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It’s impossible to stay on top of this circus. The corruption, the incompetence, the cruelty, the costs, where to begin? What’s one person to do? No one can do it all, and no one can do it constantly. Emma Goldman is quoted as saying “if I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of the revolution.” She almost certainly wasn’t looking for a party, but she was insisting that without joy, without laughter, life and the work we are engaged in is unsustainable.
The resistance can’t be all work and no play and since nothing diminishes a bully’s power more effectively than making fun of (let’s face it, usually) him; we are embracing fun and friendship. This is why we are thrilled the next big national mobilization demanding No Kings is coinciding with Boston’s annual Pride Parade. We will be celebrating, No Kings, YES QUEENS! on June 14th. We’re looking for ideas to harness humor to expose the (wanna be) Emperor/King. Put on your thinking caps and send us your double entendres, witty observations and bawdy jokes that will make great signs for the Parade. (And do your apolitical and busy friends a favor and bring them with you on June 14th ! It’s sure to be fun and no one should miss it).
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- Thursday 5/15 10 am Boston State House, meet at the 4th floor cafe by 8 for a short orientation to meet with legislators and ask them to vote for a legal defense fund for immigrants. From the Streets to the State House
We’ve seen the power of the people – 1000 in Worcester, 300 in Acton with less than a day’s notice – rising up for immigrants rights & against ICE. Now it’s time to bring the energy to the MA State House. Let’s push our State Senators to add $10 million to Senate budget for Immigration legal defense.
- and then back to the streets, Thursday 5/15 noon, outside the State House with LUCE for a Rally for Immigration Justice to demand the Governor do more to protect the Commonwealth
- Saturday 5/17, Stand up for the Constitution. Coolidge Corner, Brookline 11-1
- Every Saturday, Tesla Takedowns outside the Prudential Center (12-2) and dealerships across the world. Find one close to you, here.
- Saturday, June 14 No Kings, Yes Queens! Pride for the People Parade – A national mobilization to draw attention away from Trump and his birthday military parade in DC
- ONGOING, Activist Evenings Rapid Response Team sign up for notices of last minute demonstrations, protests and rallies
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- Tomorrow, May 15, our State Senate is scheduled to vote on Amendment 847, which adds $10M to the Senate budget for the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund. Please write to Senator Creem, the Senate Majority leader, today to urge her support. We’re facing an escalating crisis with ICE detentions tearing families apart, and our lawmakers haven’t done enough. It’s time to turn up the pressure. Let your Senator know: We see what’s happening, we know what they’re (not) doing, and we expect bold action—now. (Thanks to Activist Evenings member Cathleen Cavell for sending bringing this to our attention).
- Immigration detentions by masked agents are increasing dramatically in the area. Think you see I.C.E.? Call LUCE’s hotline, 617-370-5023 Put this number in your phone so you can make a quick call.
- Peacekeeper training: At least 10,000 people participated in the Hand’s Off demonstration peacefully with no incidents of disruption or arrests. This was because of well trained peace keepers. If you would like to help insure that the even larger No Kings/Yes Queens parade does the same, we can arrange for training for 20 or more people. Let us know of your interest by responding to this email.
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- Sister District makes a strong case that the real action and the greatest bang for the buck is in State Legislatures. Their research makes sure your money is well spent and the candidates they support are the ones who will provide a crucial line of defense to safeguard elections, advance voting rights, protect abortion access and more. Donate here instead of succumbing to the endless text pleas we are all receiving.
- Force Multiplier’s Democracy Defense Fund makes it easy for you to support the three organizations doing the crucial work of taking the administration to court everywhere and anytime. Thank them with a donation for doing what we can’t- stand before a judge and insist that no one is above the law.
- Rural Ground Game is putting up posters in Virginia with the same messages as the postcards we’ve been sending. Virginia is a crucial state with a chance to flip the Governor’s mansion and the necessity of holding their Senate and House.
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- Book banning in MA? An Act Regarding Free Expression (S.2328, H.3594) is back for the Senate budget after being defeated in the house. This bill would prevent book bans in public institutions like libraries and schools and strengthen the right to free expression of the students accessing the materials. Book bans directly target literature about and for LGBTQ+ people, people of color, immigrants and religious minorities – just to name a few. In case you missed it, the Naval Academy removed Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and left Mein Kampf on the shelves. We need to make sure this doesn’t happen here. As your Senator to co-sponsor this bill. Here’s a list of MA State Senators. Find yours and call today.
- The 5 Calls app is the easiest most effective way to have an impact.. There are over 100,000 downloads with an average 4.9 rating leading to nearly 9 million calls (it’s that easy).
- And/or put your legislators’ contact information in your phone and make calls while you are driving to work or to see friends at Activist Evenings. Siri, call Elizabeth Warren we say regularly.
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While we are responding to immigrants being detained, kidnapped and sent to foreign gulags paid for by our tax dollars, states are eroding women’s rights. The Christian Nationalist vision of Project 2025, like most dictatorships, includes ending a woman’s right to choose. Jessica Valenti’s Abortion, Every Day is difficult but necessary reading to stay on top of where things are and where they are headed if the GOP has it’s way.
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