SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2024

Weekend Reading

Dear John,

Thank you to everyone who gave to our Refugee Response Matching Gift Fund! Your donations help us provide aid to refugees as we advocate for policies that welcome migrants with respect and dignity. We appreciate all you do to support people worldwide searching for safety and peace.

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

What students mean when they demand divestment, and why we should listen: [link removed] Throughout the spring, students across the U.S. have demanded their universities divest from companies that profit from Israel’s attacks on Gaza. The basic idea of divestment is simple, writes AFSC’s Joyce Ajlouny. Stop investing in corporations or other entities that are doing harm. (Common Dreams)

Testimonies from Palestinians in Gaza: [link removed] AFSC has collected dozens of stories from people in Gaza who have been repeatedly displaced in their homeland. In this video, we hear from Mohammed Altaweel, who was a third-year university student in Gaza. He describes the conditions he and his family now face and what he must do to support his family. (Instagram)

Last chance: Add your comment to oppose border closures!: [link removed] President Biden recently signed an executive order to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border. It allows border officers to deny people's asylum claims before they can see a judge. This will further endanger migrant lives, forcing them back to the dangerous conditions from which they fled. The public has until Monday, July 8, to submit comments to the federal government on the change. Make your voice heard today!

Building the solidarity economy: [link removed] What would it look like if our society prioritized people and the planet over profits? Communities around the world are working toward that vision. They’re exploring the solidarity economy, which offers just, sustainable alternatives to capitalism. Learn more from AFSC’s Rick Wilson.

Continued border wall injuries raise public health crisis concerns among advocates: [link removed] Near San Diego, California, the federal government raised the U.S.-Mexico border wall from 18 feet to 30 feet in 2019. Since then, border wall falls and other injuries have risen dramatically. “We should really be considering the construction of border walls as a public health crisis,” says AFSC’s Pedro Rios. (KPBS)

How to have hard conversations about immigration (July 9, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT): [link removed] This election season, politicians are doubling down on anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we speak out to defend the rights of migrants. This week, join our interactive webinar with AFSC staff from Colorado and New Hampshire. We’ll discuss how you can talk with family, friends, and others to build support for welcoming, dignified, and just immigration policies.

Special thanks to our monthly donors, our Partners for Peace, for their ongoing support to make all our work possible.

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