Local
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/
Help with #BuildTheChief
Tuesday, August 28th, 6:30pm, City Council Chambers, Lowell City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell
City Councilor Vesna Nuon filed a motion at the Tuesday, August 14th City Council meeting requesting the City Manager schedule a public meeting with Chief Richardson. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to get to that agenda item so, per Councilor Nuon, it will be included on the agenda for the August 28th meeting. Please register to speak to support this motion as well as echo the sentiments of wanting to #BuildWithTheChief to find solutions to the myriad list of concerns that came up during the listening session.
More information: http://www.lowellsun.com/sports/ci_32061645/high-marks-incoming-police-chief
League of Women Voters Congressional Candidate Forum
Monday, August 27th, 7-8:30pm, Chelmsford High School Performing Arts Center, 200 Richardson Street, North Chelmsford
The League of Women Voters of Acton-Area, Chelmsford, and Concord-Carlisle with the help of other town leagues in Middlesex County will hold a Candidates Forum for the 3rd Congressional District. The League of Women Voters has invited all candidates whose names will appear on the September 4 ballots to participate.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/223624491681642/
Candidating CHOP Dinner
Wednesday, August 29, 5:30-7:30pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, Lowell
Join us for a free, fun chance to meet your candidates for State Senate! Citizens will sit at tables, and candidates will have a few minutes to sit at each table to talk with voters, a little like “speed dating”. This offers candidates and voters the chance to chat informally and have real conversations. Lowell Votes and Lowell Democratic City Committee are co-sponsoring this event. Khmer and Spanish translation will be available, and childcare and dinner will be provided.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/387079305127335/
Write a Letter to the Editor About the National Grid Strike
National Grid workers have been on strike since June 25th due to unsafe working conditions, lack of training, and inadequate pay. We’re looking for folks to write letters to the editor of various area newspapers calling attention to this issue. Please contact Marissa at marissa@solidaritylowell.com if you’re interested.
More information: http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2018/08/13/national-grid-lockout
Get Answers About the School Superintendent Firing
Recently, amongst questionable circumstances, the School Superintendent was fired. No reason was given and so far none of the School Committee members who voted for this have released an explanation. Please write to the City Council and ask them to investigate and explain this.
Use this form: https://www.lowellma.gov/FormCenter/Contact-the-City-Council-5/City-Council-Contact-Form-45
Stop the City Council from Limiting Free Speech
After recent disruptions in City Council chambers during meetings, a Rules Subcommittee is now looking into revising Rule 26 to create a Free Speech Zone at City Hall. While we do not condone these disruptions, creating a Free Speech Zone is a clear violation of First Amendment rights. Please write to the Rules Subcommittee (Councilors Elliott, Mercier, and Conway), City Council, and City Manager Eileen Donoghue to tell them not to infringe on the rights of Lowell residents!
Use this form: https://www.lowellma.gov/FormCenter/Contact-the-City-Council-5/City-Council-Contact-Form-45
More information: http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_31970337/national-grid-lockout-lowell-picket-enter-second-day
Protect Transgender Rights
Every Tuesday, 6-9pm, Christ Church United, 1 Bartlett Street, Lowell
Help us speak to voters about the need to defend transgender protections this November and recruit supporters!
RSVP here: https://www.freedommassachusetts.org/events/
Chelms-FED Up Postcarding
Every Tuesday, 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 upcoming elections in Massachusetts and Ohio! Information, addresses, and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies and info as well. See you there!
For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com
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
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
State
Prison Strike Solidarity!
Thursday, August 23rd, 7-8pm, 125 Nashua Street, Boston
Nationwide, prisoners are going on strike from August 21-September 9, and we will rally in solidarity with them! We also choose the 23rd of this month to spotlight the 23 hours per day many prisoners spend in solitary confinement. We take this moment to build toward abolition and an end to the atrocities our people inside face. We will amplify the voices of our loved ones inside and send our love to those held captive at the Nashua St jail.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/678244485871784/
Advocate for Accountability in Separating Families
Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours herehttps://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: “Hello, I’m ________ from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell, calling about the 1300 reports of physical and sexual abuse of detained children. I join with immigrant-rights groups and Sen. Dick Durbin calling for Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, to resign. I would like you to make a public statement insisting on it. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/06/21/abused-immigrant-children-allege-mistreatment-detention-center/720773002/
Get your hands into the warm summer soil! When you volunteer on our farms, you play a crucial role in our local food system by planting, cultivating, and harvesting Lowell-grown food. All volunteers are automatically enrolled in our Volunteer Appreciation Program — the more hours you volunteer, the more prizes you earn! Look forward to collecting brand-new Mill City Grows merchandise, gift cards to our Mobile Market, and more! We welcome individuals as well as groups of 5-30 participants. Please contact us at