Local
Postcards for Progress: Fall is in the Air, Postcards are in the Mail!
Saturday, October 7th, 1-3pm, Gallery Z, 167 Market Street, 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/355308374881736/
Election Lawsuit Public Meeting
Wednesday, October 11, 5:30-8pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway Street, Lowell
Lowell is facing a lawsuit about whether our elections are fair, and this has led to a lot of discussion about how things work and how we could change them. Join us to learn more about these big questions, share your thoughts, and ask questions in a fun, friendly environment. All are welcome! We hope that by talking about the lawsuit and the issues it raises together we can avoid misinformation, increase our understanding of a complicated issue, and encourage an open dialogue between diverse Lowellians. We’ll have Spanish and Khmer interpretation, and free dinner provided.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/134873113914543
Canvass for the Fight for $15!
Thursday, October 12th, 4-6pm, North Common Housing Community, Lowell
Fair Shot For all has partnered with Raise Up Massachusetts in the Fight for $15! The group is planning on canvassing to get signatures on. As of right now it will just be the North Common Housing community, but they would love to get enough volunteers to do both the North Common and the South Common housing communities simultaneously! If you or anyone you know could assist in this effort, it would be greatly appreciated.
To sign up: Please email Yvette Benton at ybenton@mail.middlesex.edu or call her at 978-967-9587
Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss!
Friday, October 13, 6:30pm, Ladd and Whitney Memorial (the island), 309 Merrimack St, Lowell
Solidarity Lowell’s monthly visibility!. 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 Warp and Weft (197 Market Street) to have some drinks and discuss the events of the week. All are welcome!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1925352844380860/
Rally Against White Supremacists on School Committee
Friday, October 13, 8-10pm, Olympia’s Zorba Music Hall, 437 Market St, Lowell
At a recent LTC forum, Bob Hoey, who is running for School Committee, stated that we “need to look at white males” in hiring, he said. “Why not hire white people too?” The video can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/LTCLowell/videos/1615734495113787/. Please join us in standing out against white supremacy on our school committee!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2040843376144969/
Join a Community Circle!
Thursday, October 5, 5-7pm, Acre High School Apartments, 760 Merrimack St
Thursday, October 12, 10am-12pm, Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, 465 School St
Wednesday, October 18, 5:30-7:30pm, Community Teamwork Inc, 2nd floor boardroom, 155 Merrimack St
Join us to make change happen in Lowell! We need you to help shape the future of education in Lowell. We are hosting a series of Community Circles around the city. Each Circle is led by a trained community dialogue facilitator and meets for two sessions (the events listed above are for the FIRST session only, the second session will be scheduled at the first session). We bring the food, childcare and interpreters. You come ready to brainstorm! We will focus on getting to know your fellow participants, discussing our overall impressions of education in Lowell, starting to identify some areas of concern and specific issues and action items to be taken to a community forum. Please note: Participants are expected to attend BOTH sessions.
More information: https://www.yourvoicematterslowell.org/community-circles/
NEXT SOLIDARITY LOWELL MEETING
Sunday, October 22nd, 5pm, Mill No. 5, 5th Floor, 250 Jackson St, Lowell
The monthly general meeting for members of Solidarity Lowell. On the agenda: City Council election discussion, neighborhood group meetings, discussion of membership in Progressive Massachusetts, new policies for the Facebook group and page, possible creation of a Slack channel, committee updates, possible new meeting locations, and more! See you there!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/335777956887450/
State
Sinking Columbus – Boston Marches for Indigenous Peoples Day
Saturday, October 7th, 1-4pm, meet at Park St Station
Columbus Day is now officially recognized as Indigenous Peoples Day in many cities, like Cambridge and Northampton, thanks to powerful Native-led efforts. Join IndigenousPeoplesDayMA.org to pressure the City of Boston to make the change, recognize the true history of this day, and honor Indigenous peoples.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/689891157866367/
Canvass for Transgender Equality
Sunday, October 8, 10am-3pm, meet at SEIU 1199 Offices, 109 Myrtle St, Quincy, MA
At 10 AM, volunteers will fan out into communities across the Boston area to spread the word about why it’s so important to protect our transgender friends and neighbors from discrimination. All of our canvasses start off with an in-depth training, after which you’ll be assigned to a group that includes at least one experienced volunteer.
More information: https://secure.freedomma.org/page/m/64d94fb1/11bddbe3/1c991f8e/29754931/3984900602/VEsC/
Federal
Donate to Support Hurricane Victims in Puerto Rico
Donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ew_puertorico?refcode=20171002em1
Donate to the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund
Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/dr2ks2-las-vegas-victims-fund
Stand with Puerto Rico
Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is _______ from _________, Massachusetts. Please help the people of Puerto Rico immediately by moving FEMA into meaningful action, cancelling Puerto Rico’s massive debt, and permanently ending the Jones Act. Thank you!”
More information: https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/puerto-rico-is-my-home
Demand Action Against Gun Violence
Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is _________ from ________, Massachusetts. Please take action to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. I implore you to work toward closing the loophole that lets people buy guns at shows and through private sellers without background checks. Please do everything in your power to institute universal background checks for ammo and gun buyers, a measure 80% of gun owners support. Remove the Dickey Rider from the federal budget to finally allow the CDC to research gun violence prevention. And encourage funding evidence-based community anti-violence programs, like Ceasefire, which have been shown to reduce shootings. Thank you!”
More information: https://5calls.org/issue/recgvn5j8YZFeEytQ
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.