Local
Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss! Focus on DACA
Friday, September 8, 6:30pm, Intersection of Arcand Drive and Dutton Street (at the bridge next to Cobblestones, across from City Hall)
Solidarity Lowell’s monthly visibility with an emphasis on supporting DACA. At 6:30, come demonstrate with us! Bring signs! We’ll plan to demonstrate for about an hour. After the demonstration (around 7:30pm), we’ll head to Coffee and Cotton to have some drinks, discuss the events of the week, and support their new liquor license. All are welcome!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1927377024169899/
Postcards for Progress: Back to School Edition
Saturday, September 9, 1-3pm, Gallery Z, 167 Market St, Lowell
We make a difference, one postcard at a time! Let’s write to our elected officials about important legislation, as Congress goes back in session, and get out the vote for upcoming elections. Join us!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1965396147040800/
Donate/Volunteer to Help Lowell Help Houston
Wednesday and Thursday (September 6 and 7), 3-7pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, Lowell, MA
The City of Lowell is organizing a community-wide Relief Center for collecting donations for families affected by Hurricane Harvey. They are ONLY collecting the following items: flashlights with batteries, bottled water, easy-open canned foods, cleaning supplies, first aid kits, over the counter medicine, NEW clothing, baby formula, diapers, hygiene items, pet food, and blankets. Volunteers are also needed!
For more information, please contact Lowell Fire Chief Jeff Winward at 978-459-5555 or Michelle Ramalho at 978-674-1170
Volunteers Needed for Support of 300 Lowell Residents Forced to Relocate
Approximately 300 low-income residents will have to relocate due to the planned sale of LHA’s scattered site units. Lowell Alliance is working with Northeast Legal Aid and the Northeast Justice Center to support and represent these tenants to have their questions, concerns and positions heard. We will be going door-to-door and phone banking to tenants in the coming week. We will then have a public meeting for the Tenants’ Association to elect steering committee members and discuss their positions. Interpreters are also needed.
If interested, contact Mary Tauras at mtauras@ywcaoflowell.org or 978-454-5405 ext. 132
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. Location is the island outside City Hall, across from Cobblestones, Lowell, MA 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
SAVE THE DATE: Solidarity Lowell City Council Candidate Chat
Sunday, September 24, 5pm, Mill No. 5, 5th floor, 250 Jackson Street, Lowell, MA
Here’s your chance to ask City Council candidates the questions that are important to you! This event will be held in the 5th floor meeting room.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/105304816825867/
State
There are no State-level items this week.
Federal
Pass Protections for DACA Recipients
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind DACA hurts 800,000 people, our economy, and betrays our values. Rescinding DACA will unfairly rip away protected legal status from 800,000 people who have done everything right.
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ______ from _____, Massachusetts. Trump’s deportation machine gives more power to ICE and makes our communities less safe. Americans support a pathway to citizenship over mass deportation by more than a 4 to 1 margin. Please do everything in your power to pass protections for DACA recipients. Thank you!”
More information: https://go.ourrevolution.com/page/content/defend-daca/?source=em170905
Donate to Houston Relief
Here are some options for groups that are working to aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey:
The Texas Workers Relief Fund is a union-relief effort by the Texas AFL-CIO. Donations are tax-deductible. The state has been closely coordinating with the Houston and Corpus-area central labor councils to provide material aid.
More information and to donate: http://www.texasaflcio.org/donate
Houston’s mayor has set up the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to assist with victims of Houston’s ongoing and increasingly dangerous flooding. Donations are tax-deductible.
More information and to donate: https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/
RAICES, a Texas-based nonprofit legal advocacy group, has been working with Texas shelters to find housing for women and children stranded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being released from detention centers.
More information and to donate: https://www.raicestexas.org/pages/donate
Advocate for Weekend Voting to Make it Accessible to Working People
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Sample Script: “Hello, I’m ______ from ________, Massachusetts. I’m calling to express my enthusiasm for weekend voting. It increases participation, allows working people to access the polls more easily, and reflects 21st century needs. Please support H.R. 1094, the Weekend Voting Act. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/05/fight-voter-suppression-move-election-day-to-weekend-slaughter-ornstein-column/537456001/