SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020
Weekend Reading

Dear John,

Thank you to everyone who contributed to AFSC’s fiscal year-end campaign in September! We are grateful for your support—and to everyone in the AFSC community—for joining us in working for racial and economic justice and ensuring human rights and dignity in these challenging times.

As COVID-19 continues to devastate our communities, many face an uncertain future, including millions of immigrants left out of the first stimulus package. Yet the Senate has failed to pass a new stimulus bill to extend unemployment benefits and provide relief—further jeopardizing the health and safety of our communities. Please join us in urging Congress: Pass a coronavirus relief bill today! [link removed]

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

Restoring the right to vote for all: [link removed] This November, 1 in 13 African Americans will be denied the right to vote because they have a felony conviction. It’s long past time to change that, writes AFSC’s Lewis Webb.

Sign our petition with Daily Kos: Defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)!: [link removed] Last month, we asked you to take action to abolish ICE, after a whistleblower reported that hysterectomies were being performed on immigrants in an ICE detention facility in Georgia. Now we’re asking you to take one more step to stop ICE and CBP, which have a long history of human rights abuses.

What would happen if the Affordable Care Act is overturned?: [link removed] AFSC’s Rick Wilson explores the potential devastating impacts on West Virginia, where the ACA has been critical in responding to the opioid epidemic and where more than 160,000 residents are covered by Medicaid expansion. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

Confronting corporations involved in Israel’s military occupation: [link removed] In this podcast, AFSC’s Noam Perry discusses our No Dough for the Occupation campaign to boycott Pillsbury, which operates in an illegal settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory. Also, AFSC’s Dalit Baum talks about direct actions against Palantir, a tech company that sells intelligence systems to Israel and contracts with ICE in the U.S. (Electronic Intifada)

My first impressions crossing into Gaza after a lifetime crossing the U.S.-Mexico border: [link removed] AFSC’s Pedro Rios describes his experience facing militarized borders, both in Gaza and the U.S. (San Diego Tribune)

“Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration:” [link removed] The recently reopened MoMA PS1 in New York City features the work of 44 artists who have experienced incarceration, including Ojore Lutalo, who has volunteered with AFSC for years in advocating to end solitary confinement and torture in prisons, and Todd (Hyung Rae) Tarselli, whose art has appeared in AFSC Prison Watch publications. (The New York Times)

Radical Acting in Faith for White People e-course: [link removed] More than 500 people took part in our online trainings to help white people of faith more effectively support movements for racial justice. You can now access our recordings and materials online.

The 2020 Cherry Tomato Chomp: [link removed] A new project in New Mexico connects small-scale, sustainable farms with area schools by providing students and their families with fresh local produce and a fun activity guide.

Be well and take care

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