Updates and Action Alerts

The next action of the 10 actions (we are at #4) is "A Day Without A Woman."  The text from the link follows below:

On International Women's Day, March 8th, women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.

The Women's March supports the feminists of color and grassroots groups organizing the International Women’s Strike on International Women's Day, March 8th, 2017. In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired the Women's March, together we will mark the day by recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system--while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity.

Anyone, anywhere, can join by making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, in one or all of the following ways:

-Women take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor
-Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses).
-Wear RED in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman

The Women's March celebrates the labor the International Women's Strike organizers and others in planning global actions. We are also inspired by recent courageous actions like the "Bodega strike" lead by Yemeni immigrant store owners in New York City and the Day Without Immigrants across the U.S. We applaud the efforts of #GrabYourWallet and others to bring public accountability to unethical corporate practices. As we mark A Day Without a Woman, we do so in support and solidarity of these and all efforts for equity, justice and human rights.

When millions of us stood together in January, we saw clearly that our army of love greatly outnumbers that of fear, greed and hatred. Let's raise our voices together again, to say that women’s rights are human rights, regardless of a woman’s race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, gender expression, economic status, age or disability.

Recognizing the multiple, intersecting identities of women, we support and admire these efforts:
#DIVESTDAPL
#GRABYOURWALLET


There are updates on the blog about Environmental Justice and Immigration actions: https://buriennormandypark10actions.blogspot.com/2017/03/action-items-immigration-and.html

ACTION ALERT: STAND UP AGAINST HATE CRIMES

From 5calls.org:

Since Trump’s election in November, there has been an uptick in hate crimes against vulnerable communities across the United States. This includes overt gestures such as swastika graffiti and the toppling of headstones in Jewish cemeteries, to much more violent crimes such as the arson of mosques in Texas and Florida, and the horrific killings of an Indian-American engineer in Kansas. On February 27th alone, 23 Jewish community centers across the country, including many childcare centers, received bomb threats. This brings the number of bomb threats against Jewish centers to over 100 since January.

Now is not the time to pretend this isn’t happening. We cannot let white nationalism take seed in our country. Our shared American morals are inclusion and tolerance, and we will never tolerate hate against those of different ethnicities, races, and religions. We must demand an immediate investigation of these crimes, punish the perpetrators, and unite as Americans no matter where we originated or what religious beliefs we live by.

Department of Justice Civil Rights Division: 1-202-514-4609

Script:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a concerned citizen from [CITY, ZIP].

I am calling today to ask for a full and unified investigation into the multitude of recent hates crimes, such as the mosque burnings, Jewish Community Center bomb threats and the racially motivated shooting of an Indian engineer. These crimes are appalling and must be investigated immediately to ensure a safe America for everyone.

Thank you for your time and attention.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Upcoming Events:

Thursday March 2nd, 1-2pm Burien Press: Meet Your Neighbor series. Karen Little will be speaking about her experience as a Japanese American

Friday March 3rd: Get together with Rachel Berkson, Rep. Pramila Jayapal's staff person in Seattle.  Rachel, who recently was Exec Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, will meet with us at 4:30 in the new White Center Library, 1409 SW 107th St, Seattle, WA 98146.

Saturday, March 4th: Rep. Adam Smith's town hall had to move to a bigger location.  It's now at Kings Hall, 2727 29th Ave S., Seattle 98144, from 10:30 to noon.

Monday, March 6th: Rep. Pramila Jayapal's town hall will take place in the great hall of Seattle's Town Hall, 8th and Seneca downtown at 5:30.

Thursday, March 9th, 6:30 p.m at Burien Community Church: "Meet Your Muslim Neighbor." Theresa Crecelius and her family will be sharing about their experience.

Also on Thursday, March 9th, 6:30 p.m.: Indivisibles meeting at Highline United Methodist Church. This is a potluck gathering.

(we will work to avoid schedule conflicts like this in the future!)

