Tuesdays with Tillis; Impeachment; and More

****Actions 11/26/2019****

EVENT:

Tuesdays with Tillis:
The indefatigable rock stars at Tuesdays with Tillis are going to be back out there again Tuesday morning at 11:30 at Tillis’s Raleigh office. This week’s theme, “Now We Really Need to Impeach Trump,” is utterly essential.  Every day we learn more about Trump’s attempts to abuse the power of the Presidency to get Ukraine to attack a political opponent and his further attempts to obstruct justice. We’re also seeing continued revelations that others in the GOP may be complicit.

Event page:
https://tuesdayswithtillis.org/event/now-we-really-need-to-impeach-trump/


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FEDERAL:
Call Your Congresspeople and Demand Impeachment:
We’ve had some time to absorb the details of the testimony, and nothing has changed. In fact, every day, we learn more about the abuses of power and the desperate attempts to obstruct justice. In addition, Trump is actively spreading disinformation which originated with Putin, including the blatantly false conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered with the 2016 elections. Several GOP Congresspeople, including Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, are now actively pushing this disinformation.

Link:
https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/gop-continues-pushing-ukraine-conspiracy-theory-74022981799

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from ______________ to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to support the impeachment of Donald Trump and his removal from office. There is now clear evidence that he withheld military aid for Ukraine to coerce them into announcing that they were investigating Hunter Biden. We also know that the Trump administration is doing everything it can to obstruct the investigation from going forward. Worse, Trump is once again holding back foreign aid that has already been allocated by Congress, this time for Lebanon. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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Condemn the Firing of Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer:
Trump has now pushed out former Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer because Spencer disagreed with Trump’s decision to override the conviction of Navy SEAL Eddie Galagher who had been convicted of war crimes for posing with the corpse of a 15-year old ISIS fighter. Gallagher had been demoted, losing his status as a SEAL, and Gallagher was attempting to stand up for good order, discipline, and morale among the Armed Services. Meanwhile, Trump has already expressed interest in using Gallagher as a political prop, I mean, having Gallagher campaign for him in 2020. This is a cynical attempt by Trump to court a certain type of military voter, but it should be condemned because it will weaken morale and harm our reputation abroad.

Details:
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/24/politics/pentagon-mark-esper-richard-spencer/index.html

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from _____________ to urge Rep./Sen. _____________ to condemn Trump’s decision to fire former Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer. Spencer had rightfully demoted Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher for criminal activity when he posed with the corpse of a 15-year old ISIS fighter. Gallagher’s actions will harm discipline and good order within the military. His actions will also harm our reputation abroad. Spencer should not have been fired for standing up for military discipline, and I want Sen./Rep. ___________ to condemn Trump for firing him. Thank you.

 Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

Monday Actions: Thank a Lawmaker and Support Refugees and Immigrants

****Actions 11/25/2019****

We’re entering the holiday season, and while there are many things to grumble about, we’ve also had many lawmakers fight for progressive values. Let’s kick off this week with some opportunities to give thanks and support to others!

LOCAL:
Support local immigrants and refugees:
Two years ago, Indy Week published a list of nonprofit organizations in the Triangle that are supporting local immigrants and refugees. The need to support these groups is as relevant now as it was in 2017. Take a look at the list, and if you feel moved, give one of them some support, time, or resources to help them continue with their work.

Link: https://indyweek.com/guides/archives/local-nonprofits-serving-immigrants-refugees/

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STATE:
Thank a state representative (and their staff!):
If there’s a state representative who you believe has consistently stood up for truth and justice this year, send them and their staff some well wishes.

Link to NC House email addresses: https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/ContactInfo/H
Link to NC Senate email addresses: https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/ContactInfo/S

Script:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a constituent from ______________. I am writing to thank Rep./Sen. ______________ and their staff for __________. Keep up the good work!
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FEDERAL:
Thank a federal representative (and their staff!):
If there’s a federal representative who you believe has consistently stood up for truth and justice this year, send them and their staff some well wishes. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use their Twitter handle to thank them. Or, just give them a call and leave them a friendly message!

Link to all Twitter handles of 116th Congress: https://www.sbh4all.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/116th-Congress-Twitter-Handles.pdf
Link to U.S. House phone numbers: https://www.house.gov/representatives
Link to U.S. Senate phone numbers: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Script:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a constituent from ______________. I am calling to thank Rep./Sen. ______________ and their staff for __________. Keep up the good work!

Friday Actions: NSA Spying, Impeachment, and Stephen Miller

****Actions 11/22/2019****

FEDERAL:

Impeachment:
Fiona Hill and David Holmes provided some incredibly compelling testimony today that further confirmed that Trump sought to extort favors from Ukraine in exchange for military aid that had already been promised. Holmes, in particular, provided a first-hand account of the notorious phone conversation between Trump and Sondland. For now, we will get a break from hearings, but the evidence is overwhelming at this point. Trump needs to be impeached, and our Senators need to know that we won’t support politicians who excuse illegal behavior.

Details:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/fiona-hill-trump-impeachment-testimony.html

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972

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Stop Trump’s NSA from Being Able to Access Our Call Records:
In passing a short-term funding bill to avoid a U.S. government shutdown, Congress has also extended the government’s legal powers allowing it to collect daily millions of Americans’ call records.

Buried in a funding bill passed by the House this week was a clause that extended the government’s so-called Section 215 powers, which allow the National Security Agency to compel phone providers to turn over daily logs — known as “metadata” — of their customers’ calls, including their phone numbers, when the call was made and the call’s duration. The program is designed to allow intelligence analysts to sift through vast amounts of data to identify links between suspected terrorists. But the program also collects millions of wholly domestic phone calls between Americans, which courts have ruled unconstitutional. These Section 215 powers will now be extended until March 15, despite the fact that they were set to be shut down. The ACLU and other organizations are calling on Congress to end this unconstitutional practice that violates our privacy.

