“Turning Pain Into Policy: Kamala Harris, Ben Crump Explain Why Police Reform Starts With Economic Justice.” Today’s video from the Root. View article here. More video of their conversation below.
Events happening today/this weekend!
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; It must be demanded by the oppressed.” ~ MLK
- We’re putting up information on local protests and actions by others we’re finding from informal sources. These listings are not endorsements nor guarantees as to time/place/type of protest or participant safety. Events can and have already been cancelled without notice.
- Protest safely in the time of pandemic and police overreaction: Go here for resources on camera apps, equipment, what to know if you’re stopped by police.
- Be sure you are counted. Be included on the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail at 2020census.gov!
- #BLM resources here and here.
Friday – 9/4 – SIMI VALLEY – Black Lives Matter Protest and Justice for Jacob Blake (4pm – 7pm)
Saturday – 9/5 – VENTURA – Justice for Jacob Blake – (11 am)
Saturday – 9/5 – OJAI – Black Lives Matter Protest – (4-5 pm)
Sunday – 9/6 – Camarillo – Trans Lives Matter Protest – (2 pm)
Sunday – 9/6 – ONLINE – Black Lives Matter Solidarity Event (11 am)
What to do now! Get your voter chain organized. 5 is a minimum. Go for more if you can!
- Register to vote. Then help register five new voters. Make your voter plans.
- Learn about the NAACP’s “Power of Five” campaign here https://www.naacp.org/mobilize-your-five/
- Need information for getting your five friends and family across the country registered?
- Use National Action Networks’ site (https://www.whenweallvote.org/commitmentmarch/)
- Use #Voterizer or Voterizer.org from Field Team 6
- Volunteer.(https://blackvoiceschangelives.org)
- Complete the Census. The Census = money and power for your community!(https://my2020census.gov)
- Become a Poll Worker.(https://www.powerthepolls.org/NAACP) In Ventura County, unfortunately because of the pandemic, community groups aren’t able to participate in our adopt-a-poll program for in this election To be a poll worker in VC County, go here.
- Phone Bank: Make calls for Biden-Harris and swing-state Senators every Sunday afternoon.
- Text Bank: Texting is the new Door Knock! Join Commit to Flip Blue’s drive to flip the Senate. Many of you have done post-carding for Commit to Flip Blue. They will be transitioning to phone banking and text banking as the election date gets closer.
- Other Postcard campaigns: Reclaim Our Vote focuses on voter suppression states to register and mobilize voters of color. Sign up to help.
- Letter Writing: The Big Send is at 4.5 million letters to drive election turnout. Help them reach their goal of 10 million letters. They will be moving their mail date to an earlier date in October to allow for USPS slowdowns.
- Help Christy Smith: Phone banking and calling campaign here.
- Donate: See Win2020 Networks list of strategic donations for winning the White House and flipping the Senate. If you are planning to donate, sooner is better! Candidates report donation totals at the end of each month. These reports affect how national funding organizations view their chances, and so how much funding they get.
Calls to make.
Contacts – Program these into your phone!: 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) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884 Who is my representative/senator?:https://whoismyrepresentative.com
Action #1: “YES” to a bill to define structural racism as a public health crisis.
Sen. Warren and Reps. Ayanna Pressley & Barbara Lee unveiled historic legislation today which confronts the public health impact of structural racism. “The Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2020,” the legislation is the first of its kind and would harness the power of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research health disparities and propose antiracist policies to eradicate racial divides in health outcomes. There is no number yet – read about it here, here and here.Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I expect to see the name of Rep./Sen. [___] as a cosponsor on the “The Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2020.”
Action #2: We demand formal censure against Rep. Scalese for stealing the voice of activist Ady Barkan.
See the full call action here.https://platform.twitter.com/embed/index.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1300075359929544705&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Findivisibleventura.org%2F2020%2F06%2F02%2Fblm-protests-and-other-antiracist-things-to-do%2F&siteScreenName=wordpressdotcom&theme=light&widgetsVersion=219d021%3A1598982042171&width=550px
Action #3: Pass these bills for BLM!
