The Final Countdown: Oct. 22nd-Nov. 5th

Hello Teen Resisters!!
These past two weeks might be the craziest that 2018 has seen thus far (three shootings. midterms. bomb threats. foreign elections. the constitution threatened by a president. the list goes on.)
That's why we decided to format this list a little differently to make things less overwhelming. We've separated the list into three main sections: Key News Items (really important things that happened but that we can't really do much about, other than being informed); News Linked to Actions (things that happened that relate to some main issues/ideas that we can act upon); and Actions, which ties together "what can you do" into a shorter list. 
Before you jump in, check out our two urgent topics below!! (I'm sure you can guess what at least one of them is...election day is near)
Sending all of our love, support, and passion!!
peace&power,
TR

URGENT UPDATE 1: MIDTERMS!!!
They are tomorrow. Tell everyone you know to vote. Phonebank, text, canvass, volunteer, post on social media. Check out these past lists (list/descriptions of featured candidates, update and guide to phone banking, update and voter suppression) for ways to get involved and for races to watch.

For further reading, here are:
​Everything you need to know (NYT)
Senate races to watch (FiveThirtyEight)
​House races to watch (NYT)
Midterms road map (CNN)

URGENT UPDATE 2: TRUMP ANTI-TRANS MEMO
Last list, we reported on the horrible new anti-trans policy that the Trump administration wants to implement. You can refer back to that, and check on some of these articles for more recent developments:

• ‘Transgender’ Could Be Defined Out of Existence Under Trump Administration
• Scientists Blast Trump’s ‘Absurd’ Anti-Trans Memo
• The Trump administration’s latest anti-transgender action, explained

what went down: key news items

Brazil Election
Jair Bolsonaro, 63, recently won the presidential election in Brazil, defeating his leftist opponent Fernando Haddad and winning with 55 percent of the vote. Bolsonaro has often been referred to as the “Brazilian Trump,” as he shares common views with the president and ran a similar campaign to him as well. Bolsonaro’s campaign was centered around social media, most prominently Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Bolsonaro is a former military captain and congressman, and throughout his political career he has expressed his support and admiration of Brazil’s former military dictatorship, as well as his support of the use of torture. Bolsonaro has been vocal about his opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, women’s rights, immigration, affirmative action, gun control, and many other stances typically associated with the right-wing.

The beginning of Bolsonaro’s campaign included numerous challenges, including running against former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was president for 8 years. During the campaign, da Silva was sent to prison for corruption charges. Bolsonaro’s opposition was Fernando Haddad, who served as a stand in for da Silva. In addition to facing Haddad as a challenger, Bolsonaro experienced a hectic campaign, during which he was stabbed in the abdomen at a rally this September. Despite this being a physical setback, Bolsonaro’s popularity only increased as a result of the stabbing. Bolsonaro has often said that he will reverse the status quo in Brazil and focus on reducing the crime rate, which has included a record high in homicides over the past year. As president, Bolsonaro claims that he says that he will increase the power of military leaders, allow the police in Brazil to kill suspects, make it easier for the public to obtain guns, and decrease the age of criminal responsibility. 

Across the board, Bolsonaro is attempting to fight violence with violence. Bolsonaro’s presidency has the power to set precedent for global politics, as well as encourage a worldwide shift to the right. 

Links to articles for a more comprehensive and in depth look at this topic:
Jair Bolsonaro Wins Brazil’s Presidency, in a Shift to the Far Right 
Bolsonaro wins Brazilian presidency 

​Bombs Sent to Democrats
Over the course of a week, 14 packages containing explosives were sent out to various prominent Democratic figures. Fortunately, none of the pipe bombs detonated, and no one was injured as a result of the mailings.  

So, why was what tied the targets together so significant? Each target has expressed an opposition to Trump in the past, exposing a clearly political motive. The first package was delivered to George Soros, a billionaire and liberal campaign donor. Explosives were also sent to Hillary and Bill Clinton’s house and to Barack and Michelle Obama. The bombs sent to the Clintons and the Obamas were both caught by the Secret Service before arriving at their final destinations. The other bombs were sent to CNN offices in New York City, to Maxine Waters, a Democratic politician from California, to actor Robert De Niro, to Joe Biden (a former vice president), to Cory Booker, a Democratic senator from New Jersey, to James Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence, to Tom Steyer, a liberal donor, and to Democratic Senator Kamala Harris of California. 

Four days after the first bomb was discovered, the FBI arrested 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc after DNA evidence. Sayoc was arrested in Plantation, Florida, and a white van covered with pictures of President Trump and of Vice President Mike Pence and a “CNN Sucks” sticker was found in Plantation.  Sayoc was very active on social media, showing his strong support for President Trump and his administration. His social media became overrun with his political views, and he seemed to have particular interests in immigration, Islamist terrorism, and anti-Democrat conspiracy theories. Sayoc has a history of arrests, including a bombing threat from 2002. 

