Local
Chelms-FED Up Postcarding
Tuesday, July 31st, 9:30-11:30am, The Java Room, 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford
Fed up in Chelmsford? Come join us! We will write lots of postcards to voters for an upcoming election in Ohio! Information, addresses, and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies and info as well. See you there!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1374969772634997/
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Postcarding
Every Thursday, 11am-1pm, Heritage Farms Ice Cream, 163 Pawtucket Blvd, Lowell
Ice cream, great company, and postcards to voters! Come join us to write postcards for some races right here in Massachusetts! Suggested text and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies as well. You may also want to bring a sweater. The AC is set a tad brisk.
For more information, contact Nancy Greene at greenenk61@gmail.com
City of Lowell Listening Session: Local Governance
Wednesday, August 1st, 6:30-8pm, Henry J Robinson Middle School, 110 June Street, Lowell
This is part of a series of listening sessions for residents to give feedback about local governance, elections, and the voting rights lawsuit. It’s important for residents to be informed about this issue because they have a high chance in affecting the outcome by giving their feedback to the City Councilors via the ad hoc subcommittee and showing up at the final City Council meeting. Our hopes are that more engagement will translate to local leaders running for local office and voters from diverse communities feeling represented.
More information: https://solidaritylowell.com/event/city-of-lowell-listening-sessions-local-governance-2/
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, either with accompaniment, food, laundry, or otherwise, 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: The 2nd Annual Solidarity Lowell Summer Barbecue
Sunday, August 26th, 2-5pm, Lynne Lupien’s House (address will be emailed the day before the event)
It’s time for the 2nd annual Solidarity Lowell Summer Barbecue! Featuring a Ranked Choice Voting Ice Cream Election, this is sure to be a fun event! We’ll also have the Awesomeness is Lowell board game, amongst others! The Coordinating Committee will provide burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers and dogs. We will also provide the buns and rolls, with gluten-free versions of each. We hope to see you there! FYI: This event is for Solidarity Lowell members and family only. Thank you!
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE POTLUCK HERE: https://www.mealtrain.com/potlucks/dwy0r4
Please RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/227078811277517/
State
Day of Action for Immigrant Families
Saturday, July 28th, 10am, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston
As the Trump Administration drags its heels on reuniting thousands of separated children with their parents, it’s time we once again take action and demand a solution to this crisis and dignity for all immigrants. Right here in Massachusetts, our House leadership did not include any of the Safe Communities Act Senate amendments to the State Budget. Their silence is compliance in the Trump Agenda and the detention/deportation machine and police and ICE collaboration. Because of their cowardice, our neighbors across our state will continue to be separated, detained and deported. We’re stepping up to say Families Belong Together: We Demand Justice!
Rally for CLASS Inc. Caregivers
Monday, July 30th, noon-2pm, 1 Parker St., Lawrence
After a one-week strike earlier this month, Lawrence-based human services agency CLASS, Inc. is still refusing to pay its workers fair wages that will adress the high turnover that is threatening the quality of care at the agency! SEIU Local 509 members at CLASS, Inc. have voted overwhelmingly to authorize an open-ended strike beginning on Monday, July 30, and workers are calling on the agency to sit down with workers and negotiate a fair contract.
More information: https://www.massaflcio.org/calendar/rally-class-inc-caregivers
Cosecha March on NEU – Abolish ICE!
Tuesday, July 31st, 5:30-7:30pm, Ruggles Station, Boston
Northeastern University has received $2.7 million from an ongoing research contract with ICE. The agency is also listed as an employer for NEU’s student co-op program. The university benefits from and provides services to ICE, making them complicit in the agency’s criminalization and dehumanization of the immigrant community. Join Cosecha to march on NEU!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/291631811582473/
Jericho Walk Outside ICE Offices for Immigrant Justice
Wednesday, August 1st, 8-9am, 1000 District Ave, Burlington
The Jericho Walk is a silent interfaith prayer and act of solidarity. The walk draws inspiration from the Battle of Jericho, in which the community marched around the city of Jericho seven times, causing the city walls to fall. The Jericho Walk of today is a silent, peaceful, and prayerful walk to bring down the walls of our unjust immigration system and is open to people of all or no faiths. Please bring signs calling for just treatment of those who are caught in our broken immigration system.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/239676279994612/
Stop the State House From Leaving Low-Income and ELL Students Behind
Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
House Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500
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: “Hi, I’m ________ from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell. Please speak with members of the Foundation Budget Bill conference committee on H.4741 and advocate for all four recommendations from the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) be included in the final bill. Any school funding bill that does not include every recommendation of the FBRC is not modernization, and fails to address the urgent and dire problems ELL and low-income students face. Thank you!”
More information: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/action-alert-call-your-rep-to-stop-state-house-from-leaving-low-income-and-ell-students-behind-2
Support Students with Dyslexia
Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
House Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500
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
Senate President Karen Spilka: 617-722-1640 (if you were in Donoghue’s district)
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Sen. Barbara L’Italien 617-722-1612
Sen. Jamie Eldridge 617-722-1120
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m ________ from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell. Please support bill S.2443/H.4394, An Act Relative to Students with Dyslexia. This would provide important screenings for students with dyslexia. Thank you!”
More information: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/h4394
Tell the House to Support the Full Environmental Bill
Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
House Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500
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: “Hi, I’m ________ from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell. Please lobby the Conference Committee to support the increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 3% so that we can reach 50% renewable energy by 2030 and be 100% renewable by 2050, and fair access to solar (incorporated as Amendment 43 to the Senate energy bill), to require MA to ensure access for low-income communities, renters, and residents of environmental justice communities. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.progressivemass.com/2018legislative-oneweek