July 17, 2023
Fight MAGA policy in the military, stand with striking workers and union organizers, keep QAnon out of North Las Vegas, 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:
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- DON’T LET MAGA RUN THE MILITARY
Last week the MAGA wing of the GOP House took control and passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with measures that blocked access to abortion and gender-affirming care for members of the military, along with diversity initiatives. The MAGA NDAA also includes provisions that bar the Defense Department from carrying out President Biden’s executive orders on climate change and prohibit DoD personnel from communicating with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which combats unwanted proselytizing in our armed forces. The Senate is set to vote as soon as this week on its version of the bill, which excludes these extremist attempts to rewrite military policy. Let’s tell our Senators that under no circumstance do we support these restrictions or the use of the NDAA to push a far-right agenda. And let’s also tell our MoCs who voted for the bill that we are disgusted by their actions and expect them to pass a final bill without these provisions, and sign this petition from the MRFF defending their work. - SUPPORT STRIKING ACTORS AND WRITERS
For the first time in 63 years, Hollywood has a double strike on its hands. The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing 160,000 actors, recording artists, stunt performers & media professionals, has joined the Writer’s Guild in striking for pay increases, protection from AI exploitation, a sharing of the enormous profits earned during the worst of the pandemic, and more. They’re taking on the American Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Hollywood’s studios and production companies. We can help by signing letters to the representatives of corporate Hollywood and to Warner Brothers, Disney, Netflix and Amazon directly in support of the unions, contributing to the WGA’s Entertainment Community Fund or mutual aid funds, or even helping provide drinks and snacks to picketers whether we live in the area or not.
- NO MORE CAPTIVE AUDIENCE MEETINGS
Captive audience meetings in the workplace, in which employers require workers to attend anti-union presentations or other meetings to hear about their political or religious views, are a significant union-busting tactic and were barred for a full decade during FDR’s presidency. As unions regain strength, we’re seeing a concerted effort to crack down on them. This time last year, they were only illegal in Connecticut and Oregon – now Maine, Minnesota and New York have banned them too, and Massachusetts and Vermont are considering doing so as well. Let’s contact our state legislators and tell them we want our state to follow their lead, and let’s remind our members of Congress we are still eager to see progress on the PRO Act, which includes a similar ban at the federal level.
- TELL NORTH LAS VEGAS MAYOR TO REJECT HOSTING RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN/QANON’s RE-AWAKEN AMERICA TOUR
Over 50 far-right speakers including Alex Jones are scheduled to participate in this year’s annual “Re-awaken America” event, an annual showcase of conservative Christians and conspiracy theorists, which is scheduled to take place in August in North Las Vegas. While it’s important to recognize people’s right to freedom of speech, activists and residents have raised concerns that the site of the event is in Craig Ranch Park, a public and taxpayer-funded venue. Let’s join with people of Faithful America and others opposing this gathering and sign this petition, calling on the mayor and other related officials in North Las Vegas to refuse to grant permission to use this site. We can also contact the North Las Vegas mayor’s office ourselves here.
- HELP ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS
This Wednesday, July 19 at 8pm EST, Swing Left is holding a 30 minute orientation to connect people to a variety of efforts you can get involved in to help elect more Democrats in 2024. If that particular day doesn’t work for you, the link will also list another dozen or so dates when you can attend the orientation. The orientation is virtual, so you can do it easily from home. Sign up HERE! (h/t)
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- MA – ADVOCATE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE GUN SAFETY BILLResponding to a Supreme Court decision that effectively overturned concealed carry laws in Massachusetts and elsewhere, state Democrats introduced a sweeping bill that will, among many other things, require new gun tracking and monitoring systems, ban carrying firearms in public spaces like schools, colleges, and polling places, rein in untraceable ghost guns, and stem the flow of illegal firearms into the state. If we’re in Massachusetts, let’s tell our state senator and state representative to reach out to House and Senate leadership and urge them to schedule a hearing on HD.4420, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws.
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 best news from the last week from our stalwart ally Jessica Craven at Chop Wood, Carry Water, including American electric vehicle sales topping 4 million in June, the Biden Administration announcing student loan forgiveness for another 800,000 borrowers, and the FDA approving an over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S. for the first time.
