Hello Ventura Indivisians!
Today, Rep. John Lewis made his final crossing of the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma. Rep. Lewis never faltered in his commitment to the power of democracy, putting his own life and freedom on the line many times. He has inspired countless instances of “good trouble” in his 50+ years of public service and activism.
Whenever we act with conviction, when we stand up to oppression, when we call on our brothers and sisters to join us on our many bridges, we honor the heroes who marched before us and our children who will march after us. The 100 days ahead is the call to ensure that our democracy will endure.
After your calls to action – events and resources!
Your Calls to Action:
In honor of John Lewis. “Wake up, America, wake up! For we cannot stop, and we will not be patient.” – (3) Actions
(3) actions in honor of John Lewis: including a GREAT petition and a call to your legislators.
“Then they came for the Democrats.” (7) actions to fight back.
Our president’s retweet of this now-deleted post – “Democrats are the true enemy of America,” was not a error of judgement, tweeting too quickly at 3:00 in the morning. It a statement of intent. He’s now openly targeting Democrat-led cities with federal law enforcement troops, including ones with no protest events. This is a constitutional crisis, being tested out as a re-election campaign.
Here are 7 actions you can take to add your strength to this fight.
Urge your legislators to vote “YES” on the “Breathe Act”
“For decades, the federal government has incentivized mass criminalization through policies and funding programs that increase arrests, prison construction, hiring of police officers, and the militarization of police. This funding has fueled the violent over-policing of Black people, while leaving social services and basic infrastructure that actually keep people safe woefully underfunded. The BREATHE Act proposes policy and funding that upends this violent reality. Policy is one of many tools at our disposal, and with this bill, we are creating a national standard of civil rights that will bring our demands into reality. We are not interested in someone else’s version of what is politically possible. We are interested in defending Black lives.”
Minimal script for representatives/senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen [___] to vote “YES” on Rep. Pressley and Tlaib’s BREATHE Act.
Call Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
ACLU petition – Congress: End Police militarization and over-policing in our communities NOW.
Sign this petition. “The tragic and unnecessary killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade – and countless Black people at the hands of law enforcement – confirms what we’ve known for too long: Lawmakers must take serious action to fix the racist policing systems in our country.
Police militarization is not the answer. Police in our schools is not the answer. The over-policing of our communities – where Black and Brown people are criminalized, targeted, and killed – is not the answer. The only way to fix the brutality and violence of police in America is to divest from it as an institution. That is why we must call on Congress to end the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grants, and to rein in Byrne JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) grants – as long as it continues to perpetuate police violence and harm against.”Events (if you are going and interested in carpooling, email us and we’ll do our best to hook you up):
Protesting safely during a pandemic of disease and over-policing
July 16 – GET YOUR POSTCARDS IN THE MAIL AND WRITE THEM OUT AT HOME Third Thursday – pizza, camaraderie, and postcards! Can’t make it? Help fund this event
July 27 – Simi Valley City Hall B.Y.O. Chair gathering/Anti-Mike Judge dance party/demonstration. 5pm, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road (Masks and social distancing required.
July 27-31 – Youth Engaging in Local Liberation Youth (HS-age 24) Leadership Camp (Registration forms- English/Spanish)
July 28 – Online: Ethnic Studies Webinar Series: Native American Studies
July 29 – Stand with Portland! Stop Trump’s Fascism! 6pm, Westlake and Thousand Oaks Blvd. Wear yellow shirts and face masks! Bring signs!
July 30 – Online: ACLU Power Lunch Series – (11:30am every other Thursday)
August 1 – Online: Training to Win 2020 – How we win during the pandemic
August 2-6 – Online: 11th NAACP Virtual National Convention
August 13 – Online: ACLU Power Lunch Series – (11:30am every other Thursday)
August 20 – GET YOUR POSTCARDS IN THE MAIL AND WRITE THEM OUT AT HOMEThird Thursday – pizza, camaraderie, and postcards! Can’t make it? Help fund this event
August 27 – Online: ACLU Power Lunch Series – (11:30am every other Thursday)
August 27-28 – Online: 2020 Virtual March on Washington
August 30 – Free IMMIGRATION LEGAL AID Fair – Volunteers Needed! Every last Sunday of the month we assist residents, alongside immigration lawyers, in filling out paperwork for citizenship, DACA (click here for up-to-date DACA info) and green card renewals. Can’t make it? Help fund this event
EVENTS ARE HAPPENING CRAZY FAST!!! – Our most up-to-date “calendar” of antiracist actions has temporarily been moved to HERE.
You can now DONATE to the cause!
Indivisible Ventura is completely volunteer run and your donation will support the direct costs of organizing in Ventura — things like meeting room rental, posters, art supplies, stamps, transportation, and more! Every part of our country is under threat by this President and Congress. The only way to win is by standing together, indivisible. Indivisible Ventura is one of 6,000 grassroots Indivisible groups across the country.
Contribute today to Indivisible Ventura. Together, we will win.
Resources:
Indivisible Ventura: Tips for Calling Congress For People who hate to Call Anybody, Let Alone Congress, or If You’re New to This Calling Thing…
Indivisible Ventura: How to make your calls faster
Indivisible Ventura: Why do I need to call? My representatives are all Democrats
Archdioceses of Los Angeles: Preparing your Family for Immigration Enforcement (bilingual)
Indivisible Ventura: Are You a Policy Wonk? Here’s How to Track a Bill
Floor Procedure In The U.S. House Of Representatives
What Good Does it do to Write Letters to the Editor?: With contact information, podcast tutorial, and guidelines
Indivisible Ventura: Ten Things to Respectfully Ask a Conservative about Healthcare