Details:
https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/21/congress-section-215-extension/

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from _____________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to vote to stop the National Security Agency’s so-called Section 215 powers. This provision allows the NSA to compel phone providers to turn over daily logs — known as “metadata” — of their customers’ calls. This is a violation of my privacy, and Section 215 should have been allowed to expire. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/


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Demand Stephen Miller’s Resignation:
Stephen Miller is the author of Trump’s immigration and refugee policies. His history of expressing sympathy with white nationalists was not exactly a secret, but recently leaked emails show that he was coordinating with white nationalist website Breibrat and that he had privately expressed views that are explicitly promoting a white nationalist viewpoint. This also includes his practice of relying on data produced by the Center for Immigration Studies, a right-leaning think tank, to shape policy at the White House. He is toxic to our democracy. He needs to go. Our Congressional representatives need to speak out against him (PS: I’m guessing our Democratic reps have, so this is really for our GOP reps).

Details:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/14/us/politics/immigration-trump.html

Script:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a constituent from ______________. I am calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to demand the resignation or firing of Trump advisor Stephen Miller. We now have compelling evidence that Miller is coordinating with white nationalist organizations including VDare, Breitbart, and the Center for Immigration Studies. Miller needs to go immediately, and I want Sen./Rep. ____________ to speak out against him.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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ELECTIONS:

Join Flip NC for a “Super Canvass” on December 8:
From Flip NC: On December 8, 2019, FLIP NC is coordinating with grassroots volunteers across North Carolina for a statewide SUPER CANVASS. Our message is simple: When we knock, we win! Please join us for a day of action to talk with left-leaning voters across the state about the issues that matter to them and what is at stake in 2020. If you live in the Triangle area, you can join FLIP NC’s Graham/Burlington (Alamance County) or Fuquay Varina (Wake County) canvass. If you live in the Greater Charlotte area, you can join FLIP NC’s Concord (Cabarrus County) canvass. Otherwise, sign up below to knock doors in your area! You can register to canvass as a group or on your own/with a partner. First-time canvassers welcome! We’ll provide all the support and information you need to run your canvass.

Go here to sign up and join the fun:
https://flipnc.org/december-8th-super-canvass

Thursday Actions

****Actions 11/21/2019****

FEDERAL:

Impeach:
Tillis came out today with yet another defense of Trump, despite the fact that Gordon Sondland’s testimony implicated not only Trump but Giuliani, Pompeo, Bolton, and even Pence. It’s now clear that Trump attempted to extort political favors from Ukraine. We need to keep pushing our Senators to let them know that North Carolina voters believe that Trump violated the law and that he should be held accountable. We can also keep pressuring our House Reps and Senators to support impeachment, too.

Details:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/us/politics/sondland-defiant-says-he-followed-trumps-orders-to-pressure-ukraine.html

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from ____________ calling to urge Sen. ________________ to support the impeachment of Donald Trump and his removal from office. He has engaged in corrupt behavior by withholding foreign aid from Ukraine in exchange for political favors. Ambassador Sondland’s testimony today clearly confirmed that. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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Oppose the Refugee Ban:
The Trump-GOP is once again attacking the rights of refugees and other migrants. The Trump Administration announced it would set a refugee cap of 18,000 people for the fiscal year, which is an incredibly small number, and the order would also allow states to ban resettlement. They have also not allowed a single refugee into the United States in the month of October. These changes to US refugee policy are “tantamount to destroying the program,” according to experts, as the amount of people displaced worldwide continues to grow. Let’s do what we can to stand up for the rights of refugees to seek asylum in our country.

Details:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/27/trump-refugee-cap-asylum-program

Script:
Hello, my name is _____________ and I am a constituent from ______________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to oppose Trump’s attempts to shut down our refugee program. It is a travesty that Trump will only allow 18,000 refugees into our country this year. Worse, no refugees have been admitted into the United States in the entire month of October. These refugees are often fleeing completely inhumane conditions in their country. We need to welcome them into our country.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

Wednesday Actions: Impeachment, West Bank, 2020 Elections and More

****Actions 11/20/2019****

FEDERAL:

Teach Tillis about the Role of Whistleblowers:
Sometimes mocking Thom Tillis is like a cat toying with a mouse. Today is one of those days. #OneTermThom is doubling down yet again on defending Trump, and now he wants to depose the whistleblower--a move that runs contrary to all kinds of legal protections for whistleblowers. It’s also meaningless. Literally everything--everything--the whistleblower has said has been confirmed by other witnesses, including several of the witnesses who have spoken in the House impeachment inquiry this week. This is a dodge. It’s a distraction. And it’s not going to work. Call, Tweet. Tell Thom to stop playing cynical games with our democracy. If you’re on Twitter, reply to Tillis’s tweet below with your most creative response or retweet one of ours to make sure people are aware of Tillis’s cynical attempts to defend Trump.

Call script:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a constituent calling from zip code ____________. I am calling to ask how Sen. Tillis can defend the idea of deposing the whistleblower. This violates all whistleblower protections. More crucially, the impeachment inquiry is not a criminal case, and treating it like one is misleading the public. It is also meaningless to depose the whistleblower. Literally every allegation made by the whistleblower has been confirmed by other sources. This is a distraction from the truth. Stop playing games with the impeachment hearing and actually listen to the evidence. Thank you.

Or, if you want to tweet, here you go:

Tillis Tweet:
https://twitter.com/ThomTillis/status/1196613564997492736

Here are some talking points for your own tweet (courtesy of Aylett):
A) Congressional hearing not criminal court
B) That's not even how investigations or criminal court works
C) Drawing a conclusion before all the facts have been presented is contrary to any notion of the rule of law or justice

And more:
D) Everything the whistleblower has said has been confirmed by other sources
E) Are you not aware of how whistleblower laws work?

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Reject Pompeo’s Statement on West Bank Settlements:
The impeachment inquiry is not stopping the Trump-GOP from doing horrible stuff. Just in the last day, Secretary of State (and Chief Sycophant) Mike Pompeo released a statement that reverses our stance on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This reverses four decades of American policy and removes what has been an important barrier to annexation of Palestinian territory. The United States has in the past described the settlements as illegitimate, and Palestinians have demanded the land for a future state, a goal that has been backed by the United Nations, European governments and American allies across the Middle East. This move will completely derail the peace process and any attempt at a two-state solution. But Trump is cynically trying to boost Netanyahu while also satisfying parts of his evangelical base. This needs to be rejected.