The House has already passed H.R. 7120 – The “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020” and H.R. 4 – The “Voting Rights Advancement Act“. The Senate versions: S.3912 – “Justice is Policing Act of 2020” and S.561 – “Voting Rights Advancement Act” have NOT been passed yet. Call your senators to either thank ’em or spank ’em for their support and cosponsorship of these bills. (Thank Sens. Feinstein and Harris for already being cosponsored both. Check for yours here – S.3912 and for S.561) Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] to [ask/thank] Sen. [___] [to support/for supporting] S.3912 “Justice in Policing Act of 2020” and S.561 – “Voting Rights Advancement Act.”Who is my representative/senator?:https://whoismyrepresentative.com
Action #4: Demand Justice for Jacob Blake
There are a number of actions of actions – we gave them their own page here.
Action #5: Protect the US Postal Service, our election and basic democracy.
- ALL THE ACTIONS ARE HERE! Updated 9/2/2020
- Why is this sabotage happening?
- Where are we at right now with DeJoy and his co-conspirators – USPS Board of Governor Chair Robert Duncan, Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin, and Sen. Mitch McConnell?
Action #6: NAACP says #DELIVERDEMOCRACY
Sign their petition here. The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service for deliberately attempting to sabotage the U.S. Postal Service to obstruct voting by mail and to ensure a favorable outcome in the election. These unprecedented attacks on the Postal Service serve to continuously disenfranchise voters of color, who are already more harshly impacted by coronavirus and require alternative methods to in-person voting in order to protect their health and safety.
Action #7 – Other actions to support the USPS!
Put pressure on the USPS Board of Governors and other actions described here.Top 13 things you should know about our postal service! It is the leading employer of minorities (39%) and women (40%), and for three years in a row they were in Hispanic Business magazine’s annual “Diversity Elite 60” list of best companies for Hispanics, the only federal agency on the list. The USPS is also one of the largest employers of veterans, with more than 97,000.
Tie a DARK BLUE RIBBON around your mailbox (or on your mail slot) to show solidarity and support to our postal carriers.
Put a sign up in your yard or window that says #USPSForever.
Call your representative and both senators and tell them not to pass any relief package that doesn’t contain funding for the USPS.
And tell everyone who wants the Postal Service to survive to do the same.
Action #8 – VOTE! VENTURA COUNTY VOTERS – Answers here!
Watch this well-researched video from our dedicated NON-PARTISAN League of Women Voter members, who explain how voting will work in our county for the Nov. 3rd election. Please share this with those who are anxious or suspicious of the process. (BTW – The League is an awesome group that anyone can support and/or join, even the non-women out there.) For those who prefer a written informational sheet about this year’s voting format, go here.https://www.youtube.com/embed/uS-ygKPkJ1E?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
- Be absolutely sure you are eligible to vote. CA election center here.
- For the November 2020 election, due to Covid-19, ALL CALIFORNIA VOTERS will automatically receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot, whether requested or not, INSTEAD of a sample ballot and you will be able to track it!
Action #9 – Protect the Census. Make calls, write letters, sign a petition.
Link to action here.https://www.youtube.com/embed/_c8yPlJn3as?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Action #10 – Black2thefuture.org – (3) Actions _HEROES ACT, PETITION, SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.youtube.com/embed/KywVCVvz138?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparentIndivisible Ventura has long admired this group’s “The Black Agenda 2020,” ( shorter summary here). Its principles for a just and thriving environment for the Black Community would also help the 40% of all Americans who are struggling to survive on crumbs from the tables of robber-barons and tattered safety nets. Their great “Covid-19 Relief and Recovery Plan for Black America” online resistance package can be completed in 10 minutes or less. Click here for their action package, which includes:
- HEROES ACT – CALL/EMAIL: Even if you’ve already called your senators to pass the HEROES Act before, it time to do it again with black2thefutures’s terrific script. (Nice explainer here) (The House passed their version on May 15th and the same GOP who slipped a $135 BILLION dollar giveaway to the wealthy into the CARES Act, are embracing austerity for the rest of us. For convenience, we’re including their contacts below.)
- HEROES ACT – Petition: Sign their petition here.
- Share on your social media: Download their HEROES Act Toolket with graphics and videos.
