RRT ACTION LIST 4/11/17

LOCAL:

–Postcards and Phone Banking – Tax Day Edition
Saturday, April 15, 11am-1pm, Gallery Z, 167 Market St, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852
An event to write postcards to our elected officials about issues important to us. Postcard ideas and some supplies provided, but more ideas and supplies are always welcome! Please bring a phone, a computer, and a headset if possible. If not possible, you’ll write postcards, or we’ll share!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/255591738183167/

–Immigration Clinic: Receive Free Immigration Consultation
April 15, 11am-4pm, Lawrence Public High School, 70-71 N Parish Rd, Lawrence, MA 01843
Please join the offices of State Representative Matias in partnership with Lawrence Public Schools and the American Immigration Lawyers Association for the Lawrence Immigration Clinic. At the Immigration Clinic, those who register and attend will be provided with a free legal immigration consultation with an immigration attorney.
For more information, please contact legislative aide Manny Cruz: (617) 722-2425 ext 7312

STATE:

–Tax Day Protest Boston-Cambridge
Saturday, April 15, 1-4pm, Cambridge Commons Park, Waterhouse St and Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA
Without Donald Trump’s tax returns, Americans are in the dark about his conflicts of interest, his foreign entanglements, and whether he even pays any taxes at all. We’re protesting to remind him that he works for us now. We encourage anybody and everybody who demands to see Trump’s tax returns to join us.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/595235454007911/

–Insist that NCAA President Mark Emmert keep championship games out of NC
Address:
Mark Emmert
℅ The National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222
After HB2 became law last year, the NCAA pulled championship games from the state for failing to “assure a safe, healthy, discrimination-free atmosphere for all.” North Carolina’s new law, HB 142, is still discriminatory and illegal. It still singles out transgender people. It still bars local governments from protecting LGBTQ people through 2020. The NCAA should know this. Tell the NCAA not to allow North Carolina to bid to host championship games.
Sample text: “Dear Mark, HB 142 is discriminatory and illegal by singling out transgender people and barring local governments from protecting LGBTQ individuals. Do not allow North Carolina to bid to host championship games. Stand your ground! Thank you!”
More information: https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu-action/issues/alert/…

–March for Science Boston
Saturday, April 22, 2-4pm, Boston Common, Boston, MA
This Rally for Science celebrates the discovery, understanding, and sharing of scientific knowledge as crucial to the success, health, and safety of the human race. We join together to champion not only science itself, but also publicly funded and publicly communicated scientific knowledge as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse and nonpartisan group to celebrate Boston as a space for scientists and scientific research and to support of five main goals: Communication, Funding, Policy, Literacy, and Improvement.
More information: https://www.marchforscienceboston.com/

FEDERAL:

–Urge Congress to Grant Asylum to Syrian Refugees
Elizabeth Warren: 202-224-4543 or 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 202-224-2742
Now that the United States has begun military intervention in Syria, it is more urgent than ever that we provide asylum to the thousands of Syrians displaced by the violence and horrors of war. Call your representative and urge that they support legislation to allow more Syrian refugees to seek asylum in the United States.
Sample script: “Hello, my name is ______and I’m from _____, Massachusetts. Please do everything in your power to support legislation and policies that increase the number of Syrian refugees who can get asylum in the United States. If our country is going to take military action against the Syrian regime, we must also offer protection to the civilians who will experience the fallout from our military interventions. Thank you!”
More information: https://5calls.org/issue/recJelSda7trqff5W

–Prevent Further Military Escalation in Syria or Elsewhere
Elizabeth Warren: 202-224-4543 or 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 202-224-2742
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
On April 6th, Trump retaliated against Assad’s chemical weapons attack by firing nearly 60 Tomahawk missiles at the airfield from which the weapons were launched. While Assad’s actions are atrocious, Trump’s swift and unexplained policy reversal regarding Syria calls into question the purpose and length of strategic planning behind the operation. Trump must seek the approval of Congress before any more military action takes place.
Sample script: “Hello, my name is _____ and I’m calling from _____, Massachusetts. Please push for congressional approval before any further military escalation takes place in Syria or elsewhere, and vote against any request to do so. We cannot stumble into another unnecessary war due to a President’s impulsive and ever-changing policy positions. Thank you!”
More information: https://5calls.org/issue/rec6i8xdROFt1lHZv

–Call for Sean Spicer’s resignation
Elizabeth Warren: 202-224-4543 or 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 202-224-2742
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Steven Goldstein, Executive Director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, summed it up best: “On Passover no less, Sean Spicer has engaged in Holocaust denial, the most offensive form of fake news imaginable, by denying Hitler gassed millions of Jews to death. Spicer’s statement is the most evil slur upon a group of people we have ever heard from a White House press secretary. Sean Spicer now lacks the integrity to serve as White House press secretary, and President Trump must fire him at once.”
Sample script: “Hello, my name is _____, and I’m calling from _____, Massachusetts. Sean Spicer’s comments today about “holocaust centers” and the Jewish people were outrageously offensive and insensitive. Please do everything within your power to call for his resignation, or for Trump to fire him. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.nytimes.com/…/sean-spicer-hitler-gas-holocaust-…

–Boycott United Airlines
On Tuesday, videos surfaced of a man being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight. It was overbooked and after customers were offered vouchers and hotel rooms, nobody volunteered to leave the plane. Instead, United randomly chose four passengers. One man refused to leave, however, saying he was a doctor who needed to see patients the next day. Video shows him being dragged from his seat, his face bloodied. This is unacceptable behavior from an airline. Boycott United until they agree to change their policies!
More information: https://www.nytimes.com/…/united-airline-passenger-overbook…
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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 #RRTin the Solidarity Lowell Facebook group.