Details:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/world/middleeast/trump-israel-west-bank-settlements.html

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from zip code ___________ to urge Rep./Sen. ___________ to speak out against the new Trump administration policy that will allow Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is a direct attack on the territorial integrity of the Palestinians and will undermine the peace process. The UN, most European countries, and most of our allies in the Middle East believe that the settlements are a violation of international law. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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STATE:

Red For Ed Rally:
[From my favorite PTA President] On Wednesday, November 20 from 8:30 to 8:40 a.m., please come out, in your red attire, and take a stand to support our educators. Let's let our legislators know that the billion dollars they want to give to big corporations, for tax breaks, should be invested in our public schools. Just 10 minutes of your time says and means a whole lot! Join us on Wednesday morning in front of the school on Fayetteville Street. Thanks for your continued support!!!

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ELECTIONS:

Become Involved with Stamp NC Blue:
Stamp NC has an ambitious plan to recruit people to run postcard campaigns to remind people to vote in the upcoming 2020 primaries and general elections. From Stamp NC: We  are finalizing our Stage 2 postcards focused on the 2020 primary election and are eager to get them out to our writers early in the new year.  After that, we'll be focused on getting postcards ready for the general election in November 2020. We've got an amazing group of 69 Postcard Captains who participated in  Stage 1 this fall. We have room for 31 more to join us.

Link:
https://www.stampncblue.org/2019/11/18/nov-18


Join Flip NC for a “Super Canvass” on December 8:
From Flip NC: On December 8, 2019, FLIP NC is coordinating with grassroots volunteers across North Carolina for a statewide SUPER CANVASS. Our message is simple: When we knock, we win! Please join us for a day of action to talk with left-leaning voters across the state about the issues that matter to them and what is at stake in 2020. If you live in the Triangle area, you can join FLIP NC’s Graham/Burlington (Alamance County) or Fuquay Varina (Wake County) canvass. If you live in the Greater Charlotte area, you can join FLIP NC’s Concord (Cabarrus County) canvass. Otherwise, sign up below to knock doors in your area! You can register to canvass as a group or on your own/with a partner. First-time canvassers welcome! We’ll provide all the support and information you need to run your canvass.

Go here to sign up and join the fun:
https://flipnc.org/december-8th-super-canvass

Tuesday Actions: Impeachment, Clean Water, Teacher Pay, and More

****Actions 11/19/2019****

FEDERAL:

Hold Tillis Accountable on Foreign Intervention in Our Elections:
Tillis still seems content to defend Trump when it comes to accepting foreign interference in our elections. We’ve called several times to push for a statement, and so far, despite overwhelming evidence that Trump sought to extort political favors from Ukraine, Tillis is standing by his man. Yeah, he’s afraid of losing a primary, but he should be putting our democracy over his political career.

Script:
Hello, my name is _____________ and I am a constituent from ____________. I want to know if Sen. Tillis still thinks it’s appropriate that Trump sought to extort political favors from Ukraine by withholding military aid. Has Sen. Tillis issued a new statement on this? Does he think it’s appropriate to withhold military aid and to put the safety and sovereignty of Ukranian citizens at risk?

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342


Tweet:
.@SenThomTillis thinks it's okay for the President to withhold military aid in exchange for interference in our 2020 elections. @SenThomTillis time and time again you choose your failing party over country and Constitution. #OneTermThom #DemCastNC

Or just retweet our tweet with your own message:
https://twitter.com/I_TDCA/status/1195160305132851205

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Add PFAS to the Clean Water Act:
[Action from Clean Cape Fear] Call to action!!! Please call Senators Burr and Tillis TODAY (and your House Reps) and tell them to make sure PFAS as a class are added to the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and the Toxics Release Inventory as part of the fiscal year 2020 NDAA (the annual defense spending bill). The NDAA vote should be tomorrow, so TODAY is the day to call or email. We need to fill their voicemail with requests!!

Details:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-energy/2019/11/18/house-focuses-on-pfas-climate-change-782575

Script:
My zip code is ___. I am calling to encourage Rep./Sen. _________ to make sure PFAS as a class are added to the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and the Toxics Release Inventory as part of the fiscal year 2020 NDAA. This issue is very important to me. Thanks.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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STATE:

NCGA Elections:
The NCGA has finally adjourned for the 2019 session and won’t be back until January, so I will be posting fewer actions involving calls to your state lawmakers. Now would be a good time to identify candidates you’d like to support in 2020, though, and I CANNOT stress enough: winning back at least one chamber of the state legislature (if not both) is FAR more important than picking up a Congressional seat or two. This does not mean we should ignore Congress, but unless y’all want to be doing daily Facebook actions for another decade, the Democrats HAVE to have a seat at the table when we’re drawing districts in 2020. See below for a couple of actions to help make that happen.

Red For Ed Rally:
[From my favorite PTA President] On Wednesday, November 20 from 8:30 to 8:40 a.m., please come out, in your red attire, and take a stand to support our educators. Let's let our legislators know that the billion dollars they want to give to big corporations, for tax breaks, should be invested in our public schools. Just 10 minutes of your time says and means a whole lot! Join us on Wednesday morning in front of the school on Fayetteville Street. Thanks for your continued support!!!

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Clean Water for NC Communities:
Issues related to water quality in NC have increasingly become front and center. Often, environmental injustice has disproportionate impacts on low-income residents and communities of color. To learn more about ways in which you can advocate for environmental justice, use the link below.

Link to get involved: https://ncejn.org/get-involved/

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ELECTIONS:

Become Involved with Stamp NC Blue:
Stamp NC has an ambitious plan to recruit people to run postcard campaigns to remind people to vote in the upcoming 2020 primaries and general elections. From Stamp NC: We  are finalizing our Stage 2 postcards focused on the 2020 primary election and are eager to get them out to our writers early in the new year.  After that, we'll be focused on getting postcards ready for the general election in November 2020. We've got an amazing group of 69 Postcard Captains who participated in  Stage 1 this fall. We have room for 31 more to join us.

