/14/909338758/map-mail-in-voting-rules-by-state
If we have any doubts ourselves or if we
need to make sure others know the rules, we can easily check or forward this
information.
BALLOT TRACKING: Most states have a way we can track our
ballot to make sure it was accepted and will be counted. Three states do not: Mississippi, Missouri, and Wyoming. If we are in those states, we need to
contact our local election office and inquire.
The rest of us can use this to check online: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-track-your-absentee-ballot-by-state
BALLOT CURING: If we learn that our absentee ballot has not
been accepted, if we live in one of 28 states, we have the opportunity to “cure”
our ballot. https://www.vice.com/en/article/3azxe8/help-voters-fix-rejected-ballot-curing-volunteer Let’s
make sure to follow up so, if needed, we can “cure” our ballot in time to
count.
LOCAL & STATE ELECTIONS ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT: It is vitally
important that we vote in every election, every year, not just every four years
when the president is on the ballot. This is especially true as we face federal
courts that are increasingly hostile to causes we hold dear. State and local
elected and appointed officials will increasingly be the places we turn to as
we work over the years for a federal judiciary that prioritizes
democracy. Let’s never miss another election. Let’s sign up for
election reminders at: https://turbovote.org
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS/GROUP
ACTIONS/TWEETSTORMS
HOW TO BEAT AN ELECTION-RELATED POWER GRAB: Choose Democracy is sponsoring a series
of workshops with activist, sociologist George Lakey. “There’s a chance that a desperate Trump will
respond to a narrow victory by Biden by declaring the election fraudulent,
urging his base to support his continued Presidency. This training will share
the most important things to know and practice in order to be ready for that
possibility.” We can sign up here: https://choosedemocracy.us/trainings/#.X5mrO4hKiyJ
WHAT IF
TRUMP LOSES AND REFUSES TO CONCEDE? Journalist Van Jones clearly lays out the problem, the
procedures, and what we, the people, can do if Trump loses the election and
refuses to concede. Let’s watch his TED talk, share it, and get
involved with the organizations he mentions in his video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZWRhLW7Y8w
READING/WATCHING/LISTENING
The
Plot to Kidnap Me - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/plot-kidnap-me/616866/
Barrett’s Confirmation is NOT the End - https://politicalcharge.org/2020/10/27/barretts-confirmation-is-not-the-end/
Voters' Guide To Election Security In The
2020 Presidential Campaign -
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/27/927807674/voters-guide-to-election-security-in-the-2020-presidential-campaign
Amy Coney Barrett’s Judicial Philosophy
Doesn’t Hold Up to Scrutiny
- https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/originalism-barrett/616844/
$80 million dark
money group tied to Trump Supreme Court advisor, Leonard Leo - https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/80-million-dark-money-group-tied-to-trump-supreme-court-advisor-leonard-leo/
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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
