SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023

Weekend Reading

Dear Friend,

For months, Border Patrol held migrants in an open-air corridor between two border walls near San Diego, California. Migrants weren’t provided adequate food, water, sanitation, or medical care. Two weeks ago, the Southern Border Communities Coalition, which includes AFSC, filed a complaint [link removed] documenting these human rights violations with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. As of May 15, Border Patrol has stopped its practice of using the corridor to hold migrants.

Today, we must ensure that all migrants can seek refuge in the U.S. Sign our petition to President Biden today: Restore the right to asylum! [link removed]

Here are this week's picks to inform and support your activism:

Have we turned away from the people of Sudan?: [link removed] The situation in Sudan should demand our attention not only for the sake of international stability, but because so many lives are at stake, writes AFSC’s Pauline Kamau. Humanitarian and religious organizations must step up efforts to support the Sudanese people and bring a peaceful resolution to this conflict. (Common Dreams)

Protecting New Mexico’s centuries-old acequia system: [link removed] In dry New Mexico, the traditional shared water system known as acequias helps make agriculture and life possible. But that system faces threats as developers try to pay the state to lease water rights it doesn't actually possess. Developers and government must hear directly from traditional people. The acequia system is a precious way of sharing water, in times of abundance or scarcity, says AFSC’s Angela Lopez-Brody. “Ideally, it’s a water democracy.” (Waging Nonviolence)

Tell Congress: No concessions on human needs in debt ceiling talks!: [link removed] Thanks to everyone who contacted Congress last week to protect food assistance, health care, and other vital programs. As negotiations continue, we must keep pressuring elected officials to do what’s right. If you haven’t already, send a message to Congress today!

How to talk about Palestinian child detention: [link removed] There’s a new bill in Congress, H.R. 3103, that would hold Israel accountable for violating the rights of Palestinian children and families. The legislation would stop Israel from using U.S. aid to detain Palestinian children, destroy Palestinian homes and properties, and further annex Palestinian land. Here are some tips you can use to advocate with your representative to support H.R. 3103.

Are you following AFSC on social media?: Get the latest updates on our work for social change and how you can take action by following us on Instagram [link removed] , Twitter [link removed] , and Facebook [link removed] .

Be well and take care



American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
United States

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