What to do this week of November 15, 2020
209 weeks down, 9 weeks to Inauguration Day
The AoC Checklist features clear, well-researched actions for Americans who value democracy, equality, voting, and decency. We are a big tent for all people who want a kinder, flourishing nation.
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I value democracy.
With respect and collaboration, we work to create a nation that welcomes all people, expands freedoms, and upholds the Constitution. Each citizen must be able to freely and fairly elect those who represent their values.
Action 1: Affirm the factual outcome of the presidential election. [Source: Center for Presidential Transition; Indivisible]
Call: Your Republican senators and/or House reps (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m calling from [ZIP] and asking you to publicly insist that the president concede the election to Joe Biden. The current president’s efforts to obstruct of the peaceful transition of power hurt our democracy and prevent President-elect Biden to begin working on a national plan to address COVID-19. Please acknowledge that Biden and Harris have won. Thank you.
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Action 2: Support the peaceful transfer of power. [Source: 5 Calls]
Call or email: General Services Administrator Emily Murphy (or her Chief of Staff Robert Borden) at 202-501-2472 or emily.murphy@gsa.gov.
Script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing to urge you to begin the official transition of presidential power to President-elect Biden as our democracy demands. Please immediately file the paperwork to release Congressionally-allocated transition funding and provide the incoming administration with the resources and support they need. Thank you.
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Action 3: Help Georgia residents vote in January’s runoff. [h/t Spread the Vote]
Georgia requires ID to vote, but some cannot afford to get it. Spread the Vote is assisting people in obtaining IDs in time to vote in the upcoming run-off.
Donate: https://www.kindest.com/donate/spread-the-vote (Feel free to mention you’re from AoCC!)
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I value equality.
Support the dignity of your rainbow of neighbors from every religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, and ability.
Action 4: Speak out against the deportation of Cameroonians seeking asylum in the U.S. [Source: RAICES; Cameroon American Council]
Call: Your two senators and one House rep (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I’m asking you to stop the deportation by ICE of over 100 Cameroonians detained at the Prairieland Detention Center. ICE has used violent force to coerce these individuals into signing their own deportation orders after repeatedly denying them parole and holding them in solitary confinement. I would like [NAME] to use every tool at their disposal to halt these inhumane deportations to Cameroon, where these asylum seekers will face human rights abuses and violence. Thank you.
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Action 5: Talk to your family about safer holiday plans [Source: Rachel Miller, VICE]
The data are clear and concerning: travel and gatherings are causing the recent spike in covid cases.
Use this guide and commit to having that important conversation.
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Action 6: Support the peaceful transfer of power. [Source AoCC]
Call: Your two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I’m asking [NAME] to make a public statement (as Mitt Romney has) vowing to collaborate with the new president to benefit all Americans. We’ve all had enough of division and polarization and we need all elected officials to work together.
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Acts of Gratitude
At the Americans of Conscience Checklist, we value Respect, Heart, Inclusion, Empathy, Truth, and Solidarity. In addition, Gratitude is a core value, so we’re expressing thanks every day in November to special people and organizations for the good they do to uplift our nation. #30DaysofThanks
Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation
Nominated by Jen Hofmann, AoCC founder
Thank you, Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation for modeling Inclusion in your COVID response efforts to protect the health of Alaska Natives.
Write: Add a kind comment to HANF on our twitter, facebook, or instagram post.
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Donate: https://inspiringgoodhealth.org/donation- /
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Susan Krysak of Columbus, Georgia
Nominated by Jen Hofmann, AoCC founder
For four years, Susan Krysak has been sending AoCC the names of men detained in Georgia-based ICE facilities so we can write them encouraging notes to keep them company. Thanks to Susan, AoCC subscribers have sent over 600 letters to these kindhearted men. Susan has also co-founded Paz Amigos to support people released from Stewart Detention Center with food, clothing, accommodation, and transportation to reunite with loved ones.
Write: Add a kind comment to Susan Krysak on our twitter, facebook, or instagram post.
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Donate: Honor her by donating to the compassionate she inspires at https://www.pazamigos.org/donate.
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Prison Book Program
Nominated by Jen Hofmann, AoCC founder
We honor the Prison Book Program for embodying Solidarity by sending resources from GED prep and dictionaries to self help, and reaching in to connect people to new ideas and the wider world.
Write: Post a kind comment to PBP on our twitter, facebook, or instagram post.
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- I took this action!
Donate: Send books to people in prison here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/prison-book-program.
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Casa de Paz
Nominated by Jen Hofmann, AoCC founder
Thank you, Casa de Paz for embodying Heart for the 3,127 guests you’ve welcomed on the path out of ICE detention. You are an inspiration.
Write: Post a kind comment to Casa de Paz on our twitter, facebook, or instagram post.
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Donate to continue their work of reuniting families, one act of love at a time: https://www.casadepazcolorado.org/donate.
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The Vera Institute of Justice
Nominated by Sarah Burns, Immigration Team
We are grateful to The Vera Institute of Justice for modeling for us all the value of Inclusion in the work toward justice.
