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52 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:

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In this edition of the AoC Checklist:

Contact your senators

Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action.

Look up your senators here.

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Sen. [NAME] to:

Contact your House representative

Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action.

Look up your House representative here.

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Rep. [NAME] to:

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: Support fair legislative maps for fair representation.

Source: Brennan Center

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Contact your state legislators (look up) if you live in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WI, or WY. 

Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] asking you to support drawing fair legislative district maps for [STATE] and end prison gerrymandering. People in prison deserve representation. I’d like you to pass legislation to count incarcerated people at their permanent residence, not where they are incarcerated. Thank you.

Donate: If you live in CA, CO, CT, DE, IL, MD, NV, NJ, NY, PA, VA, or WA, challenge prison gerrymandering by donating to the Sentencing Project.


Action 2: Get new voters the ID they need to vote.

Source: Spread the Vote

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Requiring voter ID is a discriminatory barrier to voting. According to the ACLU, “Over 21 million U.S. citizens do not have qualifying government-issued photo identification, and these individuals are disproportionately voters of color.” Even when IDs are free, the documents needed to get an ID are not. Spread the Vote assists people with the process of obtaining IDs.

Donate: https://www.kindest.com/donate/spread-the-vote (If you do, mention that you’re from AoCC!)

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 3: Advocate with Alaska Natives for long-awaited watershed protection.

Sources: Alaska Natives, NRDC, Stop Pebble Mine

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Email: EPA Administrator Michael S. Reagan at Regan.Michael@epa.gov.

Script: Hello, I’m writing to amplify the call of Alaska Natives to protect the water, wildlife, and livelihoods around Bristol Bay by stopping Pebble Mine. Bristol Bay is a fragile watershed habitat that falls under Clean Water Act protection, and open-pit mining results in toxic waste and unavoidable pollution. I am urging the EPA to use its veto power to finalize the process that will stop Pebble Mine and protect Bristol Bay before the 2022 fishing season.


Action 4: Support rational and merciful federal sentencing policies.

Source: The Sentencing Project

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Contact: Your STATE legislators (look up).

Script: Hello, I’m a constituent from [ZIP] calling to express my support for the evaluation and reduction of prison life sentences. Many nonviolent offenders (primarily people of color) are serving life sentences with no chance of parole or reintegration into society. I am asking [NAME] to follow the example of California, New York, and the District of Columbia and introduce “second look” legislation that aims to reduce racial disparities and biased sentencing in the criminal justice system.


Action 5: Advocate for equitable criminal justice practices.

Source: Generation Progress

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Step 1: Google “[STATE NAME] cash bail” to see if your state has passed humane cash bail reform.

Step 2: If your state has not reformed its cash bail system to allow people to await trial at home:

Contact: Your STATE legislators (look up).

Script: Hi, I’m a constituent from [ZIP] calling in support of reforming the [STATE] cash bail system. Each day, an average of over 630,000 people are detained in local jails because they’re unable to post bail. This problem disproportionately affects communities of color and people living in poverty. I ask [NAME] to reform our state’s cash bail system and allow people to remain at home while awaiting trial.


Action 6: Advocate with aspiring Americans as we Build Back Better.

Sources: New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), Latino Rebels

Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!

Note: We will update this action when the House votes on the budget reconciliation bill, likely on 11/5.

Contact: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Leo O’Brien Building, Room 827, Albany, NY 12207; (518) 431-4070; or email form.

Script: Hello, I’m from [ZIP], urging you to include a pathway to citizenship in the Build Back Better Act. House Democrats have committed to including citizenship language in the reconciliation bill for the 11 million aspiring Americans living in the U.S., and you can do the same. I would like Sen. Schumer to empower millions of community members to do more than dream.

Acts of Grati­­­­tude

Signatures to the forms below will be printed with a letter of thanks from Americans of Conscience, and mailed to the recipient 2 weeks after the Checklist publication date. Your information will not be stored after that date.

Thank U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi for speaking out against inhumane conditions and expulsions of people from Haiti at the U.S.-Mexico border.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Case Postale 2500, CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt, Suisse

Alt: contact form


Thank Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto for urging his viewers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: Fox News Channel, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036

Good News

As Americans of Conscience, we celebrate!

Progress on issues featured in Americans of Conscience Checklist

National

State

Local

Groups and organizations

News with heart


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Housekeeping

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2 Comments

  1. I was unable to email EPA Administrator Michael Regan using the email address given here, so I called the Washington D.C. EPA office and left a message.

  2. Please disregard my comment about the EPA email address given here. I erroneously included the ( .) after .gov(.) I was able to successfully send the email! Thank you for all you do!

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