Although this week has a very important bill – H.R. 5 – the Equality Act, we’re not starting there. Our representatives, Brownley and Carbajal, have already cosponsored this bill, so we’re moving on to environmental legislation. You can add your thanks for their support of H.R.5 in any of the calls below. Legislators, like most people, like to be noticed for doing the right thing.(Check here for your own reps. on the cosponsor list. Note – there are zero GOP cosponsors.)
Action #1: Call your senator to support Rep. Deb Haaland’s nomination to become the First Native American Secretary of Interior.
Tell them WE EXPECT THEM to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enact bold structural reform on every issue we care about.
This is a great filibuster explainer:
We have less than 2 years before the next election and we have a lot to fix NOW! Mitch McConnell isn’t blocking every Democratic-sponsored bill from reaching the Senate floor, so we should be able to make progress, right? No. The GOP will use the 60-vote minimum of the filibuster to block progressive legislation from advancing in the Senate, keeping that chamber’s reputation as “the most powerful force for structural racism in American life.” While both parties have used the filibuster, it has been weaponized to a greater extent than ever before by Republicans in order to kill landmark pieces of legislation that the majority of Americans want, from civil rights bill like voting access, to gun violence prevention, the Dream Act, Medicare-for-all and more.
Washington DC statehood is another victim. The GOP is so fearful that a new minority-majority state would create two Democratic senators, this blatant vestige of systemic racism in the heart of our nation will remain until we get 60 Democratic senators or the filibuster is dropped. (Call scripts for legislators and postcard campaign information here.)
Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to remove the filibuster and get on with passing the bills the majority of Americans want. Civil rights bills like H.R.1 – For the People, H.R. 5 – the Equality Act and H.R. 51- Washington DC Admision Act. Commonsense gun legislation. Legislation to address climate change, childcare, immigration and healthcare. Yes, I understand the risks you think we are taking, but we see greater risks to democracy in never getting these bills passed. We will NOT accept [him/her] coming back to us in two years saying there was nothing [he/she] could do to advance issues important to us because of an self-mandated procedural relic of the Jim Crow era. We know better now, and so does [he/she].
Tweet link in header here. UPDATED 2/20/18 – New resources and donation sites for Oklahoma and Louisiana as well.
Donations for Texas
The Fight For Equity Continues!
Donate here. The Austin Area Urban League continues its emergency donation drive for the housing insecure communities of Austin, Texas.
As we continue to see unprecedented and harsh weather conditions that put our housing insecure population at risk. We have launched the #LoveThyNeighborTX campaign with the support of our fellow community-focused organizations committed to aiding in this emergency support. Together, with your help, we can provide shelter, food, water, clothing, and more this week! Show how you spread the love by donating your desired amount, sharing this page link to your network, and tagging the AAUL with the hashtag #LoveThyNeighbor
Action #1: Join in today’s call-in project to stop the Line 3 tar sands pipeline!
Basics: Line 3 is a tar sands pipeline already under construction in northern Minnesota by Enbridge, the multinational corporation responsible for the largest US inland oil spill. This project to transport a million barrels of corrosive tar sands per day from the world’s most destructive oil operation in Canada, violates treaty rights, risks over 200 bodies of water and untouched wetlands with the threat of an oil spill, and reverses our progress on climate change with a carbon equivalent of 50 coal-fired power plants. It’s being funded by Chase Bank.
Make the calls: Join in today to call Chase Bank’s CEOs, executives, and board members and ask them to stop funding this project. It’s easy to do. Just sign in here and you’ll get a script and they’ll help you dial.
Send some emails: Link here. Add your voice to the growing demand to banks like Chase, Citi, Bank of America and TD Bank to STOP financing Line 3. Send a direct email to CEOs now to demand that they stop funding the toxic Line 3 pipeline. Your email will go directly to the inboxes of CEOs, executives, and Board members of the banks funding Line 3.
Action #1:Write a comment to the Department of Justice
According to an article in the Hill, some officials are thinking of letting the “nonviolent insurrectionists” who invaded our Capitol walk with NO consequences. Tell the DOJ that ALL of them entered our Capitol with the the intent to interfere with the lawful certification of Electoral College votes and should be charged with the appropriate federal crime – and there are several to choose from.
Link to DOJ comment page here. Select “Messages to the Attorney General.” (The tricky bit is to keep it to 2000 characters or less.) Here’s our post. We’ve put all the laws affecting crimes at the Capitol and some additional resources you can use to create your post at the bottom. Mix it up. It doesn’t need to be long.
I’m writing to request that every insurrectionist who entered our capitol unlawfully on Jan. 6 be charged with a crime. Roughly 800 of them pushed into our Capitol and committed a variety of crimes, from vandalism to murder. Now we read that some officials have argued that those known only to have committed unlawful entry, without proof of violent, threatening or destructive behavior – should not be charged.
I’m not asking you to imprison every QAnon-addled middle-aged, middle-class rioter who believed themselves on a mission for Trump. But there must be accountability that marks both their psyche and their permanent record. Studies from both the US National Institute of Justice and the Sentencing Project show that punishments need not to be draconian to be effective in deterring repeat offenders. Letting them walk away scot-free, however, will encourage them to try again, along with others interested in violent cosplay at our Capitol. Repeat offenders should be a serious concern, as 40% of the GOP now believe that violence is acceptable to achieve political ends.
