Don't Stop Believing (Survivors): Sept. 8th-25th

Hi Teen Resisters! We hope your school years have started off fantastically. These past couple weeks have been chock full of news swirling around us. It's been a lot to stay on top of, so we've got you covered with what you should be paying attention to this week, including two ongoing and urgent topics.

What Went Down:

Midterms Update (ONGOING AND URGENT): We might have already highlighted the midterm elections in the last couple of lists, but they’re only getting closer - we’re not about to let anyone forget about them! In 43 short days, the country will decide on what kind of representatives we want making huge decisions and representing our communities for the next two years, at the very least. And it's a chance to have a Democratic Congress in the age of Trump. It’s a big deal, and you have a part to play.

Last month, we published a list of candidates that Teens Resist supports and detailed how you could help them. Last Tuesday, one of these candidates, Zellnor Myrie of Central Brooklyn, won his primary election, putting him in the position to help retake the New York State Senate for truly progressive Democrats! This is amazing news - let’s keep up the momentum! Be sure to check this list for opportunities to help each of our six highlighted candidates, including ways to canvass, text, and call, through their websites.

And as we get closer to the elections, the opportunities to help out continue to expand. Two of our favorite organizations, Indivisible and Swing Left, are now offering shifts to phone bank every day for a wide variety of progressive candidates - just head to this link and this link and start calling! This way you can make calls without having to go through each candidate’s website and signing up to volunteer, for an even greater number of candidates. (Swing Left currently has a shift for Gina Ortiz Jones, one of the Teens Resist candidates - but these rotate in and out, so act fast).

We keep on urging you to call voters (for a good reason - it’s one of the most effective ways to reach voters and influence elections for the better). But it doesn’t always seem easy. If the idea of speaking to strangers over the phone feels awkward, or if you get nervous thinking about the impact of mistakes you might make in conversation, you’re not alone (yeah, me too) - but we can help you out. Here are a few quick tips for making phone calls stress-free: If you’re nervous…

• Smile! It’ll make you feel more relaxed, and that will come across over the phone to make a better impression with voters.
• Stick to the script. All you have to do is read. If the script doesn’t feel adequate, write down responses to possible questions you might get asked that aren’t addressed in the script. Just read slowly!
• Practice! Ask a parent or a friend to pretend to be a voter while you ask them the questions that would appear in a conversation for the campaign. It works wonders, and will make you sound a lot more comfortable and flexible when you get on the phone.
• If it’s awkward, or you mess up, it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Keep calling, and you’ll improve.

• Some campaigns stress that you should only stick to the script, ever, but if they mention that you have more flexibility, there are some great ways to connect with voters.
  • Ask questions. It’ll keep the person you’re talking to engaged and give them a chance to talk about themselves (everyone loves to do that). As I learned from the an organizer for Antonio Delgado’s campaign, a great way to start a conversation is asking, “have you ever heard of (the candidate)?” or, if they say they’re undecided or leaning against the candidate, ask why they don’t support them. Find a way to ask questions as much as you can throughout the interaction.
  • Make it personal - share why you, personally, support the candidate you’re calling for. Instead of saying “x candidate believes…” say, “I support x candidate because they believe…”

• And finally…

• Have all the resources you need open. Keep the “issues” page of a candidate’s website in another tab on your computer so you can easily read off the candidate’s opinions to the voter.
• Push for responses and opinions. If there’s an awkward silence, you can always ask, “so, can we count on you to vote for x candidate in November?” For that matter, if the voter tries to end the conversation, you can ask the same question. Don’t give up. It’s worth it.

Have fun calling! Keep going, and November is going to be amazing!

Kavanaugh Update (ONGOING AND URGENT): Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assault when the two went to high school together. Her account recalls a drunk Kavanaugh forcing himself on her while at a party. She said he pinned her down on a bed, attempted to remove her clothing and covered her mouth when she screamed for help. Dr. Ford's claims are backed up by support from her husband, high school friends, and therapist. It seems pretty clear that she is telling the truth, but Kavanaugh (and the GOP) have fervently denied all allegations. Dr. Ford agreed to testify on Monday Sept. 24th, but Republicans pushed the hearing to Thursday. New information has also made it clear that Republican staffers knew of the allegations beforehand, and were instructed by their bosses to push for the confirmation to be sooner, making the potential assault record an obstacle to Kavanaugh's appointment in Republicans' minds, rather than something that would prevent him from doing his job. Not only that, but the narratives that have been played out in the media are both racial double-standards (Kavanaugh gets "boys will be boys," while Trayvon Martin gets shot), and dangerous for teenage girls, as well as any other teen. Narratives like these are scary and dangerous. Women and their allies around the country have showed up in solidarity for Dr. Ford. We should be showing up too. And to any teens reading this who have been scared from this news cycle: we see you, we believe you, you matter. 

What you can do:
Due to Kavanaugh’s abusive stance on many policies (check our other lists for more information) and these recent allegations, it is essential that he is not appointed as a Supreme Court Justice. Here are some things you can do to help: 

• Reach out to  Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Susan Collins (R-Maine)  (they are the two swing senators that have the potential to prevent Kavanaugh's appointment) 
• Use our previous lists to call your senators!!!! Even if they are already opposing him! Tell them you support!
• Support the efforts of #CancelKavanaugh and Women's March, who are doing great work.

Senator Collins: 
202-224-2523
Sign this petition addressed to the senator: https://www.change.org/p/susan-collins-do-not-confirm-brett-kavanaugh-for-the-supreme-court?signed=true 

Senator Murkowski:
202-224-6665 
Send a letter to Senator Murkowski:
https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-a-petition-to-sen-lisa-murkowski-save-roe-v-wade-oppose-any-anti-choice-supreme-court-nominee 

The Murder of Botham Jean: ​On Sept. 6th, a police officer shot and killed a young unarmed Black man, Botham Jean, in his own apartment. The officer claims that she thought Jean’s apartment was her own when she walked in. Many of the details in her story have been proven wrong by investigative journalists. Since the shooting, in classic racist fashion, the mainstream media has chosen to highlight findings about Jean's marijuana habits. In the outrage that has followed, the officer, Amber Guyger, has been fired from the Dallas Police Department. But that's far from redemption. We continue to say, Black lives matter.

What you can do:

• Fight back against false and racist narratives you see in your social media feeds and around you. Be a true ally by being anti-racist, not just non-racist.
• Educate yourself by reading and watching media that depicts Black stories, and take time to learn about police brutality incidents in detail.
• When events like this occur, look out for protests in areas near you.
• When Guyger's case goes to court, check back to see how you can ensure she is convicted of the murder she committed.
• Check back here for our upcoming police brutality feature!

Botham Jean (picture from St. Lucia News)

Cat Video (switching it up this week!): Click here.

Wishing you all a productive couple weeks!
Peace and Power,
​TR