American Friends Service Committee

 

 

Mariam in Gaza

Mariam Al-Mashwakhi, one of the elders in Gaza who received an AFSC emergency aid kit, says “ I am happy that there are still people who think of us. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart." Photo: Khalil abu Yehya


Dear John,

Our decades-long work on the Korean Peninsula has shown that ending war and demilitarizing our world begins with building better relations through humanitarian engagement. But sanctions have been delaying lifesaving aid to people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) for many years. If you haven’t yet taken action, please tell Congress: Lift sanctions and help humanitarian aid reach North Korea. 

Here are this week’s resources to help you stay informed and support your activism.  

Delivering COVID-19 emergency aid kits to seniors in Gaza: Thanks to the generous support of AFSC donors, we delivered face masks, soap, and other critical supplies to 250 elderly residents in Gaza—and will assist many more households in Gaza and the West Bank in the weeks ahead, writes AFSC’s Mike Merryman-Lotze.

As the coronavirus spreads in U.S. prisons, advocates call for more testing instead of blanket lockdowns and isolation: “We’ve had people die without reporting symptoms because they were scared of quarantining procedures, and that has to get fixed,” says AFSC’s Natalie Holbrook. (BuzzFeed)  

Emergency response update: Migrants in Latin America: AFSC’s Luis Paiz Bekker shares how the AFSC community is making a difference for those fleeing violence and poverty.  

The double jeopardy of being a DACA recipient during a pandemic: Diego San Luis Ortega—a DACA recipient and AFSC volunteer—urges the Supreme Court to hold off on issuing a ruling on the fate of DACA, which would affected hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S., including first responders, cooks, teachers, and many others. (Community Alliance)

Video: Responding to growing need in West Virginia: AFSC's Lida Shepherd discusses how West Virginians have mobilized to ensure all community members have access to food and vital safety net programs. And join us on Facebook every Thursday at 4 p.m. ET for weekly updates from AFSC staff.

The Poor People's Campaign and Moral March on Washington is going digital: We are organizing to shift the moral narrative, impact policies, and build lasting power—and we hope you can join us online on June 20.  

DIY: How to make cloth masks: If you're a crafter, a quilter, or just someone with some time on your hands, use our guide to make simple masks to help keep yourself, your loved ones, and your community members safe.

Be well and take care. 


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