Action #11 – CALL/Email Action!: “Then they came for the Democrats.” (7) actions to fight back.
People dismissed comparisons to the conditions that led to Hitler’s takeover, or the those that allowed Pinochet’s brutal regime of 17 years. But with people being kidnapped off the streets, and Trump announcing his power to ignore Congress, we are on historically perilous ground. But there is strength is numbers against the worst of tyrants. There are 7 actions in this post you can take to add your strength to this fight, including For senators:
- Tell your senators to vote for S.4220 – “Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Act
- Yes on S.3912 – Justice in Policing Act. (Check here – Thank Feinstein and Harris as cosponsors) (House version H.R. 7120 already passed.)
For representatives:
- Tell your legislators to actively support H.R.7711 “To require the display of certain identification for certain law enforcement officers
- Tell your legislators to actively support HR. 7221 – “Prohibiting Law Enforcement Use of Chemical Weapons Act” and S.4114 – “No Tear Gas or Projectiles Act.”
- Yes on H.R. 1714 – Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act
Action #12 – CALL/Email Action!: In honor of John Lewis. “Wake up, America, wake up! For we cannot stop, and we will not be patient.” – (3) Actions
Link with more information and call scripts here: (3) actions in honor of John Lewis, including a petition and a call to your legislators.
- Rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after him.
- Pass H.R. 4 /S.561 – Voting Rights Advancement Act and rename it as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act!
- Sign this petition to Governor Kay Ivey. Almost half a million have signed on by this morning.
Action #13 – CALL/Email Action!: Urge your legislators to vote “YES” on the “Breathe Act”
https://platform.twitter.com/embed/index.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-1&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1280880962839207937&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Findivisibleventura.org%2F2020%2F06%2F02%2Fblm-protests-and-other-antiracist-things-to-do%2F&siteScreenName=wordpressdotcom&theme=light&widgetsVersion=219d021%3A1598982042171&width=550pxBill summery here: “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.” The bill doesn’t appear to have a number yet. 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.
Action #14 – CALL/Email Action!: Keep up actions for Breonna
Call actions here.https://www.youtube.com/embed/7yuKUZ8YCCI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Action #15 – Call for the immediate release of Syiaah Skylit from CDCR custody. #BlackTransLivesMatter.
Sign the petition here. “Gavin Newsom: Call for the immediate release of Syiaah Skylit from CDCR custody!
Check out all our “Watch Party” videos here.
- Recently added: Intersection of Race & Law Enforcement
- Recently added: “Resistance, Reconciliation,Reform – Part 2“
- Recently added: Beating Trump’s Fascism, How Fascism works
- Recently added: Is the US headed towards tyranny? The Rise of Tyranny.
- Recently added: The Leesburg Stockade Girls, Suppressed: The Fight to Vote – Full Film
- Recently added: “What defund the police” really means.
Kindness alert – Protect and thank your essential workers!
“Grocery workers say morale is at an all-time low: ‘They don’t even treat us like humans anymore.’
- Nice handout to give to store employees being threatened by anti-maskers. Keep some in your car or shopping bag!
- Wear a mask WITHOUT vents in the store. Don’t make them ask.
- Researchers latest information on most and least effective masks.
- Latest count: +130 grocery workers have died, +8,200 have tested positive for COVID.
We heard that there was a workshop at Simi’s “Republican Values Center” to teach anti-maskers how to get into stores without their masks. Anti-masking is not just a political statement. It’s also a racialized one. We discuss this along with other facets of anti-masker mythology in our post today, but we also ask that you try out some of the listed methods of appreciation for the essential workers who help you today! Our post is here.
