After ICE Out - Our Work Now For Good

Happy Tuesday, Activists!

We hope you're maintaining sanity after the difficult week last week.  We ended it with showing our outrage at the killing of Renee Good. 

CALLS TO ACTION

We used our voices and our energy on Saturday and Sunday and now we have a lot to do.  But it brings opportunities to use our power and push Dems to use theirs.  Here we go!

Rein in ICE

There is a bill coming up to fund Homeland Security.  So Dems have an opportunity to pull funding from ICE and CBP by withholding their vote if their demands are not met.  So we need to call our senators and House members and demand they refuse to vote for ICE funding unless the bill strengthens restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol’s ability to violate the law, use terror tactics, and march into our cities causing chaos. 

Restore ACA Subsidies

Last week, the House - with the votes from a 17 Republicans(!) - voted to restore the Affordable Care Act subsidies that Trump made lapse last year, leading to skyrocketing healthcare premiums for millions of Americans. Health insurance premiums are doubling for more than 22 million Americans, and up to six-million people have already, or will soon, lose coverage because Republicans made Affordable Care Act tax credits expire on December 31. 

Now the bill moves to the Senate.  We need to call our Senators and tell them that they need to vote YES on the House bill to restore these subsidies. 

Tell Them Again - No War in Venezuela

The good news is that last week, the Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution that we pushed for, to pump the brakes on Trump’s war with Venezuela. Soon that resolution will come up for a final vote in the Senate. Let’s call and tell our senators - again - that they must vote YES when the next vote comes up. 

Trump will continue this power grab in Venezuela unless he's stopped.  He'll escalate violence in the region and put US service members and civilians in danger unnecessarily.  Tell our senators they must vote YES to fight him on this.

Stop International Aggression

We need to make it clear that we oppose Trump's global gangsterism loudly, constantly, and everywhere.  We need to call or send emails to our senators and our House members.  The Senate will have another War Power vote soon and we must make sure our senators vote YES. 

Here are the contacts to call and write:

Rep. Evans – D.C. 202-225-4001; Phila. office (215) 276-0340; email link

Rep. Boyle – D.C. office 202-225-6111; Phila office 215-335-3355; email link

Rep. Scanlon -- D.C. office 202-225-2011; Chester office (610) 626-2020; email link

Outside Philadelphia?  Find your Representative here.

Sen. McCormick – Phila office 215-405-9660; D.C. office 202-224-6324; email link

Sen. Fetterman – Phila office 215-241-1090; D.C. 202-224-4254; email link

For outside PA:  Find your senators’ phone numbers and emails at this link.

JOIN SENATOR HAYWOOD ON

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

You may know that we have a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event planned for next Monday at Share Food Program. But our roster for that is full.  We have another opportunity for you to show your disgust with the regime and with ICE in particular.  And to show solidarity with our immigrant neighbors and remember Renee Good and her horrible killing at the hands of a federal goon squad.  We hope you'll join.

ICE WALK and VIGIL on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19th.

Sen. Art Haywood and interfaith clergy are planning a larger ICE vigil and walk on this important day. It is a fitting way to pay homage to Dr. King's life and his admonition that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Prayer and singing at the Immigration Court, 900 Market Street promptly at 11 AM. 11:30- walk to the ICE Office --about 4 blocks away, 114 N. 8th Street. Philadelphia.

NOT SURE WHAT A COMMITTEE PERSON DOES?

LEARN ALL ABOUT IT AT THIS TRAINING!

Have you ever wondered what a Committee Person does?  Or how to become one?  Or whether it's right for you?  Or maybe you've always wanted to be a Committee Person.  Now, here's your chance to learn, so you can decide if you would want to do it.

We're holding a training for how to run for Democratic Committee Person this year.  Yes, Committee People appear on the ballot and are elected every four years; and this is the year!  Come and find out all about it and then decide if it's right for you.

When:  Thursday, January 22nd, 7:30

Where:  Zoom

Sign up here.

REMINDER:  BEWARE OF SCAMMERS

We don't know about you, but lately we are getting A LOT of random text messages asking for donations.  One of our intrepid leaders did a little research and it turns out most of them are from a group located in Iceland.  Hmmmmm.  Sounds suspicious. 

So please, please DO NOT click their links unless you know the group and don't donate.  You can donate to the campaign of your choice by going directly on their website and donating there.  It's the best and most efficient way to support the candidate. 

WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We have a lot to talk about!

Join this fantastic team and learn the best techniques for getting your views published.  Four of our LTE writers just had their letters published.  Congratulations to Lauren, Catherine, Gary, and Shobhi!  

We'll give you topical ideas and tips to effectively send your thoughts to folks willing to consider another point of view.  The team is getting so many letters published!

Even if you're just not sure if you want to join, you can sign up and find out more to make your decision.  Sign up here.  

Or just get answers to your questions by emailing us here. 

JOIN OUR LEAFLET PHILLY TEAM!

Join this exciting team and hang door hangers once a month. It's easy and effective!  

Here's how it works. You'll receive 100 door hangers to hang on door knobs up and down the block. We'll give you the specific blocks near your home for you to go to. 

We're currently dropping 54,000 door hangers around the city right now - that's 10% of the city's reachable doors!  We're reminding people that those higher food prices for their holiday meals are not in their imagination - plus who is causing it and who to call about it.  

MORE PROTESTS YOU CAN JOIN

1.  Springfield protest - Every Saturday, 1:00 - 2:00 at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and PA Route 320.  Bring your signs on your favorite topic!  

2. Tesla Takedown Protest - Every Saturday - 11:00 - Noon

Tesla Takedown Devon - At the Tesla showroom, 470 Lancaster Ave, Devon, PA 

3. Every Friday -- 11:15 am- Join Fridays@Fetterman's for the weekly Friday vigil for peace in Gaza/Palestine outside of Senator John Fetterman's office at 200 Chestnut Street from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm. Register here  

4.  Fitz Friday - 4:00 - 5:00 pm -- Protest at Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick's office at One Summit Square, Langhorne, PA. Bring signs about whatever you want. There's a lot to complain about!

5. Every Wednesday 5:30 - 6:30 pm -- Join this resistance group at #WeThePeopleWednesdays for Singing for Sanity at Unitarian Universalist Church, 6900 Stenton Avenue.  More information is here.

6.  Every Wednesday at noon - Outside the Philadelphia ICE Office, 114 N. 8th Street.   Sponsored by New Sanctuary Movement.  This is a 40-week series of Interfaith Prayer Vigils.  

7. Every Monday at Noon - Monday at McCormick's -- Join our friends at Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW for Monday's at McCormick's, in front of Senator McCormick's office at 20th and Market Streets.

8.  Every Monday at 11:00 AM - Vigil outside the ICE office, 114 North 8th Street, Phila. sponsored by State Senator Art Haywood and led by local clergy.

9. Are you outside the Philadelphia area?  You can see all the protests planned by Indivisibles in your area at this link. 

And One More Thing:

We can send you our No Kings t-shirt!  First, make a donation of $35 . Then, check out the t-shirts, sign up for your choice and we'll send it to you to wear any time! 

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