YOUR RESISTANCE NEWSLETTER

WEEK OF JULY 28, 2019

MUELLER CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY From Common Cause We heard Wednesday in former special counsel Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony, President Donald Trump and members of his administration went to great efforts to hide the truth from government investigators as well. Mueller also made it very clear that the threat to our elections from Russia and other hostile foreign powers is ongoing and not nearly enough is being done to safeguard the integrity of future elections. And once again, we heard from Mueller that his report did not exonerate Trump of criminal wrongdoing. “As he put it in May: “If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that.” He made clear that only Congress can hold the president accountable while he is in office.  Following Mueller's testimony, Nadler filed a petition Friday asking a federal judge to release Mueller’s evidence gathered via grand jury. On Sunday, he reiterated that the House has impeachment resolutions before the Judiciary Committee, and that the committee is conducting investigations to determine whether they should report them to the House. _______________________________________________________ FROM Daily KOS Florida Republicans recently enacted what's effectively a poll tax by requiring citizens who have completed their sentences for felony convictions to also pay off all court fines and fees before they can regain their voting rights, but local officials are mobilizing to mitigate these new obstacles to voting.  Florida is one of eight states that explicitly requires the payment of fines and fees in order to vote, along with Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Tennessee, and Washington. Another 20 states do so implicitly. Miami-Dade County's top prosecutor, public defender, and chief judge all agree that only fines and fees actually listed in a person's sentencing document fall under the new payment requirement, which should substantially reduce the burden these fees pose.

AG Bill Barr orders execution dates for 5 on Federal Death Row. Despite dramatic declines nationwide in use of the death penalty and continued exonerations of innocent people on our state death rows (166 so far, 29 in FL) U.S. Attorney General William Barr has been ordered to restart federal executions. The last federal execution was in 2003. Five executions will begin on Dec. 9th. The Justice department says more executions are coming. Read more here. Take Action! Email President Trump or Call President Trump: Comments 202-456-1111. Fast Facts: Federal Execution Dates: Daniel Lee - Dec. 9, Lezmond Mitchell - Dec. 11, Wesley Purkey - Dec. 13, Alfred Bourgeois - Jan. 13, Dustin Honkin - Jan. 15. 62 people on Federal Death Row. Only one convicted of treason, espionage, or terrorism. Death Row and Death Chamber: U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, IN. Florida Execution Date: Gary Bowles - Aug. 22. Please Take Action! Contact Governor De Santis

State Rep Cyndi Stevenson will host five mobile office sessions throughout House District 17 in August

• from 10am-noon Aug 6 at the Anastasia Public Library Branch at 124 Seagrove Main St in St Augustine Beach
• from 10am-noon Aug 8 at the Main Branch Library at 1960 N Ponce De Leon Blvd St Augustine
• from 10am-noon Aug 20 at the Ponte Vedra Branch Public Library at 101 Library Blvd in Ponte Vedra Beach
• from 10am-noon Augu 21 at the St Johns County Service Center Julington Creek Branch Multipurpose Room at 725 Flora Branch Blvd in St Johns
• from 10am-noon Aug 27 at the St Johns County Convetion Center at World Gulf Village at 500 South Legacy Trail in St Augustine

____________________________________________________________________ 

Democratic Environmental Caucus 

         of St. Johns County

Tuesday, July 30

6:00 PM

Democratic Headquarters

71 South Dixie Highway, Suite 6

Nicole Crosby, Co-Founder and President of Save Guana Now, will be the guest speaker. Save Guana Now is an advocacy group working to stop a development of luxury homes in Ponte Vedra, planned by a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum

_____________________________________________________________ Second Democratic Debates - July 30 and July 31 Sponsored by CNN with Moderators: Dana Bash, Don Lemon, and Jake Tapper at the Fox Theater in Detroit Michigan

The Democratic Student Summer Interns are organizing the March for Choice and are reaching out to others in the community to join them in this endeavor.  

 _____________________________________________________________________________________

Voter Registration Outreach If you are interested in assisting Gary Farris with Voter Registration efforts, please contact him at 904-599-6241 or glandlkfarris@comcast.net or join him for voter registration training on August 7 at 2:00 PM at Democratic Headquarters.  ___________________________________________________________________________ The 2020 session begins January 14. Mark your calendars for UUJF Legislative Days in Tallahassee January 27-28.

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.

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.

Voter Registration Outreach If you are interested in assisting Gary Farris with Voter Registration efforts, please contact him at 904-599-6241 or glandlkfarris@comcast.net or join him for voter registration training on August 7 at 2:00 PM at Democratic Headquarters.