Actions happening soon
Friday – 9/11 – ONLINE – Voting Rights and Election Integrity #2020 – (7pm – 8:30 pm)
Facebook link here.GUEST SPEAKERS: Julia Gomez, ACLU Voting Rights Staff Attorney and Tim Allison, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, CSUCI will discuss• Voting security and voting rights issues • Current election integrity lawsuits across the country • How you can get involvedJulia Gomez is a Voting Rights Staff Attorney for the ACLU SoCal. Ms. Gomez’ previous work includes serving as Staff Attorney at MALDEF where she litigated cases under the California Voting Rights Act and Federal Voting Rights Act, and as an associate at the New York law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP Tim Allison is Adjunct Professor of Political Science and UNIV at CSUCI where he was Faculty Member of the Year in 2018. In addition to teaching Constitutional Law and California Government, Mr. Allison is the Executive Director of the Oxnard Federation of Teachers and School EmployeesThis event is free of charge/donations are gratefully appreciatedYou will receive the zoom link upon registration. RSVP: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vduqprTgoHN1d40LU2Oic3IGKI8gmdQvM
Tuesday – 9/8 – ONLINE – LGBTQIA+ Community Townhall Meeting /Census Awareness (6:30 pm)
Saturday – 9/12 – MOORPARK – COVID-19 Testing
Saturday – 9/19 – ONLINE – “Count Me In” – 2020 Census Livestream phonebanking event
Sunday – 9/20 – ONLINE – Black Power Solutions to Defunding the Police (4:30 – 6pm EDT)
Facebook event here: What does “defunding” the police look like? In what way would that impact the polices’ relationship to the African community? We understand that the police function as a military occupying force in our communities that has only brought terror into the lives of African people so how can this call to defund the police be made to serve the African (“black”) community?
Tune- in to our September 20th webinar, hosted by the Northern Region of the African People’s Socialist Party with a keynote presentation by Diop Olugbala of the Black Community Control of the Police Working Group.
Sunday – 9/27 – OXN. – PORT HUENEME – 2020 Census Caravan (1-5pm)
Sun – 9/27 – OXNARD – Swap Meet Justice – Free Citizenship Fair on the LAST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH
The Oxnard Community Marketplace will NOT OPEN THIS SUNDAY due to the pandemic, and therefore, Swap Meet Justice will not be holding its citizenship fair. More information here on how to volunteer to help, or to get immigration paperwork, including citizenship application, renewals for DACA and green cards, done under the oversight of volunteer local immigration attorneys and accredited representatives. This fair is cosponsored by CLUE-VC, Ventura Co. Legal Aid, El Concilio Family Services, UFW, SEIU 721, and community volunteers
Thursday – 9/10 – ONLINE – Still We Rise – CAUSE Raising Justice 2020 Virtual Fundraiser- (12 pm)
Facebook event linkhere.:”We’re so excited to be hosting our first ever virtual Raising Justice annual fundraiser! This will be an afternoon of community building with progressive community leaders throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.This year’s theme is Still We Rise!Our 2020 annual event will focus on CAUSE’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and stories from resilient CAUSE community leaders.We’re also excited to share some of this year’s victories, including eviction protections across the region during COVID-19, the passage of the first-in-the-world Clean Truck Rule, and wage increases and improved safety standards for Farmworkers in Santa Maria
Sun – 8/30: CANCELLED DUE TO PANDEMIC – OXNARD – Swap Meet Justice – Free Citizenship Fair on the LAST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH
The Oxnard Community Marketplace will NOT OPEN THIS SUNDAY due to the pandemic, and therefore, Swap Meet Justice will not be holding its citizenship fair. More information here on how to volunteer to help, or to get immigration paperwork, including citizenship application, renewals for DACA and green cards, done under the oversight of volunteer local immigration attorneys and accredited representatives. This fair is cosponsored by CLUE-VC, Ventura Co. Legal Aid, El Concilio Family Services, UFW, SEIU 721, and community volunteers
Petitions/Funding
Additional petitions here.
Fire Pasadena Police Chief John Perez
Petition here.
Add your voice to the #FreeTianna protest
Haven’t heard of the arrest and imprisonment of SLO protest leader Tianna Arata? After a July 21st march for Black Lives Matter, the young advocate for peaceful protest and recent speaker at a local NAACP rally, has been charged with five felonies “as the organizer and march leader of last night’s protest,” while the drivers who deliberately aimed their vehicles into protesters have gone uncharged. Other protesters are accusing local police of targeting her as a #BLM organizer and are holding her legally responsible for the actions of all demonstrators, in a move that, according to Newsweek, could result in her facing up to 15 years in prison. “There was no riot,” a woman named Mel, who identifies herself as Arata’s best friend, told Newsweek. “It was a beautiful, peaceful protest filled with Black and Brown joy. Sign this petition here to the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help cover her legal fees, #FREETIANNAhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/hwVgtLjFh7k?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Sign the petition for Guillen!
