Local
Lowell Scattered Site Meeting and Volunteer Opportunities
Monday, October 30th, 5:30-7pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, Lowell
The tenants’ union currently has 4 steering committee members working with the legal team, but we are still seeking an additional 4-6 members. Community allies like yourselves are invited to attend, listen and provide support as agreed upon by the steering committee. Please RSVP. If you can’t attend, we can always benefit from more interpreters (Spanish and Khmer), drivers and outreach volunteers.
To RSVP or to volunteer, contact MTauras@ywcaoflowell.org or 978-454-5405 ext 132
International Institute of New England Volunteer Information Session
Monday, October 30th, 6pm, IINE Lowell, 17 Warren St, Lowell
Learn about the volunteer opportunities available: ESL classroom aides, front desk/reception positions, citizenship assistance, and more!
More information and to register: https://iine.org/event/iine-boston-volunteer-information-session/
United Teachers of Lowell City Council Candidate Forum
Monday, October 30th, 6:30pm, Lowell High Little Theater, 50 Father Morrissette Blvd, Lowell
Take this opportunity to mingle with our City Council candidates and discuss issues that are important to you!
(I could not find a website or Facebook event for this so unfortunately do not have additional information. Sorry!)
Make a Plan to Vote on November 7th!
Find information about polling places, absentee ballots, and more here: http://www.vote411.org/
SAVE THE DATE: Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss!
Friday, November 10th, 6:30-8:30pm, Ladd and Whitney Memorial (the island outside City Hall), 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Join us for Solidarity Lowell’s monthly visibility event! At 6:30pm, join us at the island in front of City Hall to protest against the recent atrocities of the Trump administration. Please bring signs! Then at 7:30pm, come to Lowell Burger Company (143 Merrimack Street) to have some drinks and discuss the events of the week! All are welcome!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/242924869569788/
State
Boston Takes a Knee for Justice
Sunday, October 29th, 1pm, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston
The silent protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to kneel during the national anthem in protest to the scourge of police violence and brutality disproportionately meted out to Black people has continued to spread. On the one year anniversary of the deadly police shooting of Terrence Coleman in Boston, MA we call on all supporters of this righteous protest to join with us as we stand up to the backlash and bring the focus back to the victims of police brutality and their families.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/683570111837094/
The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!
November 4th, 4pm, Shoppers Plaza, 1 Franklin Street, Boston, MA
Take to the streets and public squares in cities and towns across the country continuing day after day and night after night–not stopping–until our demand is met. This nightmare must end. In the name of humanity, we REFUSE to accept a fascist America! Millions feel this and ache with the question of how to stop this unrelenting horror. Our protest must grow day after day and night after night, determined to act to put a stop to the grave danger that the Trump/Pence Regime poses to the world by demanding that this whole regime be removed from power.
More information: https://refusefascism.org/2017/08/06/this-nightmare-must-end-the-trumppence-regime-must-go/
Reject the Pipeline Tax
Please contact your representative (find yours here https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/) AND your senator:
Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. James Lyons 617-722-2460
Sen. Eileen Donoghue 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ______ from ______, Massachusetts. Eversource, National Grid, and Enbridge have said that they need the legislature to pass a pipeline tax on ratepayers to fund the Access Northeast Pipeline project. Access Northeast is estimated to cost $6 billion- double the initial estimates. Eversource may have artificially constrained gas capacity to justify the project. This is not right and possibly criminal. To fight climate change we need renewable energy and efficiency, not new pipelines. Please sign onto Rep. Kulik and Rep. Gordon’s joint testimony against the pipeline tax. Thank you!”
More information: http://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/call_rep?utm_campaign=pipelinetaxon2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=betterfutureproject
Ban Elephants in Entertainment Acts
Please contact your representative (find yours here https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/) AND your senator:
Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. James Lyons 617-722-2460
Sen. Eileen Donoghue 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Gov. Cuomo signed a NY circus elephant ban, so let’s all work together to make Massachusetts next. “The use of elephants in these types of settings is dangerous to their health and potentially abusive,” Cuomo said in a statement. “The Elephant Protection Act furthers this administration’s efforts to fight animal cruelty, and create a stronger, more humane New York.”
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is _______ from _______, Massachusetts. Please support S.1898/H.418, The Elephant Protection Act, to ban elephants in entertainment acts. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.mspca.org/animal_protection/circus-animal-welfare/
Keep Bay Staters Safe from Gun Violence
Please contact your representative (find yours here https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/):
Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. James Lyons 617-722-2460
In Massachusetts, Representative David Linsky (Natick) has introduced a bill in the Massachusetts House of Representatives that will help keep Bay Staters safe from gun violence and massacres like the recent Las Vegas Strip shooting: H3081.
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ______ from ______, Massachusetts. Please support H3081, which establishes Extreme Risk Protective Orders that allow police and family members to petition the courts for temporary removal of firearms from people who have demonstrated that they are a risk to themselves or others. Thank you!”
More information: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5610/c/1599/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=25423
Federal
Oppose the Medicare and Medicaid Cuts
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Among the many things wrong with the budget resolution that just passed in the Senate are significant cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. This Republican budget would cut Medicaid by $1 trillion and Medicare by almost $500 billion over the next decade. The Senate passed the measure 51-49 with all the Senate Republicans except Rand Paul (R-KY) voting in favor. Action on the measure now moves back to the House, which may vote to adopt the Senate resolution later this week.
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ______ from _______, Massachusetts. I’m calling to express my opposition to the healthcare spending cuts included in the 2018 Budget Resolution. Please do everything in your power to stop these cuts. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/19/51-gop-senators-just-voted-cut-15-trillion-medicare-and-medicaid-give-super-rich-and
Protect Access to Birth Control
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
On October 6th, Donald Trump penned another anti-woman Executive Order, allowing employers and insurers to take away coverage for birth control. Thankfully, The Democratic Women’s Working Group (DWWG), introduced the Protect Access to Birth Control Act.
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ______ from _______, Massachusetts. Please support the Protect Access to Birth Control Act, which would override Trump’s Executive Order and require employers to continue to provide access to birth control. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.wallofus.org/posts/207/take-trumps-hands-off-of-birth-control
The RRT (Rapid Response Team) Action List compiles action items from the week into one place. If you would like to add anything to the weekly update, please send it to Marissa Dupont on Facebook or at marissa.dupont@gmail.com using subject line “RRT”, or use hashtag #RRT in the Solidarity Lowell Facebook group.