Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions

Next Solidarity Lowell Meeting – Summer Barbecue

Sunday, July 23
In-person

Watch for more details

Support for our unhoused siblings

As many of you may know, another encampment was cleaned out this week. Residents found help saving some of their possessions, but the larger items so necessary to survival (tents, tarps, blankets, pants, raincoats, and ponchos) were lost. Life Connection Center (192 Appleton Street) has volunteered to serve as a collection point for any replacement items you would like to donate. Items may be dropped off Monday through Friday 8am-6pm and Sunday through Thursday 7pm- 10pm.

You may also contribute through their Amazon wish list at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/ARW4F37SG12T?ref_=wl_share

Support for Asylum-Seekers

Lillian, an asylum-seeker from the Dominican Republic, and her baby need assistance after a recent move. Gift cards can be given to Marissa Dupont. Email marissa@solidaritylowell.com to coordinate drop-off.

Marius, an asylum-seeker from Togo who we assisted since 2018, also is in need of assistance. Donations can be made to him here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/47gvz-marius

Thank you!!!

New Unpacking Whiteness Dialogue Group Forming

Individuals committed to exploring their own racial biases are invited to participate in the Unpacking Whiteness Dialogue Group. Engage in supportive, structured dialogues to explore whiteness in contemporary society, especially to better understand the legacy and impact of white supremacy, white privilege, explicit and implicit bias, systemic racism, and microaggressions.

Dialogue group is five sessions, capped at 10 people.

After attending the Dialogue Group, attendees are invited to join the ongoing group.

The ongoing group meets once a month, alternating between discussing a book or watching a film.

If you have questions, email Marissa Dupont: marissa@solidaritylowell.com.

Lowell Events & Actions

Next City Council Meeting

Tuesday, June 27 at 6:30pm, at City Hall and online.

Meetings are held bi-weekly in Council Chamber during the summer, Tuesdays at 6:30pm with public welcome. Attend in person or by using remote participation as follows: Members of the public may view the meeting via LTC.Org (Online; Live Streaming; Or Local Cable Channel 99). There will be a special session on June 20 to address the budget.

See agenda for details:
https://www.lowellma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06272023-2768?html=true

Motions mostly have to do with infrastructure.

To speak, you must register by 4pm the day of the meeting. Those wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item must register to speak in advance of the meeting by sending an email to the City Clerk indicating the agenda item and a phone number to call so that you may be issued a Zoom link to the meeting if you wish to speak remotely. Email Address is MGEARY@LOWELLMA.GOV. If you have no access to email you may contact the City Clerk at 978-674-4161.

To contact any City Councilor, or the City Manager, by email, use this webform
https://www.lowellma.gov/formcenter/contact-the-city-council-5/city-council-contact-form-45
and check off who you’re writing to.

Lowell Fall Election

Solidarity Lowell’s Election Subcommittee gearing up

If you are interested in helping to elect/re-elect progressive candidates for Lowell City Council and School Committee, please email Lisa Arnold (likarnold @ gmail.com) or Dee Halzack (dee.halz @ ix.netcom.com)
(delete spaces when using emails cited)

We will be drawing up a survey to vet candidates for possible endorsement by Solidarity Lowell.

Campaigns have started up

The election schedule for the municipal election has been set. Tuesday, June 6 was the first day nominating papers could be pulled. Some candidates have already announced. Deadline to submit papers is Tuesday, July 18, 5pm.

Campaign events have been announced. Here are the latest we know about:
Justin Savoung Ford for District 6 Campaign Kickoff BBQ, Friday, July 14, 6pm
69 Hastings St

The last day to submit nominating papers is Tuesday, July 18. At some point after July 18, when the slate of candidates is finalized, Solidarity Lowell will follow their process for endorsing candidates. Once we have selected endorsees, we will begin organizing canvassing events for our endorsees. Want to be a part of that? Contact Lisa or Dee as noted above. Among other things, we will be drawing up a list of questions we want prospective endorsees to answer.

If there is a preliminary election (there must be at least 3 candidates for a district, or 7 at large), which we’ll know on July 19, early voting begins August 23. That’s a little over a month to work for our progressive candidates, so we need to be ready to hit the ground running by then.

Other Events

Gunfight: Is Healthy Gun Ownership Ever Possible?

