78 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:
- Call your senators
- Action 2: Encourage high school students to register to vote.
- Action 3: Prevent poll watchers from intimidating marginalized voters.
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: Ensure fair representation in Congress with accurate data.
- Action 2: Encourage high school students to register to vote.
- Action 3: Prevent poll watchers from intimidating marginalized voters.
- Action 4: Support LGBTQ people with legal protection.
- Action 5: Support farm workers’ path to citizenship.
- Action 6: Advocate with aspiring Americans for basic human rights.
- Action 7: Call for an end to unconstitutional border practices.
- 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 your senators’ staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you. They don’t mind, but be sure to call both progressives and conservatives. They need to hear from you. Then check the box that you called–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action.
Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Sen. [NAME] to:
- Introduce legislation that champions financial unemployment protections for recent college graduates to help cover living expenses while looking for work. [Source: TalkPoverty.org]
- Defund ICE and reinvest taxpayer dollars currently funding ICE and CBP into our communities. [Source: Detention Watch (DWN); UndocuBlack Network][Source: Detention Watch (DWN); UndocuBlack Network]
- Pass the Equality Act (S. 393) to support the well-being of gender non-conforming youth and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. [Source: Planned Parenthood Action]
- Pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (S. 51) in support of DC Statehood, public health, and racial justice. [Source: NAACP]
- Pass the NO BAN Act when it comes to the Senate floor to prevent harmful and racially discriminatory executive actions and future abuse of executive power. [Source: No Muslim Ban Ever]
- Add the American Jobs package citizenship for immigrant youth, TPS holders, and essential workers. [Source: United We Dream]
- Co-sponsor the EACH Woman Act (S. 1021) to repeal the restrictive Hyde Act and provide equal access to abortion regardless of socioeconomic status. [Source: SisterSong]
Call your House representative
Calling your representative’s staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you. They don’t mind, but be sure to call both progressives and conservatives. They need to hear from you. Then check the box that you called–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action.
Look up your House representative here.
Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Rep. [NAME] to:
- Introduce legislation that champions financial unemployment protections for recent college graduates to help cover living expenses while looking for work. [Source: TalkPoverty.org]
- Pass the Save Oak Flat Act (H.R. 1884) to honor tribal land agreements and permanently protect the sacred area of Tonto National Forest from destructive mining. [Source: National Congress of American Indians]
- Reinvest taxpayer dollars currently funding ICE and CBP into our communities. [Source: Detention Watch (DWN); UndocuBlack Network]
- Co-sponsor the EACH Woman Act (H.R. 2234) to repeal the restrictive Hyde Act and provide equal access to abortion regardless of socioeconomic status. [Source: SisterSong]
I value democracy
With respect and collaboration, we work to create a nation that welcomes all people, expands freedoms, and upholds the Constitution. Each citizen must be able to freely and fairly elect those who represent their values.
Action 1: Ensure fair representation in Congress with accurate data.
Source: Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Call: Your state legislators (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] and I’m calling to oppose the use of the American Community Survey (instead of U.S. Census data) for redistricting purposes. More than 55 civil rights groups and legal experts agree that legislative districts should be based on Census counts—even if that data is delayed—to ensure fair representation of all communities. Can I count on [NAME] to support using only Census data for redistricting? Thank you.
Action 2: Encourage high school students to register to vote.
Source: The Civics Center
Take Action: Even with record voter turnout in the 2020 election, voters aged 18-34 have a lower participation rate than other age groups. Sign up for The Civics Center’s Postcards for Democracy program, and encourage high school students to register to vote.
Action 3: Prevent poll watchers from intimidating marginalized voters.
Source: Brennan Center
If you think all people should be able to vote without feeling threatened or endangered, speak up.
If you live in FL, IL, LA, MA, MI, MO, MT, NH, NY, PA, TX, WA, or WI: Find your state’s pending legislation in this roundup.
Write: Your state legislators an email (look up).
Script: Dear [NAME], I am from [ZIP] asking you to oppose legislation that increases the power of partisan poll watchers to harass voters. I’d like clarification on the following:
- What limits are there on the numbers of poll watchers?
- What are the qualifications and process to serve as a poll watcher?
- What restrictions are in place for the conduct of poll watchers and their ability to interact directly with voters?
