Local
Immigrant Rights Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, July 9, 6:30-8pm, Eliot Presbyterian Church, 273 Summer Street, Lowell
On the agenda: follow up on outreach, status of the Safe Communities amendment to the budget, selection of new Police Chief, planning the cultural exchange potluck, and more!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/215751412386710/
Rally for Good Jobs and Quality Care
Monday, July 9th, noon, 1 Parker Street, Lawrence, MA 01843
SEIU Local 509 members at CLASS Inc. are fighting for a fair contract to improve the care of people with disabilities in our communities. Low wages and high turnover make it extremely difficult to serve individuals at CLASS. That’s why direct care workers at CLASS are set to strike on Monday, July 9th. We need your support on the picket line during a 5-day strike beginning Monday, July 9.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2110191529236859/
Chelms-FED Up Postcarding
Tuesday, July 10th, 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 an upcoming election in Ohio! Information, addresses, and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies and info as well. See you there!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/236261693643407/
Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss – July
Friday, July 13th, 6:30-8:30pm, The Ladd and Whitney Memorial, 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Join us for Solidarity Lowell’s monthly visibility event! At 6:30pm, join us at the island in front of City Hall to rally against the atrocities of the month! Bring signs! Then at 7:30pm, come to El Potro (124 Merrimack Street) to have some food and/or drinks and discuss the events of the week!All are welcome!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1879460295687971/
Support the Strikers from National Steel Workers
Date and time TBD, National Grid, 775 Dutton Street, Lowell
National Grid workers, organized into United Steel Workers 12012-4 have been locked out since Monday, June 25th. Let’s find a date stand with them, support their efforts, and bring some water and food. Please vote in the poll below. (You are of course welcome to visit the picketers at any time on your own as well. They are out there from 6am-7pm weekdays.)
Please vote in the poll here by MONDAY the 9th: https://doodle.com/poll/7n2vebpuswwmma7s (Please note that this is a new poll and if you participated in last week’s, please do this one as well)
More information: http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_31970337/national-grid-lockout-lowell-picket-enter-second-day
Volunteer at Lowell Listening Sessions
Lowell Alliance is seeking volunteers to get the word out ahead of the upcoming listening sessions for residents to give feedback about local governance, elections, and the voting rights lawsuit. It’s important for residents to be informed about this issue because they have a high chance in affecting the outcome by giving their feedback. Our hopes are that more engagement will translate to local leaders running for local office and voters from diverse communities feeling represented. The listening sessions are on July 18th and 25th and August 1st (all Wednesdays) at 6:30pm. If you have any interest in helping or know others who might be interested, please email Mary Tauras at mtauras@ywcaoflowell.org
More information: mtauras@ywcaoflowell.org
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
Save the Date: Solidarity Lowell July Meeting
Sunday, July 22, 5:30-7pm, Christ Church United (UCC), 1 Bartlett Street, Lowell
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/647322638948698/
State
Rally to Pass 4 Key Protections
Tuesday, July 10th, 11:30am-1:30pm, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston
We have rallied, made calls, sent emails and visited our legislators – and we need to keep going because our job is not done! The FY2019 State Budget has not yet been released. It must include the 4 Key Protections: 1. No police inquiries about immigration status. 2. Stop collaboration agreements with ICE. 3. Provide basic due process protections. 4. Refuse to contribute to any discriminatory registry. We will meet outside on the State House steps and hear from a few of our leaders. We will then enter through the Bowdoin St entrance (around the side – not the Hooker Entrance) and march to the area outside of the House Chamber (3rd floor). We plan to be assembled there by 12:30 PM.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/275339706361344/
Outdated: Modernize the Foundation Budget Formula NOW!
Thursday, July 12th, 1-4pm, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston
Our Foundation Budget formula was written in 1993, and it does not reflect the current needs of our schools and students. It must be updated! Join us in demanding the State House follow through on the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission and update the Foundation Budget formula. This popular piece of legislation passed unanimously in the state Senate and has a majority of support in the House.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/452941225148468/
Make Sure Your Rep Has Signed the Pledge for Environmental Justice
Please contact your state representative (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. James Lyons 617-722-2460
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m ________ from (ZIP code). Please take the Mass Power Forward Policy Pledge for Climate, Clean Energy, and Environmental Justice. This means supporting the following bills: H2700 (50% renewable energy by 2030 with no less than a 3% increase in our RPS), H3396 (give equitable access of solar power to environmental justice communities), H2913 (codify environmental justice into law), H3400 (no subsidies for gas pipelines and reform our DPU to ensure new fossil fuel infrastructure is evaluated for climate change and community impacts), and H2149 (create a detailed plan for achieving our 80% global warming pollution reductions by 2050). Thank you!”
More information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bO-T5dVo3LPvL7Z8m1qjaYyJ4hqPZ2gJb1bsEZ4ezko/edit?usp=sharing
Pass Automatic Voter Registration
Please contact your state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
Senate President Harriette Chandler: 617-722-1500 (if you were in Donoghue’s district)
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Sen. Barbara L’Italien 617-722-1612
Sen. Jamie Eldridge 617-722-1120
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m ________ from (ZIP code). Access to the ballot box is a fundamental democratic right, yet today, nearly 700,000 eligible voters in Massachusetts are not registered to vote. Please support Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) and urge Senate President Chandler to bring it to a vote. The legislation will make voter registration more efficient, increase ballot access, and improve the accuracy and security of our voting rolls by directing Massachusetts to join the Electronic Registration Information Center. The House recently passed Automatic Voter Registration (H.4671), similar to legislation filed by Senator Creem. Please take the next step and pass AVR as soon as possible. Thank you!”
More information: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ma-senate-avr?ms_aff=MA&initms_aff=MA&ms=180703_Voting+Rights_MA&initms=180703_Voting+Rights_MA&ms_chan=eml&initms_chan=eml
Federal
Stand with Seniors, Poor Families, and People with Disabilities
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101
Sample Script: “Hi. I’m ______, from [ZIP] and don’t understand why congressional Republicans are shredding the social safety net for people in need. Shoring up a federal deficit should never come at the expense of our country’s most vulnerable. Please oppose cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP in the 2019 House Budget. Thank you.”
More information: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/393551-house-panel-approves-belated-2019-budget