Local
Help Get Out the Word about The Scattered Site Tenants’ Union Meeting
The Scattered Site Tenants’ Union is having an upcoming meeting on Monday December 4th, 5:30pm at the Lowell Senior Center. We would love to have some volunteers help us make some phone calls or visit some homes on Saturday (a high of 51°). There’s a short questionnaire we would like to get out to some homes that will hopefully help us get a few more tenants interested in the Union as the Union expands to other issues beyond the LHA Sale. Please sign up to help make phone calls or do some door-knocking!
To sign up: https://www.volunteersignup.org/TFBTY
Lowell Drums!
Monday, December 4, 12-2pm, on the corner of Middlesex and Marston Street, Lowell
Lowell Drums is a bucket drum circle bringing the community together through song. The Lowell Community Health Center will be doing free blood pressure screenings. Warm refreshments will be served. For GPS, use 150 Middlesex St, Lowell, MA 01852.
Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss: Save Net Neutrality! Protest Verizon!
Thursday, December 7, 4-7pm, Verizon – Freedom Communications, 1201 Bridge Street, #10, Lowell
Protest against the rollback of net neutrality protections! At 4pm, join other Team Internet members at the protest. Internet users outraged by top Verizon lawyer turned FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to gut net neutrality are planning to protest across the country on Thursday, December 7th, one week before an expected vote at the FCC. The time is now to stand for net neutrality, not Verizon’s bottom line. Please remember, this event is about protesting actions of Verizon executives, lobbyists, and their supporters in Washington, not the employees at these stores. Bring signs! At 6pm, we’ll head downtown to Tremonte Pizzeria for some food and/or drinks! All are welcome!
More information and to RSVP: http://act.demandprogress.org/event/team-internet_attend/2015
Even if you can’t attend: On your computer, not your phone, go to: www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express, then enter Proceeding 17-108 and in comments, say you support Title 2 oversight of ISPs.
Raise Awareness for Changing Lowell’s Voting System
There are a number of ways you can get involved to raise public awareness and build support for changing Lowell’s voting system, including hosting house parties to provide information about the lawsuit to your friends and neighbors, writing letters to your city councilors and local media/or organizing letter-writing campaigns, and coordinating visits to city councilors by small groups of residents to express your opinion on the lawsuit and current voting system. Please help spread the word about the benefits of moving to a ward or hybrid voting system!
More information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B716TaA9X__OMUpLTjRqdnpybDR3V1NBWGxpWmQ5UGo4S2w4/view?usp=sharing
SAVE THE DATE: Solidarity Lowell Holiday Party!
Sunday, December 17, 5-8pm, Lynne Lupien’s house (address to be emailed)
Lynne Lupien has graciously offered to host our first annual Solidarity Lowell Holiday and Anniversary Party! It’s the one-year anniversary of the group and we want to celebrate! This party will feature board games, a pie election to show how Ranked Choice Voting works, and a ring and sing! We’ll send an email with the address shortly before the event so if we don’t have your email, please let us know right away! See you there!
RSVP HERE: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945a8af28a2f49-solidarity
A Rapid Response Rally if Mueller is Fired
If it happens before 2pm, the event will be held at 5pm the same day. If it happens after 2pm, the event will be held at noon the following day. Ladd and Whitney Memorial (the island outside City Hall), 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Nobody is above the law! Donald Trump is publicly considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller. This would be a constitutional crisis for our country. Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab will dictate what happens next, which is why an immediate response is imperative.
Sign up to be notified: https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/14830
State
Volunteer to Pick Up or Sort Raise Up Petitions
We’re in the final phase of the Raise Up signature drive and it’s time to pick up certified signatures! We need folks to sign up for driving shifts going through Friday and again on Sunday and Monday. We also need sign ups for sorting shifts leading up to the December 5th turn-in rally in Boston!
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yNDBNTJOKEtMOtxMqN23G9nSp93b5QpAn6Nylx7hZP8/viewform?ts=5a158c99&edit_requested=true
Resist Deportations! Save TPS!
Saturday, December 2, 12-3pm, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA
Save TPS! Defend DACA! Resist Deportations! No Wall! No border militarization! No Muslim ban! Permanent Legal Residence! Jail Joe Arpaio — Not Migrants! Resist Fascism! Rally at noon on the steps across from the Massachusetts Statehouse, then march to the JFK Federal Building.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2062238520729058/
Stopping the Rising Tide of Hate
Saturday, December 2, 4-6pm, Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
Featuring keynote speaker Lecia Brooks from Southern Poverty Law Center and a panel discussion on active hate groups in the US and Massachusetts, methods of spreading hate, reforms and economic policies to promote social justice, personal stories from the Boston area, and ways to promote tolerance and diversity.
RSVP here: http://www.progressivemass.com/progressive_needham_and_leticia_brooks_of_splc
Ask Governor Baker to Stand Against the Tax Bill
Governor Charlie Baker: 617.725.4005
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ________ from ________, Massachusetts. Please speak out more forcefully against the tax bill. Both the Senate bill, and the one passed earlier by the House, will disproportionately hurt Massachusetts and its citizens. It includes a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which Gov. Baker had previously opposed, and analyses show the bill will raise taxes on working people in Massachusetts just to put more money in the pockets of billionaires and corporations. Please do everything in your power to stop this bill. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.minutemanindivisible.org/uploads/1/0/2/7/10278894/tax_action_for_mi_members_gov_baker-11-27-2017.pdf
Federal
Block Pharma Exec Alex Azar as HHS Secretary
Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for the Affordable Care Act, food and drug safety, medical research and public health, and is critical to the future of health insurance. The Trump administration’s pick for HHS Secretary, Alex Azar, is deep in the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry.
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is _______ from _______ Massachusetts. Please oppose the nomination of Alex Azar for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Azar still profits from pharmaceuticals and his continued advocacy for the drug industry makes him a highly corrupt and appalling choice to lead the agency tasked with regulating it. Thank you!”
More information: https://5calls.org/issue/alex-azar-hhs-secretary