Never back down: May 21st-june 5th

Hello Teens Resisters!
We hope that the end of school and the promise of summer has lifted all of your moods as much as it has lifted ours. A lot of stuff has happened these past few weeks (as always), and hopefully these few key points will make you feel a little less overwhelmed and enable you to take some sort of manageable but still powerful action :))
Peace&power,
TR

​URGENT: Last week, we released a list regarding the atrocious new practice of separating immigrant children from their families at the US border, even when the family enters at a legal checkpoint. If you haven’t yet done so, please read the list and do the actions at the bottom. It is very important. Click here.

what weNt down

NFL National Anthem Policy

​Recently, the National Football League (NFL) decided to try to stop players from kneeling and locking arms during the traditional pre-game national anthem in a show of protest against the ceaseless profiling and brutality that African-Americans face at the hands of the police. This movement, which originated with Colin Kaepernick in 2016, caused widespread controversy and debate last year––some saw the players’ actions as their right to free speech, while others called it out as disrespect. The organization has said that every single player must stand during the anthem (although players are given the option of remaining in the locker room) and that any player who defies the mandate will subject their team to a fine.

Many athletes have said that they will protest during the anthem regardless, and team owners have said they are ready to pay any fines necessary. Coaches and fans have also already expressed support and respect for these player’s decisions.

The NFL’s attempt to stifle this debate may end up backfiring. Four Democratic congresspeople recently sent a letter to the football team the Bears, who supported and played a role in legitimizing the new policy, criticizing the NFL’s decision sharply and defending the players’ freedom of speech. President Trump, on the other hand, just disinvited the Eagles from visiting the White House after some players declined to come because of his continuous criticism of players who choose to kneel (in his classic egotistical, undemocratic fashion).

So, what can you do to make sure that these players get the free speech rights they deserve and are able to keep protesting injustice in America without unfair consequences?

• Quick Petition––NFL: Don’t Silence Your Players (from the ACLU)

• Call or email the NFL!
  • Number: (212) 450-2000
  • Email: roger.goodell@nfl.com (Office of the NFL Commissioner)
  • Script/message: My name is ___, and I am from ___. I am [calling/contacting the NFL] to voice my strong opposition to the NFL’s new policy regarding players’ rights to peacefully protest during the national anthem. Kneeling or locking arms is not merely a sign of disrespect, but is rather a way of raising a voice against the ceaseless racial profiling and disproportionate rates of police brutality that African-Americans in this country face. Arguing that NFL players should stay in the locker room if they don't stand during the national anthem is akin to saying that black people should walk if they don't want to sit in the back of the bus, and it is a violation of players’ free speech rights that we will not condone. Respect your players’ voices and rescind this new policy immediately. Thank you for your time.​

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Good News!! (And how to make sure it keeps on coming!)

​Good News #1: On Tuesday, May 29th, ABC cancelled 1990s show Roseanne (which had just been renewed for its eleventh season) in response to a racist comment that the star of the show, Roseanne Barr, made on Twitter. In the tweet, the actress compared Valerie Jarrett, Barack Obama’s senior advisor, to an ape and to the Muslim Brotherhood: “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” ABC’s president described this comment as, “abhorrent, repugnant, and inconsistent with our values.” The network’s decision to cancel this show is very significant in that it shows that this type of mindset is unacceptable and that the modern world will not tolerate racism like this.

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Good News #2: On Friday, May 25th, Ireland voted to repeal their 8th amendment, which determined that the termination of a pregnancy was unlawful and thus punishable by law. Abortion in Ireland was punishable by up to fourteen years in prison. This new repeal to the 8th amendment is a huge step forward for women’s rights in Ireland. It will decriminalize abortion in the country and will allow any woman who is less than twelve weeks pregnant to have an abortion. Although Ireland has a long way to go in terms of giving women the rights they deserve, at least they are moving in the right direction. 

In the U.S., on the other hand, abortion and women’s rights are still being controlled by politicians. President Trump recently revived the global gag rule, which takes away federal funding from clinics across the world who provide abortions. Additionally, last month, the Trump administration offered a new rule that would prevent doctors from receiving Title X federal funding if they referred any patients to abortion providers. 

So, what can you do?

• Text titlex to 22422 to submit a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services opposing the gag rule.
• Click here to donate money directly to Planned Parenthood. Click here to learn about other opportunities that exist to get involved with Planned Parenthood without donating money.
• Use ResistBot on Facebook Messenger or test RESIST to 50409 and follow the prompts to send a message to the President. Here is a template you can use:
  • Script: My name is _____ and I am a [___-year old] from [your town/state]. I am writing because I believe that a woman’s right to have control over her body and decide to have an abortion is a right that should not be infringed upon. I urge you to think twice before taking detrimental actions against vital organizations like Planned Parenthood and, I hope that you will keep women's health at the top of your list of  priorities in the future. Thank you. 

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Estimated Death Rate in Puerto Rico

​As has been discussed by Teens Resist numerous times in past lists, the inhabitants of Puerto Rico are still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria. The storm ravaged the island, leveling 70,000 homes, leaving 3.3 million people without power or water, destroying the healthcare system, and doing infinitely more damage. A recently publicized new report, however, estimates the death toll in Puerto Rico as 70 times larger than the official one, a statistic that sheds light on just how much the United States government has neglected this American disaster. A recently published opinions piece by the New York Times Editorial Board characterized the response as “slow and inadequate,” and the failure of the government to at the very least collect accurate data on how extensive the storm’s effects actually were demonstrates condescension and perpetuates the idea that Puerto Ricans are not “real” Americans.

So, what can you do to make sure that Puerto Rico gets the help it needs and deserves?

• Call the White House Comment Line!
  • Number: 202-456-1111
  • Script: My name is ___, I’m from ___, and I’m calling to voice my outrage at the U.S. government’s failure to collect accurate information on the disastrous effects that Hurricane Maria had on the people Puerto Rico, specifically in regard to the extraordinarily inaccurate official death toll. Puerto Ricans are just as much Americans as anyone else in this country, and it is the government’s responsibility to put giving them the help they need and deserve at the top of their list of priorities. Thank you for your time. ​

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And, finally, the quintessential puppy vid: 

CLICK HERE!