Local
Freedom for All Massachusetts Summer Canvass Kickoff: Lowell
Saturday, May 5, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Lowell (RSVP for address)
This November, Massachusetts will become the first state in the country forced to defend dignity and respect for our transgender neighbors at the ballot box. Freedom For All Massachusetts is ready to kick off our summer canvassing efforts in May, where hundreds of volunteers will talk to thousands of voters about the need to vote YES this November to uphold basic protections for transgender people! Join us in Lowell on May 5 from 10 to 4 to help launch this important part of our campaign!
More information and to RSVP for address: https://bit.ly/2vvX8DU
Chelmsford Vigil
Saturday, May 5th, 10-11am, Chelmsford Center, Chelmsford
Please join Chelmsford Vigil for a demonstration and rally of conscience and conviction. Stay for as little or as much time as you wish and bring a sign if possible. Chelmsford Vigil is dedicated to remembering the victims of gun violence and abolishing the sale of assault weapons, large capacity magazine clips, and armor-piercing bullets. We support background checks for gun purchases. Hopefully this will be the first rally of many. Let’s take back our country!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1762734647108617/
Light Up Lowell
Saturday, May 5th, 6-10pm, Kerouac Park, 75 Bridge St, Lowell
Join the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, in partnership with the Lowell Heritage Partnership and the City of Lowell, as we celebrate the lighting of the Cox Bridge. Thanks to the generosity of anonymous donors the Cox Bridge has been outfitted with LED lighting that will highlight the architecture of the bridge and create a colorful display on this Lowell landmark, announcing holidays and special events. Join us for fun, food trucks, and entertainment before we “flip the switch,” illuminating the bridge connecting the Centralville and Downtown neighborhoods as part of the Lowell Waterways Action Plan.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/146115722888239/
Learn How School Funding Works: A Community Forum
Wednesday, May 9th, 5:30-8pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, Lowell
Where does the money come from? Why are some communities able to spend more per student than others? What can we do to make the system more equitable? Join us for a presentation by Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, followed by discussion and community actions.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/197082640907784/
31st Annual Acre Cleanup
Saturday, May 12th, 9am-1pm, North Common Park, 413 Fletcher Street, Lowell
Save the date to take care of the Acre! To volunteer or sponsor, please contact volunteer@cbacre.org. From 9-11:30am, teams will clean sidewalks, parks, and common spaces around the Acre. Then at 11:30am, join us for a light lunch and party at North Common for all volunteers.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/106165966858413/
SAVE THE DATE: Welcome National Grid to the Environmental Subcommittee
Tuesday, May 15, 5:30-6:45pm, City Council Chambers, City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell
National Grid will be presenting their “justifications” for the pipeline expansion to Lowell´s Environmental Subcommittee, and we need to show up in large numbers to tell them NO. Let´s pack the room and tell National Grid they aren’t welcome here. The presentation begins at 5:30pm. Come at 5:15 to grab a sign, or bring your own!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/956278617882757/
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
State
Raise Up Congress!
Tuesday, May 8th, 1-4:15pm, Massachusetts State House, grand staircase
Join us to rally and lobby for Paid Family and Medical Leave and a $15 Minimum Wage at the Massachusetts State House! This event will represent the culmination of a multi-year campaign, which was successful in collecting over 272,000 signatures, orchestrating seven legislative forums with over 2,000 attendees, and a statewide phone outreach that talked to over 100,000 people. There is a charter bus leaving from St. Patrick’s Church (282 Suffolk Street) at 11am Tuesday morning for anyone who doesn’t want to drive.
More information: http://action.raiseupma.org/page/s/2018congress
March for Science Lobby Day
Thursday, May 10th, noon-4pm, Massachusetts State House
Join 350MA to continue our push for the energy omnibus bill (S.2302) and the environmental justice legislation (H.2913). We’ll be continue our march for science, by bringing our voices directly to our legislators on Beacon Hill. With the help of our allies in Mass Power Forward, we will continue to push our leaders to respond to our demands concerning clean energy and environmental justice. RSVP now so that we can ensure that a meeting with your legislators and/or their staff is scheduled in advance.
RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej-Wi3PsSuNKM5cY8kRT_bMUwYRnChmhtJ_4V2dBY7y89cLA/viewform
Help Reduce Plastic Bag Pollution
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. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
The Massachusetts legislature is currently considering a bill (H.4234) to prohibit stores from providing single-use carryout bags to customers at the point of sale on or after August 1, 2019. If the bill passes, reusable grocery bags or recycled paper bags could be provided or sold as an alternative. While 65 cities and towns in MA including Lowell have passed similar bans, this legislation would provide a consistent retail environment for businesses and reduce plastic bag pollution even more. The bill was reported favorably out of the Natural Resources Committee and is now in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Sample Script: “Hello, I’m ______ from ______, Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell. Please support H.4234, which would prohibit stores from providing single-use carryout bags to customers at the point of sale on or after August 1, 2019. Lowell is already leading the way on this front and it’s time for the rest of the state to follow suit. This is a very important step to improve our environment. Thank you!”
More information: https://massachusetts.surfrider.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-04-02-H4234-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Federal
Stand with Non-Violent Offenders
Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Sample Script: “Hello. I’m _______, from ______, Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell. I’m calling in support of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 1917). This bipartisan effort would reduce racial disparity in sentencing, decrease the expense of ineffective mandatory minimums, and increase judicial discretion in sentencing non-violent drug offenders. It also allocates funding for effective programs that reduce re-offending. Please co-sponsor S. 1917 and urge the Senate Majority Leader to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1917