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Demand Justice for Atatiana Jefferson
Atatiana Jefferson was killed by Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean in her own home. The shooting marks the seventh time a Fort Worth officer has killed or wounded someone since June, and a horrible reminder of the epidemic of police brutality against Black Americans. Read on for ways to demand action and share with us any ways you are fighting police brutality. Support the work of TX Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth and the Texas Black Caucus who are calling for police reform in Texas. Join Color of Change in demanding an independent criminal investigation, the appointment of a special prosecutor, and a federal civil rights probe into the Fort Worth Police Department. Join or donate to groups doing the work in Texas like Mothers Against Police Brutality. See other resources on preventing police violence here and please reach out if you’d like to be connected with other resources and partners working on this.
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Legislators: Add Your Name to Condemn Sexual Harassment in McDonald's Stores
Legislators, sign on to this letter calling on McDonald’s to take concrete action to stop sexual harassment in their stores. Workers have filed over 20 new sexual harassment complaints against McDonald’s employees, covering a wide range of behavior. These are part of a larger trend over the last three years in which McDonald’s workers have filed sexual harassment complaints with the EEOC, staged protests and strikes, and published open letters to management. Add your name to the letter calling on McDonald’s to take concrete action to stop sexual harassment against their workers.
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Prison Reforms in State Legislatures
Efforts to reform the criminal justice system are underway across the country. California has banned all private prisons and immigration detention centers in the state beginning in January and decreased their overall prison population through reforms. Meanwhile, New York City officials announced the expected closure of Rikers and the creation of an entirely new jail system, a solution that many argue misses the entire point of criminal justice reform. And in Florida, Democrats are calling for consideration of “gain-time” bills that could shorten time-served requirements for certain offenses.
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Insight into Coordinated Attacks on Democracy
Several recently leaked audio recordings from a Texas ALEC panel reveal blatant disregard for our democracy, which progressives must fight against. In the recordings, state legislators spoke openly about taking away power from local officials, while others were taught to treat redistricting as “political adult blood sport.” To put these threats in perspective, a report released from the Brennan Center this month notes the hundreds of voting restrictions put forward in state legislatures since 2010.
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States Investing in Sustainable Farming
As the federal government continues to restrict funding for conservation practices, states are stepping up to fill the gap and support sustainable farming practices. A new report produced in part by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture looks at the ways states are supporting programs that use creative pathways to fund and enlist farmers in agricultural conservation.
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Time to Repeal the Hyde Amendment
43 years after its passage, the Hyde Amendment continues to be used to systemically deny access to abortion care. Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has been attached to the federal budget and has had a disproportionate impact on native, rural, and low-income communities. Today, opposition to such bans on insurance coverage of abortions polls higher than ever in the U.S. It's time for the Hyde Amendment to be abolished - and this issue is one that legislators at all levels must tackle head on. RFLC members Representative Sheryl Cole of Texas, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza of Austin, Representative Joyce “Jay” McCreight of Maine, and Council member Carlina Rivera of New York explain why repealing Hyde is not just an issue for DC.
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