Week 1: September 27th-october 3rd, 2017

This week was filled with moments of horror, despair and power. Not all of the issues that are relevant specifically need you to call your senators or representatives, so we’ve provided some other ways to get involved.

• Colin Kaepernick and the Take the Knee protests: In last year’s NFL season, Kaepernick, who at the time was playing for the San Francisco 49ers, bent on his knee during the national anthem at games instead of standing, as protest against police brutality and institutional racism around the country. When President Trump referred to Kaepernick and other NFL players who have taken a knee as a “sons of bitches” during a speech, football players (as well as other athletes) began kneeling for the anthem during their games in solidarity with Kaepernick and his message. The #TakeTheKnee social media trend spread like wildfire—many celebrities posted pictures of themselves kneeling, Stevie Wonder knelt at the 2017 Global Citizen Festival and Broadway show casts knelt at curtain call. Response from conservative commentators has been abundant, predominantly centering around “respecting the flag and veterans,” but it’s important to keep in mind that these protestors aren’t protesting the flag, the anthem or America itself and the important message of dismantling institutional racism is getting lost in the shuffle.

          What you can do: Show your solidarity by posting with #TakeTheKnee, but more importantly, look into Black Lives Matter rallies
          happening soon, start efforts in your school related to these issues and contact your congressional representatives about police brutality
          through Teens Resist’s Must-Have List.

• The Las Vegas Shootings: The immense tragedy of the events of October 1st in Las Vegas have been hitting our country hard. When terrorist Stephen Paddock fired a barrage of shots from the high floor of a hotel, at least 59 people at an outdoor concert were killed and at least 527 were injured. As the country and the city of Las Vegas attempt to come to terms with and help the victims of this atrocity, it’s more important than ever that we push policy changes on gun laws. It should certainly not have been this easy for Paddock to have access to such strong firearms as he did, and this is just another tick on the list of shootings that show the ever-strong epidemic of American gun obsession.

​         What you can do: Sign this petition here. Have more time? Call your reps! Don’t feel comfy calling your reps on the phone? Text ACT to
         6443 or tweet your reps.
         Script: Hi, my name is ______ and I’m a constituent. I’m asking 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 Las Vegas are
         even more proof that we need gun control and we need it now. Please keep the safety of Americans as your top priority. Thank you.
         Number: 202-224-3121
         Featured organizations: Everytown USA (everytown.org), Gays Against Guns (gaysagainstguns.net)

• Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria: Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico incredibly hard, and the U.S. has been neglecting aid for them. People are dying and to ignore this anymore would be absolutely atrocious, especially considering that Puerto Ricans are U.S. Citizens. What you can do: If you have the means, of course, donate if you can through moveon.org or the Hispanic Federation (hispanicfederation.org/unidos) and call your reps!

       Script: Hi, I'm _____ and I’m a. I'm extremely concerned about my fellow Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm calling to ask you
       to answer Senator Elizabeth Warren's call to consider an immediate appropriations bill to provide disaster relief. We need to make sure we provide
       adequately for a FEMA Disaster Relief Fund as well as Community Block Grants for disaster recovery! We can't continue to let more than 3.5 million
       Americans suffer in apocalyptic conditions, without water, food, medical treatment, and power. Thank you. (adapted from The Sixty-Five)
       Number: 202-224-3121
       Featured Organizations: Hispanic Federation, Moveon (do not donate to the Red Cross!)

• The D.R.E.A.M. Act (DACA): The fight rages on for undocumented immigrant children who have grown up here but weren’t born in America. After Trump announced that he was ending DACA, meaning around 800,000 young people could be taken away from their homes and forced to leave a country they belong in. The bipartisan Dream Act of 2017 hopes to provide a path to citizenship and prevent the repeal of DACA. (for more info, check out thesixtyfive.org).

          What you can do: Call your reps!
     Script: Hello, I'm _____ and I’m a constituent. I'm extremely concerned about the President's plan to end DACA, putting 800,000 young people at risk
     of being deported from the only home they have ever known. I'm calling to urge you to support the Dream Act and protect these young people. I
     value the contributions of young immigrants, and I think they deserve to live their lives free of the fear that they'll be deported. Thank you. (adapted
     from The Sixty-Five)
     Number: 202-224-3121
     Featured Organization: Make the Road (maketheroadny.org)

• H.R. 36: A new detrimental anti-choice legislation: The House GOP just passed HR 36, a new bill that would make abortion illegal after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The ban is EXTREMELY dangerous and Trump has already promised to sign it if given the opportunity.

      What you can do: Sign this petition: http://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/sign/171003-20-week-ban-senate/?source=social#.WdRJQGWld-U easily
     and quickly! Have more time? Call your reps (bonus points if you call Republican senators, even from other states)!
   Script: Hi, my name is _____. I’m calling to ask you to do all you can to block HR 36 from being signed into action. The bill is dangerous and
   detrimental to making sure that women can make choices about their bodies safely and without fear. If passed, women will be left with no safe and
   legal option for abortion access after 20 weeks and doctors will be criminalized for providing healthcare. Please stand up to this terrible bill with all
   your might. Thank you.
   Numbers: 202-224-3121, Republican numbers (find through google)
   Featured organizations: Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org); NARAL Pro-Choice America (prochoiceamerica.org)