Poverty, housing, Freedom to Parent, and more!
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- HELP END CHILD POVERTY AS A STARTCumulative poverty is now listed as the fourth cause of death in the United States. Over the years, many false reasons have been given for people being in poverty, most having to do with deficits in character and the erroneous belief that anyone who really wants to can beat poverty by pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. There are many causes of poverty, but we know that the government could eliminate some/all of it if it were a priority. Child poverty is our most egregious problem and the expanded Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan of March 2021 nearly halved the rate. Unfortunately, that program stopped, but it could be restarted and provide great relief to families across the country. There is a bill pending in the house that appears to have bipartisan support, commonly referred to as the American Family Act (H.R.3899). As a start on changing that fourth cause of death in the US, let’s tell our representatives that we want them to vote to help lift as many children out of poverty as possible.
- HOUSING, NOT HANDCUFFS
Instead of addressing the housing crisis with evidence-based solutions, a growing number of communities and states are instead turning to criminalizing homelessness, encouraged by a right-wing think tank founded by a billionaire with investments in private prisons. Let’s check out this legislative tracker from Housing Not Handcuffs to see if criminalization bills have been introduced in our state and let our legislators know we oppose them if so, and let’s all let our local, state and national lawmakers know we want them to invest in Housing First. - FREEDOM TO PARENTIn response to ultra-conservative parents groups, Red Wine and Blue has created Freedom to Parent. The campaign is designed to unite advocates for things like LGBTQ rights, racial history education, gender issues and social-emotional learning, along with combating book bans. Let’s sign up and join in here.
- ONE YEAR LATER, STILL NO JUSTICE FOR JAYLAND WALKER
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the Akron Police killing of Jayland Walker.Walker was shot 46 times after a car and foot chase that began when police attempted to stop him for a minor traffic violation.His family, who has sued the department and the eight officers involved for wrongful death, is still waiting for accountability – not one of the officers was indicted. Activists are holding a week of action in Jayland’s name, which started with a rally outside the Justice Department. Both Akron’s congresswoman Rep. Emilia Sykes and multiple civil rights groups are renewing their push for a DoJ probe of the Akron Police Department, an effort that began last July. Let’s add our voices to their call by contacting the Justice Department and letting Rep. Sykes know we support her efforts. - SANCTUARY STATES FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY
While there’s been plenty of darkness marking this Pride Month, activists have also earned some key victories in government. Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order banning compliance with out of state laws targeting trans people, and the legislature in New York passed a law to do the same. Nevada’s Republican governor Joe Lombardo signed bills enhancing protections for trans and gender nonconforming people in health insurance and the prison system even as he vetoed a sanctuary law. Let’s keep the momentum up! If we’re in any of the 37 states which have not yet put sanctuary protections in place, and especially if we’re in states with Democratic trifectas like Delaware, Maine, Michigan, Oregon and Rhode Island that haven’t done so, let’s encourage our state legislators to take action. And wherever we are, let’s check the ACLU’s anti-LGBTQ bill tracker so we can be prepared for any future attacks. - STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- OH – SHARE WHY YOU’RE FIGHTING FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
We’re fighting a war on two fronts in Ohio – first to stop the attack on democracy in August and then to restore abortion rights in November. The Protect Choice Ohio coalition is working hard to make sure we have the tools we need – including digital content. They’ve put out a call for folks to submit brief (30 second tops) videos on why they signed the reproductive freedom petition. If we’re comfortable, let’s make a video for them.
