Check In 7 July

[tanaqui]

The focus in the comm for the last couple of weeks has been on refugee and immigrant detentions and the appalling treatment and conditions in the camps. We have lots of ongoing actions -- see the links below.

Also, why not tell us in the comments what you've been doing? (Were you able to go to a MoveOn protest?) We can admire and applaud your efforts -- and maybe get inspired to get involved with your causes as well.

(And if you want a little light relief, I spent far too long the other evening giggling at the #revolutionarywarairports hashtag.)

Current Actions and Posts
Suggested Things To Do For/About U.S. Concentration Camps
Action: Lights For Liberty Events, July 12 (And Other Suggestions)
More Organizations To Support Helping Kids In Concentration Camps
A Wise Man, Singing Truth To Power
Acting Locally To Help Immigrants And Refugees

So, what have you all been up to in the last week or are planning to get involved in next week?

Poll #22315 The Week

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 16

View Respondents

This week, I...

View Answers

called my one senator
3 (18.8%)

called my other senator
1 (6.2%)

called my representative
3 (18.8%)

called my governor
1 (6.2%)

called my state reps
0 (0.0%)

sent a postcard/email/letter/fax
5 (31.2%)

attended a town hall
1 (6.2%)

donated money to a cause
5 (31.2%)

attended an in-person activist group
2 (12.5%)

participated in phone/online training
1 (6.2%)

went to a protest
3 (18.8%)

signed up for alerts
2 (12.5%)

worked for a campaign
0 (0.0%)

did textbanking/phonebanking
0 (0.0%)

took care of myself
6 (37.5%)

not a US citizen but worked in solidarity in my own community
2 (12.5%)

did something else
2 (12.5%)

committed to action in the coming week
1 (6.2%)

Comments

[notasupervillain]

In the UK, but pressuring my councillors on climate change!

[j00j]

This week I stepped it up; I've been wanting to do more about the camps and I am in a place where I have a little more time and energy. So I attended the national Never Again phone call where they discussed goals and connected people to local actions; I went to the local training and figured out that being a marshal in the protest might work for me (this role wears a safety vest and helps keep the crowd safe and together, particularly important while marching in the streets or dealing with bystanders during a planned civil disobedience; I also had a backpack of snacks and water to hand out!). I'm in Philly and we started with a rally at the local ICE office, then marched towards the Constitution Center and Independence Hall, with the intention of getting as close to the 4th of July parade as possible. There was a separate group trained to risk arrest that was going to block the parade. The largest group got blocked by a wall of cops on the mall farther away but the protestors were able to do their action and some of us were able to go around the mall to support them. Video link below. This was A Lot, especially with also attending the debrief yesterday, but I think it's something I can do again with some recovery time. Happy to answer questions about what it's like to participate in a protest. Also know: I was happy they emphasized that all contributions are important, including supporting people participating in such things at home-- someone thanked a friend at the debrief who did her dishes and some errands that she couldn't get done while putting together a protest in like 48 hours. My family gave me rides and helped make sure I was fed and hydrated. Other people brought water so we had a lot to distribute. So if marching or being in an environment with crowds and yelling isn't something you can do, or if you cannot risk arrest for any reason, your work is important too.

https://www.facebook.com/NeverAgainAction/videos/935520516790955/?__xts__[0]=68.ARC6MQty_BMw5aT-l-mmNDPb7smiv28t1zfEQlwkr2OM5aMqc-C0-J4nTWkp9W9R5SKK_xlGAsTN6fxSZktbVjB8H7uCLN0Q3zeWZnvQnAYKHyYzkX_1ZQrkJkJAWoZXhcjOFo66VsKQE-YKnZUlw9hfkPY6_yPLBNV1golwhMbTGph6cgQDXWprNLC6v2bFIRDd_-2UnrxRyUDLmRtSNAHR_3JfryM_YPhIQAphcXI7W0S3LUNbeCukYJ1cZPYn-AOt83b7YHSNS4e93a7jwezs7hm8K2DviFsQ_twacl5tsy7F8SEEr685tA-2Tw0mtPYBjRkKINxZTn4yLvZpHVZFKwwiY_QoZf8&__tn__=-R

[stultiloquentia]

I called my congresswoman, Ayanna Pressley, last week to ask her not to fund ICE. This week she was one of four dems to vote NO on that extra funding bill. I'm proud of her, but frustrated because this morning I read an interview with Pelosi in the NYTimes where she criticized Pressley and AOC and their "squad" for being unhelpfully progressive and juST NoT geTTiNg IT!! I don't want to discount all the work Pelosi has done for our party, and I know she considers herself a progressive in her heart but a realist on the ground -- but she's SO BAD at explaining her rationales for actions I find untenable. The progressive youngsters explain things! On the platforms I visit! I wish I knew where best to push to correct this.

[jjhunter]

I went to the Boston iteration of the Never Again Para Nadie protest (thank you to siderea for the heads up!). sovay has a lovely write up of how it went.