Sign the petition here. There are currently over 902,000 signatures!
SAVE our US postal system and voting by mail!
Petition link here. “The Trump Administration appears to be engineering a United States Postal Service breakdown to prevent millions of Americans from voting by mail.
First, the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign spent $20 million to limit voting by mail in battleground states including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.Now, recent changes made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy pose a threat to mail-in ballots in the 2020 general election.Since DeJoy was appointed Postmaster General in May, he has undercut the ability of the postal service to deliver the mail. According to the Washington Post, 23 USPS executives have been “reassigned or displaced” in an apparent effort to provide DeJoy with more power over operations.In June, he changed USPS operations by cutting back workers’ hours and denying overtime to some employees.Please join with us and demand that the United States Postal Service Inspector General investigate the current postal slowdown and ensure that the postal service is adequately prepared for the November election
Watch it now and sign the ACLU petition for their Redemption Campaign – Embracing Clemency.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/g50yWqluixU?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparentThe ACLU has just launched The Redemption Campaign – Embracing Clemency, a nationwide effort aimed at liberating 50,000 people in five years through the explicit authority of governors. Your voice will be critical in this work, so please take action now. Sign the petition here.
ONLINE LETTER CAMPAIGN – Keep Abusive cops out of our communities – Pass SB 731
Sign on to ACLU CA’s letterhere. California is one of only five states that has no process to decertify abusive cops from its streets. Decertification ensures those cops cannot be hired as police officers somewhere else. Over 200 other professions in California have licenses that can be revoked if they violate their licensing rules. California gives police officers a license to kill without the ability to revoke it if they abuse their authority.
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.”
Sign the petition here. “Saturday, June 6th’s protests show that Simi Valley is a city begging for change. Our city has for too long been known for racial injustice and our leaders have an obligation to promote justice on all levels of our city. Inspired by the continued Black Lives Matter protests across the world please join local Simi Valley youth organizers in making these demands to the Simi Valley Unified School District, Simi Valley City Council, and Simi Valley Police Department.”
Not everyone has a president to help them – Equalize access to justice!
We have two justice systems in our country.
Roger Stone: Found GUILTY by jury on 7 federal criminal counts. Original jail time of 9 years revised by presidential intervention to ±3. No jail time.Kalief Browder:ACCUSED of stealing a backpack. Couldn’t post bail. Spent 3 years at Riker’s awaiting trial. Due to the trauma of brutality he experienced in solitary confinement and being imprisoned he ultimately died of suicide shortly after being released.
Kristen Clarke, JD Exec Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. We fight for racial justice. You can donate here to help give regular people a chance.
Ventura, CA: Freedom of Speech!
Petition here. The city of Ventura, Ca requires “Free Speech Permits”. It cost $25 to apply and the website states any event, “that impact City streets, sidewalks, parking lots, public property, airways, public buildings, and traffic require a City permit. Many private properties also require City permits for special activities that have the potential to impact the public-right-of-way.” The right to free speech and the right to assemble is protected by the United States Constitution under the first amendment. The first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Notice how it says “free exercise thereof”? How is a $25 fee to apply for a free speech permit constitutional?
Tell ICE: #FreeTheFamilies
Sign this petition to demand you comply with Judge Dolly Gee’s order to release all children who have been detained for more than 20 days by July 17th and that all family members and guardians of detained children be released as well with their children. Not ONE child should be separated from their families! Amnesty International and RAICES petitions here.
A gofundme has been organized for the the farm workers now in quarantine.
“An outbreak of COVID-19 has left at least 176 residents and staff members infected at a farmworker housing facility in Ventura County. Of the 216 tests administered to people affiliated with the facility, more than 80% returned positive.” (LATimes) Proceeds will be used to aid the farm workers who are now unemployed & receive no benefits. They will have medical expenses and bills to pay. They have picked the food that sits on our tables, now we can help put food on theirs. OUR GENTE NEEDS US!!! SIEMPRE UNIDOS!!! Link here.
