Heat of the Summer: July 2019

Hey Teen Resisters!!
Long time no see! We've taken a bit of a summer break (and hope all of you have as well), so a LOT (more than usual) has happened since the last time we published a list. We obviously cannot cover everything, but we've tried to highlight we think are some of the most important happenings from the past month/ things to be aware of going forward. Feel free to skip around if the whole list is too much to handle, and take a deep breath before diving in.
xx,
​TR

what went down

2020 Race Update
As 2020 draws nearer, so too does the presidential election it holds. And the chaotic tumult of the past four years hasn’t failed in attracting a large pool of individuals eager to step in—there are 24 candidates on the Democratic front, though only four have garnered over 10 percent in the national polling averages: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris. These four have advocated primarily for economic reform through some combination of policies concerning protection of low-wage workers and a disappearing middle class, the promotion of manufacturing, tax cuts for the middle class, Medicare for All, and free college tuition. Controversial social issues have also stolen much of the conversation.

Warren, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and Sanders, an Independent senator from Vermont, are typically portrayed in the media as the fiery progressives. Harris stands out because of her background as a criminal prosecutor, while Biden seems thus far to be running on a platform entirely based on a return to normalcy. And although those four are currently the top candidates poll-wise, there are a plethora of others who have their own passionate followings. 

It’s still very early in the race, and we don’t want to pass judgement on any candidates yet. Our advice? Take time to learn more about each individual candidate before you decide who you’re going to pull for. Try to figure out what their actual policies are, and don’t trust everything that the media pushes (to take just one example, contrary to popular narratives, Sanders and Warren are actually quite different). Later on in the race, we’ll most likely do a feature that’s more concentrated on individual candidates/on tensions between them, so look out for that. For now, read and learn on your own!! A great place to do that is the second round of the upcoming Democratic primary debates, which will take place on July 30th and 31st. It’s okay to be excited about this election. Finding a candidate you love and pouring your heart and soul into getting them elected is a pretty amazing feeling, and the stakes are higher than ever this year—no matter what, 2020 is an opportunity for decisive and transformative change.

One last note: don’t forget—all of the House and about a third of the Senate is up for reelection in 2020 too! If you can vote in 2020, be sure to find out who’s running in your district. Local elections often have the biggest impact on our lives; don’t let the national coverage of the presidential distract you from what’s happening on your home turf.

What you can do:

• At this point in the campaign process, most work is PR rather than canvassing, so there isn’t a ton of volunteer work available. However, you can call these candidates and tell them you’re not voting for them unless they promote a specific issue (do this even if you’re not old enough to vote). 
• Learn about the candidates!! Separate your own opinion from those of the people and forces around you.
• Fight for these candidates to recognize climate change as a top priority. Although all four of the leading candidates acknowledge it as an issue, none are giving it the attention it deserves. Don’t forget: if we don’t reduce carbon emissions to zero in the next decade, scientists predict that humans will go extinct by 2050. Call every candidate you can and tell them that the mitigation of climate change must be at the top of their list of priorities.

Puerto Rico Protests Succeed in Ousting Governor
Recent protests in Puerto Rico turned into celebration after the resistance of hundreds of thousands of people from all over the island—blocking roads, surrounding the governor’s mansion, singing, dancing, scuba diving, performing acrobatics, kayaking, riding on horses, banging pots and pans, doing yoga, praying, and so much more, all with the hashtag #RickyRenuncia—succeeded in forcing former governor Ricardo A. Rosselló to resign. 

The immediate cause for the protests was a 900-page report by the Center for Investigative Journalism publishing private messages between Rosselló and his closest advisers. In these messages, he used derogatory language towards women, particularly female politicians, LGBTQI+ individuals, overweight people, and Puerto Ricans—his own people—in general. 

The messages also hinted at potential corruption; the Puerto Rico Bar Association reported that seven possible crimes had been revealed in the chat, including a threat against the mayor of San Juan and instances of diverting funds, improper disclosure of private information, and intention to fire employees based on political beliefs.
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Rosselló’s administration has been colored with corruption—he has been known to buy votes with handouts such as tax breaks and vacation days, and two weeks ago, six former members of his administration were charged with federal corruption charges. Beyond these instances and what came to light in the report, Puerto Ricans used this opportunity to protest years of financial mistreatment and the government’s insufficient response to Hurricane Maria, which took place nine months after Rosselló first took office. At the time, there was no time for protests, because people were struggling to survive. But now, with many still without electricity almost a year after the disaster happened, the people of Puerto Rico were ready to channel their anger and energy into resistance.

This isn’t much of what can you do-situation, since the protests succeeded, except for this: use what happened in Puerto Rico as inspiration, a shining example of what popular resistance is capable of doing. 

