Wednesday, June 3, 2020

ACTION: CONGRESS STOP THIS PRESIDENT

CONGRESS STOP THIS PRESIDENT

[The words “I can’t breathe”] speak to a nation where every day millions of people – not at the moment of losing their life – but in the course of living their life – are saying to themselves, “I can’t breathe.”  — Joe Biden
The fascist speech Donald Trump just delivered verged on a declaration of war against American citizens. I fear for our country tonight and will not stop defending America against Trump’s assault. — Ron Wyden

ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
This is a national emergency. Congress must stop this President and force him out of office. Further, it must reassure Americans that police will be held accountable: outlaw police choke holds, stop transferring DoD weapons of war to police departments, and increase oversight and accountability of police departments.

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
This is a national emergency. Congress must stop this President and force him out of office. Further, it must reassure Americans that police will be held accountable: outlaw police choke holds, stop transferring DoD weapons of war to police departments, and increase oversight and accountability of police departments.

ACTION THREE: DONATE TO BAIL FUNDS

Donate to Bail Funds to keep people out of jail while waiting for trial. Specify funds or distribute your gift across the funds. Their goal: $7.5 million. They’re nearly there! Portland’s Freedom Fund is on the list. All gifts are tax deductible.

BACKGROUND:

Congress must stop this President. He used tear gas to clear peaceful protestors just for a photo opp. His Defense Secretary wants him to “dominate the battlespace” as if lawful protest and unlawful looting are acts of war. This is full-bore dictatorship.
Joe Biden delivered a blistering takedown of the President’s behavior. He acknowledged generations of largely white-on-black violence by police. He called on Congress to pass new reforms.
But Trump’s Senate Republican leaders stand firmly by his side as he shoves protestors out of the way for a photo opp and threatens to send troops into communities uninvited.  
Meanwhile, something is happening here, organically, from the bottom up. Protests are growing in size, number, and tenor. In several cities, including Portland, city mayors lifted curfews as the nightly demonstrations turned peaceful and they acknowledged the pointlessness of trying to control them.
It’s time that Congress tells the President to stop, step back and ideally, retire early. Then they – Congress — needs to listen.
Finally, this thought from one of our own: 
Diversity is not just anti-racist, it is humane. –Kali Ladd, ED of KairosPDX

SOURCES: