81 weeks to Midterm Elections
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.
If you only have 10 minutes, take our top three suggested actions:
- Make two calls this week to your elected officials whether they are progressive or conservative to remind them they represent YOU in Congress.
- Action 1: Oppose racist violence and extremism in law enforcement.
- Action 6: Advocate for fair representation and fair congressional maps in your state.
In this edition of the AoC Checklist:
- Senate actions: What we’re calling our senators about.
- House actions: What we’re calling our House reps about.
- Action 1: Oppose racist violence and extremism in law enforcement.
- Action 2: Speak up locally to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Action 3: Advocate for clemency for Kanoa.
- Action 4: Support an inclusive examination of systemic racism in the U.S.
- Action 5: Reverse the Muslim ban to reunite families.
- Action 6: Advocate for fair representation and fair congressional maps in your state.
- Action 7: Sign up for reminders about local and special elections.
- Say Thanks: Acts of Gratitude
- Check out Good News from around the nation
- How you can support and share the AoC Checklist
Call your senators
Calling our senators makes a difference, whether they are progressive or conservative. Regular communication with our elected officials reminds them of their duty to represent all of their constituents.
Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Sen. [NAME] to:
- Support the PRO Act (H.R. 842), passed by the House to strengthen employees’ ability to organize. [Source: NAACP]
- Co-sponsor H.R. 8 to expand criminal background checks on private sales and transfers of guns in order to prevent gun violence and homicides. [Source: Moms Demand Action]
- Support a pathway to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans—including the millions who are working in essential roles and critical COVID-19 relief. [Source: National Immigration Law Center]
- Reform and rehabilitate the U.S. Immigration Court system to eradicate conflicts of interest, overflowing backlogs, and opportunities for political manipulation. [Source: AILA]Support efforts for ICE to conduct full case reviews and release people who fall outside the interim enforcement guidance and those at heightened risk of serious illness from COVID-19. [Source: AILA]
Call your House representative
Calling our House reps makes a difference, whether they are progressive or conservative. Regular communication with our elected officials reminds them of their duty to represent all of their constituents.
Look up your House representative here.
Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Rep. [NAME] to:
- Support a pathway to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans—including the millions who are working in essential roles and critical COVID-19 relief. [Source: National Immigration Law Center]
- Reform and rehabilitate the U.S. Immigration Court system to eradicate conflicts of interest, overflowing backlogs, and opportunities for political manipulation. [Source: AILA]
- Support efforts for ICE to conduct full case reviews and release people who fall outside the interim enforcement guidance and those at heightened risk of serious illness from COVID-19. [Source: AILA]
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 1: Oppose racist violence and extremism in law enforcement.
Source: AoCC
Write: Your mayor and city council (search “mayor of CITY address”).
Script: Dear [NAME], I’m a taxpaying resident of [CITY] writing to advocate for my neighbors’ safety. Anyone in uniform with white supremacist sympathies is a danger to our community. The U.S. military is currently working to eradicate extremists like neo-Nazis, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers from their ranks. I’d like to know how our city’s police department is working proactively to do likewise. Thank you for attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response. Name and address
Action 2: Speak up locally to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
Source: AoCC
Write: Your local school board (search “DISTRICT school board address”).
Script: I am concerned about data showing that middle schoolers who have been suspended are nearly four times more likely to end up in prison. Students of color and students with disabilities are at risk of targeting by well-meaning teachers. Schools must support students, not criminalize them. I’m asking that our district pursue trauma-informed policies that align with child and adolescent development. I recommend the resource below from the Education Law Center as a guide. Thank you. Name, address
https://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Trauma-Informed-in-Schools-Classrooms-FINAL-December2014-2.pdf
Action 3: Advocate for clemency for Kanoa.
