Let’s Close the Camps ? Spark Lights for Liberty

Let’s Close the Camps ? Spark Lights for Liberty

Reports on the human rights abuses in Donald Trump’s concentration camps get worse with each passing day. In fact, Dr. Dolly Lucio Sevier, a physician who visited the camps, told PBS:

“Basically, what we saw are dirty children who are malnourished, who are being severely neglected. They are being kept in inhumane conditions. They are essentially being warehoused, as many as 300 children in a cell, with almost no adult supervision.”

And make no mistake. The cruelty, neglect, and poor treatment of innocent children is intentional. The White House — and its GOP enablers — aim to strike terror in the hearts of our refugees and immigrant communities.

That’s why this week’s actions focus on their plight, and why we must urge our reps to close the camps.

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In This Week’s Update…

Also, for a complete list of events for IT and our local allies, check out our Calendar of Events page.  Want that latest news, current events, actions, meetings, and discussions? Join our lively Indivisible Tacoma Community group on Facebook.

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This Week’s Actions

This week, we’ll call our members of Congress and hold demonstrations in front of their offices. We’ll then join in Lights of Liberty events next week in support of our immigrants and refugees. For more information, read on.

Close the Camps! Tuesday July 2 12pm in front of Rep. Derek Kilmer's Office.

1. Call ☎️ Your Members of Congress and Say, “Close the Camps!”

The House has the “power of the purse.” This allows our members of Congress to push back on Team Trump’s human rights abuses by withholding funds. In this case, the White House claims they can’t afford basics for children in their concentration camps… Like beds, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and diapers.

The GOP-led Senate and the Democratic-led House each had their own versions of a humanitarian aid bill. So why did Reps Derek Kilmer (D-6), Denny Heck (D-10), and Kim Schrier (D-8) vote for the Senate version instead of the House version? We all know that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) version doesn’t hold the Trump administration accountable for the funds. The House version backed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had stronger safeguards in place. 

Demand that Kilmer, Heck, and Schrier explain why they caved to the GOP instead of sticking up for refugee kids. And if you’re in Rep. Adam Smith (D-9)’s district, thank him ❤️ for voting against the Senate bill!

Script: Hello. I’m [First Name, Last Name], [Rep.’s Name]’s constituent from [Zip Code]. I wanted you to vote for the House version of the bill for supplemental funding, not the Senate version. I also want you to make every effort to close U.S. detention centers, end family separation, and the Trump administration’s concentration camps on the border.

Here are their phone numbers: Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-6) 253-272-3515 | Rep. Adam Smith (D-9) 425-793-5180 | Rep. Denny Heck (D-10) 253-533-8332 | Rep. Kim Schrier (D-8) 202-225-7761

2. Join Us for the ? Close the Camps! Rally

This Tuesday, July 2, we’ll gather at 12:00 p.m. at our reps’ offices, while they’re home for July 4th, & make these demands:
  • Close the human concentration camps
  • Not one dollar more for family detention and deportation
  • Bear witness and reunite families.
So far, we know of one action planned. Please bring signs!
Rep. Derek Kilmer’s Office
July 2, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
950 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
If Derek Kilmer’s not your rep., click the link below to find an action or start one. If you’ve never done this before, no worries. When you sign up, the site will give you all the info you need.
 
https://www.closethecampsnow.org/event/close-camps-now_attend/

Photo of lit candles in dark.

 ? Lights for Liberty: Actions to End Our Human Concentration Camps

Please Join the Washington Immigrants Solidarity Network (WAISN) and La Resistencia/NWDC Resistance for the following events on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, July 12th and 13th. These events seek to shed light on the deplorable conditions and daily fear our immigrant community members face.

 ? Lights for Liberty, Candlelight Vigil, Friday June 13th, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Thousands of us will gather in locations around the world to reflect and protest the inhumane conditions faced by refugees. Please bring candles and signs. Join us at Union Station/the U.S. District Court House. Address: 1717 Pacific Ave. In downtown Tacoma. Map.

? Spotlight on Detention, Saturday, July 13th 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.:  Let detainees know they’re not alone. Join us in showing solidarity with and support for them and their families at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. Activities will include call and response, music, pen pals, fundraising for commissary gifts, and more. This family-friendly event is hosted by La Resistencia/NWDC Resistance.  Address: 1623 E J St, Tacoma. Map

Also co-sponsored by Seattle Indivisible, Seattle Womxn Marching Forward, Demand Democracy Seattle, Refuse Fascism, Indivisible Tacoma, and Wallingford Indivisible.