Links for a more in depth look at this topic:
Cesar Sayoc’s Path on Social Media: From Food Photos to Partisan Fury 
A Timeline of the Pipe Bomb Scare  

Trump and Birthright Citizenship
By definition, birthright citizenship is “a legal right to citizenship for all children born in a country's territory, regardless of parentage.” In the U.S., it’s one of the most famous parts of the Constitution. Citizenship’s meaning has certainly changed since it was created just over 200 years ago, notably in 1868, when the 14th Amendment—declaring that U.S. citizens are “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”—was passed. Today, it holds true that any children born on US soil is automatically a citizen, regardless of heritage or parental immigration status. Just last week, President Trump challenged this notion (that is, in fact, the literal law). He claimed that the U.S. is the only country in the world that honors birthright citizenship, which is blatantly false—there are well over 30 other countries worldwide who do as well. Trump also claimed he can change with an executive order (which, in fact, he can’t. Not exactly). Essentially, an executive order on his part would make a case in court, but it is ultimately up to the Supreme Court to decide whether they still honor and interpret the fourteenth amendment’s statement of every person. Essentially, the abolition of birthright citizenship would be awful--it’s a tenant of America, and it is incredibly important to millions of immigrants who make this country what it is (and to their children). Read more here and here.

what else went down: news linked to actions

Pittsburgh Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue
    Last Saturday, a white nationalist gunman murdered eleven Jewish people praying at Shabbat morning services at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The murderer had previously been posting intensely anti-Semitic messages on the now-defunct white nationalist site gab.com. As he was shooting, he yelled phrases such as “All Jews must die.” All of the victims of the shooting were over 50 years old, and five of them were alive during the Holocaust. The shooting shows clearly how guns turn bigoted thoughts into bigoted violence in our country.

​The attack was heartbreaking for American Jewish people who have witnessed a rise in anti-Semitic acts since the 2016 election. Since the shooting, anti-Semitic incidents have spiked around the country, particularly in Brooklyn, where two incidences of anti-Semitic graffiti and seven incidences of arson occurred in the past week. Anti-Semitism has also shown up in midterm campaigns around the nation. Also since the shooting, Jewish people and allies have come together for vigils and protests, and for #ShowUpForShabbat, which took place this Saturday. The Jewish community has received incredible allyship from the Muslim community and other minority groups since the shooting.
An important way to react to this shooting is to make sure you do what you can to understand anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is one of the oldest forms of hatred, and functions in a cyclical way that differs in nature from other forms of systemic hatred. Therefore, it is both very invisible and very dangerous, as it relies in part on people’s belief that it does not exist. It also forms the ideological core of white nationalism, which places Jews in a puppet-master position in which they are responsible for Black people, Latinx people, and other hated groups' ability to thrive in society. In your daily life, it’s important to do research about this and also show solidarity to Jewish people and environments in your life. American Jewish life often thrives off of bonds with other communities.

Here are a few articles for more information on Pittsburgh and anti-Semitism:

• Informative article on the shooting from the New York Times.
• This video features expert Eric Ward succinctly explaining anti-Semitism’s role in white nationalism. His more extensive article from Political Research explains why anti-Semitism must be dismantled in order for racism to be dismantled. This is Ward’s latest campaign to Vote Against Anti-Semitism.
• The stories of the victims of the shooting in Pittsburgh, from CNN.
• This article is a beautiful letter to the Pittsburgh Jewish community in Alma, a millennial Jewish women’s media platform.
• This article is by Yotam Marom on Medium and explains the cycle of anti-Semitism very well. We don’t necessarily endorse every single idea in this article but find the informative aspects very helpful. 

Kentucky Shooting
    Maurice Stallard, 69, and Vickie Lee Jones, 67, were murdered by a white nationalist last weekend at a supermarket in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to the shooting, the shooter almost entered a predominantly African-American church but was blocked from entry. When that attempt failed, he went to a nearby Kroger grocery store, where he shot and killed Stallard and Jones. The crime is currently being investigated as a hate crime, although it is very difficult for crimes to be classified as hate crimes in the United States. 
Stallard’s son serves as the mayor of Louisville’s chief equity officer, and Stallard was a veteran and former GE employee. Jones was a fixture at her church choir meetings and volunteered in women’s and youth ministries. Both victims were beloved, and key parts of their communities.
    The shooting is another example of how guns can turn racism into racist violence. We must fight the dual-pronged spear of gun violence and white nationalism with all of our might.

Further reading:

• More about the victims’ stories, from CBS. 
• The latest on the shooting, from the New York Times.
• A New York Times article on the rise of white nationalism and how law enforcement deals with it.