- How are poll watchers trained to prevent discrimination and harrassment?
If you live in IA:
Write: Your state legislators an email (look up).
Script: Dear [NAME], I am from [ZIP] asking you to repeal IA SF 413, which makes it a criminal offense for an election official to obstruct a poll watcher’s activities. Election officials should have the legal authority to maintain order at polling places.
If you live in any other state: Donate to the Brennan Center to support their legal work on this issue and to ensure free and fair elections nationwide.
I value equality
Support the dignity of your rainbow of neighbors from every religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, and ability.
Action 4: Support LGBTQ people with legal protection.
Source: Planned Parenthood Action
Contact: Your state legislators (look up).
Before reaching out: See what legislation is in the pipeline in your state with Equality Federation.
Script: Hello, I’m [CALLING/WRITING] from [ZIP] to express my support for our state’s LGBTQ+ people and their safety. Since this community does not yet enjoy federal legal protection as other marginalized groups do, I am asking [NAME] to join 20 states and the District of Columbia in introducing legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Thank you.
Action 5: Support farm workers’ path to citizenship.
Source: UFW Foundation
Aspiring Americans make up approximately 50% of agricultural workers. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which the House passed in March, will put farm workers and their immediate family members on a roadmap to citizenship and protection from the constant threat of detention and deportation. It’s time our senators passed this protective legislation to support those who put food on our tables.
Sign: The UFW petition to senators.
Action 6: Advocate with aspiring Americans for basic human rights.
Source: Freedom for Immigrants
Freedom for Immigrants is building a world where no person is imprisoned for crossing a border. Read about their incredible progress and support their work.
Donate: To support the Freedom for Immigrants movement.
Action 7: Call for an end to unconstitutional border practices.
Source: Human Rights First
Contact: President Biden at (202) 456-1111 or via whitehouse.gov.
Script: Hello, I’m [CALLING/WRITING] from [ZIP] in opposition to Title 42, which allows border agents to bypass normal immigration laws and rapidly expel aspiring Americans at the southern border without due process. This policy disregards our constitutional duty to provide asylum to those seeking refuge in our country, and sends vulnerable individuals and families to await their hearings in dangerous border towns. I am asking President Biden to end the use of Title 42 and restore due process for those who seek refuge in our nation.
Acts of Gratitude
Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.
Tell NC state House Speaker Tim Moore (R) why you’re grateful to him for dropping a discriminatory bill after finding no concerns from North Carolinians about transgender student athletes playing on the teams that align with their gender identity.
Address: 16 West Jones Street, Rm. 2304, Raleigh, NC 27601
Tell Rep. Liz Cheney (R–WY) why you’re grateful to her for insisting that a congressional commission regarding the Jan. 6 insurrection should focus solely on that attack and not anti-racism protests.
Address: 416 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515
Tell Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D–NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–VT) why you’re grateful to them for leading a call to the Biden administration to include an increase to SSI payments in the American Families Plan.
Address:
JB: 1605 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515
BS: 332 Dirksen SOB, Washington, DC 20510
Tell Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D–WA) and Adam Smith (D–WA), and Sen. Cory Booker (D–NJ) why you are grateful to them for reintroducing the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act that would end inhumane detention and protect aspiring Americans’ civil rights.
Address:
PJ: 2346 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
AS: 2264 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
CB: 359 Dirksen SOB, Washington, DC 20510
Good News
Decent people everywhere are speaking up and working together. Just look. #GoodNews
National
- Senate passes a bipartisan water infrastructure bill.
- House passes legislation to grant statehood to Washington, DC.
- House passes the Paycheck Fairness Act, aimed at eliminating gender-based pay discrimination.
- The U.S. sends raw materials for vaccines as well as therapeutics, test kits, ventilators, and protective equipment to India amid their devastating COVID-19 outbreak.
- The U.S. commits to sharing 60 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine with countries around the world in May and June.
- The Biden administration invests hundreds of millions of dollars to address the U.S.’s Black maternal health crisis.
- The Biden administration withdraws a proposal by the previous administration that allowed homeless shelters to discriminate against transgender people.
- President Biden orders a $15 minimum wage for federal contractors.
