SOLIDARITY LOWELL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR 4/11/18

Local

Lowell Pipeline Resistance Organizing Meeting

Thursday, April 12, 5:45-7:45pm, Christ Church United, 1 Bartlett Street, Lowell

To those who are ready to STOP THIS PIPELINE: Join us for our next organizing meeting! We’re continuing to build our power and make sure Colonial Gas (National Grid) doesn’t get what they want: to build a brand new, $30 million gas pipeline through our community. Not in anybody’s back yard! Colonial Gas: You shall not pass. We’ll be using the second half of the meeting for working groups to get some work done!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1643128442442683/

 

LRTA Info Session: Proposed Fare Increases

Thursday, April 12, 12-2pm, Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack Street, Lowell

The LRTA will be holding formal Public Informational Meetings and a Public Hearing on Proposed Fare Increases. Please join us to learn more about the proposed fare increases. For a complete list, please see their public notice: http://lrta.com/public-information/2018/03/public-notice/

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2065425453717111

New Lowell High School Update Public Meeting

Thursday, April 12, 5:30-8pm, Lowell High School Cafeteria, 50 Father Morrissette Blvd, Lowell

Please join us for an information update session on the new Lowell High project and how it impacts you. The city’s project manager, Skanska USA/Perkins Eastman, will present on the final options for the Downtown location. The meeting will focus on providing updated information on the next steps the project and allowing community members to ask questions, voice concerns and ideas. Translation services and refreshments will be provided.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/181718125956292/

Postcards for Progress – April Edition

Saturday, April 14, 10am-12pm, Coffee and Cotton, Mill No. 5, 4th Floor, 250 Jackson Street, Lowell

We’ll be writing to our elected officials and directly to voters! Open to all who want to help with progressive causes. A list of suggested topics, progressive but non-partisan, will be provided, but people are of course welcome to bring their own ideas.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1448457205258173/

Solidarity Lowell – April Meeting

Sunday, April 22, 5:30-7:00 PM, Christ Church United, UCC, 1 Bartlett St., Lowell (use Bartlett St entrance)

The monthly general meeting for members of Solidarity Lowell and interested guests. Our speakers this month are Harmony Wu from Progressive MA and Mike Berggren from Northeast Recovery Learning Community. Also on the agenda, an update from the Trust Act/Outreach subcommittee, a new phonebanking group, further training based on what we learned from The Incorruptibles, and more!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/225957347964137/

 

A Rapid Response Rally if Mueller is Fired

If the firing 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

 

Help with Sanctuary

Assisting our immigrant community is one of the most important things you can possibly do. If you are interested in helping out with local sanctuary efforts, please email marissa@solidaritylowell.com. Training is provided. You can also donate to the cause here: http://www.merrimackvalleyproject.org/donate-1/ (please write “sanctuary” in the “special notes” part of the donation form).

More information and to sign up for training: marissa@solidaritylowell.com

 

SAVE THE DATE! Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss – April

Friday, April 27th, 6:30-8:30pm, Ladd and Whitney Memorial, 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell, and UnChARTed, 103 Market 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 atrocities of the Trump administration. Please bring signs! Then at 7:30pm, after the demonstration, come to UnChARTed to have some food and/or drinks and discuss the events of the week! All are welcome!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/234603980439420/

 

State

2018 March for Science Boston: Science Strikes Back!

Saturday, April 14th, 1-3pm, Christopher Columbus Park, Boston

On Saturday, April 14th 2018 at Christopher Columbus Park, we will continue to use the momentum of last year’s march to once again lift up the themes and ideals of science, but we won’t stop there. In 2018, we’ll also take the offensive and rally behind specific climate legislation that will advance certain science- and evidence-based policy in the Massachusetts state legislature, with an eye to passage this year. In 2018 in Massachusetts, science is striking back!

More information: https://marchforscienceboston.betterfutureproject.org/?utm_campaign=3_30_18_m4s_outreach2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=betterfutureproject

 

Tax Day: Repeal the Trump Tax, Pass the People’s Budget

Saturday, April 14th, 12-2:30pm, Cambridge Common, Garden St and Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138

It’s time to stand up for our values and priorities! President Trump’s tax bill is ensuring billions of dollars in profits to large corporations– and peanuts to working people. Meanwhile, the President and Congress have agreed on unparalleled increases in Pentagon spending that will lead to more wars, more suffering, and take even more money from programs that benefit all of us. Cuts in essential programs from climate protection to Medicaid, housing, Social Security, and Medicare are on the drawing board. We must turn around Washington’s budget insanity.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/570148549988772/

 

Family Friendly Proud Boys Counterprotest

Monday, April 16th, 11am-3pm (time may change), along Monument Street near Old Manse, Concord, MA

Join the friendly counterprotest of the Proud Boys group, who will be at Patriot’s Day events with a “rally for free speech.” The counterprotest will just be a presence to show that we are not condoning their hate speech on any day, and especially on such a symbolic day, no matter how they disguise themselves. Bring flags to show that patriotism is a full-spectrum ideal!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1606296819492049/?active_tab=discussion

Prevent Gun Violence in Massachusetts

Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
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 _____ and I’m calling from _____, Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell. Please allow the Extreme Risk Protective Orders bill (H. 3610) out of committee and bring it to the floor for a vote. It would directly address the two primary forms of lethal gun violence in Massachusetts, suicide and homicide, and allow for meaningful intervention before a dangerous individual can become a mass shooter. Thank you!”

More information: https://everytownresearch.org/red-flag-laws-helping-prevent-mass-shooting/

 

Tell Baker to Sign the Criminal Justice Reform Bill

Governor Charles Duane Baker: 617.725.4005

Sample Script: “Hello, I’m ________ from ________, Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell. I urge you to sign the criminal justice reform bill (S.2371) today. The House and Senate have both passed this vital legislation with overwhelming, bipartisan majorities. Follow their example and stand up for justice by signing the bill into law – and not weaken it with amendments. This bill marks substantial progress in moving from a system of retribution towards a system of rehabilitation and restorative justice. It will end unjust mandatory minimum sentencing for certain low-level drug offenses, keep young kids out of the criminal legal system, and require system-wide data collection for more transparency and accountability. Thank you!”

More information: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ma-criminal-justice-reform?ms_aff=MA&initms_aff=MA&ms=180405_Criminal+Justice+Reform_MA&initms=180405_Criminal+Justice+Reform_MA&ms_chan=eml&initms_chan=eml

 

Support Automatic Voter Registration

Please contact your state representative (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
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

Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ______ from _______, Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell. Please support H. 4320, An Act Automatically Registering Eligible Voters and Enhancing Safeguards Against Fraud. Taking this step to automatically register voters is the first step to improving voter turnout and civic engagement. Thank you!”

More information: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4320?link_id=27&can_id=317c2fbadd5b58da040def3de1b93fd2&source=email-indivisible-acton-weekly-newsletter-4102018&email_referrer=email_332367&email_subject=indivisible-acton-weekly-newsletter-4102018