Source: CCWP and United We Dream
Kanoa “Rae” Harris-Pendang is a transgender survivor and a beloved mentor to many. In 1998, he was sentenced to two life without parole sentences and two 25-to-life sentences for “conspiring to commit” two murders he did not commit. Urge Gavin Newsom to #FreeKanoa
Submit your public comment: bit.ly/FreeAllSurvivors
Action 4: Support an inclusive examination of systemic racism in the U.S.
Source: CLINIC
Email: President Biden via whitehouse.gov or fill out this form.
Script: Hello, I’m from [ZIP] joining with over 100 organizations in asking you to establish a task force to address systemic racism against Black immigrants. Recent policies, enforcement, and rhetoric have increased anti-Black racism in U.S. immigration. In order to meaningfully address this issue, a dedicated Task Force on Black immigrants would be a key first step. Thank you.
Action 5: Reverse the Muslim ban to reunite families.
Source: National Immigration Law Center
The hateful Muslim Ban is still hurting families. The current administration ended it going forward, but families already separated could wait years to be reunited. We join with NILC and others asking the White House to take action to undo the Muslim Ban.
Sign the petition: (click here)
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 6: Advocate for fair representation and fair congressional maps in your state.
Source: League of Women Voters
Every 10 years, congressional districts are redrawn based on census data, but who draws those lines matters. Advocate for fair maps in your state.
Call: Your state legislators (look up).
If you live in AL, AR, GA, FL, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NM, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WI, or WV, your state’s legislature draws the map, making it subject to partisan control.
Script: Hi, I’m calling from [ZIP] to ask [NAME] to support the creation of an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission so that all of [STATE]’s voters are fairly represented. Thank you.
If you live in CT, OH, IA, IN, ME, or UT: Your state has a redistricting commission, but it serves in a back-up or advisory capacity to the legislature.
Script: HI, I’m calling from [ZIP] to ask [NAME] to support giving [STATE]’s congressional redistricting commission primary responsibility for drawing district lines. Thank you.
If you live in any other state, your state either already uses a non-legislature (independent or bipartisan) commission, or only has one congressional district. A donation to the League of Women Voters will support their legal challenges to unfair maps nationwide.
Bonus: Participate in the LWV’s National Day of Action on April 29!
Action 7: Sign up for reminders about local and special elections.
Source: Vote.org
The 2020 election may be over, but cities, counties, and states hold regular and special elections every year (and not just in November). Research shows that election reminders increase voter turnout.
Take action: Sign up to receive free election reminder emails or text messages from nonpartisan Vote.org and never miss an election.
Acts of Gratitude
Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.
Tell Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R–AR) why you are grateful to him for vetoing a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors.
Address: State Capitol Room 250, 500 Woodlane Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201
Tell the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce why you are grateful to them for speaking out against voter suppression and working to expand voting access in GA.
Address: Chamber President Katie Kirkpatrick, 191 Peachtree Street N.E., Suite 3400, Atlanta, GA 30303
Tell Major League Baseball why you are grateful to them for pulling the All-Star Game from GA in response to a recently passed voter suppression bill.
Address: Rob Manfred, MLB Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, 245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor New York, NY 10167
Tell Sen. Mitch McConnell (R–KY) why you are grateful to him for encouraging reluctant Americans to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
Address: 317 Russell SOB, Washington, DC 20510
Good News
Decent people everywhere are speaking up and working together. Just look. #GoodNews
National
- Biden administration releases billions of dollars in belated hurricane aid to Puerto Rico.
- Biden administration launches a burial cost assistance program for the families of each American who died of COVID-19.
- Congress passes and the president signs legislation eliminating a mandatory five-month waiting period for ALS patients to receive SSDI benefits.
- HHS revokes Medicaid work requirements for enrollees in Arkansas and New Hampshire.
- HUD withdraws a rule that would have allowed families with mixed immigration status to be split up or evicted.
- Transgender people can again openly enlist in the military with access to transition-related medical care under an official Pentagon policy change.
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services no longer allows the rejection of forms simply because an applicant left a space blank.
- Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) creates a unit to investigate missing and murdered Native Americans.
