Tag: Indivisible Ventura

Sunday – 8/25 is HUGE with TWO great activities! Swap Meet Justice is “ON” and so is “Write for Your Rights 2019!”

If you’ve never watch Ronald Reagan’s astonishing last speech as president, reminding his listeners that immigration is “the great life force of each generation of new Americans…” watch it here. (Quick timeline of the history of immigration here.)

Action #1: Volunteer and spread the word about our free monthly immigration fair at Oxnard College this Sunday, 8-3!

Continuous volunteer trainings for Swap Meet Justice

WHAT?: Come to Swap Meet Justice at 8:30 am this Sunday morning and get trained to help there and at all future fairs! We love to have bilingual people but English-only volunteers are also most welcome. Volunteers do not need to be citizens, nor adults. Interested teens make great volunteers!

When: Aug. 25th – Sunday – 8:30 am  (and every last Sunday of the month, including 9/29, 10/27,  11/24,  and12/29)

Where: Swap Meet Justice is held at Oxnard College’s Community Marketplace, right next to the Student Bookstore.

More information, including Campus Map, documents to bring, eligibility rules and downloadable posters about the Swap Meet Justice fairs here.

Action #2 – Reach out to your legislators at Write for your Rights! Do something powerful that’s easy and fun!

image.png

Continue reading “Sunday – 8/25 is HUGE with TWO great activities! Swap Meet Justice is “ON” and so is “Write for Your Rights 2019!”” →

Fri 8/23: This is your 3-day warning…The Trump administration is handing over our national forests to industry & “right-sizing” our ability to comment. Deadline 8/26.

image.png

Everybody! There are just over 35,000 comments here. Blast them with comments! It’s as easy or hard as you want to make it.

(Guest column from Rebecca August of Los Padres ForestWatch with a new comment generator!) Good morning! The Trump administration is launching a bold move to undercut environmental regulations in national forests as a gift to timber companies and other special interests.

The proposed regulatory changes will effectively gut the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as it relates to national forests by not requiring thorough environmental analysis or consideration of public input prior to approving commercial logging, mining, oil drilling, and other projects in places like the Los Padres National Forest.

“By going to such great lengths to obstruct public input, the administration shows its hand, and how much power there is in our collective voice.” Rebecca August, Public Lands Advocate, Los Padres ForestWatch.

The administration’s proposed rule was recently published in the Federal Register and at regulations.gov. Deadline is now August 26th, 11:59 pm EST.

Comment with LPFW great new “original comment” generator here!

Or, go old school and comment here.
(Lots of source material below under “Deeper dive for “right-size” comments!“) Continue reading “Fri 8/23: This is your 3-day warning…The Trump administration is handing over our national forests to industry & “right-sizing” our ability to comment. Deadline 8/26.” →

Fri 8/23: More “Domestic Terrorism” laws won’t help! We need to start tracking the haters better. – 2 actions

Apologies that this is a long post. But this issue targets our resistance movement as well as minorities. We need to understand it.

Action #1 – Acknowledge that our first instinct is wrong. “NO” on all the “Domestic Terrorism” bills.

The FBI doesn’t need any new “anti-terrorism” laws. They already has all the tools they need with the Patriot act. “There are already 52 federal crimes of terrorism (listed at bottom of this post) that apply to entirely domestic acts, five federal hate crimes statutes that address the bias crimes often committed by white supremacists commit … and dozens of other statutes that can and have been used to prosecute domestic terrorists. The Justice Department’s failure to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of white supremacists results from a policy choice, not a lack of authority.” – Michael German, former FBI special agent.

Wait a minute…who are they looking at instead of white supremacists? Us!

Continue reading “Fri 8/23: More “Domestic Terrorism” laws won’t help! We need to start tracking the haters better. – 2 actions” →

Wed 8/21: Call Your Assemblymember – Tell Them to #FreeTheVote

Action: Call your assemblymember and ask them to pass ACA 6

“I was a part of the community, and yet I was separate. I wasn’t a community member.” – Dexter Stanton who lost voting rights after a 2009 drunk driving felony conviction, according to the SCTimes.

The CA Assembly will be voting on ACA 6 very soon. Nearly 50,000 Californians on parole pay taxes at the local, state, and federal levels, but are not able to vote at any level of government, simply because they are on parole. Disenfranchising people on parole is a form of voter suppression that disproportionately and systematically locks Black and Brown people out of the voting booth.

Minimal script: Hello, I’m calling from [zip code]. I’m calling to ask the Assemblymember [___] to vote “YES” on ACA 6 to restore voting rights to people on parole. Continue reading “Wed 8/21: Call Your Assemblymember – Tell Them to #FreeTheVote” →

Tues 8/20: Every day we “vote” with our dollars. Make sure you know what you’re voting for.

“The Illusions of Choice” (full-size version) (Check out “Background – Deep dive into a viral meme and the politics behind the restaurant industry (and where you want your fast food dollars to go“) at the bottom)

Action #1:  Join “Sleeping Giants” to stop a white supremacy-denier from spreading his toxic message.

