Weekend Reading
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020

Dear John,

It's no secret that the United States spends significantly more on the military than on things like healthcare, education, or housing. But it doesn't have to be that way! This week, the Senate will vote on an amendment that would re-allocate 10% of the Pentagon budget into communities experiencing high levels of poverty–and it is vital that they hear from you! Tell Congress: Stop spending money on weapons and war and invest in our communities instead! [link removed]

We also want to thank everyone who made a gift to AFSC’s Pandemic Relief Fund during our challenge. With the help of caring supporters like you, we raised nearly $30,000 for community-based initiatives around the globe—and secured a $10,000 matching gift. Your support is deeply appreciated.

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

How to talk about defunding ICE and CBP—and investing in communities: [link removed] Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter where we come from. Yet, the federal government wastes more than $25 billion every year on jailing and deporting immigrants. Check out these seven tips for making the case to your friends and family for why it’s time to defund ICE and CBP.

Sign the petition: No more nukes!: [link removed] Please join AFSC, Daily Kos, and people from around the world in demanding global nuclear disarmament as we approach the 75th anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

Delivering masks to farmworkers in the San Joaquin Valley: [link removed] The San Joaquin Valley is rapidly becoming a hot spot, writes AFSC’s Myrna Martinez Nateras—but with support from the AFSC community and local partners, AFSC is not only distributing masks to farmworkers, but also information on protecting their health, the health of their families, and defending workers’ rights.

Victory in the campaign to free immigrants from Elizabeth Detention Center: [link removed]​​​​​​​ A community organizing effort in New Jersey successfully pressured landowner Elberon Development Group to announce this week that it will cut ties to CoreCivic, the private prison company that leases and runs the facility. (NorthJersey.com)

Organizing to get police out of Chicago Public Schools: [link removed] “There is another way forward to building community safety that doesn’t rely on violence, and it begins with listening to and supporting the young people already working to build a better future.” says AFSC’s Debbie Southern.

Worker advocates file meat plants discrimination complaint: [link removed] As COVID-19 has spread in meatpacking plants, Black, Latinx, and Asian workers have been disproportionately impacted. Read more about the civil rights complaint AFSC and other advocacy organizations filed against meat processors Tyson and JBS with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Washington Post)

Posters for showing solidarity with movements for social change: [link removed] Check out our collection of posters for download–and please share with others who could use them!

Be well and take care

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