Every one who stepped through the door should be charged with §5104- Unlawful activities & 18 U.S. Code § 1752, with the potential punishment of a year in prison. Many would be resolved with a good-sized fine, along with a ban prohibiting gun possession, which is a great deterrent as well. Break the “Big Lie” spell with consequences.
First action every day this week: Call your senators and have red-state friends call theirs to convict and disqualify Trump. Scripts here.
Action #1:Washington D.C. is a living, breathing, racial and civil rights injustice and we need to fix it!
If you’re unfamiliar with the hundreds of years that DC residents have been denied statehood, along with the rights we take for granted, like representation along with taxation, the ability to make laws without federal interference, and being able to call up the National Guard when they need it, here’s our post with lots of information and great videos. (Also 51 for 51 and DCstatehoodcoalition.org ) Both the House and Senate have reintroduced bills to fix this, H.R.51 & S.51– “Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Another important bill – H.R.1 – “For the People Act, declares, amongst many important voting reforms, “…that DC residents deserve full Congressional voting rights and self-government, which only statehood can provide.” (full text) (endorsements). We need to get all Democratic representatives and senators onboard both bills as cosponsors quickly as possible!
A member is printing up several thousand postcards!!! JOIN IN!
The impeachment trial is starting today, Feb. 9, but we need to make the phones jump in our senators’ offices. If you live in a state with GOP SENATORS, OR HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT DO, ask them to make calls EVERY DAY to their senators offices.
Minimal script (Democrat) : I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Sen. [___] for their support in convicting and disqualifying Trump from office. He urged his followers to resort to violence instead of allowing a peaceful transition of power and he remains a clear and present danger to our democracy. GOP votes to acquit are cowardly and unAmerican and will lead to more American deaths.
Call them anyway. Repeatedly. They have to make a note of it. Let their phones flood. If people don’t do it because they assume they won’t do anything there’s no shot. Just call
Minimal script (Republican) : I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to convict and disqualify Trump from office. In defense of his “Big Lie” about a stolen election, he urged his followers to resort to violence instead of allowing a peaceful transition of power. People died because of him. He remains a clear and present danger to our democracy and I expect Sen. [___] to put aside partisan politics and stop hiding behind fake constitutional arguments and do [his/her] duty to protect our country. A vote to acquit Trump is cowardly and unAmerican and will lead to more American domestic terrorism and deaths. We will hold you accountable.
Contacts
ALL SENATORS:(202) 224-3121
Senator Feinstein:email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
Minimum script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen. [___] to support legislation to specifically exempt ex-President Trump from all benefits of the Former Presidents Act, except for standard security expenses for himself and his wife. Instead, I want the funds that would have gone to his pension, travel, staff, and office space to be placed in trust for use in setting up the future 51st state of America created from Washington DC, which he abused shamefully during his term in office.
Contacts
Rep. Julia Brownley:email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal:email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein:email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Padilla: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
Minimal script for call: I’m calling from [zip code] to ask Rep./Sen [___] to celebrate “Thank a Mail Carrier Day” by:
Passing this year’s bipartisan version of the USPS Fairness Act. [Rep. – H.R.695/Sen. – S.145] (removes the onerous burden of pre-funding retirement.)
Ensuring the quick appointment of strong and diverse public service advocates to the USPS Board of Governors who can vote out DeJoy. (Currently, the 6-member board has no Black or women members.)
Returning postal banking, and adding other financial services like check-cashing, that help poorer communities.
Ensuring that the Postal Service continues to provide good jobs for workers, including Black workers, workers without bachelor’s degrees, and military veterans.
Opposing any privatization and outsourcing of USPS services.
The impeachment trial is starting on February 8, but we need to make the phones jump in our senators’ offices. If you live in a state with GOP SENATORS, OR HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT DO, ask them to make 10 CALLS to their senators offices before that date.
This morning (1/3), President Biden, Vice President Harris and House and Senate leadership met in the Rotunda to pay their respects to Officer Brian D. Sicknick, the U.S. Capitol police office who died defending the Capitol on Jan. 6. At least 134 police officers were assaulted, some with life-changing injuries and two have committed suicide. A horrified country won’t soon forget the images of white nationalists with confederate flags and Nazi paraphernalia, sacking and looting our capitol. Neither will the rest of the world, which recognizes a coup when they see one and has no confusion over who’s to blame.
Minimal script for Democratic senator: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to vote to convict Trump and to disqualify him from holding further office. Americans are united in the importance of holding him accountable to strengthen the country’s safeguards against a future presidency like his.
Minimal script for Republican senator: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to vote to convict Trump and to disqualify him from holding further office. I hope [he/she] will honor [his/her] oath & defend our Republic. If inciting a militant attack on our country and Capitol, doesn’t disqualify a leader from public office, what does? #DoYourDuty
More script if you want it (both parties): I am also frustrated that the Senate sees fit to waste taxpayer-paid time playing games with the Constitution, trying to shirk their responsibility to hold a trial. Trump was impeached while still a sitting president, but the Constitution allows impeachment even after an official leaves office, and lawyer/legislators like Senators Hawley and Cruz, who both worked for Supreme Court justices, should know better. We are tired of funding this kind of corruption.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 