- Biden raises the cap on welcoming people seeking refuge in the U.S. over the next six months from 15,000 to 62,500.
- Biden formally recognizes the killing of more than one million Armenians during the early twentieth century as genocide.
- DOJ repeals limits on grants to cities who restrict law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
- AG Merrick Garland requests funding for DOJ initiatives to address domestic extremism, gender violence, racial inequality, and environmental degradation.
- The FDA lifts restrictions on distributing abortion medication through the mail for the remainder of the pandemic.
- USDA extends universal free lunch for students through the 2021-2022 school year.
- Mohanad Elshieky sues CBP in federal court for pulling him off a bus and detaining him despite his having valid immigration documentation.
State
- NY state bans long-term solitary confinement.
- OR state lawmaker is charged with official misconduct and criminal trespass for letting rioters into its state Capitol.
- RI: Sabina Matos takes the oath of office as the state’s Lieutenant Governor, becoming the first person of color and the second woman ever to hold the seat.
- RI passes the Fair Housing Practices Act, which bans housing discrimination based on income.
- RI bans copays for colon cancer screenings.
- WA state bans inappropriate Native American-related mascots in public schools.
- WA bans private prisons, including a Tacoma ICE facility which will have to close by 2025.
Corporate/business
- Amazon increases pay for warehouse, delivery network, and fulfillment team workers.
- HP, Microsoft, Unilever, and other companies call for expanded voting access in TX.
- Disney updates their cast member dress code to be more gender-inclusive and provide more room for individual expression.
Groups and organizations
- Faith leaders representing more than 1,000 Georgia churches call for a boycott of Home Depot after the company failed to use its corporate leverage against the state’s new restrictive voting laws.
- A coalition of religious leaders led by Black clergy organize to end the filibuster and other anti-democratic practices.
- RAICES launches their Uprooted and Uplifted campaign to shift the narrative about immigration to one of “a natural and human progression.”
- Hundreds of activists march on Pennsylvania Avenue to demand immigration reform for 11 million DACA recipients, TPS holders, essential workers, and other aspiring Americans.
- A group of more than 40 aspiring Americans and allies protest outside the White House demanding a path to citizenship.
- The Narragansetts’ Tomaquag Museum finds a more spacious new home at the University of RI campus.
- Filmmaking and TV union SAG-AFTRA creates an accreditation program for intimacy coordinators in response to issues of longstanding abuse of power.
- The Inevitable Foundation offers fellowship grants to screenwriters with disabilities.
- Planned Parenthood acknowledges and denounces their founder’s white supremacist ties and establishes “new diversity, equity, and inclusion standards for affiliates…to be a part of the Planned Parenthood Federation.”
News with heart
- Four families reunite years after being separated under the previous administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy.
- UVA Health drops tens of thousands of lawsuits against patients.
- Bard College offers tuition-free education for formerly incarcerated students.
- After incidents of non-consensual gynecological procedures, there are now no women currently detained at the Irwin County ICE detention center.
- A teenager from Honduras reunites with her mother, who she hadn’t seen in ten years, after traveling to the U.S. and being hospitalized with COVID-19.
- The 93rd Annual Academy Awards nominations are the most gender-, racially-, and disability-diverse to date.
- Chloé Zhao wins the Oscar for best director for her work on Nomadland, becoming the first woman of color, the first Chinese woman, and only the second woman ever to win in the directing category.
- Youn Yuh-jung wins the Oscar for best supporting actress for her work in Minari, becoming the first Korean individual to win an Academy Award in an acting category.
- Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson, and Sergio Lopez-Rivera win the Oscar for best makeup and hairstyling for their work on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, making Neal and Wilson the first Black women to win in that category.
- In her acceptance speech, Mia Neal shares her hopes for trans women and other women of color to win styling Oscars in the future.
- Promising Young Woman director and screenwriter Emerald Fennell wins the Oscar for best original screenplay, becoming the first woman in 13 years to win in that category.
- Hope Trautwein pitches a perfect game of all strikeouts, becoming the first player in NCAA Division I softball history to accomplish the feat.
- Fraternity house cook Jessie Hamilton has her mortgage paid off by grateful fraternity members.
- Nigeria re-acquires the Benin Bronzes, artifacts looted during a British colonial expedition.
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