Write: Add a kind comment to The Vera Institute on our twitter, facebook, or instagram post.
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- I took this action!
Donate: Support their work to end mass incarceration, and build safer, stronger communities at https://www.vera.org/donate.
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- I took this action!
866-OUR-VOTE A.K.A. Election Protection
Nominated by Anne Malone, Voting Team Captain
Bravo to Election Protection, AKA https://866ourvote.org/ for their commitment to Truth. Thank you so much for the work you do to ensure our elections are open to all Americans.
Write: Share a kind comment to 866OurVote on our twitter, facebook or instagram post.
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Donate: Contribute to their important work at https://lawyerscommittee.org/make-a-donation/.
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No More Deaths/No Más Muertes
Nominated by Linda Hillard, Facebook Team
Thank you to No More Deaths/No Más Muertes for their tenacious commitment to mercy and Solidarity with our most vulnerable visitors. From water caches in the desert to supporting people in applying for asylum, we hold your work to the light to inspire us all to do likewise.
Write: Post a kind comment to NMM on our twitter, facebook or instagram post.
- If you completed this action, check the box to add yourself to our tally!
- I took this action!
Donate: If you wish to support the vital, life-affirming work of No Más Muertes, contribute here: https://nomoredeaths.org/donate-money/.
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Good news
Decent people everywhere are speaking up and working together. Just look. #GoodNews
- Over 10 times as many lawyers volunteered in 2020 to protect voters’ rights compared to 2016.
- Tarra Simmons is elected to the WA state House of Representatives, becoming the first formerly incarcerated person to be elected to the state legislature.
- Maria Rivera is elected mayor of Central Falls, RI, becoming the state’s first Latina mayor.
- A record number of Native American women will serve in the 117th Congress.
- Women comprise the entirety of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors for the first time in history.
- Madinah Wilson-Anton is elected to the DE general assembly, becoming the first practicing Muslim elected to the state legislature.
- Samba Baldeh is elected to the WI state assembly, becoming the first Muslim elected to the state legislature.
- Christopher Benjamin is elected to the FL state House, becoming the first Muslim elected to the state legislature.
- Iman Jodeh is elected as a CO state representative, becoming the first Muslim elected to the state legislature.
- Torrey Harris and Eddie Mannis win their respective elections, becoming the first ever openly LGBT+ state lawmakers in TN.
- Aspiring Americans find refuge in Los Angeles-area churches while temporarily closed for services due to COVID-19.
- High school senior Mallory Rogers starts a school club which results in 12 students becoming poll workers.
- Sonoma County, CA voters support a measure to strengthen and expand independent oversight of the County Sheriff’s Office.
- Mauree Turner is elected to the OK state House, becoming the first openly non-binary state lawmaker in U.S. history and the first Muslim state lawmaker in OK.
- Federal court blocks and vacates the administration’s “public charge” rule against aspiring Americans.
- Federal court confirms that people seeking asylum may receive relief from application of the administration’s asylum ban if they were turned away before July 16, 2019.
- Trans lawmaker Brianna Titone wins reelection following transphobic campaign attacks by her opponent.
- Kristin Graziano is elected sheriff of Charleston County, becoming the first woman to hold the position in SC history.
- Court largely upholds a CA law banning private prisons.
- At 24, Khaleel M. Anderson is elected as the youngest Black state legislator in NY state history.
- Brianna Henries is elected to the RI General Assembly, becoming the first Native American woman elected to the state legislature.
- Puerto Rico votes in favor of statehood in a nonbinding referendum.
- Doug Emhoff will be the U.S.’s first ever second gentleman when Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President.
- Coloradans vote to reintroduce gray wolves, a species formerly endangered due to hunting.
- CA passes a law to fight racial discrimination in jury selection.
- Top Republican lawmakers in AZ, MI, PA, and WI publicly state they would not intervene in the selection of electors, and that state legislatures/governors can’t and won’t illegally intervene.
- Solar and wind made up the majority of the world’s new power generation in 2019.
- Federal court rejects the DOJ’s attempt to represent the president in a defamation lawsuit against him.
- Under the terms of a settlement, ICE will not deport the aspiring American activists who sued the agency after suffering retaliatory arrests.
- King’s County charter amendments for law enforcement oversight are all approved by voters.
- MS votes to end a Jim Crow-era law that effectively discriminates against candidates of color for statewide office.
- Los Angeles voters approve a measure requiring that 10% of the city’s unrestricted general funds be invested in social services and alternatives to incarceration.
- DHS’s “Rumor Control” website fact checks election claims.
- Harris County, TX creates a legal aid fund for aspiring American families applying for legal residence.
- Boulder, CO votes to secure the right to free legal representation for all residents facing eviction.
- Joe Biden’s dog Major will be the first rescue dog in the White House.
- The current anti-democracy president has lost 20 (of 21) election-related lawsuits it filed.
- In solidarity with health care workers, people are posting photos of themselves wearing masks.
- See more good news at Women in the World, Small Victories, Good Black News, and What Went Right.
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Housekeeping
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