Tuesday, June 27, 5pm

Webinar presented by the Cambridge Forum
Register: https://wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/5916776058860/WN_QOYyDNxTQGeF2jA9Wyjghg?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_20230625#/registration

The Forum’s Director Mary Stack hosts author Ryan Busse and Dr. Mark Langdorf for this timely discussion. Busse was once an executive at Kimber America, a major gun manufacturer, but he has now become a senior adviser for a gun violence prevention group led by Gabby Giffords. Dr. Mark Langdorf is professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Irvine and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine.

The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of US History

Wednesday, June 28, 6pm (doors open 5:30pm)
Hybrid event 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA & on zoom
Massachusetts Historical Society

Register to attend in person ($10 for non-members):
https://18308a.blackbaudhosting.com/18308a/The-Rediscovery-of-America-Native-Peoples-and-the-Unmaking-of-US-History-MHS?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_20230625

Register to attend online (free):
https://18308a.blackbaudhosting.com/18308a/The-Rediscovery-of-America-Native-Peoples-and-the-Unmaking-of-US-History-virtual?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_20230625

A new generation of history scholars insists that any complete telling of American history must address the struggle, survival, and resurgence of indigenous nations.

Ned Blackhawk is Western Shoshone and a Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University. In his latest book, ‘The Rediscovery of America’, he demonstrates how Native nations have deeply contributed to the United States, from its onset to today, and how the enduring power, agency and survival of Indigenous peoples can make for a truer account of the history of America.

Great Economy Project

Wednesdays, June 28 – July 5, 5:30-6:30pm
Register: https://americanagenda.com/online

A series of five webinars that will detail exactly how the economy is rigged against working people and in favor of the rich. Each expert presentation will be followed by a lively discussion about how to fix it. Each Great Economy Project online session will last no more than one hour. You are welcome to participate in all of the sessions or pick and choose the ones you are most interested in. The remaining schedule is:

June 28th – Best and Worst of Working in America with Kaitlyn Henderson of Oxfam America
July 5th – The Cost of Billionaire Philanthropy

State Level Actions

Urge your State Legislators to Reject Permanent Tax Breaks for the Ultra-rich During Conference Committee

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/conference-committee-2?delivery_id=88988382

Support the Environmental Justice Bills!

From 350ma comes this request to support environmental justice bills in the state.
Invite your state legislators to a legislative briefing on environmental justice bills. It’s easy – click here : https://actionnetwork.org/letters/invite-your-legislator-to-the-environmental-justice-legislator-briefing

The bills address air pollution and community input to energy siting decisions. It’s a chance for legislators to learn about them. make sure yours does!

The briefing is June 28 – so do it now!

If you want more info click the link above – and then go to the “fact sheet” link.

These bills have been endorsed by many groups including 350 MA.

Support No Cost Calls for incarcerated people: Critical Virtual Actions needed

Action 1: Top Two priority phone calls: Call Senator Rodrigues ((617) 722-1114) and Rep. Michlewitz ((617) 722-2990), Chairs of the Conference Committee, using the script below.

I am calling as a (MA resident/person with an incarcerated loved one/constituent if you are in their district) to urge _________ to support the strongest possible version of No Cost Calls in the budget, in alignment with the letter from the No Cost Calls coalition. I want all communication services free in 2023 and a strong guarantee of access. This is important to me because it keeps families connected and strong (or say why it is important to you). Will _______ do everything they can to support the coalition’s policy requests for no cost calls in the budget?

Action 2: If you have time, you can also call these legislators using the same script (listed in order of priority). They are also members of the conference committee.
Sen Cindy Friedman: (617) 722-1432
Rep Ann-Margaret Ferrante: (617) 722-2380
Sen Patrick O’Connor: (617) 722-1646
Rep Todd Smola: (617) 722-2100

Action 3: You can also call your own legislators (listed at end of this section) and use the script below to ask them to talk to the Chairs of the Committee.

I am calling as a constituent to urge _________ to support the strongest possible version of No Cost Calls in the budget, in alignment with the letter from the No Cost Calls coalition to the Conference Committee. We want all communication services free in 2023 and a strong guarantee of access. This is important to me because it keeps families connected and strong. Will _______ speak to the Chair of the Conference Committee about their strong support for this language?

Massachusetts needs to pass the Location Shield Act (H.357|S.148)

Thank you ACLU for this item.

