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.

Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions

Candidate Forum

Saturday, October 16, 4pm
On Zoom
Hear from our endorsed candidates. Ask questions. More details to follow.

Save the Date – SL General Meeting

Sunday, October 24, 5:30pm – 7pm
Topic: TBD

Urgent Support Needed for Asylum-Seeker Marius

Marius has a new apartment and needs urgent assistance with rent money. If you are able to contribute, please send donations to Marissa Dupont
Donations via:
CashApp – $gollygee17
Venmo – @owlnerd
Please put “Marius” in the notes

Fundraiser for Ecuadorian Asylum Seeker

Sunday, October 17th, 7pm, on Zoom
RSVP for link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lillians-journey-tickets-170508641938

The Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network (MVISN), Merrimack Valley Project, and Solidarity Lowell present a conversation with Lillian, a refugee from Ecuador. Host Cantor Vera Broekhuysen will lead the conversation with Lillian, who will discuss her journey from Ecuador, through Mexico and into the U.S., and the racism and sexism that she experienced in those countries. We will also hear about her experiences crossing the border and in ICE detention facilities.

From Lillian: “I am from Ecuador. I am Afro-Ecuadorian but unfortunately in my country being Black is still a synonym of slavery, discrimination and disrespect to the Black people. As a Black Afro-Ecuadorian I have suffered a lot of injustice such as discrimination, bullying, and abuse. I finally left my country definitely to Mexico and made my way to the United States to look for peace and protection.”

MVISN has agreed to help Lillian with legal fees pending her asylum case, but we need your help. To contribute, please donate at http://www.merrimackvalleyproject.org/donate-1/ (please write “asylum” in the “special notes” part of the donation form). We encourage you to donate even if you can’t attend.

Local Events and Actions

Together for Abortion Rights

Saturday, October 2, 9:30 AM
Kmart Plaza to Public Safety Facility
252 Main Street, Acton, MA
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/y47fbm5e

Women’s March – Defend our Reproductive Rights

Saturday, October 2
BOSTON CITY HALL PLAZA OR BOSTON COMMONS, PEABODY, or NORTHAMPTON CITY HALL.
We’re marching in every single state ahead of the Supreme Court reconvening on October 4. Women’s March and more than 90 other organizations are organizing a national call to mobilize and defend our reproductive rights.
We’re going to send the Supreme Court and lawmakers across the country a clear, unified message. The attack on our reproductive rights will not be tolerated. Take the pledge today.
https://tinyurl.com/y7nyyby2
Rise up wherever you are on October 2.
Via Daniele Skopek via Christine Brown Indivisible Acton Area – News-Magic Team (edited)

NH Women’s March

Saturday, October 2, 2pm
Greeley Park, Nashua, NH
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/rsx98nb3
Stand for our right to autonomy, choice, and freedom from having a bounty placed on our private medical decisions.

Lowell General Election

If you want to vote by mail or absentee ballot, be sure to allow plenty of time for your application to reach Boston and your ballot to be mailed back to you.

The deadline to register to vote for the general election is October 13 at 8:00pm. If you are not registered to vote where you currently live, you should submit a voter registration form. 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.

Early Voting begins October 20.

Solidarity Lowell’s endorsed candidates so far
District 2: Corey Robinson
District 4: Wayne Jenness

Vote by Mail
https://lowellma.gov/1495/Vote-By-Mail
Deadline to apply to vote by mail in municipal general election: Wednesday, October 13, 8:00pm
Under a state law passed in July 2021, voting by mail will be allowed in all local and state elections through December 15, 2021. All registered voters in Massachusetts will be permitted to vote by mail in any election held prior to December 15, 2021, with no excuse needed.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing up to 7 days for ballot delivery in each direction but you can download an application at lowellma.gov/votebymail and submit it by email (to elections@lowellma.gov) if you have the capability of completing a PDF file electronically.

If you can’t do it electronically, it is possible to complete a form in person at City Hall, but it still has to get to Boston in time.