Cut Ties with the Fraternal Order of Police
Read/sign the petition here.(Color of Change) TO: All elected officials and candidates for office
“The continued violence against Black, brown, and Native communities at the hands of ‘law enforcement’ is disgraceful. Police unions are in the business of defending the most consistent murderers and abusers and creating obstructions to justice.
We are urging you to stand on the right side of history: refuse to take any political donations from police unions or sheriff associations and donate any contributions you have taken in the last year to Black-led community-strengthening initiatives.”
Calls for Justice!
For more information and scripts, go here.
Contact information for officials, from city to the feds, here.
- Join in the boycott of Goya Foods!
- Make discriminatory 911 Calls in CA a hate crime – “YES” on AB1550
- Call your legislators about the ICE “Citizen Academy” boondoggle.
- Make DC a state: Call your Senators and demand they cosponsor S.631 – Washington DC Admission Act
- Send some postcards to ICE! – Stop these crimes against humanity now.
- “NO” on throwing more money at the military: Call your senators and demand vote “NO” on S.4049 – the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
- Bounty-Hunting: What are they going to do about reports that Trump ignored or dismissed Putin-funded Taliban bounty-hunting?
- Rent is due on July 1st, and millions won’t be able to pay. Pass “HR 7301″ – Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020”. UPDATE: [H.R.7301 which waspassed by the House this week] CALL YOUR SENATORS!
- Stop Water Shutoffs!: Send a letter to your Senators today demanding a nationwide moratorium on water shutoffs.
- No more Tear Gas!: Call your legislators to make one’s right to protest safe from chemical warfare.”YES” on H.R. 7221 – “To prohibit law enforcement officers from using chemical weapons in the course of policing activities, and for other purposes.”
- Poor People’s Campaign: Call your legislators to enact the planks of the Poor People’s Campaign
- #Juneteenth – No more Excuses – Time to make Juneteenth a nation holiday. “YES” on HR 7232!
- Yes on Reparations study: CALL ACTION #2: It’s past time to make amends! “YES” on HR 40/S.1038 – Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.
- No more contributions from law enforcement unions
Featured Resources
Share the basics of “Defund the Police” with your fearful friends!
Sharing some art for justice.
Download some art to be used for justice actions here.
Sharing some memes.
QAnon, a toxic Pro-Trump conspiracy theory, is currently hijacking the #SaveTheChildren fundraising campaign to promulgate their own baseless accusations against Democrats and other enemies of Trump, who they claim are involved in child sex- trafficking. Their targets include Hillary Clinton Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey and Pope Francis, and improbably, companies like Wayfair. Their nonsense actually led an armed man to storm a pizza place, demanding that they free children from their non-existant basement (Pizzagate). Please, if you see people on your media feed getting all excited by #SaveTheChildren, those who are normally complaining about #BlackLivesMatter, immigrants, or having to wear masks, go ahead and share the links above and these lovely graphics.
“If you’re pulled over…”
- “Pulled Over is inspired by current events. The app hopes to serve as a tool for the right people at the right time. If you have been pulled over, you can easily launch the app, and with a single hold of a button you are able to launch your native camera app and start recording the situation. You can then notify your preset emergency contact of your situation and current location in case they feel like they need to help. The video can also be shared with the rest of the Pulled Over community to raise awareness of both good and bad experiences. Users can take the opportunity to Call for Action or find and share videos of exemplary police officers.
The Pulled Over user experience is Simple and just 4 steps:
- RECORD – If you have been pulled over by a police officer, with one hold of a button on the pulled over mobile app, you are able to start recording the situation.
- NOTIFY – Instantly notify your emergency contact of your location at that time.
- SHARE – At the users’ discretion the video can also be shared with the rest of the Pulled Over community (anyone who has the Pulled Over App – no need to signup)
- WITNESS – The videos can be viewed by anyone with the Pulled Over app and can be used to spread awareness through its in-built sharing feature
We believe that technology can be used to make a big difference. Let’s together make a better world for everyone. ” Have any questions or want to find ways of helping out? Contact the Pulled Over developer at: aaditya.agrawal36@gmail.com
Send your unwanted luggage to a new home!