Every day, unregulated data brokers buy and sell personal location data from apps on our cellphones, revealing where we live, work, play, and more. Some of that data, since it relates to healthcare locations, is a threat to bodily autonomy, as well as to those who provide healthcare to people from other states. To protect our privacy, safety, access to abortion and other essential health care, Massachusetts needs to ban this practice now by passing the act.

Write your state legislators via this handy form:
https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ma-location-shield-act

Contact your state senator about facial recognition legislation

Another ACLU request. See form for information and script
https://mobilize.aclum.org/a/face-surveillance-senate-co-sponsor

Support Women in MCI-Framingham

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRG8uwrlI9kHbctO3yTsanGyrxzN2T5R1YH6GSbQ4tex9HoJIBDFa4AFNu-xx_BqejnB4QI5xaUIi5h/pub

Women are experiencing retaliation for speaking up for themselves. The Department of Corrections needs to know that people are watching and care about these prisoners.

To Contact the Governor

Governor’s Office of Constituent Services (617) 725-4005
Call between 9am and 5pm and leave a message.

Or email the governor, using this form: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/email-the-governors-office#email-the-governor-using-this-form-

Our State Legislators’ Info

Speaker Ronald Mariano Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2500 | Rm 356
Senate President Karen Spilka Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov | 617-722-1500 | Rm 332
Rep. Rodney Elliott Rodney.Elliott@ma.house.gov | 617-722-2000 x7313 | Rm B1
Rep. Vanna Howard Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2060 | Rm 33
Local office: 25 Central Street, ground floor, Lowell
Rep. Rady Mom Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2637 | Rm 544
Rep. Colleen Garry Colleen.Garry@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2380 | Rm 238
Senator Edward Kennedy edward.kennedy@masenate.gov | 617-722-1630 | Rm 109-E
Senator Michael Barrett Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov | 617-722-1572 | Rm 109-D
Senator Jamie Eldridge James.Eldridge@masenate.gov | 617-722-1120 | Rm 511-C
Senator Barry Finegold Barry.Finegold@masenate.gov | 617-722-1612 | Rm 511A
(… or find yours here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator)

Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133

National Actions

Tell Your Legislators to Renew Funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program

https://act.commoncause.org/forms/tell-your-legislators-to-restore-funding-for-the-affordable-connectivity-program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) keeps Americans connected with the internet they need to participate in our Democracy- 18 million households are able to afford internet access through the ACP. Internet access is crucial for participating in our modern democracy and society.

Unless Congress acts to renew funding for the ACP 18 million Americans will be disconnected from internet access right before the 2024 elections!

Our Advocacy is needed on Hunger Now Too

This action request comes to us from Lowell’s Hunger & Homelessness Commission. (H/T Dan).

In keeping with other attempts to reduce the deficit by cutting social services on which our resource-challenged siblings depend, cuts to food aid programs like SNAP have been included in the current budget discussions. Food is a basic necessity. At a time when inflation means even food costs more and skyrocketing housing costs leave less money for food, cutting food aid is unconscionable.

Reach out to your Member of Congress to speak out against the proposals – in mainstream media, social media, public events.

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) would like to get 100% of the MA Delegation as co-sponsors to Rep Barbara Lee’s bill to END the harsh SNAP time limits, House Bill 1510. 7 MA members have signed on H.R. 1510 – but not Congress members Richie Neal and Katherine Clark. PLEASE reach out to ALL of the Delegation – use this easy FRAC form HERE.
https://p2a.co/0z1i9sa

You can amend the text in the online portal to thank the members who have signed on, and if you are a constituent, you can ask Reps Neal and Clark to join their colleagues and sign on!

More background in this release from FRAC: https://frac.org/news/fy2024agappropsbilljune2023

Looking for groups working on gun safety?

We know that the level of gun violence in this country is horrible (#1 killer of children!) and that it won’t change until lax gun laws change. Since our state is already doing a fairly good job (though there’s room for improvement) and guns do not understand borders, it makes sense to work with organizations that seek to elect officials in other states who will implement saner gun policies. Gun Sense Voter is one of those.

https://gunsensevoter.org/

Our Federal Legislators’ Info

Representative Lori Trahan
https://trahan.house.gov/contact/write-your-rep.htm
2439 Rayburn HOB | Washington, DC 20515 | 202-225-3411
126 John Street | Lowell, MA 01852 | 978-459-0101

Representative Seth Moulton
https://moulton.house.gov/contact
202-225-8020 | 978-531-1669

Immediate Support Needed for Those Displaced From the Dog Park Camp