YOUR RESISTANCE NEWSLETTER
WEEK OF JULY 14, 2019
Lights for Liberty March and Vigil
Despite the earlier thunderstorm, about 150 people turned out for the Lights for Liberty march and vigil. We marched from the Castillo to the Plaza where we heard from speakers, including
Erika Quintero, Felicia Proia, Erica Curran and Laurie Holcomb Ramos. Rev Sylvia Ramos closed out the night for us.
- Erika Quintero, who immigrated from Colombia with her mom at age 4 told her story with emotion like it was just yesterday.
- Erica Curran, an immigration lawyer, talked about the legal challenges in helping these kids and what needs to change.
- Felicia Proia, a child psychologist spoke about the lasting damage separating children and keeping them in detention causes
- Laurie spoke about her two visits to the child detention center in Homestead.
- Rev Sylvia Ramos closed the vigil and asked all to light candles for the children who have died in detention.
See below on how to get involved in fighting against the Homestead detention center.
|
Looking ahead to the 2020 session, I am preparing a list and talking points with approximately 150 bills that we supported in 2019 but failed to pass during the session. I will be urging you to form small teams in your congregations or with Indivisible groups or other organizations and schedule meetings with your legislators and staff in their local offices this fall from mid September to mid November.
The 2020 session begins January 14. Mark your calendars for UUJF Legislative Days in Tallahassee January 27-28.
AoCC Voter Empowerment Project
Every American should be able to cast a ballot easily and securely.
When laws take ballots away from citizens, it weakens our democracy. When states use vulnerable voting systems, it weakens our democracy. There is a real risk that the current president may refuse to honor the outcome of the next election. This is unacceptable in a democracy.
2020 hinges on weakened systems.
With 70-ish weeks to the next presidential election, the time to act is now. Voting laws take months to change. Will we be ready when the president questions election results?
Our June goal: 1000 actions for voter empowerment.
Will you help? Join other Americans of conscience in spending one hour per week for the month of June to ensure that every citizen can vote and each vote verified in 2020.
Learn more here about specific actions you can undertake.
_____________________________________
Demand hearings on ERA Ratification in next FL legislative sessions by contacting local Legislators.
In 2019, two bills related to passage of the ERA were introduced:
HCR 255 House Bill - Introduced Patricia Willimas D Lauderdale Lakes
Died in Civil Justice Committee 5/2019
SCR 266 Senate Bill - Introduced Audrey Gibson D Jacksonville
Co Sponsor Lori Berman D Lantana
Died in Judiciary Committee 5/2019
Relevant issues to promote idea to hold hearing on passage of ERA in FLORIDA:
Pay Equity
Pregnancy, Maternity and Caregiving Equity
Gender protection from violence and abuse
MeToo Movement
Click here to see what you do in Florida to request a hearing on passing the ERA.
Homestead, Fl children's prison Call to Action
Progressive Caucus Calls Out Elected Officials' Silence
The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida has released the following statement:
The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida (DPCF) is calling on every elected official in Florida to immediately denounce the Trump administration's border detention policies and do everything within their power to end the inhumane treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers.
"The silence of many Florida elected officials is deafening when it comes to the atrocities being committed in detention centers here in our own state," said DPCF President Michael Calderin. "All lawmakers have a responsibility to speak out against the way children are being treated." The Caucus
-
urges Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, Governor Ron De Santis, and all elected officials to work to close the Homestead Temporary Shelter, immediately reunite children with their loved ones or sponsors, and end collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security.
-
supports the passage of the "Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act" that prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from maintaining or operating any temporary emergency shelter, including the shelter in Homestead, Florida.
-
calls on Congress to recognize the right of people to claim asylum and decriminalize entry into the United States without proper documentation, so we never face this type of crisis again.
What is Homestead Detention Center? Homestead, Florida is the site of the largest child detention center in the country, the ONLY for-profit center, and the only shelter deemed “temporary”. It was opened in June 2016 to house what HHS calls unaccompanied alien children (UAC). From June 2016 to April 2017 it sheltered 8,500 children, then closed. It was reactivated in March 2018 and currently houses more than 2,000 children. HHS now plans to expand to house up to 3,200 children beginning in mid-April. Children at Homestead are 13-17 yrs of age. About 75% are male and 25% female. According to HHS children remain an average of 52 days (although there are reports of children staying much longer).
