Local

Solidarity Lowell General Meeting!
June 24th, 5:30 pm, Christ Church United, 1 Bartlett St. Lowell
https://www.facebook.com/events/677819839216059/

Families Belong Together! – Nashua, Haverhill
The biggest stories this week concern the human rights violations being perpetrated in the name of our nation (nothing new for those in the know). The day is June 30th regardless of whether or not you can attend a meeting in Nashua or Haverhill or Boston (see State below). Please RSVP to any event if you plan on attending!

Families Belong Together – Nashua (note – peaceful rally)
Saturday, June 30th at 11am
Greeley Park Bandshell
Nashua, NH 03064
RSVP: https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/20104/signup/?akid=&zip=&source=
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Rally Against Family Separation
Saturday, June 30th at 11am
White’s Corner, Downtown Haverhill, in front of Market Basket Plaza
Haverhill, MA 01830
RSVP: https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/20019/signup/?akid=&zip=&source=
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A wider search link, for your friends in other parts of the state:
https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/search/

LTLC Outreach
You can also help be a social media ambassador for the Lowell Transitional Living Center! The only requirement is to be on Facebook and want to make a difference. They provide post ideas and you utilize your network to spread their reach and motivate others to make gifts to the LTLC.
http://ltlc.org/call-for-summer-social-media-ambassadors/

Acre Neighborhood Meeting
Wed., June 20, 6:00 p.m., North Common Amphitheatre, 413 Fletcher St.
ACTION is the neighborhood group for the Acre, connected to Coalition for a Better Acre. If you’re an Acre resident, come meet other neighbors and find out more about what’s going on in your neighborhood!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/148256662704543/

Listening Session For New Lowell PD Supt. w/ City Mgr Donoghue
Wednesday, June 27, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, Lowell 01854
The City of Lowell is in the process of selecting a new Superintendent of the Lowell Police. This is a very important position that affects the entire city of Lowell and beyond. Manager Donoghue has had meetings with key community groups and leaders in order to hear what is important to them and what qualities they would like to see in the new chief. She will be holding a Listening Session where all members of the general public may attend to give input as well.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/872555012932287/

A Rapid Response Rally if Mueller is Fired
If the firing happens before 2 pm, 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

Families Belong Together! – Boston
We’re protesting. The narrative is, we’re marching.
Saturday, June 30th at Noon
Boston City Hall
Boston, MA 02201
RSVP: https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/19872/signup/?akid=&zip=&source=

Foster Care Organization
Ascentira is a service based out of Worcester that specializes in foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors. They provide cultural and linguistic support for any potential foster parents.
For more information: https://www.ascentria.org/our-services/unaccompanied-refugee-minors

Progressive Mass Statewide Hubdialer Days
Every Thursday, 6:30pm, from home
Make calls on behalf of Raise Up Massachusetts for our campaigns for Paid Family and Medical Leave and a $15 Minimum Wage! We are calling people who signed our petitions for these issues and likely voters, offering to patch them through to their legislators. That means that while you’re on the phone, you can offer to connect the person you’re speaking with directly to their legislator’s office so that they can ask them to support and prioritize these important pieces of legislation. HubDialer includes a script, a place to record the caller’s response, as well as a button to patch them through!
Sign up here: http://action.raiseupma.org/page/s/hubdialer

Automatic Voter Registration
Call your state rep to support Automatic Voter Registration (H. 4320)!
Sample script: “Hi, my name is _______ from ________ and Solidarity Lowell. I am calling to ask Representative [NAME] to sign onto H. 4320, which would help modernize and update our voter records.”
Please contact your state representative (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263 – Note: Rep. Golden already said yes, so you can thank him and ask him to keep pushing for it!
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460 – Note: Rep. Mom already said yes, so you can thank him and ask him to keep pushing for it!
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. James Lyons 617-722-2460

