Week 74 Actions

[Actions for Americans]

Hi all!

We're back! Apologies for the last few weeks of silence. There may be a few more weeks of silence in July due to my work schedule, so if any of you brilliant, compassionate people are interested in helping out with action writing this summer, please let me know.

Useful resource for finding your elected officials (save the numbers in your phone!!): myreps.datamade.us

Tips on effective communication with elected officials, see Chapter 4 Advocacy Tactics: Indivisible Guide: Local Advocacy Tactics that Work

1. Call your MoCs, state legislators, the Department of Homeland Security (202-282-8495), and ICE (888-351-4024) to #EndFamilySeparation at the border

On May 7, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new policy to separate children from their parents at the US border, even if the families are legally seeking asylum. This policy is dehumanizing, violates human rights, and puts children at risk of severe psychological damage. 

For more: New Yorker: How the Trump Administration got Comfortable Separating Immigrant Kids from Their Parents

Say: Indivisible Call Script or ICalledMyReps Talking Points

Be social: Use the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether and #EndFamilySeparation

Donate: Help Kids at the Border (8 groups including ACLU, United We Dream, and Women's Refugee Commission)

2. Call your MoCs to denounce Trump's harmful trade policies with our allies and rein in Trump's trade authority

Last week, the Trump administration imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on the world. Many thought our allies would be exempt, but Canada, Mexico, and the EU were included in the stiff tariffs. In response, our allies have announced retaliatory tariffs of their own. If the impending trade war wasn't bad enough, many experts say a tax on steel and aluminum will actually hurt American businesses and jobs. 

For more: Marketplace: The Trade War is Back on. Here's Everything You Need to Know

Read: The Hill: GOP Senator to Back Bill to Rein in Trump's Trade Authority

Say: "Hi, I'm a constituent of _______, and I'm calling today to urge them to condemn the trade Tariff's recently imposed on our allies. Many organizations, including the US Chamber of Commerce believe these tariffs will hurt, not help, American jobs. It's clear that the President's administration has no understanding of economic fundamentals, and the Executive branch's trade powers need to be reined in by Congress. I ask that Senator/Representative _____ publicly denounce the steel and aluminum tariffs and support Senator Mike Lee's bill to require Congressional approval of the administration's new tariffs. My zip code is ______."

3. Continue to educate yourself on the impacts of everyday racism

There is still a lot of learning and improving that needs to happen on every side of the aisle in America. Please take a few minutes to read this impactful piece from one of my college classmates. We need to treat each other better.

Read: Washington Post: How it Feels to Be Called a Monkey

4. Remember that legal is not the same as right, and illegal is not the same as wrong

I hear a lot of people making excuses for human rights violations. Examples stretch from immigrant families being separated ("but they came here illegally!"), to black men being killed by police for minor violations ("but they are criminals!"), to torturing captured members of al-Qaeda ("but they are terrorists!"). Slavery was legal. Interment camps were legal. Apartheid was legal. It's imperative that we remind ourselves and our communities of that truth, and fight to right the wrongs that have been codified into law.

For our  Texans:

1. Call Governor Greg Abbot and your State Senator and State Representative and tell them you don't want to militarize classrooms

Last week, Governor Greg Abbot issued a 40 page plan to improve school safety. Some items were good, like increasing funding for programs that address mental and behavioral health of students. But he also wants to spend tax dollars on arming teachers. If that happens, it's only a matter of time before a teacher shoots a student.

Read: School and Firearm Safety Action Plan

For more: Austin American Statesman: Governor Abbott Unveils School Safety Plan

Say: "Hi, I'm a constituent of ______ and I'm calling today to support the Governor's initiative to make our schools safer. It's very important to me that we address the root cause of these shootings: often young men having access to guns when they are not mentally fit to do so. The call for increased funding of mental and behavioral health programs for students is wonderful; however, I strongly oppose arming teachers or increasing the number of armed guards on school campuses. If that happens, it's only a matter of time before a teacher shoots a student. Our kids deserve to go to school without fear of being shot at, by anyone. My zip code is ______."

2. Support the Texas College Democrats

With such low voter turnout in Texas, a single group (Empower Texas) has been able to target their spending on Republican primary races in order to elect representatives who don't support Texas values. When the Empower Texas candidate wins a primary, more often than not, they easily win the general election, but not because they're the candidate that best represents constituents. They win because of low voter turnout Let's hold elected officials accountable by making sure every race has a viable challenger.

Donate: Texas College Democrats

3. Check out the odds in Congressional and Texas House and Senate elections in your district

Many people refer to Texas as a red state, but in reality, it's a non-voting state. Check out the list of races where Democrats have a chance to unseat Republicans who don't believe in vaccinations or equal rights. Then pick a race near you and help out! You can volunteer, donate, or spread the word to help get more responsible Texans elected to office.

Texas Statewide Projections

That's it for this week. Keep up the good work!

Much love,

Marieke

@actionsUSA