Americans of Conscience Checklist, Week of October 14, 2018

Posted on by Office Admin

-Submitted by Judy Sullivan, USH Social Justice Chair

Americans of Conscience Checklist, Week of October 14, 2018

By Jen Hofmann

 

There’s one thing that matters more than anything

The foundations of our democracy might be shaky at the moment, but you can still exercise your right to have a voice in our government and our communities. What matters most right now is maintaining your faith that voting matters. It’s what I believe, and it’s why this week’s Checklist includes 7 important to-dos before Election Day. Will you make those a priority this week?

I value secure, convenient voting and fair elections.

Democracy thrives when all citizens can freely elect those who represent their values.

For months, we’ve been advocating for safer, fairer elections, this month our sole priority is to show up for midterms. Let’s do this!

 Action 1: Check your state registration deadline and ID requirements. 

 

 Action 2: Pledge to vote.

 

 Action 3: Vote early if you can. (Or set up reminders.)

 

 Action 4: Check today and weekly that your name isn’t purged from voter rolls and that your information is accurate.

 

 Action 5: Get a sample ballot (email not required) to check out your candidates’ records. Be sure to vet District Attorney candidates.

 

 Action 6: Check that your polling place is open and in the same place.

 

 Action 7: Offer (or request) a ride to the polls on your social media accounts. You never know who can’t afford the extra gas or who feels unsafe voting alone.

 

I value democracy.

Guided by respect and collaboration, we create a government for the people, by the people.

 

Action: Advocate for a fair, impartial judiciary.

Call: Your two senators (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m calling from [ZIP] to oppose the nominations of Chad Readler and Eric Murphy to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. I support a judiciary that protects voting, health care, and equal rights for all. Please ask [name] to join the nominees’ home state senator, Sherrod Brown, in voting no on their confirmation.

 

Action: Inspire women to vote in the midterm elections.

Sign up to receive five stamped postcards pre-addressed to people who haven’t always voted in past elections. This non-partisan effort writes brief encouraging notes to encourage voter participation.

 

 

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: Support the release of people detained by ICE.

Donate: To the Fianza Fund, which provides legal guidance and bond assistance to people with costly immigration hearings.

 

 

Acts of Gratitude

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

 

Thank Taylor Swift for urging her fans to register to vote and to find candidates who agree with their beliefs. Using your spotlight helped over 100,000 new, young voters register and participate in our democracy. You rock!
Address: c/o Taylor Swift Entertainment, 242 West Main Street, PMB 412, Hendersonville, TN 37075

 

Thank Rep. Filemon Vela, Jr. (D-TX) for working in partnership with immigration advocates to reunite a mother and child after they were separated at the border. All people deserve respect and dignity, wherever they were born. Thank you for joining efforts to begin repairing this family.
Address: 437 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

 

Thank Anita Hill for her #metoo moment. Social media wasn’t around for you to know how many believe you and appreciate your courage. Please accept my belated, sincere thanks for your service to our democracy.
Address: Brandeis University, 415 South Street (MS 035), Waltham, MA 02454-9110

 

Thank Dara Khosrowshahi (Uber CEO) and Logan Green (Lyft CEO) for working to remove voting barriers by offering free or reduced-price rides to and from polling places on election  day. Many voters face difficulties in getting to polling places. Thank you for prioritizing citizenship and the democratic process this November.
Address: D.K. 1455 Market St 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
Address: L.G. 185 Berry St San Francisco, CA 94107-5705

Thank Gabe Roth, Executive Director of Fix the Court, who used www.brettkavanaugh.com to affirm and support survivors of sexual assault and suggest concrete actions to make the Supreme Court more accountable and transparent. Thank you for using this moment of heartbreak and outrage to raise awareness about sexual assault.
Address: 1440 G St. NW, Ste. 800, Washington, D.C., 20005

 

 

Good news

Decent people everywhere are speaking up and working together. Just look. #GoodNews

 

  • At least 77,000 Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria and now living in Florida have registered to vote.
  • Mythbuster Adam Savage created a PSAbusting the myth that college students can’t vote (they can!).
  • More than 75 businesses (national and local) and business leaders have joined togetherto advocate for paid family leave.
  • CA: A federal judge ruled that San Francisco’s sanctuary city statuscannot be used as a rationale for denying the city $28 million in federal support for law enforcement.
  • A court settlement will give asylum-seeking parentswho had their children forcibly taken from them a second chance at safety and security.
  • IL: Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was found guiltyfor the 2014 killing of Laquan McDonald, making him the first Chicago police officer in half a century to be convicted for an on-duty fatality.
  • A federal judge blocked the administration’s effortsto end Temporary Protected Status for 300,000 immigrants, keeping contributing members of our communities here for now.
  • More than 50 Temporary Protected Status holders from El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Nepal, and Somalia are driving across the countryto stand up for  immigrants who could be affected by the Trump Administration’s plan to end TPS.