September 25, 2023
Support the Dreamers, solidarity with the UAW, elect progressive school boards, 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:
- DREAMERS NEED OUR SUPPORTThey came here as children. It was not their choice. The USA has been the only home they have known. They grew up here. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program helped many of them secure their place here. The program is slowly being whittled away by the right while these people’s lives are in the balance. These young people need a clear pathway to citizenship. DACA recipients contribute to the fabric of our society in countless beneficial ways. Let’s ask our senators to co-sponsor and support the Dream Act (S. 365) and ask our representatives to do the same with the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 16), to ensure these young residents finally have permanent solutions to reside in the U.S (h/t Americans of Conscience Checklist)
- THE UAW STRIKE IS EXPANDING
The UAW has made progress in negotiations with Ford, but have not seen enough from Stellantis or GM as the Big Three strike continues. So as promised they’ve expanded to the strike to 38 new locations, parts distribution centers for Stellantis and GM across 20 states. Let’s stand in solidarity with these workers! We can find locations of plants on strike here and learn more about how to support them here; donate to a hardship fund here; call 1-318-300-1249 and leave a message for the CEOs for Ford, GM and Stellantis to tell them UAW members deserve the same 40% raise they got over the last four years; and get updates from the union on more ways to help here.
- WRITE LETTERS FOR OHIO AND VIRGINIAIn important elections this November, Ohioans could enshrine reproductive rights into their state constitution, and Virginians could prevent a MAGA takeover of their state. The key is getting sympathetic voters to the polls. Vote Forward has letter-writing campaigns for both states. Let’s sign up to write letters and help win these elections!
- RUN PROGRESSIVES FOR SCHOOL BOARD
Our public schools are under attack by the bigots, the book banners, and the privatizers – and many of the crucial decisions on education’s future are being made by elected officials who aren’t being held accountable. There are more than 80,000 elected school board positions in America, and 60% of them go uncontested when they come up for a vote. The folks at Run For Something want to change that, so they’re launching a 50-state strategy to recruit and support progressive candidates for these seats. Let’s donate or sign up to volunteer to support their efforts.
- RESIST NEW ALIEN LAND LAWS
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, lawmakers in more than a dozen states passed “alien land laws” prohibiting Chinese and Japanese immigrants from becoming landowners. Now we are seeing history repeat itself. Legislators have introduced bills in 34 states restricting businesses and citizens from certain nations – primarily China – from buying real estate. More than a dozen states have passed them into law, most notably an extremely strict and targeted ban in Florida. As the ACLU and Justice Department have both argued, these laws can and in Florida’s case do violate the Equal Protection Clause along with prohibitions on discrimination based on national origin in the Fair Housing Act. They will be burdensome to those still in the process of obtaining permanent residency and citizenship, folks on work visas, refugees, undocumented immigrants, and foreign students, and are likely to put a substantial burden on Asian-Americans who should still have rights under this legislation and encourage further anti-Asian prejudice. Amidst a 339% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, we need to stand up and say no to this bigotry. Especially if we’re in one of the states where these bills have been introduced but not yet passed (map, list of bills), let’s reach out to our legislators and governors and urge them to reject this sort of discrimination. Let’s also sign this ACLU petition to Congress urging them to say no to similar efforts on a federal level, and directly share with all our lawmakers this guide from Stop AAPI Hate on how to avoid political rhetoric that demonizes Asian people.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- MA – PASS SHELTER RELIEF FUNDS FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS
As nearly 1,000 new arrivals per month press into Massachusetts’ overcrowded shelter system, Governor Maura Healey has put forth an emergency request to the state legislature to allocate $250 million for emergency shelters. However, the request is being held up by the (Democrat) Speaker of the House, Ron Mariano, which is resulting in families with children arriving at Logan Airport with no place to sleep. Let’s remind our legislators that Massachusetts is a right-to-shelter state and we need, first and foremost, to take care of these families.
AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS
- LAST WEEK’S WINS
Some days, you can really tell we’re making a difference. From the State House to the White House, we recorded some huge victories last week! Here’s a summary of some of the biggest from our friend and ally Jessica Craven at Chop Wood, Carry Water, including a flipped legislative seat in New Hampshire, enforcement of book bans halted in a Texas courtroom, and President Biden launching a climate corps and an office of gun violence prevention, restoring Medicaid coverage to 500,000 children and families, expanding protected status so that Venezuelan refugees will be able to live and work here legally, AND forgiving $37 million in student loans. Phew!