Link:
https://www.stampncblue.org/2019/11/18/nov-18


Join Flip NC for a “Super Canvass” on December 8:
From Flip NC: On December 8, 2019, FLIP NC is coordinating with grassroots volunteers across North Carolina for a statewide SUPER CANVASS. Our message is simple: When we knock, we win! Please join us for a day of action to talk with left-leaning voters across the state about the issues that matter to them and what is at stake in 2020. If you live in the Triangle area, you can join FLIP NC’s Graham/Burlington (Alamance County) or Fuquay Varina (Wake County) canvass. If you live in the Greater Charlotte area, you can join FLIP NC’s Concord (Cabarrus County) canvass. Otherwise, sign up below to knock doors in your area! You can register to canvass as a group or on your own/with a partner. First-time canvassers welcome! We’ll provide all the support and information you need to run your canvass.

Go here to sign up and join the fun:
https://flipnc.org/december-8th-super-canvass

Monday Activities: Housing Justice, Bolivia, and More

****Actions 11/18/2019****


LOCAL:

Housing and Economic Justice:
Wake County is currently soliciting feedback from residents when it comes to assessing the need for affordable housing and equitable community development. This feedback will help guide what Wake County prioritizes in the next five years. For those living in Wake County, please complete the survey using the link below.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Regional-AI-WakeCo 

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STATE:

Clean Water for NC Communities:
Issues related to water quality in NC have increasingly become front and center. Often, environmental injustice has disproportionate impacts on low-income residents and communities of color. To learn more about ways in which you can advocate for environmental justice, use the link below.

Link to get involved: https://ncejn.org/get-involved/
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FEDERAL:

U.S. Intervention in Latin America:
Bolivia is currently facing political pressure from the United States and other powerful nations when it comes to their electoral process. This follows a global pattern of interfering in the elections and general sovereignty of nations, especially in Latin America. For more information, please check out the details below and consider calling your representative.

Details: https://theintercept.com/2019/11/15/bolivia-evo-morales-coup-brazil-intercepted/

Script:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a constituent from ______________. I am calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to denounce U.S. intervention in Latin America. Whether it be in Venezuela or the more recent events in Bolivia, the sovereignty of a nation should be valued and respected. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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ELECTIONS:

Increase Voter Registration & Turnout:
As you likely know, there are many groups working to produce meaningful change in the 2020 elections. A group known as Vote Forward is partnering with Swing Left to make sure that traditionally underrepresented communities are registered to vote and actually turn out on election day, especially in battleground races. To join one of their letter writing campaigns, sign up using the link below.

Link: https://votefwd.org/swingleft

Friday Actions: Stephen Miller, Gun Safety, Fair Maps, and More

****Actions 11/15/2019****

STATE:

Fair Maps:
Our ongoing gerrymandering takes its latest turn today, a twist as sharp as some of the district lines the GOP likes to draw. The NC senate will be voting on the new Congressional map today. The map is still an 8-5 gerrymander with no swing districts, so it’s only marginally an improvement in terms of numbers but in terms of principle (having competitive districts where the representatives actually have to work for our votes), it’s actually worse. There are Call your NC senators and tell them to demand more competitive and more representative maps. The senate will be in session and discussing the maps, so if you can show up, please do so.

Aylett’s update:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220269018373131&set=a.1475917695432&type=3&theater

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FEDERAL:

Gun Safety:
There was another mass shooting at a high school on Thursday. Two more young people have died senselessly because of the GOP leadership’s absolute cowardice in the face of the NRA. The House has passed three bills that would reduce access to dangerous guns for people who should not have them. They have passed expanded background checks, reductions in high-capacity magazines, and more. The Senate needs to bring up these bills and vote to protect its citizens. CT Sen Richard Blumenthal was actually on the Senate floor debating HR 8 when news about the mass shooting was passed along to him. He then attempted to get HR 8 passed by unanimous consent, but MS Republican Cindy hyde-Smith blocked it. Our lax gun laws are making us unsafe and creating a generation of kids and young adults who constantly live in fear. It’s time to fix this.

Details:
https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/senator-finds-school-shooting-gun-control-debate

Script:
[Senate only] Hello, my name is ________ and I am a constituent from ____________. I am calling to urge Sen. ____________ to support HR 8 and the two other gun safety bills recently passed by the House. We need expanded background checks and to ban high-capacity magazines. We also need to ban assault-style weapons. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972

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Demand Stephen Miller’s Resignation:
Stephen Miller is the author of Trump’s immigration and refugee policies. His history of expressing sympathy with white nationalists was not exactly a secret, but recently leaked emails show that he was coordinating with white nationalist website Breibrat and that he had privately expressed views that are explicitly promoting a white nationalist viewpoint. This also includes his practice of relying on data produced by the Center for Immigration Studies, a right-leaning think tank, to shape policy at the White House. He is toxic to our democracy. He needs to go. Our Congressional representatives need to speak out against him (PS: I’m guessing our Democratic reps have, so this is really for our GOP reps).

Details:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/14/us/politics/immigration-trump.html

Script:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a constituent from ______________. I am calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to demand the resignation or firing of Trump advisor Stephen Miller. We now have compelling evidence that Miller is coordinating with white nationalist organizations including VDare, Breitbart, and the Center for Immigration Studies. Miller needs to go immediately, and I want Sen./Rep. ____________ to speak out against him.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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VOTING RIGHTS:

Spread the Word about Voter ID:
As you no doubt know, North Carolina voters will be required to show ID when they vote in the 2020 elections. There is a LOT of confusion about what IDs will count, and even some inconsistencies for certain institutions. From what I can glean, some school IDs will allow students to vote, some will allow employees to vote, and some will allow both students and employees to vote using school-issued IDs. For Fayetteville State, for example, student IDs won’t be considered valid, but employee IDs will (which makes NO sense, but also makes perfect sense). This is sure to sow chaos and confusion, which, of course, is the point. Please start spreading the word to all your friends, especially college students and people who may not have a driver’s license or passport and tell them to make sure they have proper ID when they vote in the general elections in 2020.