Federal

Centralized Immigrant Aid List
It’s heavy on it this week because of how outright massive this issue is. The fine folks at Slate compiled a list of all organizations fighting for immigrant families – RAICES, with more information below, is also accepting donations at their page.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/06/how-you-can-fight-family-separation-at-the-border.html

RAICES Webinar
Outraged by family separation? You can do something to help. Tune in to our webinar Thurs June 21 2-3pm CT for info on how to meaningfully support immigrants in your community.
https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1488797885
or
Dial 773-231-9226, the meeting ID is 1488797885

Legal Representation for Youth
Money is good – people are better. The LEAF Project funds universal representation for unaccompanied children. They’re accepting donations because children with representation are five times more likely to find success in their case. Donate below!
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/leafund

Contact Congress
Thank your member of congress for speaking out (and provide a reminder to keep speaking out) about the immigrant family separation crisis
Representatives Niki Tsongas (MA-03) and Seth Moulton (MA-06) were among 108 members of Congress urging the Subcommittee on Homeland Security on Appropriations to restrict the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to separate families at the border. Their letter responds to the Trump administration’s inhumane policy of separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. Please thank them for speaking out and encourage them to lead on this issue.
Sample script:
“Hello, my name is ________ from ________ and Solidarity Lowell. Thank you for speaking out against the Trump administration’s inhumane policy of separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border and in favor of restricting the DHS. Please continue to speak out and take leadership on this issue. Thank you.”
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Seth Moulton: 978-531-1669

State

Freedom for All Public Education Canvas
Saturday, June 9, 2018 • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Lowell
Help us speak to voters about the need to defend transgender protections this November!
RSVP at https://secure.freedomma.org/page/s/merrimack-pb

Progressive Mass Statewide HubDialer Days

Every Thursday, 6:30pm, from home

Make calls on behalf of Raise Up Massachusetts for our campaigns for Paid Family and Medical Leave and a $15 Minimum Wage! We are calling people who signed our petitions for these issues and likely voters, offering to patch them through to their legislators. That means that while you’re on the phone, you can offer to connect the person you’re speaking with directly to their legislator’s office so that they can ask them to support and prioritize these important pieces of legislation. HubDialer includes a script, a place to record the caller’s response, as well as a button to patch them through!

Sign up here: http://action.raiseupma.org/page/s/hubdialer

Federal

Support LGBTQ Rights with the Equality Act
The Supreme Court’s recent narrow ruling in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado case reversed a lower court ruling in favor of a gay plaintiff who was refused service because of their sexual orientation. However, the Court did NOT grant public businesses the right to discriminate against LGBTQ customers more broadly. The continued uncertainty over LGBTQ customers’ rights makes it more important than ever that Congress pass the Equality Act. While the Equality Act has been introduced in the past, it was filed in 2017 with unprecedented support in both the House and the Senate. We must capitalize on this momentum to secure national-level protections for LGBTQ people.

Call Rep. Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Sample script: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from Lowell.
I’m calling to urge Rep. Niki Tsongas to support [S.1006 / H.R. 2282], the Equality Act of 2017. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer people still face significant violence and discrimination at the workplace, in the housing market, and in everyday interactions. Civil rights protections must be expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected characteristics.
OPTIONAL: Add a personal story or experience about why this issue is important to you.
Thank you for your time and attention.

Push Back on the Political Cancellation of August Recess
Sen. McConnell is most likely looking to cut a deal with the Democratic Senators up for reelection: vote yes on a long list of Trump’s judicial nominees, and you can get your recess back to campaign. Using our judiciary system for political gamesmanship is shameful. Senators must take their time to properly vet nominees and not simply rubber stamp them. Canceling August Recess is also unfair to constituents who deserve the opportunity to meet with and be heard by their Senators.
Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 617-565-8519

Sample script: I’m calling to express my disapproval of McConnell’s political cancellation of August Recess. I ask that [SEN NAME] refuse to cut any deal helping McConnell confirm more unqualified and unfit judicial nominees in exchange for a full August Recess.
Thank you for your time and attention.