Next Burien/Normandy Park 10 Actions Group Meeting: Tuesday, March 14th, 6:30 p.m. at Burien Community Church

(if you would like to donate, the cost for the facility is $25 for the entire group)

ACTION ITEMS: Immigration and Environmental Justice

Immigration 101 for Allies and Service Providers (in English)
Our office has partnered with the Seattle Public Library and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project to offer this workshop: Immigration 101 for Allies and Service Providers on Thursday, March 2, 6:00 pm-8:30 pm at the downtown Seattle Public Library (1000 Fourth Ave, 98104). The audience for this workshop includes service providers and anyone who works with immigrants and refugees. By the end of the training, you will be better able to communicate accurate information about various immigration issues to your immigrant and refugee friends and neighbors.
Please RSVP at the Facebook event here. There is no registration for the event, as it is first come, first served. So please RSVP at the Facebook event page and come early! The event will also be broadcast via Facebook Live.
Phinney Ridge Know Your Rights Training (in Spanish)
Also, the nonprofit organization Colectiva Legal del Pueblo is offering a free Know Your Rights training for immigrants and their families with the Phinney Neighborhood Association. The event will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 2:00 pm at the Phinney Center (6532 Phinney Ave N, 98103) and will be facilitated in Spanish, including a Q&A.
El Centro de la Raza Emergency Safety Planning Assistance for Families (in Spanish)
From now until March 4, El Centro de la Raza is offering free Family Safety Planning and Know Your Rights trainings for families with children who have parents facing potential detainment or deportation. No appointment is necessary. The drop-ins are at El Centro de la Raza (2524 16th Ave S, 98144).More information is at El Centro's Facebook page.

Additionally, we have heard that another executive order on border security is set to be released this week. If you or anyone you know is an immigrant and plans to travel any time soon, we recommend that you enter in your travel information at this site airportlawyer.org. By using this site, immigrants and families arriving into airports around the country will have access to free legal help when they need it. You must enter in your travel details before you travel.

Lastly, I wanted you to know that the city has taken legal action to fight the federal executive orders. Last week, Mayor Ed Murray announced his plans to issue FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests to federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to answer questions about the president's executive orders, as well as the administration's plans for DACA and sanctuary cities. More about that here.

Also, we have joined in the amicus brief in Darweesh v. Donald Trump, seeking an injunction against President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban. The brief challenges the President’s ban on the grounds it violates the due process of valid visa holders and imposes a de facto religious test on immigrants. More information here.

We believe that the rule of law is on our side.

Thank you,
Cuc

P.S. Our Facebook and Twitter pages have the most up-to-date information related to immigrant and refugee issues. Follow us for the latest developments.

P.P.S. If you are looking for Know Your Rights info online to disseminate to community members and friends, check out these resources in multiple languages from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project:nwirp.org/resources/know-your-rights/
 

ACTION: Prevent the Dismantling of the EPA

On February 3rd, U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida introduced HR 861, a bill that proposes to terminate the Environmental Protection Agency. Since its inception in 1970, the EPA has written and enforced federal regulations that protect the health of America's people and lands. Through legislation such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA implements pollution control standards and prosecutes corporations that violate them. In addition, its Superfund program manages hazardous waste and cleans up chemical/oil spills.

The EPA also plays a major role in science. It conducts cutting-edge research on climate change, and it investigates ways to save our planet from the damage that humans have caused. Volatile environmental conditions, including rising sea levels and droughts, may soon become some of the most serious threats to our nation. The EPA protects not only the American people, but also American prosperity well into the future.

Call this office:

Pramila Jayapal D-WA

+1 202-225-3106

Your script:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].

I'm calling to voice my opposition to HR 861, which would terminate the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA works to keep Americans safe from contagious diseases and toxic pollution, and I expect [Rep's Name] to stand up for this vital agency.

