The RRT (Rapid Response Team) Action List compiles action items from the week and upcoming events into one place. If you would like to add anything to the weekly update, please send it to Dee Halzack at dee@solidaritylowell.com.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE FOR THE SAFETY OF YOURSELF AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions
Meeting with Senator Kennedy to discuss the Progressive Mass Agenda
Join Solidarity Lowell and Senator Kennedy via Zoom to talk about priority legislation endorsed by Progressive Massachusetts. The legislation covers four areas: shared prosperity (e.g. Fair Share amendment, GILTI tax) , racial and social justice (e.g. Safe communities), sustainable infrastructure and the environment (Building Jobs with Justice), and good government and strong democracy (e.g. VOTES act).
If you would like to be part of this meeting (time and date TBD), please email dee@solidaritylowell.com.
Join our Postcarding Team!
To join our postcarding efforts to write to legislators on issues of interest, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/h2V7gJ1e2WbY9dKU9
Support for Asylum-Seeker Marius
Donations are needed to assist Marius, the Togolese asylum seeker whom the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network (MVISN) is sponsoring. With generous support from people like you and MVISN member groups like ours, Marius has retained an immigration lawyer, filed an application for asylum, and successfully moved his case to the Boston immigration courts from El Paso, exponentially increasing his possibility of ultimately winning his case. Until Marius receives legal authorization to work, our network has committed to financially supporting him with $500/month. Please chip in towards the $500 we need to meet our commitment to him. Any amount will be gratefully accepted.
Donate here: http://www.merrimackvalleyproject.org/donate-1/ (please write “asylum” in the “special notes” part of the donation form)
Local Events and Actions
Lowell Votes seeks volunteers to help register and educate voters and find candidates
http://www.lowellvotes.org
To register for future announcements: https://tinyurl.com/LowellVotesAnnouncements
Now that we’ll actually have a more equitable electoral system in the city, we need to help voters understand that their vote will matter in this election, help them understand the system and help them register to vote.
March for Moses
Saturday May 15, 12:00-2:00pm (rain or shine)
850 Lawrence Street, Lowell
Demand justice for Moses Harris, who disappeared during an encounter with the police. No police report has been made public as of publication date. Although Moses’ body has been found, there are still a lot of questions that have not been answered. Deaths involving police should be investigated by an independent body, not the police department involved in the incident. Meet near where Moses went missing and march to the Lowell Police Headquarters (JFK Plaza/Arcand Drive).
For more information, contact CAJE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAJE.LowellMA
State-level Events and Actions
Abolition Action Hour
Wednesday, May 12, 6pm
Despite the outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial, we know that sending racist cops to prison will not bring true justice. True justice looks like defunding and abolishing police and prisons, starting right here in our own community. At this action hour you’ll learn more about the tools of abolition, and take concrete action in support of the Building Up People Not Prisons Coalition. SURJ Boston facilitators will guide you as you take action on the issues that matter most to abolitionist organizers in Massachusetts.
To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsfuGtqTIqGt2eppwtDBNYcU7kemMpQrPM
Support the Work and Family Mobility Act with Songs for the Open Road
May 13, 2021, 7:30-9:00 PM
This fun, free, online concert will have the theme of driving in Massachusetts. Its goal is to raise awareness about the proposed state Work and Family Mobility Act and to support our immigrant neighbors. Undocumented adults, many performing essential jobs, need a range of transportation options, including those requiring driver’s licenses. Join for hummable and humorous songs with award-winning musicians Cosy Sheridan, Greg Greenway, and Rosi and Brian Amador of Sol y Canto. Tickets are free. Hosted by the Jamaica Plain Progressives Immigrant Rights Action Group
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3zm6h7d2
Look here to learn more about the proposed legislation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1prZldpYBKBU7eo-s3IbDbGqceAoWmCNu/view
and here to easily make your voice heard by your legislators and the Governor:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/dff-letter?clear_id=true
Act On Mass texting for the People’s House campaign
Weekly Tuesdays and Wednesdays May 18 and May 19
5:30 PM for beginners training
6:00 PM for experienced
7:30 PM end
Join volunteers to text voters and build the movement for State House reform to improve transparency. Have fun while taking effective action in support of improved democracy.
Sign up here: https://secure.everyaction.com/p/O114QFmSd0qUkDCj0odNSA2
Stop Biomass Incinerators Across the Northeast
Let’s build on our historic climate justice win in Springfield and keep biomass out of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)! The Baker administration wants to expand ratepayer subsidies for existing biomass plants across the Northeast through changes to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by the Dept. of Environmental Resources (DOER). Our powerful collective “NO” to the proposed biomass plant in Springfield resulted in DOER barring biomass plants in or near environmental justice communities from getting renewable energy credits. Let’s build on our win by flooding the Baker administration with this message: We don’t want to subsidize dirty biomass power plants ANYWHERE. Comments are due by May 17th!
Send your letter by clicking here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-governor-baker-dont-prop-up-polluters-with-our-clean-energy-2?delivery_id=60870754
Solidarity Lowell is a volunteer group of community members of Greater Lowell working toward social justice by defending the human rights, dignity, and equality of all persons against all forms of hate and discrimination.
Visit the Solidarity Lowell website: http://solidaritylowell.com
For more events not listed here, visit the full Events calendar: https://solidaritylowell.com/events/
To join our postcarding efforts to write to legislators on issues of interest , please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/h2V7gJ1e2WbY9dKU9
For volunteer opportunities, visit our Volunteer page: https://solidaritylowell.com/volunteer-opportunities/
For positive news visit Solidarity Lowell Upbeat on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/326202548419687
View the notes from our April meeting: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j822RXqmjqkH2-nhe4MvnXzjLLhbMXVOdxNxAB2Y6N8/edit?usp=sharing
Recording of our April meeting: https://youtu.be/nVlvPtWc2qQ
Solidarity Lowell is a chapter of Progressive Massachusetts. Click here to join: https://www.progressivemass.com/contribute