Americans of Conscience Checklist Week of July 15, 2018

Americans of Conscience Checklist

Week of July 15, 2018

By Jen Hofmann

 

I value secure, convenient voting and fair elections. Democracy thrives when all citizens can freely elect those who represent their values.

    

Action 1: Give required IDs to disenfranchised voters.

Gearing up for the November election, Spread The Vote is helping disenfranchised people get the IDs they need to vote. Let’s support their work.

Donate: At Spread the Vote.

VolunteerHelp register voters in VA, GA, TN, TX, and FL.

 

Action 2: Encourage your elected officials to hold town halls this summer.

Call: Your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m a constituent from [ZIP]. Can you tell me whether [name] is planning to hold town hall meetings during August recess?

  • If no meetings planned: Can you let me know when s/he plans to meet with his/her constituents? [For all house members and for Senators up for reelection: It’s important for citizens to meet face-to-face with people who want our votes in November!]
  • If meetings planned: Thank you—I plan to be there.

I value showing respect for all people, no matter where they were born.

We oppose inhumane treatment of all people and the government agencies that perpetuate it. People who immigrate to the US make our country stronger and are entitled to basic respect.

 

Action: Advocate to decriminalize border crossing.

 

Call: Your one House rep and two senators, red or blue: (look up).

Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], calling to ask [name] to work on repealing two laws dating back to the Immigration Act of 1929: Title 8 U.S. codes 1325 and 1326. These laws criminalize crossing the US border without authorization. Repealing them would decrease family separation and stop wasting taxpayer dollars on mass detention. I would like [name] to repeal these laws and restore humanity to our immigration policies.

Acts of Gratitude

Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.

 

Thank Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) for his clear statement to the Russian government not to hijack American elections. I am one of many Americans who believe the current president is not holding Russia accountable for its acts of aggression.

Address: SRB11, Russell Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510

 

Thank Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and New York City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. for their outspoken opposition to the U.S. delegation’s efforts to undermine accepted science regarding breastfeeding in favor of corporate interests at the WHO summit. Thank you for using your influence to do good.

Addresses:

CM: 2308 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515-0001

RC: 1360 Fulton Street, Suite 500, Brooklyn, NY 11216

 

Thank Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) for pursuing a whistleblower’s claim that the administration’s recent domestic gag rule policy proposal was influenced by a private, faith-based, anti-choice organization. I believe citizens have the right to know who is writing federal policy that affects their health care. Thank you for continuing to ask.

Address: 2163 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

 

Thank Walter Shaub for calling out the false equivalency of white supremacy and anti-fascist protest that is at the foundation of the “Unmasking Antifa Act of 2018.” Thank you for using your position to call attention to citizens’ right to protest.

Address: 1411 K St. NW, Suite 1400, Washington, DC  20005

 

Thank singer Father John Misty for donating web store profits this week to RAICES, the nonprofit that provides legal aid to immigrants. Thank you for bringing beauty into the world in more ways than one.

Address: 807 Airport Access Road, Traverse City, MI 49686

 

Thank New York City Councilman Francisco Moya, for encouraging love and acceptance by asking New York City to co-name the Answer Triangle on Roosevelt Avenue the Trans Latinx Triangle. When we see, we begin to accept. Thank you for raising the visibility of Latinx trans communities in our neighborhoods.

Address: 106-01 Corona Avenue, Corona, NY 11368

 

Thank Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill who offered home visits and his own mobile phone number to help register and obtain ID cards for citizens who cannot get to registration centers. Thank you for going the extra mile to ensure all people can vote.

Address: P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5616

 

Thank Bill Frist, Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Senate Majority Leader (R-TN), for putting country over party and defending the Mueller investigation. Thank you for having the courage to reject blind party loyalty in order to protect the continuity of the rule of law and fair elections.

Address: 1225 I St NW #1000, Washington, DC 20005

-Submitted by Judy Sullivan, USH Social Justice Chair