Elections & Census Office
375 Merrimack Street
Basement, Room 5
Lowell, MA 01852
978-674-4046

Absentee ballots
Deadline to apply for in-person absentee ballots: Monday, November 1, 12:00pm
For all the rules, including who qualifies, visit: https://www.lowellma.gov/408/Absentee-Voting

Help Lowell Votes Get Out the Vote

Lots of our neighbors do not understand the new electoral system yet. They need to be educated and encouraged to vote. Some may even need help registering to vote.

1) Please consider signing up to participate in nonpartisan voter registration tabling and voter education at your site or at events in the City: http://www.tinyurl.com/2021LowellCitywideGOTV

Lowell Votes will provide you with a voter registration and education toolkit and you can choose what materials from here you would either like printed or to donate here.
http://www.tinyurl.com/LV2021MaterialsforPrint
http://www.lowellvotes.org/donate/

2) Upcoming phone banks, canvasses, and other volunteer opportunities: Lowell Votes needs 3-5 more people for every session and always welcome different language capacities:

There will be phonebanking on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5:30-7:30 going forward until the election (except for Indigenous Peoples Day) and Saturday morning canvasses will begin on September 25.

3) Please submit questions for the upcoming Candidate Forums hosted by LTC, Lowell Votes, Khmer Post, and Lowell Sun on Sept. 27-Oct. 1: https://tinyurl.com/askthecandidates2021

Check Lowell Votes website and social media for more updates. For more information, contact info@lowellvotes.org

~ Besides making sure you are registered to vote where you currently live, another important item on your list to prepare for the election is to get to know the candidates.

DEI Consortium Candidate Spotlight

Monday, October 4, 7pm
Zoom & LTC Channel 8
Register/Submit Questions Here: https://tinyurl.com/b8xyx5sn

7:00-7:30pm Vesna Nuon, Candidate for City Council At Large
www.vesnaforlowell.com

7:30-8:00pm John Drinkwater, Candidate for City Council At Large
www.drinkwaterforlowell.com

Watch any Spotlights you missed on the YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb7O-ece-ZaiKDGVxvWTJ8w

Candidate Forums

Organized by LTC, The Lowell Sun, Lowell Votes, and KhmerPostUSA
Submit your questions to: https://tinyurl.com/2021CandidateForumQuestions

City Council
Thursday, September 30, 6-7:30: Districts 2, 3, and 4
Thursday, October 7, 6-7:30: Districts 5, 6, and 7

School Committee
10/1, 6-7:30 At-large and D.1
10/1: 7:30-9 D.2,3,4

Other Events

Reimagine an Inclusive Education for Massachusetts: A Community Forum with Senator Jason Lewis

Tuesday, Sept. 28th, 6:30-7:30 PM EST
Please register to receive link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y1OjLBPxS6SdFb6-LRAelA

Hear from students, educators, legislators, and community leaders advocating for the Bill S365 and H584 sponsored by Senator Jason Lewis, and by Rep Nika Elugardo & Rep Erika Uyterhoeven. It is critical to recognize the history, culture, and contribution of everyone to realize racial equity in our commonwealth.

For more information about the bill and CARE (Coalition for Anti-Racism, Equity, and Justice in Education): https://www.care4eduequity.org/

Posted by Shaw Yang Indivisible Acton Area – News Magic Team (edited)

Becoming an Outdoor Citizen

Wednesday, September 29, 6 – 7:30 pm
Zoom only. Please register at https://simsbury.librarycalendar.com/events/outdoor-citizen-get-out-give-back-get-active-virtual through Simsbury Public Library www.simsburylibrary.info, (860) 658-7663.

A book talk with author and Appalachian Mountain Club President John Judge. Sponsored by Granville Public Library and Simsbury, CT Public Library.

Resilience and Preparedness in a Changing Climate

Thursday, September 30, 6:30 pm
Zoom only. Register here http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/a/agawam/ek.cfm?start=21 through Agawam Public Library, www.agawamlibrary.org, (413) 789-1550

Panel discussion with representatives from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, a forest consultant, and more. Sponsored by Agawam and Granville Public Libraries.

