turn back the tide: oct. 31st- nov. 7th

11/6/2017 0 Comments

turn back the tide: oct. 31st- nov. 7th

Hello Teen Resisters (and Resisters in general). What a week it has been. We're here to fill you in with everything you need to know and do.
Firstly, on November 8th, it will have been a full year since Trump was elected to office. We want to congratulate all of you on getting through this tough year and say that we are so proud of the RESISTANCE that has occurred this year. This is no easy time-- and the passion and fight that have emerged from it are inspiring. So with healing, love and power, we begin.

What went down:

Election Day: We want to start off this week's list by reminding you all that tomorrow (Tuesday, November 7th), is Election Day! Democracy in action! How exciting. We know that a lot of our readers, including ourselves, cannot yet vote (and part of our mission is to help teens make a difference in ways other than voting), but to those who can: we ask that you please vote. And if you know anyone who can vote-- please, please encourage them to vote as well. This year's elections are SUPER important (check out last week's list for more information and ways to act on that in Virginia) and so it's important to vote in ALL your local and state-wide elections. Federal elections aren't all that matter.
Want more info? Check out this great article by Highly Indy Staff Writer Lily Seltz entitled. "Why You Should Care About Local Elections".

Terrorist Attack in Texas: On Sunday, November 5th, during morning church services at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a Texas town near San Antonio, a gunman opened fire. The gunman, Devin Patrick Kelley, killed at least 26 people, including a pregnant woman, several children and the pastor's 14-year-old daughter. According to the New York Times, at least 20 more have been wounded in the attack. Kelley has a history of crime, having been charged with assaulting his wife and child. Kelley crashed his car in a nearby town and was found dead with seemingly self-inflicted gunshot wounds. It is still unknown what the motive was and how the man obtained his firearms. This is shooting is only a little more than a month after the one in Las Vegas, the worst shooting in modern US history, on October 1st, which killed 58 people and left 546 injured. The need for gun control is dire.
What you can do: Sign this petition. Have more time? Call your reps.
Script: Hi, my name is ________ and I'm calling from ________. I'm calling to ask you to vote NO on Senate Bill 446. I’m not OK with the fact that those living in the U.S. are 25 times more likely to die as a result of gun violence than people living in other developed countries. The recent events in Texas are even more proof that we need gun control and we need it now. Please fight to stop concealed gun laws and create more thorough background checks. Please keep the safety of Americans as your top priority. Thank you.
Number: 202-223-3121; Republican senators (use Google)
Resources: everytown.org

Russia Investigation: Two Trump campaign officials, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, were indicted (formally accused of committing a crime) this week due to 12 charges, including money laundering and illegal collusion with Russian officials during the 2016 elections. These accusations are part of the larger Russia Investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The two officials were particularly close the campaign. Their trial is set for May 7th, 2018. Manafort served for five months as Trump's campaign chair, while Gates is his former deputy. In addition, another aide, George Papadopoulos has admitted to lying to FBI officials about his contacts with Russia. These acts are utterly corrupt-- not only are they illegal, put Americans in danger and connect with a government filled with corruption and hate (see: concentration camps in Chechnya), but these officials lied about it to the FBI. Let that sink in.
What you can do: We're very lucky that this issue is being agressively handled and Mueller and the Counsel have been working hard. What you can do is educate people around you about what's going on and continue to resist Trump-- fascism and corruption has no home here.