Voter ID Info:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voter-id

Thursday Actions: Defund ICE, Oppose Menashi, and More

FEDERAL:

Just a quick note on impeachment: Obviously the hearings are going to grab the headlines and attract endless hours of media attention. We can and should call out our lawmakers if the defend Trump’s abuses of power. But we also need to remember that Trump is engaging in all kinds of destructive, immoral actions that will do great harm to people, so I’ll try to focus on including actions that go beyond impeachment.

Tell Your Representative to Defund Hate:
[From Indivisible National] The biggest fight on immigration this year will be over funding. While Democratic control of the House has given us a firewall against some of the worst Republican attacks, Trump’s attacks against immigrants continue. He shut down the government for over a month in an effort to get his hateful wall, and has already requested billions more for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) in next year’s budget, “FY20.” He hopes to use the money to pay for his wall, more ICE and CBP agents, and more cages for immigrant families.

The appropriations process is our best chance to act to stop Trump’s deportation machine. The next deadline for Congress to fund the government is November 21. If you care about ending Trump’s racist immigration policies—like separating, caging, and tear gassing families—make a call today and tell your Member of Congress (MoC) to reject special funding increases for ICE and CBP.

Details:
https://indivisible.org/tell-your-representative-defund-hate

Script:
Hi, my name is _________ and I'm calling from __________. I'm calling to ask Rep./Sen. _____________  to make sure that ICE and CBP don't receive any increased funding in the short-term funding bill Congress is likely to consider in November. I expect Rep./Sen. _______________ to oppose all requests for increased funding for these agencies—including all "anomalies" for CBP and ICE which we know they will use to expand the immigrant detention system and implement other cruel anti-immigrant policies. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/


--------------

Keep Fighting on Menashi:
Steven Menashi’s nomination got out of the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, and now the only thing that stand between the 40-year old and a lifetime appointment to the Federal Bench is a full Senate vote (which means he could be a federal judge until 2065). Sen. Susan Collins  (R-Waffleland) reportedly thinks he is icky, but we need several other GOP Senators to come out against him to ensure that he does not get appointed. Slate has an incredibly detailed of Menashi’s history of sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic, and even white nationalist views. He would also be a walking conflict of interest, appointed to a court where Trump now faces several pending lawsuits. I’m so sure--so sure--he would recuse himself on those, right? Menashi really is pretty toxic, and moderate Senators might not want to carry that baggage during the 2020 elections, so let’s keep the pressure up. Tillis supported Menashi in the Judiciary Committee. Let’s make him own that vote.

Details:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/menashi-confirmation-second-circuit-nominee-senate-vote.html

Tillis Script:
Hi, I am a constituent from __________ calling to ask why Senator Tillis voted to advance the nomination of Steven Menashi to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Menashi has a history of racist, sexist, and homophobic views that should disqualify him from a lifetime seat on the federal bench. He can’t be trusted to make impartial rulings. Tillis needs to vote against Menashi when the full Senate votes on his nomination.

Other Senators Script:
Hi, I am a constituent from __________ calling to urge Sen. ___________ to vote against the nomination of Steven Menashi to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Menashi has a history of racist, sexist, and homophobic views that should disqualify him from a lifetime seat on the federal bench. He can’t be trusted to make impartial rulings. Sen. _________ needs to vote against Menashi when the full Senate votes on his nomination.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972


-------------

STATE:

Maps, Of Course:
The NC House Redistricting Committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 9am in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building to take up draft congressional maps. Show up and make your presence felt. Call your reps. Do everything you can to stand up for fair maps that actually represent the citizens of our state.

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn


-------------

ELECTIONS:

Defeat Tillis:
There will be tons of groups out there working to make a difference in the 2020 elections. One of those groups is the appropriately named Defeat Tillis. They have an action page that includes writing letters and postcards, donating, and most importantly, canvassing. Defeat Tillis is promoting Flip NC’s planned “Super Canvas” on December 8. This is your chance to make sure that voters are engaged early and that they know what kinds of values Tillis has chosen to embrace (hint: those values are not very good).

Link:
https://www.defeattillis.org/take-action

Friday Actions: Bad Judges, Bad Maps, and More

****Actions 11/8/2019****

FEDERAL:

Keep Fighting on Menashi:
Steven Menashi’s nomination got out of the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, and now the only thing that stand between the 40-year old and a lifetime appointment to the Federal Bench is a full Senate vote (which means he could be a federal judge until 2065). Sen. Susan Collins  (R-Waffleland) reportedly thinks he is icky, but we need several other GOP Senators to come out against him to ensure that he does not get appointed. Slate has an incredibly detailed of Menashi’s history of sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic, and even white nationalist views. He would also be a walking conflict of interest, appointed to a court where Trump now faces several pending lawsuits. I’m so sure--so sure--he would recuse himself on those, right? Menashi really is pretty toxic, and moderate Senators might not want to carry that baggage during the 2020 elections, so let’s keep the pressure up. Tillis supported Menashi in the Judiciary Committee. Let’s make him own that vote.

Details:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/menashi-confirmation-second-circuit-nominee-senate-vote.html

Tillis Script:
Hi, I am a constituent from __________ calling to ask why Senator Tillis voted to advance the nomination of Steven Menashi to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Menashi has a history of racist, sexist, and homophobic views that should disqualify him from a lifetime seat on the federal bench. He can’t be trusted to make impartial rulings. Tillis needs to vote against Menashi when the full Senate votes on his nomination.

Other Senators Script:
Hi, I am a constituent from __________ calling to urge Sen. ___________ to vote against the nomination of Steven Menashi to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Menashi has a history of racist, sexist, and homophobic views that should disqualify him from a lifetime seat on the federal bench. He can’t be trusted to make impartial rulings. Sen. _________ needs to vote against Menashi when the full Senate votes on his nomination.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972

—————

Oppose the Refugee Ban:
The Trump-GOP is once again attacking the rights of refugees and other migrants. The Trump Administration announced it would set a refugee cap of 18,000 people for the fiscal year, which is an incredibly small number, and the order would also allow states to ban resettlement. They have also not allowed a single refugee into the United States in the month of October. These changes to US refugee policy are “tantamount to destroying the program,” according to experts, as the amount of people displaced worldwide continues to grow. Let’s do what we can to stand up for the rights of refugees to seek asylum in our country.