After the El Paso shootings by a domestic terrorist intent on killing Latinos, Fox’s Tucker Carlson publicly called white supremacy, the cause of most mass shootings in 2018,  both “a hoax” and “conspiracy theory used to divide the country”. He lost almost almost 60% of his ads and was sent away on Fox’s standard “time-out vacation”. This isn’t the first time –  Carlson lost over 70 paid advertisers in December 2018 after his comment that “immigrants make our own country poorer and dirtier“. This time “at least five advertisers — HelloFresh, Nestle, SteinMart, Calm and SoFi — have removed their ads from Tucker Carlson’s show, and many more have quietly distanced themselves. One major Fox News advertiser, Long John Silver’s, was so frustrated that it removed its ads from the network entirely.” However, one big one remains…USAA [United Services Automobile Association] remains.

Ask them to step away. Send an email to their Executive Director of Media & Social  – Laura Powers. Sleeping Giants provides a letter template and all the information you need here. While you’re on their page, sign up to follow Sleeping Giants!

Action #2:  – Tell companies it’s no longer “business as usual.”

Since before the 2016 election, #GrabYourWallet has been listing companies that had financial relationships with the Trumps.  Since then over 70 companies have been dropped from the list due to people like us reaching out to them. However, recent news of the Trump administration’s continued use of family separation despite a U.S. court order to stop—an action resulting in 900 additional children being separated from their parents – has caused #GrabYourWallet to add donations, fundraising events, and endorsements of high profile Trump supporters.”

Buying the products or services of a company on the #GrabYourWallet list, may put your money in the pocket of someone who will use it to try to reelect, support, and/or celebrate Trump. Check out the list here and start reaching out.
There are names, phone numbers, email and twitter addresses.

Use their minimal script or make your own: “Hi. I’m a customer of [CompanyName]. Unfortunately I can no longer do business with your company because it and/or its leaders have aided in the political efforts/endeavors of the Trump administration. If your company were to publicly commit to not doing so in the 2020 election cycle, I would enthusiastically return as a customer. Please communicate my feedback to management.”

Action #3:  – Your voice as a consumer has power and yes, there’s an app for that…

Continue reading “Tues 8/20: Every day we “vote” with our dollars. Make sure you know what you’re voting for.” →

Monday 8/19: Public improvements

Action: ±425,000 people have already signed this petition.

You can sign on too here.

“The City of Los Angeles recently honored former President Barack Obama by renaming a stretch of the 134 Freeway near Downtown L.A. in his honor.

We request the New York City Mayor and City Council do the same by renaming a block of Fifth Avenue after the former president whose many accomplishments include: saving our nation from the Great Recession; serving two completely scandal-free terms in office; and taking out Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind September 11th, which killed over 3,000 New Yorkers.”

Update on earlier petition for street renaming to honor Jamal Khashoggi.

 

A DC neighborhood group voted to rename the street in front of the Saudi embassy for Jamal Khashoggi. (CNN) Community activists and local government leaders have asked for an exception to a D.C. Code that mandates that no public space be named after anyone who is still alive or who has been dead less than two years. Khashoggi was murdered this October of 2018. The DC Council Chairman has so far refused to grant the exception.

These petition campaigns can be effective.

Washington renamed the street in front of the Russian embassy in 2018 after Boris Nemtsov, a slain critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nemtsov was killed near the Kremlin three years ago by an unknown assailant. Moscow has denied any involvement in his murder.

Fri 8/16: Two actions for kids and today’s update on our favorite CA bills!

Summary of AB 1505 text reflects insertions in blue by, reputedly, the governor’s office to weaken the strong version passed by the Assembly. The language in red with strikeouts represents strong Assembly language in the April 24, 2019 version, and the blue text with red X represents a rollback to status quo Ed Code that favors charter authorization, as if the Assembly version had never been voted through.

ICYMI:

  • CA legislation actions against the proliferation of plastic pollution and the mysterious and possibly toxic chemicals behind the words “fragrance” and “flavoring” in your hygiene products and cosmetics earlier this week, go here.
  • Ask the governor to sign the bill that bans trapping for fur in CA. Also ask your federal legislators to use a CRA (Congressional Review Act) against the Endangered Species Act. Go here.

Also, check out bill updates from 8/16/19 at the bottom.)

Action #1 – Hey, Gavin, who got to you over summer vacation?

At the last election, we told our legislators that public funds should be prioritized for public schools with public oversight. Charters deplete Oakland Unified schools of about $57 million a year, and Los Angeles Unified of nearly $600 million a year. Our governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond were all on board and our state legislature responded by passing a strong Charter School Accountability Bill. But something happened over the June-July recess and the Governor’s office added amendments to AB 1505 and AB 1507 that once again allow state and county school boards to authorize charter schools while undermining the ability of local elected school boards to deny fly-by-night operators.  Local control with the intentional abeyance of the state, is crucial to the decision making of school districts to allow or deny charter expansion within their borders.