Thank you for working hard to answer the phones.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

ACTION: Stop the Rollback of Oil and Gas Regulations

Using the obscure Congressional Review Act, the House has already passed a resolution to repeal the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) methane waste prevention rule put in place by the Obama Administration. The rule limits the amount of methane that can be vented, flared, or leaked onto public lands by oil and gas drilling companies. The amount of this methane waste not only affects the environment by filling the air with disease-causing pollutants and jeopardizing the purity of lands, but it also affects taxpayer revenue. The more methane that is wasted during the drilling process, the fewer natural gas royalties taxpayers can collect. Without regulating the amount of methane waste, an estimated $800 million could be lost in direct payments to the public over the next decade.

The House resolution to repeal the BLM methane waste rule, HJ Res 36, now heads to the Senate for a vote, expected soon.

Call this office:

Maria Cantwell D-WA

+1 202-224-3441

Your script:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I'm calling to urge [SENATOR'S NAME] to vote against HJ Res 36 and keep in place the BLM methane waste prevention rule. It is a necessary protection for both taxpayer revenue and the cleanliness of our air.

Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Upcoming Events: 

1. Burien/Normandy Park 10 Actions Group Tuesday, March 14th, at 6:30 p.m. at the same location--Burien Community Church, 16241 19th Ave. SW in Burien (this will also be our next subgroup meeting)

2. NEXT MONDAY, March 6, Rep. Pramila Jayapal Town Hall at Town Hall in Capitol Hill, http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/event/jayapal-town-hall/

3. TOMORROW Join Radical Public Health UW for an evening of discussion and consciousness-raising about the root causes and myriad dangers of the global climate change crisis. In the current political context, local and global, it is more important than ever before to have honest, unapologetic discussions about this growing emergency.

Doors open at 5, event begins at 5:30. 
5:30 - 6:30 Dr. Rob Wallace
6:30 - 7:30 Women of Color Speak Out

The event will be led off by Rob Wallace, an evolutionary biologist and public health phylogeographer based at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wallace will give a lecture titled "Capitalocene Park: Lucrative Risks in Neoliberal Public Health", analyzing public health and climate change in the context of John Bellamy Foster and Jason Moore's debates over the effects of capitalism on nature (and more specifically on influenza and other pathogens). The discussion will continue with Women of Color Speak Out leading a panel on climate justice through an intersectional lens, connecting global warming to systems of oppression. Women of Color Speak Out has been a consistent and powerful force in climate justice activism in Seattle, and we are very excited they will be here with us to share their experiences, insights, and perspectives. This event is free of charge and open to the public. Spread the word and bring a friend!

4. Save Our Planet March in Seattle, April 21st (anti-nuclear weapons): https://popularresistance.org/calendar1/save-our-planet/

5. March for Science April 22nd (Earth Day): https://www.marchforscience.com/

Islamophobia: Bill in Congress to classify Muslim activist groups as terrorists.

Bill in Congress to classify Muslim activist groups as terrorists. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/donald-trump-muslim-travel-ban-muslim-brotherhood-terror-bill-civil-society-devastating-effects-a7571426.html

"Blacklisting an Egyptian group with alleged links to terrorism has a direct impact on American citizens because these “affiliates” encompass several US Muslim advocacy organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Muslim Students Association (MSA).

Cair is the largest and most influential civil society group in America and, according to policy experts, faces the highest likelihood of being shut down as a result of this ruling."

Appeals Court Refuses to Reinstate Trump Travel Ban

Originally published February 9, 2017 at 3:15 pm Updated February 9, 2017 at 4:19 pm

Story link for reading online: http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trump-loses-travel-ban-appeal

“The law is not an abstraction. There are real people’s lives impacted,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson, during a news conference welcoming a Somali immigrant who was blocked from entry last week due to the President’s immigration ban Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Port of Seattle Commission President Tom Albro stand behind him. (Bettina Hansen/The Seattle Times)

A federal appeals court in San Francisco Thursday refused to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

By 

The Associated Press and 

The New York Times

A three-judge federal appeals panel Thursday unanimously refused to reinstate President Trump’s targeted travel ban, delivering the latest and most stinging judicial rebuke to his effort to make good on a campaign promise and tighten the standards for entry into the United States.

