SOLIDARITY LOWELL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR 8/31/18

Local

Get Out the Vote for Progressive Massachusetts Endorsed Candidates

Labor Day weekend is for picnics, barbecues, and getting out the vote for progressive candidates in next Tuesday’s primary elections. Here’s what you can do: 1. Volunteer: We have a round-up of opportunities at the link below. If you’re canvassing for the first time this weekend, or a bit rusty, check out this great Canvassing 101 video put together by JP Progressives: https://www.facebook.com/JPProgressives/videos/563095437439742/ And if you’re away this weekend on the Cape or in the Berkshires, we still have GOTV opportunities for you! 2. Donate: Can’t make it out? You can still donate! Progressive campaigns depend on grassroots donors like you. 3. Educate: Educate yourself and your friends about the races. We have questionnaires available on the Progressive Massachusetts website linked below. 4. (last but not least) VOTE: If you’re headed off for vacation, make sure to submit your absentee ballot by Friday!

More information: https://www.progressivemass.com/2018-primary-gotv

Not sure where to volunteer? Contact hope@solidaritylowell.com

 

VOTE!!!

Tuesday, September 4th, 7am-8pm, your polling place

On September 4, Massachusetts will vote to decide the Democratic and Republican nominees for every congressional, legislative, and statewide race in November. Many races are uncontested or uncompetitive and the winner will be decided in September.

Find your polling place at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema//bal/MyElectionInfo.aspx

Not sure who to vote for? Check out the Lowell Votes Guide here: http://www.lowellvotes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/LOV_Election-Guide_2018-Web_1.0.pdf

To hold signs and/or pass out literature for endorsed candidates at the polls, email hope@solidaritylowell.com

 

SAVE THE DATE: Cultural Exchange Potluck

Saturday, September 15, 1-5pm, South Common Park, 190 Thorndike Street, Lowell

Part of Welcoming Week Lowell, this event features food and entertainment from many different countries – bring a dish to share from your home country! We’ll also distribute Know Your Rights resources. Bring the family as special children’s entertainment will be provided!

If you can contribute food or other items, please sign up here: https://www.mealtrain.com/potlucks/0070m5

If you’d like to help with planning the event, come to our planning meeting on September 10th, 6:30pm, at Eliot Presbyterian Church in Lowell.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1836158476474606/

 

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/

Help us do the critical work of spreading a positive message to voters first, before our opponents lies sink in. Sign up for our Sept. 8–9 Weekend of Action here: https://secure.freedomma.org/page/m/64d94ad5/11bddbe3/1b6326d3/29732e8b/2014647242/VEsF/

 

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! 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 Farm Ice Cream, 163 Pawtucket Blvd, Lowell

Ice cream, great company, and postcards to voters! Come join us to write postcards for upcoming elections! 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

Hungry4Justice Boston // Families Belong Together and Free

Thursday, September 6th, 1-8pm, South Bay Detention Center, 20 Bradston St, Boston

As the administration fails to meet the court-ordered deadline to reunite all families separated by the Zero Tolerance immigration policy, we demand that every migrant family separated by this administration be reunited and released from incarceration. We demand that the families receive support and justice for the trauma inflicted by our government. We are launching a national rolling hunger strike in solidarity with migrant families who are still separated and/or incarcerated. We were inspired by the hunger strike of mothers inside Port Isabel Detention Center in Texas, who went on a rolling hunger strike after being denied the right to speak to their children and the awful conditions inside the detention center. Community members in one city after another will step up to fast for a few days at a time. As the fast ends in one city, it will pick up in another.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/397907757280782/

Boston RISE for Climate, Jobs, Justice: Rally and People’s School

Saturday, September 8th, noon, East Boston Memorial Park, 143 Porter St, East Boston

Local climate and immigrant justice groups are joining forces to strengthen relationships across our movements, build collective power, and demand accountability and ACTION on climate change and immigrant rights:  100% renewable energy for all. Dignity and respect for all. Join us to envision & build a just transition in MA: from dirty coal, oil, and gas to clean wind and solar power. From prisons and deportations to freedom and sanctuary. From worker abuse to safe, green, family-sustaining union jobs. From gentrification and displacement to affordable housing and transit. From corporate control to community control. From polluted air, water, and soil to healthy people and planet. From extraction and exploitation to economic and environmental justice.

More information: https://actionnetwork.org/events/peoples-climate-movement-boston/

 

Stand Against Inhumane Prison Conditions

Governor Charles Duane Baker: (617) 725-4005

We know that temperatures are excessive in prisons all across the country and all across the state — and more are violating environmental health standards. The first demand of the national prison strike is: “Immediate improvements to the conditions of prisons and prison policies that recognize the humanity of imprisoned men and women.” In alignment with this demand, it is time to turn the heat back up on the DOC. Please join us by demanding inspections of ALL state prisons and by calling Charlie Baker to demand Thomas Turco, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, be fired for allowing this human rights abuse to occur.

Sample Script: “Hello, I’m ________ from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell. I have been informed that prisoners in MA do not have access to air conditioning, fans, or clean water. This is yet another example of environmental racism on the part of the state of Massachusetts and the DOC. I demand that you immediately terminate Commissioner Turco. Further, you must instruct the DOC to install air conditioning and fans in all units and provide prisoners with free, clean bottled water and personal fans. Thank you!”

More information: https://www.facebook.com/DeeperThanWater/posts/318550878710105

 

 

 

Federal

Advocate for Survivors of Abuse and Sexual Assault

Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101

Sample Script: “Hello, I’m ________ from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell asking you to support reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act before Sept. 30. Since its passage in 1994, this law has increased accountability for perpetrators and received bipartisan support for three previous renewals. Please co-sponsor and vote for passage of H.R. 6545. Thank you!”

More information: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr6545