Details:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/27/trump-refugee-cap-asylum-program

Script:
Hello, my name is _____________ and I am a constituent from ______________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to oppose Trump’s attempts to shut down our refugee program. It is a travesty that Trump will only allow 18,000 refugees into our country this year. Worse, no refugees have been admitted into the United States in the entire month of October. These refugees are often fleeing completely inhumane conditions in their country. We need to welcome them into our country.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/


—————


STATE:

The Maps are Still Terrible:
The NC GOP continues AGAIN to draw maps that are partisan and arguably racial gerrymanders. You can draw up committee maps from the NCGA website. Some of them have maps containing districts that link southwest EWake County to Charlotte. Several cut out a narrow strip of land linking southern Mecklenberg to a district that travels along the NC border basically to Fayetteville to kee Bishop in his gerrymandered district.There are several maps where borders literally seem to have been drawn around incumbents’ houses. Pitt County, where Greenville is located, is divided in half in almost every map, to pack the county’s black population into a single district or, in some cases, to divide their voting power by carefully splitting them. We can’t change the fact--yet--that lawmakers should not be allowed to draw their own districts, but we can tell the NCGA that their map-making process is undemocratic. If you haven’t commented yet, please do so. Then, work your tails off to make sure the people who’ve designed these maps don’t get reelected in November.

Maps and other Data:
https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/NonStanding/6740#Documents 

Comment Portal:
https://www.ncleg.gov/RequestForComments/32


Spread the Word about Voter ID:
As you no doubt know, North Carolina voters will be required to show ID when they vote in the 2020 elections. There is a LOT of confusion about what IDs will count, and even some inconsistencies for certain institutions. From what I can glean, some school IDs will allow students to vote, some will allow employees to vote, and some will allow both students and employees to vote using school-issued IDs. For Fayetteville State, for example, student IDs won’t be considered valid, but employee IDs will. This is sure to sow chaos and confusion (which, of course, is the point). Please start spreading the word to all your friends, especially college students and people who may not have a driver’s license or passport and tell them to make sure they have proper ID when they vote in the general elections in 2020.

Voter ID Info:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voter-id

Thursday Actions: Redistricting, Judges, Impeachment, and More

****Actions 11/7/2019****

ELECTIONS:

State Elections:
We’re still waiting to hear about Congressional maps--more on that below. But in 2020, we need to focus on elections at every level, and winning back at least one chamber of the state legislature is absolutely essential to ensure that we will have maps that aren’t gerrymandered for the next decade, too. There are a couple of ways to get involved in supporting your state senate and house candidates. One starting point would be the North Carolina Democratic Party. Donating and volunteering early could make a huge difference: https://www.ncdp.org/action

———-

FEDERAL:

Push Tillis to Defend His Support of Trump’s Wall:
We need to keep Tillis on the defensive. He is continuing to latch onto positions that are going to be increasingly difficult to justify. Tillis needs to answer for the fact that he voted to take $80 million away from military projects to build a section of the Border Wall. Now migrants are literally cutting through that wall with chainsaws available from The Home Depot. The wall itself is an inhumane symbol, one that is meant to tell migrants they are not welcome here, but it’s also completely wasteful and has literally taken money that would have been spent right here in our state.

Details:
https://www.politifact.com/north-carolina/statements/2019/nov/06/democratic-senatorial-campaign-committee/did-nc-senator-vote-let-trump-administration-raid-/

Script:
Hi, I am a constituent from _________ to urge Senator Tillis to explain why he supported Trump’s decision to take $80 million away from military projects in our state to pay for a useless section of border wall. The border wall is itself an inhumane statement, but it’s also incredibly wasteful. Migrants have now discovered that Trump’s wall can easily be cut with chainsaws available at hardware stores. Can Senator Tillis explain why he thinks Trump’s border wall is a good idea? Thank you.

Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342

—————

Oppose Steven Menashi’s Appointment to the US Court of Appeals:
[Senate Only] Steven Menashi, the Trump administration’s nominee for a lifetime seat on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, is yet another judicial appointee with a long history of espousing and defending bigoted views. In college, Menashi wrote antigay, misogynist, and racist editorials. Menashi later defended former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s racist claim that Western culture was superior to Islamic societies. In 2010, he wrote a 65-page article arguing that racial and ethnic diversity led to less effective government. Before he joined the White House general counsel’s office in 2018, he was acting general counsel at the Department of Education, where he provided legal oversight of the department’s reversal of Obama-era civil rights protections.

Recognizing the controversy surrounding Menashi’s nomination, the Senate Judiciary Committee quietly scheduled his initial confirmation hearing just two days in advance. During his September 11th confirmation hearing, Menashi refused to answer questions about his role in the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, his stance on the Bill of Rights, and his positions on gun control. Menashi’s history of extreme bigoted positions and his stonewalling during his hearing make him unfit for a lifetime judgeship. Urge your senators to oppose his confirmation. Word on the street is that Menashi is becoming increasingly difficult to defend, and it sounds like many Republicans may be ready to cut their losses and withdraw his nomination. This is one we can win.

Background:
https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/8/26/trump-judicial-nominee-has-history-antigay-misogynistic-writings

Script:
Hi, my name is __________ and I'm a constituent from __________. I'm calling to urge Senator ___________ to oppose Steven Menashi's nomination to the US Court of Appeals. Menashi has a troubling history of espousing racist, sexist and anti-lgbtq views. His extremist beliefs have no place in our federal judiciary. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972

————

Impeach Trump:
Let’s keep the pressure on about impeachment. Tillis and Burr both need to know that we will not tolerate the kind of corruption that Trump and his GOP cronies have displayed in their efforts to undermine a political opponent. Also, because our Congressional districts will be redrawn in 2020, our current reps may actually have to respond to their constituents’ concerns, so make sure they hear clearly from us that we will not tolerate having a crime boss running our country and trying to extort favors from a foreign country.

