What to do this week of November 11, 2018

104 weeks down, 103 weeks to the presidential election.

The AoC Checklist features clear, well-researched actions for Americans who value democracy, equality, voting, and decency. We practice gratitude, self-care, and celebration to stay engaged.

I value democracy.

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

▢ Action 1: Make a new activism plan for a new post-midterm era.

Complete the Action Worksheet.

▢ Action 2: To persevere, make a self-care plan.

Spend ten minutes with this worksheet.

▢ Action 3: Support investigation of the president’s conflicts of interest.

Script: This May, you publicly supported an investigation into the president’s conflicts of interest. Given recent events, I trust you’ll the bring to the Senate floor the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act (S. 2644).
Address: Mitch McConnell, 601 W. Broadway, Room 630, Louisville, KY 40202

I value equality.

Stand with your rainbow of neighbors from every religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, and ability. Out of many, we are one.

▢ Action 1: Oppose legitimizing hate groups in media coverage. [h/t, h/t]

Write: Martin Baron, Executive Editor, Washington Post, 1301 K Street NW, Washington DC 20071
Script: I’m writing to ask The Washington Post to change its style guide to identify anti-immigrant hate groups like Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), and Numbers USA. These groups are not legitimate sources, and amplifying them endangers lives. If quoted, journalists should be honest about these groups’ agendas. Thank you.

▢ Action 2: Speak up for a full range of reproductive options. [h/t]

Call: Or write your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], and I’m concerned about the president’s two new rules allowing companies to deny employees access to hormone medication. This is important because people use hormone medication to treat a wide variety of medical issues including heavy menstrual periods, hormone deficiencies, as well as to prevent unwanted pregnancies. [Mention if you use it.] I oppose the president’s agenda and would like [name] to use all available options to keep birth control and hormone medication accessible.

▢ Action 3: Support your neighbors’ health.

Spread the word online: Enrollment for health insurance ends December 15. Sign up today!

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 U.S. make our country stronger and are entitled to basic respect.

▢ Action 1: Speak up for green card holders by Dec 10. [h/t, h/t, h/t]

Please do this action especially if your immigration status is secure
Comment: Go to Regulations.gov. Click the dark blue “Comment Now!” button.
Personalize the reasons below to be sure your comment counts.

I oppose a policy refusing citizenship to families who use or have used public assistance.
The “public charge” rule would prevent people from working and supporting their families.
The “public charge” rule would deny people over age 61 a future.
This regulation would violate my state’s right to provide benefits to families in short-term crisis and increase federal intrusion into local issues.
Immigrants strengthen our communities and our economy, contributing billions in taxes.
I want my tax dollar to support and show decency toward aspiring Americans.
Even the Department of Homeland Security found the rule change could have serious public health and other consequences.
The proposal itself lists many negative consequences to the country as a whole, including several related to public health.
I do not want this rule to be implemented.

▢ Action 2: Speak up for families.

Call: Or write your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I’m calling regarding the recent report by Amnesty International which found that the current administration has separated more children from their parents than previously reported. To date, at least 200 children are still separated from their families. Our government is concentrating unaccompanied teens into expanding tent camps in Texas. As a taxpayer, I’m furious. As a human being, I’m horrified. What is [name] is doing to end these policies and show basic human decency in our immigration process?

▢ Action 3: Speak up for people whose lives are in danger. [h/t, h/t, h/t]

Call: Or write your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], and I’m calling about the president’s plan to restrict asylum and deprive legal asylum seekers of their right to due process granted in the 1980 Refugee Act. Our nation has an international responsibility and a moral obligation to receive people whose lives are in danger. I would like [name] to defend the rights of people seeking asylum in the US.
Bonus: Donate to RAICES, which is working for LGBTQ asylum seekers’ safe passage.

Deep breath innnnnnn… Deep breath ouuuuuuuut… Here comes the good stuff.

Acts of Gratitude

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

Thank Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D-CA) for working to protect the promises made to Dreamers. I appreciate your insistence that the rule of law prevail, and that public policy must be vetted and centered in human decency.
Address: 1300 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-2919

Thank Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for publicly supporting the Mueller investigation, opposing conflicts of interest, and urging the Senate to bring to a vote the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act (S. 2644) passed in committee last April. I trust you’ll support it when it comes up for a vote. Thank you for putting integrity over party.
Address: 6840 North Oracle Road, Suite 150, Tucson, AZ 85704

Thank someone who inspires you—in your activism, work, friendships. Let them know what you appreciate and how much it means to you.

Good news

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

National

• Midterm elections ushered in a more balanced Congress to serve our democracy.
• Ruling: The current administration must continue DACA.
• Early voter turnout surpassed nearly all turnout levels from the last midterm election.
• Women, people of color, and LGBTQ candidates made history in the midterm elections.
• Fed Chairman warns that diminishing immigration will hurt the U.S. economy.
• A Russian national is held accountable for plot to interrupt and influence US elections.
• After ICE shut a hotline giving detained migrants a free phone call, donors raised almost $5,000 in a day to subsidize it.

State

• FL voters restores voting rights to over one million disenfranchised voters.
• MA voters upheld non-discrimination protections for transgender people in public spaces.
• LA voters approved an amendment requiring unanimous juries for all felony trials.
• ID, UT, and NE passed Medicaid expansion, paving the way for tens of thousands of Americans to access health care coverage.
• PA elected its first out LGBTQ person of color, Malcolm Kenyatta, to the state legislature.
• TX: 14 LGBTQ candidates who ran for office claimed victory November 6.
• TX: Sylvia Garcia and Veronica Escobar made congressional history as the first-ever Latinas elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House.
• OR voters resoundingly rejected a measure to repeal the state’s sanctuary law.
• NV becomes the 10th state to stop taxing feminine products.
• San Francisco voters passed a tax that will infuse over $250M into the city’s homeless programs.

Corporate/business

• Ruling: Keystone XL pipeline blocked.
• Rihanna declined to perform at the Super Bowl show due to the NFL’s position on players kneeling during the national anthem.
• 56 companies call for respect and transparency in policy-making and full equality for LGBTQ people.
• Report: Companies that improve their policies for inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce significantly outperformtheir peers.
• Motel 6 agrees to pay $7.6 million to settle claims for targeting Latino guests and stop the practice.

Groups and organizations

• Youth Advocates Program’s community-based alternatives to incarceration have been found to be more effective in reducing crime and recidivism.
• Republican Women for Progress PAC in Michigan backed two Democratic candidates citing shared values.
• Syrian Community Network San Diego‘s Women at the Wheel program covers training to help women refugees earn their license for the first time.

News with heart

• Hundreds of Muslims form “rings of peace” around Canadian synagogues.
• Pittsburgh Penguins wore “Stronger than Hate” on their jerseys which will be auctioned to support victims and families of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.
• Cristaudos Bakery in Carbondale, IL sells “Hate has no home here” cookies and donates proceeds to the Southern Illinois Immigration Rights Program.
• See more good news at Small Victories, Good Black News, and What Went Right.

Spread the word

Know someone who could use some good news and clear actions? Please share!

Tweet: There’s so much happening at once. The @AoCChecklist makes it easy to focus on what’s most important and stay hopeful. See this week’s issue: https://americansofconscience.com/11-11-2018/

Post on Facebook: There’s so much happening at once. The Americans of Conscience Checklist makes it easy to focus on what’s most important and stay hopeful. See this week’s issue: https://americansofconscience.com/11-11-2018/

Print: The Americans of Conscience Checklist flier and share at in-person events.

Housekeeping

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