U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order last week halting the ban on immigration and travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations after Washington state and Minnesota sued. The ban temporarily suspended the nation’s refugee program and immigration from countries that have raised terrorism concerns.

Justice Department lawyers appealed to the 9th Circuit, arguing that the president has the constitutional power to restrict entry to the United States and that the courts cannot second-guess his determination that such a step was needed to prevent terrorism.

The ruling by 9th Circuit panel rejected that argument: “There is no precedent to support this claimed unreviewability, which runs contrary to the fundamental structure of our constitutional democracy.”

Many have predicted the case will be quickly appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump, for his part, answered in all caps on Twitter minutes after the ruling: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!”

The Supreme Court remains short-handed and could deadlock. A 4-to-4 tie in the Supreme Court would leave the appeals court’s ruling in place.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson isssued his own statement, urging that the Trump administration stop pursuing the case and pull back the executive order, which was signed Jan. 27. (Ferguson is holding a news conference, which can be seen on livestream).

“No one is above the law, not even the President,” Ferguson said. “The President should withdraw this flawed, rushed and dangerous Executive Order, which caused chaos across the country. If he refuses, I will continue our work to hold him accountable to the Constitution.”

The case before the 9th Circuit, on whether to uphold Robart’s decision to suspend the travel ban did not take on all constitutional questions involved in the ban. Rather, the judges weighed whether the state or the nation would incur more harm.

The states argued Trump’s travel ban harmed individuals, businesses and universities. Citing Trump’s campaign promise to stop Muslims from entering the U.S., they said the ban unconstitutionally blocked entry to people based on religion.

The Trump administration hit hard on national security, saying a temporary ban was needed to reassess vetting.

The weekend after the ban brought chaos and protests to airports across the United States, including at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as refugee families waited for loved ones and green card holders didn’t know where they stood. Some with visas were turned back.

On Thursday, the court said, “… we hold that the Government has not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of its appeal, nor has it shown that failure to enter a stay would cause irreparable injury, and we therefore deny its emergency motion for a stay.”

The judges added, “On the one hand, the public has a powerful interest in national security and in the ability of an elected president to enact policies. And on the other, the public also has an interest in free flow of travel, in avoiding separation of families, and in freedom from discrimination.

“We need not characterize the public interest more definitely than this; when considered alongside the hardships discussed above, these competing public interests do not justify a stay.”

Both sides faced tough questioning during an hour of arguments Tuesday conducted by phone — an unusual step — and broadcast live on cable networks, newspaper websites and social media. It attracted a huge audience.

The judges hammered away at the administration’s claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears, but they also challenged the states’ argument that it targeted Muslims.

“I have trouble understanding why we’re supposed to infer religious animus when, in fact, the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected,” Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush nominee, asked an attorney representing Washington state and Minnesota.

Only 15 percent of the world’s Muslims are affected by the executive order, the judge said, citing his own calculations.

“Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries to terrorism?” Judge Michelle T. Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked the Justice Department attorney.

The lower-court judge temporarily halted the ban after determining that the states were likely to win the case and had shown that the ban would restrict travel by their residents, damage their public universities and reduce their tax base. Robart put the executive order on hold while the lawsuit works its way through the courts.

After that ruling, the State Department quickly said people from the seven countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — with valid visas could travel to the U.S. The decision led to tearful reunions at airports round the country.

The Supreme Court has a vacancy, and there’s no chance Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, will be confirmed in time to take part in any consideration of the ban.

The ban was set to expire in 90 days, meaning it could run its course before the court would take up the issue. The administration also could change the order, including changing its scope or duration.