• Also, donate http://www.mariafund.org/ or https://www.gofundme.com/togetherpuertorico.
• Check out the “Natural Disasters” section of our Index by Issue to find more ways to support and fight for Puerto Rico in its continuing recovery from Hurricane Maria.​​

Hawaii Telescope Protests
Plans to begin construction of a telescope at the peak of Mauna Kea, a sacred summit in indigenous Hawaiian tradition (and also the tallest peak in Hawaii), have encountered a roadblock in the form of protests at the base of the mountain this past week. So far, hundreds have joined in peaceful protest blocking the one road leading to the summit, and at least 33 kupuna (elders) have been arrested.  

​Plans for the Thirty Meter Telescope, which would join 13 other telescopes on the peak of Mauna Kea and produce images twelve times the resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope, have been in the works for a long time. 

The site is ideal for astronomy due to its high altitude, low light pollution, and dry climate, and those in favor of the telescope claim that its creation will create new jobs and positively impact the local economy. But the area is also a highly sacred space in native Hawaiian tradition, and legal challenges and peaceful protests against the telescope have been ongoing for the past four years. The fight is still very much ongoing: protests continue, and figures from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Elizabeth Warren to Hawaii’s own delegates, Rep. Ed Case and Senator Mazie Hirono, have defended and expressed solidarity for the native movement.

What can you do?

• Further reading on the protests with an emphasis on history--click here
• Call your representative to express your support for maintaining the sacred land:
  • ​​Hi, my name is _____, I'm from _____, and I'm calling to ask you to support the indigenous people of Hawaii in preventing the Thirty Meter Telescope from being built on sacred land. I believe that this is important because past telescope projects on Mauna Kea have desecrated the mountain, and it is vital that we continue to fight colonialism, even in its modern forms, and support America’s native communities. I urge you to use your conscience in taking a firm stance on this topic. Thank you.
    
• Support the rights of indigenous people everywhere, in any way you can. 
  

Eric Garner Ruling
5 years ago, Eric Garner died at the hands of Staten Island police, sending shockwaves of sadness and anger through NYC and America and helping to catalyze the Black Lives Matter movement. Attorney General William Barr recently announced that there will be no federal charges for the N.Y.P.D. officer primarily involved in his death, Daniel Pantaleo, ending a yearslong internal debate in the Justice Department. The infuriating decision was immediately condemned by the Garner family and their supporters, and the pressure has shifted: one of the only people who has the power to do anything now is Mayor de Blasio, who could fire Officer Pantaleo (he doesn't have direct power to do so, but he has immense sway over the Police Department, which does). Countless high-profile figures in New York City's government have called for de Blasio to take action, who has declined to pass judgement, saying that he respects Officer Pantaleo's right to due process.

What can you do?

• Support the Black Lives Matter movement in any and every way you can (the link to take action is here).
• Call Mayor de Blasio at 212-NEW-YORK or reach him through his contact page here and demand that he take action to fire Officer Pantaleo.

Trump’s Explicit and Sickening Racism, Once Again: The “Go Back” Tweets
On July 14th, 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted a series of messages targeting U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, telling them to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.” Later on, he released a statement clarifying that “if they’re not happy here, they can leave [America],” but he failed to address the fact that all four Congresswomen are U.S. citizens (only one, Omar, is an immigrant) or the real issue here: the racism rooted in the message.

Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib, and Pressley, known as “the squad,” are known to openly oppose Trump and his agenda—the tweets were initially written as a response to these four Congresswomen’s votes against a House border funding bill (they believed it didn’t do enough in protecting against inhumane conditions there, which is a separate). But this attack wasn’t ideological in the slightest. 

It was some horrible combination of xenophobia, white nationalism, ignorance, and racism, not unexpected coming from him but difficult to see nonetheless. The kickback was swift and fierce: all four congresswomen attacked, Nancy Pelosi, and countless others across the country denounced the message perpetuated in the tweets. A recent Fox News poll found that Americans overwhelmingly believe the tweets were racist. 

For decades, a common attack against people who don’t look traditionally “American” (i.e. white) has been to “go back” to wherever they came from. The insult has been spit at immigrants, POC, and other minority groups, and it’s become valuable weapon in xenophobic propaganda. “Go back to your country” is essentially another way of saying “you’re not welcome here,” and while words alone don’t seem like a violent issue, they do enable violent and dangerous behavior—hate crimes. During a recent Trump reelection rally, supporters chanted “send her back” as a reference towards Ilhan Omar and Trump’s contempt towards her. Vice President Mike Pence released a statement on CBS about a week later, briefly stating that “the president wasn’t pleased about [the rally chant]. Neither was I.” However, both have not condemned the actions of their audience, instead stating that the group were just “incredible patriots.” According to a Washington Post analysis, reported hate crimes rose by 226 percent in counties where Trump held a campaign rally.

So when xenophobic behavior exhibited by the president allows others to follow his example, what can we do?