Instead of offering unwanted items, like luggage, for free on free/barter websites, consider donating them to local groups, such as the Coalition for Domestic Harmony (aka Battered Women Shelter) in Ventura, because they are still collecting donations and they can make excellent use of your unwanted items. People arae listing very good items in the local D&D group wanting nothing in exchange. If it’s just that you don’t want to drive to donate your items, did you know BW will do a pick up at your house for free? Call (805) 643-4411 to request a pick up.
Food Share
Free meal delivery for seniors or with a disability.
“Please share! Are you a senior who is sheltering in place or do you know one who needs meals delivered? Who qualifies for enrollment into the program? (Full FAQ’s here)
- Individuals who are 65 or older, or 60-64 and at high-risk as defined by the CDC, including:
- Individuals who are COVID-19 positive (as documented by a state/local public health official or medical health professional),
- Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 (as documented by a state/local public health official or medical health professional), or
- Individuals with an underlying condition.
- Individuals must live alone or with one other program-eligible adult
- Participants must not be currently receiving assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs
- Participants must earn no more than 600% of the federal poverty limit
- Individuals must affirm an inability to prepare or obtain meals
Our local restaurants are preparing these healthy meals through a grant from FEMA. More participants have been approved from 1800 to 2500. More on the program here. Apply here. Volunteers are also welcomed.
A free face mask for everyone who needs one.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1k3nn4YMrc?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparentThe Activ(ist)Wear brand DHVANI is giving a free mask to anyone in the United States who requests one. All masks are 100% free and paid for by donations. Learn more here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/MasksForAll If you’d like a free mask, go here: https://DHVANI.com/FreeMasks If you can pay $10 for a mask to help fund others, go here. All proceeds go to helping provide masks for others.
The pandemic has left millions hungry. This group helps people get food benefits fast, by text.
In the past six years, this nonprofit has helped more than 700,000 people across the country connect to potentially lifesaving benefits by texting the word “food” to the number 74544. Their website is here. WAPO article here.
Resource: Kids and Trauma/ Race Trauma/ COVID-19 Isolation
Read here.
FYI: Outside rallies, with masks, are “moderate-low” risk.
Aid for those impacted by COVID-19
Facebook photo here. Website here. Have you been laid off or have your work hours been impacted due to COVID-19? You may be eligible to receive up to $800 in supportive services assistance for housing, utilities, childcare, transportation, and telework equipment, such as a computer or internet. For more information and to apply for the COVID-19 Support Services Program, visit venturacountyajcc.org or call 805-204-5186.
Ethnic Studies Webinars
An archived broadcast can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/CAEducation/videos/768846657195648/ https://www.facebook.com/v2.3/plugins/video.php?allowfullscreen=true&app_id=249643311490&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df3a60451a1fd008%26domain%3Dindivisibleventura.org%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Findivisibleventura.org%252Ff353cbfa74e3c0c%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=570&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCAEducation%2Fvideos%2F768846657195648&locale=en_US&sdk=joey
Read and consider how this can apply here.
Poor People’s Campaign
Read the Poor People’s Campaign platform here. More Racial Justice resourceshere. Extensive BLM resources, including donation sites, onlines classes, Black-owned businesses, reading/watching lists and more.
COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Plan for Black America
“For too long, Black people have had to work twice as hard to barely get half as far in America. The rules of the economy, our democracy, and our society are rigged — and as a result, Black communities are falling farther behind. COVID-19 has exposed the connection between rigged rules and their impacts on our families: Black people are infected at higher rates, and comprise the majority of deaths from the disease in many cities across America.We need a plan for Black communities that protects our families, provides access to the care we need, and that builds new infrastructure to address the crises facing us. It’s time to change the rules, and make new ones that protect and strengthen our communities. The Black Agenda 2020 is a roadmap for making Black people powerful in all aspects of our lives.To flatten the curve and level the playing field, Congress must adopt the following Black Agenda2020 priorities immediately.”