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Save the Dates! Upcoming IT Meetings & Events

This is a jam-packed month with our Legislative Action team meeting, a meeting with LD 27’s Laurie Jinkins and Jake Fey, our general meeting, and a picnic. For more listings for Indivisible Tacoma and our progressive allies, check out our Calendar of Events.

Legislative Action Team Meeting

Get involved in creating positive change by meeting with and contacting our members of Congress (MoCs), senators, and state lawmakers.

Monday, July 1, 6:00 p.m.
Lakewood Library
 6300 Wildaire Rd SW, Lakewood
Map

Photos of Wa. State Reps. Jake Fey and Laurie Jinkins for LD 27.

27th LD Meeting with State Reps. Jake Fey and Laurie Jinkins

Tuesday, July 9th 2:00 p.m.
The Red Elm Cafe
1114 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
Map

Are you in the 27th legislative district (LD)? If so, join us for coffee and a meet and greet with our Washington State Reps. Laurie Jinkins and Jake Fey. They’ll tell us what’s going on in the state legislature and we’ll share our hopes and concerns.

July General Meeting ? Disinformation and Elections

With featured speaker Desiree Williams Finch from FUSE Washington
Pierce County and the Progressive Voters’ Guide

Weds. July 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1115 S 56th St Tacoma, Wash.
Map with Directions.


Indivisible Tacoma Picnic

Monday, July 15th, 5:00 p.m.
Kobayashi Park
University Place (across the intersection for Fred Meyers on Bridgeport
Map

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General Meeting 6/5: LNG ? Benefit or ☠️ Tragedy?

General Meeting 6/5: LNG ? Benefit or ☠️ Tragedy?

We’re ending spring with a bang as we gear up for summer and the 2020 election. Here’s what’s in this week’s newsletter.

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Indivisible Tacoma General Meetings

? June: Tacoma Liquid Natural Gas Plant: Environmental Benefit or Tragedy?

With featured speakers Daniel Villa from 350 Tacoma and Bradley Thompson from 350 Seattle.

Weds. June 5, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1115 S 56th St Tacoma, WA 98408
Map with Directions.

? July: Disinformation and Elections

With featured speakers from FUSE Tacoma: Pierce County and the Progressive Voters’ Guide

Weds. July 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1115 S 56th St Tacoma, WA 98408
Map with Directions.

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Learning from PLU’s Winning Gen Z Voter Registration Campaign

Meeting on Pacific Lutheran University (PLU)'s successful efforts at registering Gen Zers to vote.

Riley Dolan and Deanna Hobbs talking with Indivisible Tacoma’s Sue Schaeffer on registering Gen Z voters Photo: Nina Rook.

Think of 74 million Americans who are growing up with school shootings and climate change, who don’t remember the world before 9/11, who are more diverse than any previous generation, and who saw the loser of the popular vote take the White House in 2016.

Now, how do we get them to register to vote?

Last week seven of us from Indivisible Tacoma and the Tacoma Women’s Think Tank sat down with Riley Dolan and Deanna Hobbs from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). This duo’s voter registration efforts were featured in Forbes, and they just won the Governor’s Student Voter Registration Challenge. Naturally, we wanted to find out what makes their campaign so successful.

Among their findings:

  • Show young people that other people their age register – they register when they see people like themselves
  • Make it social – turn registering and voting into a social event (We loved the idea of ballot parties in coffee shops!)
  • Show how small vote numbers swing the results of elections with major consequences
  • Focus on engagement as well as registration – they mailed students “pledge card” reminders as the ballots were arriving
  • Know your constituency – for instance, it does not make sense for an Alaskan student to register in Washington if this will cost them their Permanent Fund dividend; better register as an Alaska absentee voter

We thank Riley and Deanna, for giving us their time during a busy finals week.

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Congratulations on Our Huge #StopTheBans Rally Turnout!

Wow. On Tuesday, May 21 at noon, nearly 200 of us came together at the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Tacoma to protest harsh anti-choice laws in 15 states. This was part of a nationwide action to support freedom for women. We thank our members and progressive allies at 350 Tacoma, Indivisibles Puyallup and Gig Harbor, Red Berets Medicare for All, and others for this incredible turnout. And thank you, Damita O’Dell from our Events & Rallies team for organizing it.

Here are more photos from our Facebook feed.