Extra DHS Funding Stops Tomorrow

Happy Friday, Activists! 

We have a lot going on these days and we have more new opportunities to cover today, and to have some fun to boot.  Please go to Tuesday's newsletter at this link to see the other important actions you can take, including trainings to keep us safe. 

You may know that the bill to give DHS even more funding than it received in the Big Disgusting Bill failed yesterday.  Republicans refused to consider Dems' demands for reasonable changes to ICE and CBP tactics that would make us safer.  Now what?  Well, according to The Hill, "Lawmakers left Washington Thursday afternoon without plans to vote on a deal to avert a funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is set to begin this weekend and doesn't have a clear end in sight.

While members are on notice to return to Washington if a deal is struck, both chambers of Congress are scheduled to be out through next week for the Presidents' Day recess, teeing up a possible extended shutdown."  

And don't forget!  Join the over 500 writers who have signed up for our new Detention Camp Labor letter writing program!  You can join the team too to write a couple of letters a week to the companies we are focusing on. Sign up here and we'll give you all the information you need for success!  Check out the project's background at this link. 

LEARN TO REGISTER VOTERS

We're about to roll out this year's voter registration drives.  These are a fun way to engage voters and help them do what they want to do - vote!  So learn how to do it so you'll be all set when you join one of our drives.

We're holding the trainings on two dates and you only need to go to one. So pick the one that works for you.  

1. Monday, February 23 at 5:00

2. Thursday, March 12 at 6:00

Find them both at this link and sign up for the one you want to attend.

LEARN TO RUN FOR PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE PERSON

Here is another opportunity for you to learn how to run for Committee Person in Philadelphia.  It's sponsored by the Committee of Seventy and the Mt. Airy Dems. It offers a clear, practical guide to how wards shape local politics and how residents can run for Committee Person.

When:  Thursday, February 26, 6:30 - 8:00 pm 

Where:  New Courtland Conference Center, 6950 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

Register here.

NORWEGIAN RED HATS - MAKE SIGNS OF RESISTANCE

YOU CAN WEAR TO NO KINGS!

So this is fun.  We will have a red hat knitting session on zoom in a couple of weeks.  We're still working on the date so more to come soon.  But in the meantime, if you want to join in, we want to give you time to order your red yarn.  Do that now and next week we'll have the date and time. 

What's this all about? 

Here's the history from this Iowa Public Radio article - "The hat emerged sometime around the last large demonstration protesting Nazi occupation in September 1941. For Norwegians, the hat was meant to be 'distinctively non-violent' and 'not a threatening symbol.'

"'It was used in the period of the war where everything looked very dark,' Tangestuen said. 'The main purpose of it was just to keep up morale, keep up hope and not descend into hopelessness and apathy.  It was eventually outlawed by the Germans.'" 

Hmmm, seems like a good way to show solidarity and resistance in this time too, and the hats are getting very popular! 

Here's how you can get ready:  

For the pattern, go to the Ravelry site for their instructions.  It's $5.00 to download them and they send the proceeds to two local Minneapolis nonprofits focused on housing support for immigrants in the community.  See another hat shape here and some more instructions.

MORE YOU CAN DO -

WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!

Join this team and learn the best techniques for getting your views published.  Three more of our LTE writers just had their letters published.  We've had many, many letters published.  And recently both Bob's and Diane's letters were published.  Woo-hoo! 

You can write that it's time for everyone to get engaged after we see what the regime is doing.  We'll give you a lot of topical ideas and tips to effectively send your thoughts to folks willing to consider another point of view. 

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. 

PROTEST AGAINST CITIZENS BANK FUNDING CRUELTY

We're at it again!  Join us next Saturday, February 21 and Saturday March 7 to protest outside Citizens Bank branches.  Bring your signs! 

900 South Street - Sign up here.

1515 Market Street - Sign up here.

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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