Details:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-envoy-tells-congress-the-president-outsourced-ukraine-policy-to-giuliani/2019/10/17/484b30d0-f0ee-11e9-b648-76bcf86eb67e_story.html

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from ______________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. _____________ to support the impeachment of Donald Trump. It is becoming increasingly clear that his abuses of power qualify as impeachable offenses. We need to restore the rule of law and Trump has consistently violated the law and is quickly destroying whatever credibility our nation has on the global stage. It’s time to take your oversight responsibility seriously and to support impeachment.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

—————-

STATE:

Redistricting Comment Portal:
The NC GOP is still trying to play games with drawing our new Congressional districts. Every day they delay is one less day that candidates can get out and campaign and connect with voters. But they are also using a number of tricks to try to protect their majority. Among other things, they are using a backdoor means to try to ensure that incumbents’ addresses are taken into consideration so they are not double-bunked. Some of their maps still divide counties and communities in ways that avoid principles of compactness. They are essentially reverse-engineering gerrymandered districts. The NCGA has opened up a comment portal. Let’s leave hundreds of comments telling the NC GOP to respect our rights as voters to choose our representatives rather than having our representatives choose the voters they would like to have.

Comment portal link:
https://ncleg.gov/RequestForComments/32

————-

Thank Governor Cooper for Vetoing SB 250:
SB 250 would have required the State Board of Elections to identify and remove people from voting rolls who — at some point in the past — have been excused from jury service because they said they were not U.S. citizens. That information, however, is often unreliable and difficult to verify. For example, a person's information may not be updated after they become a naturalized citizen. Similar voter purge programs have resulted in eligible registered voters having their right to vote denied. Worse, because it makes these records publicly available, it could expose people to prosecution by ICE. Thanks in part to your calls, Governor Cooper has vetoed this awful piece of legislation. Let’s send him some thank you emails.

Link:
Email: https://governor.nc.gov/contact/contact-governor-cooper

Wednesday Actions

****Actions 11/6/2019****

ELECTIONS:

2020 Starts Now:

Many of us have been preparing for the 2020 elections since 2016, but now we are in the final leg of the race. It’s time to roll back Trumpism permanently. And that includes winning the Senate so that our future Democratic President can nominate judges and pass progressive legislation. We have many reasons to be inspired tonight. Democrat Andy Beshear knocked off a terrible GOP governor. The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate flipped from red to blue. Even the woman who flipped off Trump’s motorcade won (remember her?). All of these races will make incremental differences in people’s lives, and it’s the work of people like you that made that happen! So, now that means you--yes, you--need to donate, campaign, phone bank, text bank, canvass, and do all the stuff that makes democracy happen. Here are a few things you can do:

Seeing Democrats win the Governor’s race shows us that Moscow Mitch McConnell is vulnerable, so let’s send his Democratic opponent, Amy McGrath, some love: https://amymcgrath.com/

We have three outstanding Senate candidates here in North Carolina ready to unseat One Term Thom, aka Flip Flop Thom. I’m not going to endorse (and y’all are welcome to have that conversation), but you can support Cal Cunningham, Trevor Fuller, or Erica Smith.

Cal: https://www.calfornc.com/

Trevor: https://www.fullerfornorthcarolina.com/

Erica: https://ericaforus.com/

I’ll try to keep reminding y’all about down-ballot races, too. We’re still waiting for Congressional districts to redrawn (more on that below). We have an NCGA chamber (or two) to flip, a Governor’s seat to hold, and more. Sleep in tomorrow, but after tonight, let’s gear up because it’s go time!

FEDERAL:

Push Tillis to Defend His Support of Trump:

Trump is rewarding Senators who have his back on impeachment by fundraising for him. In just the last few days, Trump raised over $100,000 for Tillis’s re-election. Let’s remind Tillis that Trump ought to be impeached and call him out for taking money from his GOP crime boss.

Details:

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/31/trump-impeachment-senators-donor-062084

Script:

Hello, I am a constituent from __________ calling to demand that Senator Tillis explain his support of Trump. It is becoming increasingly clear that Trump has been running the Presidency like a mob boss. More evidence is showing that Trump threatened to withhold foreign aid from the Ukraine unless they investigated Trump’s political opponent. Do you really want our foreign policy to be conducted this way? It’s time to stand up for the rule-of-law and to support impeachment proceedings.

——————

Here are a few other federal actions we can keep pushing:

Pass a Federal Revenge Porn Law:

California Rep. Katie Hill resigned from Congress earlier this week, and a once-promising political career has been derailed, in large part because a malicious ex chose to publicly humiliate her by providing naked photos to a right-wing propaganda site. Hill didn’t deserve to be treated this way. We know that women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community are far more likely to be victimized by revenge porn. The most prominent revenge porn bill on Capitol Hill — the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (SHIELD) Act — would establish federal criminal liability for individuals who share private, sexually explicit or nude images without the consent of those photographed. While 46 states have revenge porn laws, we need a federal law because jurisdiction is often fuzzy. Questions come up like where the film was uploaded, where it was taken, and so on, all of which make prosecution more complicated. This is a form of violence, usually directed towards women or LGBTQ individuals, and it needs to be stopped. Period. We need a federal law.

Details:

https://thehill.com/news-by-subject/technology/468028-katie-hill-resignation-reignites-push-for-federal-revenge-porn-law

Script:

Hello, I am a constituent calling from ____________ to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to pass the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution, or SHIELD, Act. We need a federal law banning revenge porn. A patchwork of local laws is not sufficient, and it makes it much more difficult to prosecute. Revenge porn is a form of violence, and it needs to be stopped. Red State should have been punished for publishing the images of Katie Hill, and we need stiffer laws and stronger enforcement to prevent something like this from happening again. 

