April 2, 2024

Save Social Security, accountability for the former guy, unconstitutional maps, and more!

Contact all members of Congress:

• By phone: (202) 224-3121

• By email: democracy.io

• By US mail: Representatives / Senators

• By fax: Representatives / Senators

• By Resistbot: Resist.bot

Contact White House or other federal agencies:

• usa.gov/federal-agencies

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• SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY

  Despite what some of them say, the new GOP budget calls for cuts to Social Security and raising the retirement age as well.  Social Security Works has a great toolkit we can all use to amplify the threats to cut Social Security. Let’s consider posting some of this content to share the news.   (h/t Chop Wood Carry Water) 

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• DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TRUMP’S VIOLENT THREATS AGAINST BIDEN

  The video Trump posted on Truth Social, which featured Joe Biden hog tied and unconscious in the back of a pick-up truck goes far beyond the limits of what’s allowable in political campaigning and, as in the January 6 Capital riots, gives subtle encouragement to supporters to engage in violence that puts people’s lives at stake.  As Ruth Ben-Ghait, a scholar on fascism and authoritarian leaders, had this to say.  Let’s tell our MoCs to stop being silent or downplaying Trump’s antics. They must treat this incident as a direct threat against the personal safety of the president and hold Trump and his associates accountable for it.

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• PROTEST THE USE OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL VOTING MAPS

  A federal court ruled last week that South Carolina can use congressional voting maps that unconstitutionally violate the voting rights of Black voters and other voters of color because—get this—the United States Supreme Court has heard arguments on the gerrymandered maps but has failed to rule on the matter in time for 2024 elections. This is now a trend: in recent years, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana have also been permitted to hold elections with unconstitutional voting maps because of Supreme Court inaction. This year, in addition to South Carolina, it looks like North Carolina will do so as well. And this trend is becoming a strategy: states know they can get away with racist gerrymandering for a couple of election cycles (and unfairly entrench conservative power) because Supreme Court appeals are taking so long. Let’s (1) tell US Supreme Court that these delays make the justices complicit in the unconscionable disenfranchisement of our fellow Americans, (2) tell our Members of Congress to craft legislation that will end this trend, and (3) see what we can do to help Sister District elect state legislatures that will not engage in racially discriminatory gerrymandering.

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• PROGRESS ON ENDING LEGACY ADMISSION
  In the wake of the Supreme Court striking down college affirmative action programs, activists and policymakers highlighted ending legacy admissions as one way to limit some of the damage. Legacy admissions give a boost to the children of alumni and donors and disproportionately benefit white people. In March, we saw a milestone victory, as Virginia became the first state since the Supreme Court’s decision to institute a law barring preferential treatment for applicants based on alumni and donor connections at the state’s public universities. (Colorado blocked the practice in 2021). The bill earned unanimous support in both houses of the legislature, and multiple other states are considering taking similar action – with some also including private schools. Let’s contact our state legislators and encourage them to follow Virginia’s lead (especially supporting AB1780 in California, SB 203 in Connecticut, H.3760 in Massachusetts and S4170A in New York) and let our members of Congress know we’d like them to support Senator Jeff Merkley and Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s Fair College Admissions for Students Act to address this problem on a national level. Those of us who are alums or associated in any way with a higher education institution that engages in competitive admissions can also reach out to those schools and encourage to join those schools that ended these programs voluntarily.

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• BUILDING BRIDGES FOR AMERICA

  From a reader:  Building Bridges for America is a community of organizers, volunteers, and activists, all trying to build progressive democracy. Training is online and open to all. They also support candidates and reach voters.... all over the world! Millions of people are away from their voting home in election season - out of state or away from the country. They help them to vote, too.  Let’s check out this group and see if we are a good fit to help them.

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