- Dr. Rachel Levine is confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS, becoming the first openly transgender federal official in history to be confirmed by the Senate.
- The CDC acknowledges that racism is a serious threat to public health.
- Biden administration launches a grassroots network of community leaders to encourage U.S. residents to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy creates a task force to examine past tampering in scientific decisions and messaging across all federal agencies and to prevent future meddling.
State
- CA Supreme Court strikes down the state’s money bail system as unconstitutional.
- KY: Gov. Andy Beshear signs into law a bipartisan elections bill expanding voting access.
- MD repeals barriers to police accountability.
- MD abolishes life sentences without parole for juveniles.
- NM bans qualified immunity, a provision protecting police officers against civil lawsuits.
- NY: Aspiring American workers are now eligible for pandemic relief under the state budget.
- NY: A high-profile member of an alleged sex trafficking ring is indicted on updated trafficking charges.
- RI passes the Act on Climate bill, which requires the state to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- VA Supreme Court rules that Charlottesville can remove two monuments to Confederate generals.
- WA: People with previous convictions who are released from prison, including those on parole, will automatically regain their voting rights under a newly passed bill.
- WI Supreme Court rejects a lawsuit seeking to purge thousands of names from the state’s voter rolls.
Local
- Baltimore permanently ceases to prosecute drug possession, prostitution, traffic violations, and low-level crimes.
- Hamilton County, OH holds early voting and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same location in hopes of increasing turnout for both.
- The New York City Council ends qualified immunity for NYPD officers.
- Providence and Central Falls, RI will remain sanctuary cities after the DOJ drops their challenge against the cities.
- Tishaura Jones is elected mayor of St. Louis, becoming the first black woman elected to the position.
- A Windsor, VA police officer is fired for inappropriate use of force.
Corporate/business
- At least 193 companies raise objections to voter suppression bills being considered or passed around the country.
- MLB pulls the All-Star Game from GA in response to voter suppression.
Groups and organizations
- Planned Parenthood expands healthcare options for transgender patients in Missouri.
- Planned Parenthood launches a $2 million bilingual campaign promoting COVID-19 vaccinations.
- The New Georgia Project, Rise, and the Black Voters Matter Fund file suit against provisions of GA’s recently passed voter suppression bill.
- Over 100 evangelical Christian leaders condemn radicalized Christian nationalism and violent political extremism.
- Anti-harassment organizations Hollaback! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice hold free bystander intervention and de-escalation trainings to save lives in the face of hate crimes.
- The Center for Applied Transgender Studies, an academic organization dedicated to scholarship focused on multifaceted areas of trans people’s lives, formally launches in Chicago.
- Mascotas Para Migrantes (Pets for Migrants) helps aspiring Americans keep their pets as they enter the U.S.
- Various states, cities, prosecutors, lawyers, public officials, and private companies mount a multi-angled legal effort to hold the previous president and those who echoed his election conspiracy theories accountable for trying to undermine the will of the voters.
News with heart
- Philadelphia’s skyline goes partially dark during April to protect migrating birds.
- The rate of suicides in the U.S. dropped by 6% between 2019 and 2020, the largest annual drop in four decades.
- At least 11 parents and their U.S. citizen babies expelled to Mexico under Title 42 are paroled into the U.S. with their infants.
- Sonia Almendarez and her 10-year-old daughter reunite in TX after six years apart.
- Pediatricians rally against an Arkansas bill preventing transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming healthcare.
- Xiao Zhen Xie donates nearly $1 million dollars donated for her medical expenses towards defusing racism against the Asian American community.
- NFL player Justin Herron and friend Murray Rogers save a retired teacher from assault.
- Rep. Park Cannon will not be prosecuted after being arrested for knocking on Gov. Kemp’s door during a bill signing.Voter participation among Asian Americans in GA increased 84% between 2016 and 2020.
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Jen and team-
I had no idea (and I think the general public has no idea) that the situation is so dire with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Please continue to amplify this issue ! Best Regards,