SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2021
Weekend Reading
Dear John,
We hope you and your loved ones are well.
Many of us are still shaken by what happened at the Capitol on Wednesday. This shocking attack on democracy underscored the need for our nation to undertake the long and difficult task of dismantling white supremacy and all forms of oppression.
As a Quaker organization, AFSC calls on people from across the political spectrum to rededicate themselves to the pursuit of democracy, liberty, and justice for all. This means supporting a peaceful transition of power—and challenging the systemic racism and militarism that made Wednesday’s attack possible. Read more. [link removed]
Here are this week's resources to help you stay informed and support your activism.
Register today: Resisting authoritarianism during COVID-19: [link removed] Join AFSC on Jan. 26 for the launch of Under the Mask, a project that tracks abuses of power by governments around the world in the context of the pandemic. Our keynote speaker is Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin, United Nations special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Surviving prison in a pandemic: [link removed] As COVID-19 cases surge in U.S. prisons, women in a Michigan state prison share their experiences with AFSC’s Michigan Criminal Justice Program, which operates a hotline to monitor conditions inside. (BBC)
Last chance to sign our Abolish ICE petition: [link removed] Tens of thousands of people have signed our petition calling on Congress to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency with a long history of human rights abuses. Now we’re about to deliver the petition to the new Congress. If you haven’t already, add your name by Jan. 13 to join our call!
Congress commits over $1 billion to border wall construction: [link removed] "I think it’s important for people to understand that when they’re talking about border wall replacement, it’s actually an extremely devastating type of replacement … that would be catastrophic to the environment [and] to people that live in the area,” says AFSC’s Pedro Rios. (KPBS)
Tell your governor: Restore voting rights for all: [link removed] It’s clearer than ever that the right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and should never be taken away. But today, nearly 5.2 million people—disproportionately Black and Brown people—are denied their right to vote because they have felony convictions. Contact your governor today and urge them to restore voting rights for all!
Year in review: How you helped us defund hate in 2020: [link removed] As we work to abolish ICE, we’re calling on Congress to stop funding cruelty against immigrants—and we’re making progress, writes AFSC’s Tori Bateman.
10,000 white flags honor the lives of Georgians lost to COVID-19: [link removed] "We need less folks trying to make this into a partisan issue, and more folks reaching across the aisle to find solutions to keep Georgians alive," says AFSC's Tim Franzen. (CBS46)
Make a sustaining gift: [link removed] Help us bring critical support to communities working to overcome poverty and oppression. Start a monthly gift to help us meet our goal of 150 new sustainers by Jan. 31.
Be well and take care
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