North Carolina Shooting
      Last Monday, October 29th, a student at a high school near Charlotte in North Carolina shot and killed 16-year old sophomore Bobby McKeithen. According to officials, the shooting was a result of bullying that had "escalated out of control." This event--one of three shootings that happened within a week--is another devastating representation of the ways that America's lack of gun control is one of its most pressing issues. The Red Flag law (see Actions section) below is especially relevant to this event.

Further reading:

• What exactly happened, from the https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/29/us/north-carolina-school-shooting.html.
• Another take on it, from CBS​

Death of Danye Jones
24-year-old Danye Jones was lynched just over two weeks ago in St. Louis, Missouri. Jones’s body was found by his relatives hanging in a tree behind his family’s lake house. Although detectives are investigating his case as a suicide—there was no real evidence of struggle—his mother, Melissa McKinnies, believes otherwise. She says her son showed no sign of being suicidal, and the manner in which his body was found—with his clothing rolled down, wrapped in sheets that were unfamiliar to their family home, and a “knot” on his face—show that the death was a homicide. Additionally, she claims that Danye would have and had no way of knowing how to tie the knots. Danye also had a packed overnight bag, which led his mother to believe that he had plans to go out with the person who murdered him.

All of this information, including the story, went viral on social media with its own hashtag and fueled public outcry from various activist groups.
Melissa Mckinnies, a prominent activist herself, in an active protestor in the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s important to mention that there is a pattern involving activists tied to, or involved with, the protests in Ferguson, MI. Her son was the fourth person known to be involved in the Ferguson protests to die under “suspicious” circumstances, and it goes without saying that this is not a coincidence. Mckinnies and many others hope that the exposure of Danye’s story will urge officials to see his death for what it is: murder. And, according to her, she is more than ready to keep fighting for her community and her son.

Further reading: 

• Breakdown of what happened here (via Essence)
• Connection to another similar case here (via Think Progress)
• Explanation of mother Melissa McKinnies’s statement here (via Teen Vogue)

actions

The biggest thing? GET OUT THE VOTE TOMORROW! We know you know tomorrow is one of the most important elections of our lifetime. If you can vote, vote! If you can’t vote, call, write, stand by subways, and tell every single person you know to vote.
Voting is by no means a remedy for the deep problems in America. But it’s a pretty substantial start because the truth of the matter is that we give a lot of power to the people we elect into office and they can do a lot with that power.

Gun reform scripts:

• Tell your representatives to propose a federal ban of assault weapons in congress. NUMBER: 202-224-3121.
  • Script: Hi. My name is _______ and I’m calling because I care passionately about making the United States a secure and safe place to live, and I think [name of rep] should, too. I demand that they fight for a permanent federal ban of assault weapons today. Assault weapons are the most popular choice for gunmen in mass terror shootings in the US today; they were designed for the military, and should not be in the hands of individual civilians. I hope that [rep name] will take my concerns to heart, protect their people, and fight for a federal ban of assault weapons today. Thank you.
• Through the organization DoSomething, you can call the number below. Once you call the number, when prompted enter your zip code and you will be connected to an elected official near you. Number: 202-335-8470  
  • Script: Hi, my name is ____, I’m from ____, and I’m calling to ask you to speak out for gun reform in the United States. I believe that stricter gun reform is a necessity to keep our country a safe place. I urge you to use your conscience in making your decisions around this topic. I hope that you will use your position to pass common sense gun legislation. Thank you for your time.
• If you don't live in Connecticut, Indiana, Washington, Oregon, or California, your state doesn't have a Red Flag Law. Look at the graphic on the right to see if your state has one pending. Once you check, call your state representatives: use this website to find their number. STORM THEIR PHONES!
  • Script: Hi, my name is _____ and I'm calling to ask that you do all you can to pass/introduce Red Flag Laws in [name of your state]. Red Flag Laws are common sense gun reform that protect people statewide. They are incredibly necessary, and in no way limit 2nd Amendment rights. Please do all you can to give our state Red Flag Laws. Thank you.

Do all you can to rail against white nationalism. Campaign against white nationalist candidates. Support and keep track of organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups. Speak about it on your social media and in your communities. Amidst all the noise, it is an enemy for any minority group and anyone who believes in democracy.

Organizations to support:
Support DoSomething, this organization is a non-profit in the US who focus on helping young people to become educated and involved. They offer great resources to stay informed on everything going on, and they also have easy ways to take action against a large number of various issues.
Support Everytown for Gun Safety, an amazing organization that seeks legislative gun reform in order to reduce gun violence in America, by spreading their mission, and, if you can, donating to the cause today.

and, of course, the puppy vid.