Remembering Breonna and Tyre, postcarding for democracy and abortion, fighting book bans, and more!
Contact all members of Congress:
- By phone: (202) 224-3121
- By email: democracy.io
- By US mail: Representatives / Senators
- By fax: Representatives / Senators
- By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- GET RID OF THE DEBT LIMITThe threat of default is off the table, at least for two years. It is time to reexamine the purpose and usefulness of the debt ceiling limit. Historically, it was established to give the Treasury autonomy over borrowing by allowing it to issue debt up to the ceiling without congressional approval, making it easier to finance mobilization efforts in World War I. Depending on who is in office, both parties have use the debt limit as a bargaining chip, but Republicans remain the only party to have held out long enough to induce a downgrade of the US credit rating. After many of these standoffs, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes we should adopt a different system for national finances. Let’s tell our MoCs that we support getting rid of the debt limit and want them to co-sponsor and vote for the End the Threat of Default Act (S.1190/H.R.415).
- HONORING BREONNA TAYLOR AND TYRE NICHOLS ON THEIR BIRTHDAY
In a better world, both Tyre Nichols and Breonna Taylor would be turning 30 years old today. In our world, the outrages that took their lives continue every single day. 50,000 people continue to be pulled over by police daily, many of them for minor infractions and disproportionately targeting Black drivers like Tyre. Federal policing reform that would ban the no-knock warrants that led to Breonna’s murder remains stalled. One of the officers who killed Breonna, Myles Cosgrove, is back on the beat, and state attorney general Daniel Cameron, who declined to bring any charges directly related to her murder, is the Republican nominee for governor of Kentucky. Let us all take this moment to honor their memories with action. We can a) contact our members of Congress to urge them to support a proposal by Rep. Ritchie Torres that would reward cities who move traffic enforcement away from armed police and renewed action on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act; b) push our state legislators for an end to no-knock warrants everywhere; c) reach out to our local officials and police department and urge them to join those communities that have phased out or reformed traffic stops for low-level infractions and banned no-knock warrants; d) contact Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Gosser at (502) 732-7010 or rgosser@carrollcountygov.us and tell him Cosgrove should be terminated; and e) get engaged with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to support their work to register voters in Kentucky and help beat Cameron.
- POSTCARDS FOR OHIO SPECIAL ELECTIONIn an August 2023 special election, Republicans want voters to raise the threshold for approving future amendments to the Ohio Constitution from a simple majority to 60%, before a possible November ballot measure to codify abortion rights in the constitution. Postcard to Voters has launched a campaign to reach Ohio voters to GOTV for this special election. Too many people sit out special elections. Let’s all write some postcards to bring awareness to this election. Here’s how: postcardstovoters.org/addresses.
- LEARN WAYS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST BOOK BANS Book banning fever is spreading throughout our country, going up 28% since in six months, even though over 70% of parents recently polled oppose it. We cannot let this continue and Red, Wine and Blue is finding ways for us to fight back. Their new Parent Playbook is full of useful information on organizing a group, getting our message out on social media, speaking out effectively at school board meetings, and how to run for school board too! We can click here to download the Parent Playbook and learn how to organize and fight against far right extremism in our children’s schools.
- FLOOD THE LINE TO #STOPCOPCITY
The Atlanta City Council is expected to vote today on city funding for the police training facility activists have dubbed Cop City. Recent reports have suggested the project’s price tag to Atlanta taxpayers will be $67 million, more than double what the public was told, strengthening the case made by environmentalists, racial justice activists and area residents against the project, and the vote will come just days after the arrest of three activists who provide legal support for Stop Cop City protesters on charges a judge described Friday as “not impressive.” Let’s take a minute this morning to contact city council members, using this script and contact info from Bring Our Neighbors Home, and urge them to vote no. Let’s also reach out to the Justice Department and tell them we agree with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s call for an immediate investigation into the targeting of Atlanta Solidarity Fund members.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- NY – REGISTER VOTERS AT LONG ISLAND PRIDESwing Blue Alliance is seeking volunteers to register voters from New York Congressional Districts 1, 3, and 4 at Long Island Pride in Huntington, NY, on June 11. Each of these districts is represented by Republicans (NY3 by chronic liar George Santos) but voted for President Biden in 2020. Let’s sign up to volunteer and swing these districts back to Democrats.
AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS
- LAST WEEK’S WINS
The battle for progress is long and wearing, making it all the more important to acknowledge and celebrate the wins when they happen. Here’s a summary of some of the biggest victories of the last week from our friend and comrade Jessica Craven at Chop Wood, Carry Water, including ballot access protected in Missouri, reproductive rights strengthened in Nevada, and a Trump-appointed federal judge striking down a drag ban in Tennessee.
