SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021
Weekend Reading

Dear John,

We are devastated at the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado this week—which happened just days after another shooting in Atlanta took the lives of eight people, including six women of Asian descent.

Today it’s as important as ever that we care for ourselves and each other in these difficult times—as we work to stop all forms of violence and racism and call for investment in mental health services, social supports, and other programs that promote community safety for all.

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

Speaking out after the mass shooting in Atlanta: [link removed] AFSC staff members share their perspectives and experiences as Asian people in the U.S.—and what we can all do to move forward in working to stop anti-Asian racism.

Why the Biden administration must do more to address root causes of migration: [link removed] For many people in Latin America, U.S. policies have made difficult conditions worse—and it has been happening for decades. The Biden administration has a historic opportunity to make real, structural changes, write AFSC staff in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tell Congress: Demand Israel provide Palestinians with COVID-19 vaccinations and humanitarian aid: [link removed] Israel’s inoculation program has moved forward quickly for Israeli citizens, but Palestinians living under Israeli control in the West Bank and Gaza are being left behind. Urge your representative to take action to restore aid to Palestine and to demand that Israel provide Palestinians with COVID-19 vaccinations!

What we want to see in President Biden’s budget: [link removed] It’s time to stop wasting our taxpayer dollars on war and militarism—and invest in our communities. Here’s how you can take action to demilitarize our federal budget, writes AFSC’s Tori Bateman.

Advocating for vaccinations for migrant farmworkers in Florida: [link removed] “It’s a health crisis that we’re living in, and we have to make sure that the vaccine is available for everyone regardless of documentation, or age, to make sure everyone is protected,” says AFSC’s Lis-Marie Alvarado. (WPTV)

Register for our webinar “Policing and Surveillance”: [link removed] Join us on April 8 to hear how communities are criminalized and surveilled by law enforcement and how people have organized to push back. The webinar is part of our Community Safety Beyond Policing series, which explores how we can work toward a future where we rely less on police—and ensure community safety for all.

Your annual support makes all the difference: [link removed] Thank you to all who have made gifts this year to help fund mutual aid, social justice, and peacebuilding efforts worldwide! If you haven’t yet given, there is still time to help us meet our goal of 500 donors by March 31.

Be well and take care

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