What can we do? While media coverage of the Homestead detention facility is growing, there is a need for greater awareness and action.
Lobby Contact your representatives at state and local levels. Write letters to local newspapers. Share on Facebook. Follow the Witness Homestead Facebook page. Write petitions to close Homestead. Support Senator Merkley’s Bill 397 “Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act”.
Donate The Witness Homestead group is requesting donations to help keep monitors on the ground. There is a Go Fund Me account called “Witness Homestead Support”. Donate here
Homestead, Fl children's prison Call to Action
Progressive Caucus Calls Out Elected Officials' Silence
The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida has released the following statement:
The Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida (DPCF) is calling on every elected official in Florida to immediately denounce the Trump administration's border detention policies and do everything within their power to end the inhumane treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers.
"The silence of many Florida elected officials is deafening when it comes to the atrocities being committed in detention centers here in our own state," said DPCF President Michael Calderin. "All lawmakers have a responsibility to speak out against the way children are being treated." The Caucus
urges Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, Governor Ron De Santis, and all elected officials to work to close the Homestead Temporary Shelter, immediately reunite children with their loved ones or sponsors, and end collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security.- supports the passage of the "Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act" that prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from maintaining or operating any temporary emergency shelter, including the shelter in Homestead, Florida.
- calls on Congress to recognize the right of people to claim asylum and decriminalize entry into the United States without proper documentation, so we never face this type of crisis again.
What is Homestead Detention Center? Homestead, Florida is the site of the largest child detention center in the country, the ONLY for-profit center, and the only shelter deemed “temporary”. It was opened in June 2016 to house what HHS calls unaccompanied alien children (UAC). From June 2016 to April 2017 it sheltered 8,500 children, then closed. It was reactivated in March 2018 and currently houses more than 2,000 children. HHS now plans to expand to house up to 3,200 children beginning in mid-April. Children at Homestead are 13-17 yrs of age. About 75% are male and 25% female. According to HHS children remain an average of 52 days (although there are reports of children staying much longer).
What can we do? While media coverage of the Homestead detention facility is growing, there is a need for greater awareness and action.
Lobby Contact your representatives at state and local levels. Write letters to local newspapers. Share on Facebook. Follow the Witness Homestead Facebook page. Write petitions to close Homestead. Support Senator Merkley’s Bill 397 “Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act”.
Donate The Witness Homestead group is requesting donations to help keep monitors on the ground. There is a Go Fund Me account called “Witness Homestead Support”. Donate here
______________________________________
Next meetings July 25 at 2PM at
Grower's Alliance
Grower's Alliance
____________________________________________________
Get the weekly
__________________________________________________________________
WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND NEW IDEAS!
Email us at indivisible.st.johns@gmail.com
__________________________________________________
KNOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
FLORIDA REPORT CARD - Follow link to learn more about Progress Florida
In 2019, which Florida state legislators voted to put people first instead of powerful special interests?
We've graded each legislator based on their votes on issues that matter to Floridians: our economy, our public schools, our environment, our civil rights, reproductive freedom, gun safety, and more. Click on the Report Card link below next to your representative to see their report card for the 2019 legislative session.
Senator Travis Hutson District 7 Republican
District Office Tallahassee Office
4875 Palm Coast Parkway, NW 314 Senate Building
Suite 5 404 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(386) 446-7610 (850) 487-5007
Senate VOIP: 40700 Senate VOIP: 5007
FAX (888) 263-3475
Suite 5 404 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(386) 446-7610 (850) 487-5007
Senate VOIP: 40700 Senate VOIP: 5007
FAX (888) 263-3475
Legislative Assistants Legislative Assistant
Danielle Curbow and Matthew Kauffmann John Kotyk
 District Office Suite 902
309 Kingsley Lake Drive
St Augustine, FL 32092-3048
Phone (904) 823-2300
District Secretary: Shorty Robbins
| 
F (29%)
Capitol Office 402 South Monroe Street 303 House Office Building Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 717-5017
Legislative Assistant
Kaley Slattery
:
Kaley |
F (29%)
District Office Capitol Office
Suite 1 418 The Capitol
4877 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest 402 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137-3677 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Phone (386) 446-7644 Phone (850) 717-5024
Legislative Assistant
No comments:
Post a Comment