January 25, 2024
Gun violence prevention, human rights violations in Gaza war, Justice Thomas should recuse, 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:
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION TOOLKIT
While Congress tarries, organizations that work on the state and local level to prevent gun violence are achieving some successes. One of these organizations, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, has published a free Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit. According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, the toolkit “features resources to help conduct public outreach, promote gun safety, facilitation gun buy-back programs, connect with youth, use creative mediums for storytelling, and engage in legislative solutions.” Let’s download the toolkit and put it to good use.
STOP CONGRESS FROM IGNORING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN GAZA WAR
Only 11 Senators (10 Democrats and 1 Republican) voted for Bernie Sanders’ recent resolution that conditioned aid to Israel on assuring there were no violations of human rights. With Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu blatantly opposing the White House on the issue of a two-state solution and more than 25,000 people killed in Gaza, we can’t continue to turn a blind eye and complicitly supply Israel with unconditional weapons. Let’s thank Senators Butler (CA), Heinrich & Lujan (NM), Hirono (HI), Markey & Warren (MA) Merkley (OR) , Van Hollen (MD), Paul (KY) and Welch & Sanders (VT) for being willing to take a stand, and tell our other Senators that we do not want to see our tax dollars going towards the indiscriminate killing of civilians.
JUSTICE THOMAS SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF FROM RULING ON TRUMP’S IMMUNITY
Several Democrats are sounding the call for Clarence Thomas to recuse himself on the upcoming ruling on whether Trump has immunity from being prosecuted for his attempts to subvert the results of the 2020 election because his wife, Ginni Thomas, was an outspoken supporter of Trump’s efforts during that time. Unfortunately, the very weak and ambiguous code of conduct the Supreme Court recently adopted does not have any recusal guidelines. Let’s tell our MoCs that we think this is a no-brainer, and necessary in order to restore our faith in the Supreme Court and ask them to add pressure on Thomas to recuse himself.
GET OUR 2024 ELECTION STRATEGY QUESTIONS AMSWERED BY ACTIVATE AMERICA
Activate America is holding a Q&A Webinar on Wednesday, January 31st at 5 pm PST/8 pm EST, to answer our questions about the elections and their programs. Their staff is highly experienced in running and winning political campaigns, and also have a lot of expertise in voter outreach and messaging that they are excited about sharing with us. This can be a good chance for us to learn more about the best ways to reach and convince voters, and to find opportunities to help us win big this year. We can check out their 2024 Election Q&A Webinar here.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
MO - GET ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT
Missouri bans all abortions except in cases of medical emergencies. A coalition of reproductive rights organizations is working to put a 2024 ballot question before MO voters that would amend the state constitution to legalize abortion up to fetal viability. To get on the ballot, the coalition, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, needs to collect more than 170,000 signatures by May 5, and estimates it will need to raise $5 million to do so. Let’s get involved here.
Susan, Jerry Ashton here Navy veteran who could use your advice in activating fellow veterans. Kindly write me at jerry@endveterandebt.org. www.veteranmissionpossible.com