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 August at 2PM at 
Grower's Alliance

Topics for July 25

____________________________________________________

Get the weekly

Americans of conscience checklist

Sign up here

__________________________________________________________________

             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

Florida Report Card Hutson

                   F (35%)

                                   

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

Legislative Assistants                                                Legislative Assistant

Danielle Curbow and Matthew Kauffmann                      John Kotyk

Florida House of Representatives    Cyndi Stevenson 17th District  Republican District Office Suite 902 309 Kingsley Lake Drive St Augustine, FL 32092-3048 Phone (904) 823-2300 District Secretary: Shorty Robbins

Florida Report Card - Stevenson 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

 Florida House of Representatives 

Paul Renner 24th District  Republican

Florida Report Card - Renner

                    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

                                                                                    

YOUR RESISTANCE NEWSLETTER

WEEK OF JULY 21, 2019

__________________________________________________________________________

ST AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL MANDELA DAY - JULY 18

Operation Hope Ready4Work in St Augustine opened at the St Paul Development Center. on July 19, when the City also announced recognition of Internationa Mandela Day.    Mandela's daughter Dr Makaziwe Mandela and granddaughter Tukwini Mandela joined the celebration.  Dr Mandela spoke about the need for unity in these troubling times.  Operation Hope Ready4Work addresses needs of ex-felons while integrating back into their communities.  For more information click here

___________________________________________________________________________

Special counsel Robert Mueller's testimony to Congress has been delayed until July 24 under an agreement that gives lawmakers more time to question him. The Mueller Book Club will convene online in two ways on to witness, analyze and amplify the testimony, and we are encouraging you to host live, in-person watch parties in your community Online watch party: The Mueller Book Club will host a Zoom conference during the live testimony, including a live stream of the testimony, and will broadcast the stream via Facebook Live. Mueller Book Club participants on the Zoom conference will have the opportunity to chat with one another and hear from experts during breaks in the testimony. Sign up here to the online watch party Post-testimony Convening: The Mueller Book Club will host a discussion the evening of July 17th to include an analysis of the day’s testimony and strategies for amplifying key elements of the hearings. This discussion will be geared toward understanding the most salient developments, and what Book Club members can do next to demand accountability for the President’s crimes. Sign up Sign up here for post testimony discussion You can find past recordings at www.MuellerBookClub.com Remember: Write a letter to the editor! We are calling on participants in the Mueller Book Club to write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper. Common Cause, a Mueller Book Club partner, has put together an easy to use web application that will help you find the contact details of your local paper, compose and send your letter: Write a letter

Democratic Environmental Caucus 

of St. Johns County

Tuesday, July 30

6:00 PM

Democratic Headquarters

71 South Dixie Highway, Suite 6

Nicole Crosby, Co-Founder and President of Save Guana Now, will be the guest speaker. Save Guana Now is an advocacy group working to stop a development of luxury homes in Ponte Vedra, planned by a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum

Second Democratic Debates - July 30 and July 31 Sponsored by CNN with Moderators: Dana Bash, Don Lemon, and Jake Tapper at the Fox Theater in Detroit Michigan

The Democratic Student Summer Interns are organizing the March for Choice and are reaching out to others in the community to join them in this endeavor.  

Voter Registration Outreach If you are interested in assisting Gary Farris with Voter Registration efforts, please contact him at 904-599-6241 or glandlkfarris@comcast.net or join him for voter registration training on August 7 at 2:00 PM at Democratic Headquarters.  ___________________________________________________________________________ The 2020 session begins January 14. Mark your calendars for UUJF Legislative Days in Tallahassee January 27-28.

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.

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.

Voter Registration Outreach If you are interested in assisting Gary Farris with Voter Registration efforts, please contact him at 904-599-6241 or glandlkfarris@comcast.net or join him for voter registration training on August 7 at 2:00 PM at Democratic Headquarters.

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

____________________________________________________

Get the weekly

Americans of conscience checklist

Sign up here

__________________________________________________________________

             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

Florida Report Card Hutson

                   F (35%)

                                   

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

Legislative Assistants                                                Legislative Assistant

Danielle Curbow and Matthew Kauffmann                      John Kotyk

Florida House of Representatives    Cyndi Stevenson 17th District  Republican District Office Suite 902 309 Kingsley Lake Drive St Augustine, FL 32092-3048 Phone (904) 823-2300 District Secretary: Shorty Robbins

Florida Report Card - Stevenson 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

 Florida House of Representatives 

Paul Renner 24th District  Republican

Florida Report Card - Renner

                    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