Votes Act Virtual Lobby Day

Wednesday, October 6th – 12:00-1:30 pm
REGISTER HERE https://tinyurl.com/4ehutst3

Now that the Joint Committee on Election Laws has passed the VOTES Act out favorably, we are focused on getting the bill to the floor for a vote. This is the bill that will make permanent some of the popular changes that were made last year to help folks vote safely during COVID, like no-excuse mail-in voting. To help achieve the goal, the Election Modernization Coalition Steering Committee is planning a Lobby Day for Wednesday October 6th @12pm.
Via Carla Cooper – News-MAGIC (edited)

State-level Events and Actions

Strengthen Jail-Based Voting in MA

In Massachusetts, 7-9,000 disproportionately Black and Hispanic voters are effectively disenfranchised every election while incarcerated pre-trial or on misdemeanors. That’s not because they lose the right to vote — these citizens maintain the right to vote. But we have neglected to pass basic requirements on the sheriffs, superintendents, and elections officials to ensure that these voters can exercise their constitutional right.
That’s where your help is needed. MAVoterTable is working with the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition to strengthen the protections for jail-based voting in the State House. The best chance of that happening is through inclusion of provisions in the VOTES Act, which is currently in Senate Ways and Means. Your legislators need to hear from you about jail-based voting being a top priority for election reform this year.
Will you write your legislators today?
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/end-incarceration-behind-the-wall-strengthen-bill

Support MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda: H.3191/S.2027 An Act Establishing an Indigenous Peoples Day

Go to the Action Network link https://bit.ly/IPDMA2021 and you will find the text of the bill, an automated letter that you can send to legislators, and also information about how to send your own letter if you do not want to use the automated Action Network letter. Please plan to modify the Action Network letter to tell the legislators why this bill is so important to you — personalization helps a lot! Sending this will only take a few minutes of your time.
Please go to our website http://MAIndigenousAgenda.org for information about all 5 of legislative priorities this session, including eliminating Native American mascots, honoring Indigenous People’s Day, celebrating and teaching Native American culture & history, protecting Native American heritage, and supporting the education and futures of Native youth.
Via Daniele Skopek/ Christine Brown Indivisible Acton Area – News-Magic Team (edited)

Fight evictions: Contact your legislators in support of the COVID Housing Equity Bill

Everything you need to take action is at the link.
https://tinyurl.com/ywb25nra

Cover Picket Line When Nurses Are Negotiating at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester

St Vincent’s Nurses Strike
123 Summer St, Worcester
Parking at Strike Office with water and food. Adjacent to Starbucks, 11 E Central St

Peak Demand:
Every day 12 noon when nurses go on errands.
Every Wed 4-6 pm to cover the picket line when nurses are at the negotiation event

MNA Strike Support Page
https://action.massnurses.org/we-stand-with-st-vincents-nurses
Via News-MAGIC

– – – –
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

National Events and Actions

Bar Insurrectionists from Public Office using the 14th Amendment

John Bonifaz, Esq., President of Free Speech for People is a constitutional scholar. His organization is starting a campaign to use the 14th Amendment to the Constitution (Sec. 3) to bar insurrectionists from holding public office.

This amendment was enacted after the Civil War, and disqualifies anyone who has taken an oath of office to uphold the Constitution, and then engages in insurrection or gives aid or comfort to insurrectionists, from holding any future public office (such as ex-President Donald Trump, among others).

Now it falls to each state’s election officials (in our case, Secretary William Galvin) to implement this Amendment, and that’s where we activists come in. Free Speech for People is a national organization fighting government corruption and advancing democracy, and is launching their 14point3 campaign for citizens to exert pressure on their state election officials to implement the 14th Amendment (Section 3).

Want to join these citizens to hold insurrectionists accountable? Then join Indivisible Mass Coalition and Indivisible Northampton working in partnership with FSFP to organize ways to follow the Constitution and bar insurrectionists from the 2024 ballot. Fill out this form to let us know your interest: https://tinyurl.com/dtxhmy75

Larry Pareles, CD2, Indivisible Mass, News-MAGIC team
via Susan Labandibar – News-MAGIC team

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 September meeting:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S0Avt3s5c6eWvXD73O4P0xeWjO5ZAj7GfyapGnPLEMs/edit?usp=sharing

Watch the video from our September meeting:
https://youtu.be/akgldM3rz-4
—-

Solidarity Lowell is a chapter of Progressive Massachusetts. Click here to join: https://www.progressivemass.com/contribute