July 24, 2023
Stop atrocities on the Rio Grande, teach Black History, tax private jet travel, 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:
STOP THE TEXAS DEATH TRAPS
Last week, an email surfaced in Texas. Written by a trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety to their superiors, it describes orders to push groups of exhausted, hungry migrants, including children and nursing babies, back into the Rio Grande, where they were sure to drown; a four-year-old in 100 degree weather pushed back by Texas guards later passing out from exhaustion; children and adults stuck in wire traps laid in the water by the state of Texas and severely injured—including a pregnant woman who miscarried. The list goes on, and these are just the latest misdeeds committed by the state of Texas at the border through “Operation Lone Star.” The U.S. Department of Justice has since ordered Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott to remove a razor-wire floating barrier in the Rio Grande or face a lawsuit, but Abbott is milking the situation for political points - in spite of the reality that border crossings are down 70%. Let’s sign this petition from George Takei pushing the Biden Administration for further action, and directly contact the Department of Justice (202-353-1555 or this link), the Department of Homeland Security (202-282-8495) and the White House to push for intervention against Texas’ other abuses of migrants. We can also tell our Members of Congress that it is disgraceful to use desperate people as political pawns and we want humane immigration reform legislation passed now, thank those members who signed Rep. Joaquin Castro’s letter pushing President Biden to step in, and encouraging those who did not sign to take up the call.
BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY
Last week saw another attack on the teaching of Black history from the right wing, with Florida's State Board of Education approving new standards for how it will be taught that will include how enslaved people learned skills they could use for their personal benefit and how Black people's violent acts played into ethnic cleansing against them. The Biden Administration has pushed back, with the Vice-President calling out their efforts to replace history with lies in Jacksonville on Friday and President Biden set to establish a national monument honoring Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley tomorrow. Let's encourage our federal lawmakers to keep going. The African American History Act would, if passed, invest $10 million over five years in the National Museum of African American History to develop and disseminate educational programs. Let’s tell our U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor H.R.765 and our U.S. Senators to co-sponsor S.233. We can also help personally by considering a donation to the newly-opened International African-American Museum in Charleston or to the Emmett Till Interpretive Center.
HELP THE CLIMATE CRISIS WITH A TAX ON PRIVATE JET TRAVEL
As the earth continues to get hotter and hotter, private jet travel has increased significantly since the pandemic started in 2020. According to recent studies by environmental groups, a passenger on a private jet causes 5 to 14 times the amount of carbon pollution as a commercial airline passenger and just one percent of people cause 50% of aviation emissions. That’s why Senator Markey (D-MA) and Representative Velazquez (D-NY) have introduced the Fueling Alternative Transportation with a Carbon Aviation Tax (FATCAT) Act, which would significantly increase fuel taxes for private jet travel. Let’s tell our MoCs we support this legislation and want to see it passed as quickly as possible.
CONGRESSIONAL CENSURE FOR GEORGE SANTOS
Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Robert Garcia (D-CA) have introduced a privileged resolution to formally censure Rep. George Santos for his lies. They have the right to call the resolution up for a vote at a time of their choosing, and plan to do so before the recess begins on July 28th unless the Ethics Committee finally acts against Santos. While this is not a sufficient answer to Santos’ misdeeds, it is a crucial one. Let’s contact our members of Congress and let them know we will be watching this vote carefully and expect them to vote for censure, and urge them to support continued efforts for Santos’ expulsion.
START A DEMOCRACY CIRCLE - WEBINAR THURSDAY
The Center for Common Ground, a non-partisan voting rights organization led by people of color, and Workers Circle, a Jewish social justice organization, are co-hosting “So You Want to Start a Democracy Circle,” a virtual event to be held July 27, 8PM EST. “Democracy Circles are small groups of people who join together regularly to demand the democracy we need” by taking action like contacting voters through phonebanking, textbanking, and postcarding, writing letters to the editor, and more. Let’s learn how to start a Democracy Circle by signing up for the webinar.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
ME – VETO OVERRIDE FOR FARMWORKER WAGES
Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a bill that would ensure farm workers in Maine earn no less than the standard $13.80/hour minimum wage and make them eligible for certain overtime protections under state law. Lawmakers will have an opportunity to override her veto on LD 398 tomorrow. Let’s contact our legislators and tell them we want to see the override succeed and this legislation made law, and encourage them to continue to push for worker protections for farm workers including the right to unionize.
AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS
LAST WEEK’S WINS
at , including early signs of success for enhanced background checks on gun sales, another terrific judicial nominee earning confirmation, and wages officially now outpacing inflation.
The battle for progress is long and wearing, making it all the more important to acknowledge and celebrate the wins when they happen. Here’s a summary of some of the best news from the last week from our stalwart ally