• Hold the people around you accountable! Tell them that their harmless jokes are not harmless, and if possible, attempt to understand and alter xenophobic perspectives. Don’t be afraid to challenge friends, family, coworkers, teachers, and even public officials if they are seemingly perpetuating racial stereotypes/blatantly disrespecting others. Silence normalizes hatred, and in a world that is increasingly opinionated, staying out of issues actually breeds more. If you see/hear something, say something!  
• Educate yourself and feel free to respectfully share that knowledge. Before you participate in discussions surrounding racism and immigration, read about the xenophobia behind the words “go back to your country” and how harmful it can be in this NPR article. ​​

Migrant Raids
President Donald Trump recently ordered ICE to conduct a mass roundup of undocumented immigrants throughout 10 major cities in the U.S. starting on Sunday, July 14th, sparking fear amongst families seeking asylum in the US. These cities include: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco. Since the deportation raids were announced, panic has grown as undocumented individuals rushed to find sanctuary and safety for themselves and their families.

More than 2000 deportation orders were sent out prior to the raids. However, only 35 arrests have been made out of the 2000+ targeted since they have begun. Speculation has arisen about the ICE crackdown being solely a political stunt by Trump to cause fear and further divide the nation, possibly even one that could strengthen his base in the 2020 election and scare the opposition. Regardless, though, with everything that’s going on, it’s important to be prepared and acknowledge the situation. Learn more about your rights as an immigrant here in terms of encounters with ICE or law enforcement in your everyday life.
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What can you do? 

• Know Your Rights!!! Check out the Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) and educate yourself or anyone you know in need on their rights on US soil.
• Call the Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) for any legal assistance: (212) - 725 - 6422 
• Sign this petition to put ICE back on its leash: https://action.aclu.org/petition/put-ice-back-leash
• Remember that it all starts with you! Share your thoughts, opinions, and other stories on social media to bring notice to the growing issue! ​​

Citizenship Question on the Upcoming 2020 Census
Should a question about citizenship be included on the national 2020 census? The Supreme Court basically said no (more on that later), and, at this point, the Trump administration has effectively no chance of winning the legal battles necessary to get it onto the survey. But it’s important to understand the root of where this proposed addition came from in the first place.

First, some background: after a battle in lower courts, the case finally reached the Supreme Court, which ruled that the administration could not include the question on the census (with some stipulations). 

The federal government is required to provide an honest reason for including new questions or making alterations to the survey, and Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that the reason the Trump administration gave for including the citizenship question “appears to have been contrived.” In giving this ruling, the Supreme Court was essentially acknowledging what is recognized by many as the real reason the Trump administration wanted to include the question on the census: to manipulate both the voting demographics of the country as a whole and the mindsets of immigrants and people of color living in this country.

There’s evidence that the inclusion of the question on the census would have discouraged noncitizens from filling out the census. Since the census is used to draw districts for House representation and to distribute billions of dollars in federal funding, the question could both give Republicans an electoral advantage and take funding away from communities that need it. Regardless of whether or not the question is included, damage has already been done. Simply the attempt to put the question on the survey has sowed distrust of the government and doubt of the confidentiality of survey results in the minds of noncitizens, which will inevitably alter the census results in Republicans’ favor.  This is another part of the narrative of trying to push minorities and immigrants out of this country from within and make them feel like their voices shouldn’t be heard, and we need to continue to denounce it.

State Assembly Spotlight: Newly Legalized Mental Health Days in Oregon Schools
Oregon recently passed a bill that allows students to take excused absences explicitly for mental health reasons. The bill, which was signed by Governor Kate Brown (D), allots five such absences for every three months of school. Prior to the new law, schools only had to give students excused absences for physical illness.

Support for the bill was led by four Oregon student activists: Sam Adamson, Lori Riddle, Hailey Hardcastle, and Derek Evans. Their inspiration lay in the youth-led gun control movement that emerged from 2018 Parkland shooting—in Hailey Hardcastle’s words, “Just like those movements, this bill is something completely coming from the youth.”

Opponents of the bill pointed to Oregon’s absenteeism rates, which are among the highest in the country: one in six Oregon students missed 10 percent or more of school days in the 2015-2016 school year. Critics argued that the bill would just give students more reasons to skip school. The bill’s supporters countered that the purpose of the bill wasn’t to encourage absenteeism, but rather to help students be more honest about why they did not want to go to school. 

Mental health is an especially prevalent issue in Oregon, whose suicide rate is 40 percent higher than the national average. A survey of eighth-graders in the state found that 17 percent had seriously considered suicide in the past year. Proponents of the bill argued that the new law could encourage such students to be more open and seek help for mental illness.

What You Can Do:

• If you want to see a bill like Oregon’s passed in your state, then lobby your state legislature for one!
• You can also try talking to your individual school (or school district) to ask them to allow absences specifically for mental health reasons. ​​

And, in lieu of a puppy video this week, we've included something that we hope will give all of you a well-deserved laugh. 

Something Super Funny