Federal Contact Numbers:

Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342

Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154

Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121

Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972

House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

---------------

Oppose the Refugee Ban:

The Trump-GOP is once again attacking the rights of refugees and other migrants. The Trump Administration announced it would set a refugee cap of 18,000 people for the fiscal year, which is an incredibly small number, and the order would also allow states to ban resettlement. They have also not allowed a single refugee into the United States in the month of October. These changes to US refugee policy are “tantamount to destroying the program,” according to experts, as the amount of people displaced worldwide continues to grow. Let’s do what we can to stand up for the rights of refugees to seek asylum in our country.

Details:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/27/trump-refugee-cap-asylum-program

Script:

Hello, my name is _____________ and I am a constituent from ______________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to oppose Trump’s attempts to shut down our refugee program. It is a travesty that Trump will only allow 18,000 refugees into our country this year. Worse, no refugees have been admitted into the United States in the entire month of October. These refugees are often fleeing completely inhumane conditions in their country. We need to welcome them into our country.

Federal Contact Numbers:

Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342

Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154

Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121

Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972

House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

————-

STATE:

Hearings on Congressional Redistricting:

Our Congressional districts are being redrawn, and you might be shocked--shocked--to learn that the NCGOP is pulling some of the same shenanigans they have been pulling for the last decade. They are using a court ruling that endorsed compactness as a criterion for drawing districts, which is great, BUT compactness has been used to draw maps that are racially gerrymandered. They have also decided to take into account the residences of current Congressional reps, which would be a problem anyway (why should incumbents get special treatment?), BUT it’s exacerbated by the fact that we currently have 11 Republican and 3 Democratic incumbents. The redistricting committee will start back Wednesday morning at 10 AM, so if you are available, please show up and make our presence felt. Let the GOP know that we are watching them and will hold them accountable if they try to waste our time with unconstitutional maps. There apparently will be a period for public comment, probably on Tuesday, November 12. I’ll keep y’all posted about that.

Details:

https://twitter.com/democracync/status/1191846143119917059

—————

CALENDAR:

Here is your weekly activism calendar courtesy of NC Wins: 

http://ncwins.org/events/

Note: If you have events, please share them on the NC Wins website.

BLOG:

We have a blog!

For those of you weaning yourself off of Facebook, you can use our blog to access all of our actions:

https://indivisibletriangle.blogspot.com/

Let’s dominate 2020!

Monday Actions

****Actions 11/4/2019****

ELECTIONS:

Swing Left Phone Bank:
Virginia elections are coming up, and several of the key statewide races are very competitive. So, let’s help our neighbors to the north and make some phone calls. . Even 30 min of your time would help. Sign up here to call Virginia voters and help Swing VA left! So much is at stake in VA. If the go majority Dems it could me ratification of the ERA finally and much more. Mad props to Andrea Biondi for making some phone calls this weekend and suggesting this as an action!

Sign Up Link:
https://swingleft.org/event/register/mobilize:150370?timeslots=mobilize:809179&utm_source=swingleft-take-action&utm_medium=take_action&utm_campaign=va-gotv&s=u&fbclid=IwAR1DOmutcUX51rMrPtHA8E6hhOm0uZMn-JVsF1GgKkG-7IcbsxNRrEc4xfM

--------


Vote, Y’all:
Many of you have municipal elections coming up on November 5. Some of you still have the chance to vote early. I live outside our town limits, so I’m counting on y’all to elect some good people because local elections matter.. Ballotpedia has an election calendar, in case you are unsure whether your own has an election coming up. Word on the street has been that turnout in municipal elections has been really low, so your vote (yes, yours!) could make a huge difference. You might also consider volunteering to poll greet or canvas for your favorite candidates. And if you’re in our groups, and you’re running for something, feel free to leave a shoutout in the comments.

Election Calendar:
https://ballotpedia.org/Elections_calendar

----------

FEDERAL:

Stop Supporting Unqualified Judges:
One of Trump’s worst and most lasting legacies will be stacking the bench with unqualified extremist judges who will be on the federal bench for life, often for up to four or five decades (for perspective: a Carter nominee ruled against Trump in a recent case). In just the last few weeks, two judicial nominees, Sarah Pitlyk and Lawrence VanDyke (both of whom are considered unqualified by the ABA), inched toward confirmation. Tell Tillis and Burr not to support them and to stop voting for unqualified judges.

Details:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-lifetime-judges-not-qualified-senate-republicans_n_5dbc7351e4b0fffdb0f674af

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from __________ calling to urge Sen. ______________ to stop supporting judicial nominees that are not qualified for the federal bench. In the next few days, two judicial nominees, Sarah Pitlyk and Lawrence Van Dyke, both of whom are considered unqualified by the ABA, will be considered for confirmation. Van Dyke, in particular, has not stated whether he would treat LGBTQ litigants fairly, while Pitlyk received a unanimous rating of “not qualified” by the ABA. Do not support these two nominees.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972



---------

ABORTION RIGHTS:

Stand Up For Abortion Rights in Raleigh:
[From Tara Romano] This Wednesday, November 06, 13 anti-abortion speakers are signed up to demand Raleigh city council close the 2 abortion clinics in Raleigh and make Raleigh a "sanctuary city for the unborn".  Abortion access advocates supported two clinic patient escorts who spoke at the October city council meeting, to share what it was like for patients and staff to be harassed at the clinics.  (of course) Some of the clinic protestors took umbrage at this, so a number of them have signed up this month to complain about how anyone speaking out for abortion access somehow impedes on their First Amendment rights.

There are two pro-choice speakers signed up again to speak - one of the clinic escorts who will share how the protestors have targeted her since she spoke out last time, and a woman who has been moved to share her abortion story with the city council. Please join us at the city council meeting (222. West Hargett Street) if you can on Wednesday evening, to support these speakers, and to show support for abortion access. The public comment portion starts at 7pm, and will probably be fairly long, since 13 anti-abortion folks (x 3 minutes) are speaking, in addition to others (who actually live in Raleigh and have legitimate business to bring to the city council). The pro-choice speakers are at the end of the public comment period.

We will be there early, at 6pm, to grab some seats up front. The anti-abortion folks had huge signs last time, so apparently, that's allowed (it's not really, but....you can  apparently bring a 3' x 3' sign). Bring your supportive signs if you want, and wear pro-choice gear or NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina purple.