Minimum script:  I am a parent/ community member and support local school control and strong charter school accountability found in the Assembly version of AB1505. I DO NOT support the amendments you pushed on behalf of the California Charter Schools Association. Please recall those changes and sign into law robust Charter Accountability that ALL California families deserve!”

Please Call Governor Newsom at (916) 445-2841 and ask him to put AB 1505 back the way he found it.

Action #2 – Tell these kids they are not forgotten…

image.png

Continue reading “Fri 8/16: Two actions for kids and today’s update on our favorite CA bills!” →

Thurs 8/15: Two actions for wildlife and an update on our favorite CA bills!

(If you missed the CA legislation actions against the proliferation of plastic pollution and the mysterious and possibly toxic chemicals behind the words “fragrance” and “flavoring” in your hygiene products and cosmetics earlier this week, go here. Also, check out bill updates from 8/15/19 at the bottom.)

Action #1 – Call the Governor to pass AB 273 into law!

(Guest action from Jim Hines, Sierra Club) GREAT NEWS!…. the California state senate passed AB 273 to ban the trapping of California native mammals for fur.
This bill is a one of the top priority bills in the current legislative session for the Sierra Club.
Many of us walked the halls of the state senate advocating for the bills passage and all of YOUR voices were heard.
Now the bill goes to Governor Newsom for his signature to become law.
Please Call Governor Newsom at (916) 445-2841 and ask him to sign AB 273.

Action #2 – Let’s use the “Congressional Review Act” against the GOP’s attack on the Endangered Species Act. Also, call Gavin!

Continue reading “Thurs 8/15: Two actions for wildlife and an update on our favorite CA bills!” →

Thurs 8/15: “What can I do? I’m just one person.” Answer: “A lot. Join in.” Today is 3rd Thursday – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards. Also, volunteer at our citizenship fairs! There are (2) this month!

Action #1  – TODAY! Meet at Santino’s for pizza, camaraderie, and social justice – every Third Thursday starting at 11:30 am

Action #1: North Carolina: We’re going to send 500 postcards to the good folks in Beaumont, NC to remind them of a special election on Sept. 10th!

A postcard stamp is $0.35. (500) postcards equals $175. Donations to help fund this or rolls of stamps are gratefully accepted! We provide pizza, and properly marked postcards.

Action #2: Kindness for kids: Scour your drawers for fun cards, postcards and kid-friendly stickers and bring them! We’ll batch-mail them.

EL PASO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: From one of our own: “Hello. We are teachers in El Paso. We would like to know if anyone is interested in sending us postcards to help our students know there is plenty of good in our world. As teachers, we may only be able to say so much. We think concrete messages of support would help us calm some fears. Any thoughts? You can send them here: 1) E. Flores, Hillside Elementary, 4500 Clifton Ave., El Paso, TX 79903, and 2) Teresa Garrett, Tom Lea Elementary, 4851 Marcus Uribe Dr., El Paso, TX. 79934.”

Action #3: Letters to legislators: Depending on time and how many people show up, we have a number of issues we can address, including:

Continue reading “Thurs 8/15: “What can I do? I’m just one person.” Answer: “A lot. Join in.” Today is 3rd Thursday – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards. Also, volunteer at our citizenship fairs! There are (2) this month!” →

Wed. 8/14: Stop the “Public Charge” rule changes.

Action: Call your legislators to stop the Administrations cruel and unnecessary changes to the “Public Charge” rule.

It’s time to call in the Congressional Review Act – This action empowers Congress to review new federal regulations issued by government agencies and overrule them with a joint resolution. Congress has 60 days to do this.

(From Indivisible SF): “For generations, the US government allowed people who immigrated to avail themselves of commonly-used anti-poverty programs to get a start in building a new life, keep their kids fed, and keep their families healthy without endangering their status. Now the Trump administration intends to deport hard-working taxpayers if they use government services. Despite overwhelmingly negative public comments, DHS has allowed their expanded “Public Charge” regulation to go into effect.

This is an unmistakably class-based attack on immigration, aimed at ensuring that America allows only wealthy people to enter or remain here. It ties in directly with racist ideas of white supremacy—particularly of immigrants being a drain on (white) society—espoused on Fox News and in recent mass shootings. This cruel reversal of “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” is in complete opposition to our most deeply held ideals. And Congress can put a stop to it with the Congressional Review Act.“

Minimal script to federal legislators: I’m calling from [zip code] to urge Rep./Sen. [___] to invoke the Congressional Review Act to block implementation of the new DHS “Public Charge” immigration rule.

Minimal script to our Governor: I’m calling to urge Governor Newsom to take the strongest possible action to fight the public charge immigration rule changes and to act by executive order to ensure outreach and services continue to reach legal immigrants and their families awaiting processing in California.
Continue reading “Wed. 8/14: Stop the “Public Charge” rule changes.” →