Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions
Next Solidarity Lowell General Meeting
Sunday, September 26, 5:30pm – 7pm
We’ll be hearing the results of our survey of candidates involved in the general election whose races did not have preliminary elections and considering possible additional endorsements for the general election.
Support for Asylum-Seeker Marius
Marius has retained an immigration lawyer, filed an application for asylum, and successfully moved his case to the Boston immigration courts from El Paso, but until he 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 via:
CashApp – $gollygee17
Venmo – @owlnerd
Local Events and Actions
VIRTUAL SCREENING: “Contradictory Place”
Thursday, August 26 7:00-8:30pm
https://tinyurl.com/f8dnxvx8
40 min. documentary followed by discussion led by film collaborators
The film covers “the extraordinary anti-slavery efforts that took place in the mid-19th century in Lowell. Prof. Robert Forrant of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and local historian and community educator Maritza Grooms visited several sites that still exist in downtown Lowell where the abolitionist activity occurred and where freedom seekers operated businesses.
Do you need to register to vote, or update your existing registration?
The deadline to register to vote for the preliminary election is Wednesday, September 1.
If you are not registered to vote where you currently live, you should submit a voter registration form now. You will not be automatically registered to vote until you apply for/renew your driver’s license or state ID, or apply for health insurance through MassHealth or the Health Connector. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at any city or town hall.
The Preliminary will be September 21 and will be for City Council Districts 2, 3, 4, and 7.
State-level Events and Actions
Help Pass Common Start Childhood Care Bill
Phonebank
Tuesday, August 24, 5-8pm
Wednesday, August 25, 5-8pm
Common Start and CSJ are hosting a series of phone banks aimed to identify voters who support the principles behind the Common Start bill – achieving high quality, affordable, and accessible early education and child care for families in Massachusetts.
To RSVP or for more information please email Diana at diana@coalitionforsocialjustice.org
Can’t make the dates this week? Not to worry! These phone banks will take place weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5pm – 8pm – make sure to sign up for one of the upcoming weeks! There will be trainings on how to use the dialer, the script, and someone to help troubleshoot or answer any questions that you might hear from voters.
Testify on the importance of affordable childcare
Is childcare important to you? Did you know there is a bill to establish early childhood and afterschool care? You can help get the bill passed by sharing your story of how important childcare is for you.
Per Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Massachusetts, you can share your story on video as follows:
VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS
Videos should be under 2 minutes long and can be shot from your cell phone. Please email videos to james@field-first.com and include the spelling of your full name and the city where you live in the email. This will help us determine the legislator for your district.
Outline for Video Testimony
Hi, I’m [name] from [city or town].
If it applies: I’m a [parent/family member/guardian]. I’m also [an essential worker, a childcare provider, a family care worker, working from home, unemployed, a business owner, an early educator, etc].
Child care is important to me because [fill in the blank].
When you have the opportunity to fund early education and childcare in Massachusetts, please remember my story because there are many others like me. Please invest in access to safe, high-quality, affordable child care.
Or follow this link to email your story to legislators: https://tinyurl.com/6eaejr3h
Fair Share Amendment Pledge Drive
Raise Up Mass is kicking off the Fair Share Amendment campaign early with a pledge card drive! The Fair Share Amendment, which has already secured its spot on next year’s ballot, would create a surtax of 4% on income above $1 million to create a dedicated fund for education and transportation spending. You can sign a digital pledge card at: https://raiseupma.us/solidaritylowell.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute information for tenants facing eviction
We are urging tenants facing eviction not to move out and to seek rental assistance and legal aid.
For rental assistance, call 2-1-1 or find your local housing agency at http://masshousinginfo.org/.
For legal help and information, call 2-1-1 or visit the COVID Eviction Legal Help Project site at evictionlegalhelp.org/find-legal-help/.
To connect with grassroots organizations in your area, call or text the Homes for All Massachusetts hotline at 617-819-0188 in English or Spanish or visit http://homesforallmass.netlify.app/help/.
Information is available on the website at: https://evictionlegalhelp.org/legal-rights/tenants/
LAC “Meet a Specialist: Criminal Justice”
August 25, 7PM
Register here for Wednesday, August 25, at 7 p.m. https://tinyurl.com/93xdba9z
LWVMA Criminal Justice specialists Nancy Bettinger and Lucy Costa will discuss these bills:
- H.2504/S.1578: An Act to provide criminal justice reform protections to all prisoners in segregated confinement. This bill curtails use of solitary confinement.
- H.1797: An Act to reduce mass incarceration. This bill establishes the right to a parole hearing after 25 years in custody.
- H.1826/S.920: An Act to promote public safety and better outcomes for young adults. This bill structures the juvenile justice system to include people from 18 to 20 years of age.
Posted in News-MAGIC #criminal-justice (edited)
LAC “Meet a Specialist: Elections & Voting”
August 26, 4PM
Register here for Wednesday, August 26, at 7 p.m. https://tinyurl.com/43565r5k
LWVMA Elections and Voting specialists Nancy Brumback and Linda Freedman will discuss these bills
- H.805/S.459 An Act fostering voting opportunities, trust, equity, and security (VOTES Act). Comprehensive voting reform bill.
- H.769/S.475 An Act supporting parents running for public office. Allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care.
- H.3547/S.2261 An Act to establish free access to ride to elections in Massachusetts (FARE Act). Make public transit free on Election Day.
Posted in News-MAGIC #democracy-massachusetts (edited)
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Contact your state representative and state senator (email preferable at the moment)
(Find yours here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator)
House Speaker Ronald Mariano: Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov 617-722-2500
Senate President: Karen E. Spilka: Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov 617-722-1500
Rep. Thomas Golden Thomas.Golden@mahouse.gov 617-722-2263
Rep. Vanna Howard Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov 617-722-2800 x7302 / Google Voice: 978-272-9078
Rep. Rady Mom Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry Colleen.Garry@mahouse.gov 617-722-2380
Rep. Tram Nguyen tram.nguyen@mahouse.gov 617-722-2425
Sen. Edward Kennedy edward.kennedy@masenate.gov 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov 617-722-1572
Sen. Jamie Eldridge James.Eldridge@masenate.gov 617-722-1120
Sen. Barry Finegold Barry.Finegold@masenate.gov 617-722-1612
Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133
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 August meeting:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18G9Q5mDu3Cctv1Wj88Xerau4lG9b-_jhi9dCvF3-J0s/edit?usp=sharing
Watch the video from our August meeting:
https://youtu.be/wueFeELxcV0
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Solidarity Lowell is a chapter of Progressive Massachusetts. Click here to join: https://www.progressivemass.com/contribute