SURJ Boston

Actions & Updates

August 12, 2018

SURJ Boston Updates

Do you like our new look? Let's shout out to the Comms Team!

READ ON CAUSE WE NEED YOU.

Take Action

SHOW UP TO DISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY!!!

One year ago, white supremacists and fascists rallied under heavy police protection while 40,000 community members rejected their message of hate. We will continue to show against white supremacy and fascism every time they mobilize.

8/18 Remembrance Rally 10 am

Info to march with SURJ given upon RSVP.

8/15 Town Meeting: Standing Up to the Far Right

7-9 pm, Arlington St Church.

Fill out this form to join the SURJ contingent for either event.

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY

SURJ National produced this guide on how to talk to white people about white supremacist extremists that covers important points in how to talk with white folks in our lives about this political moment.

Exclusive: Leaks show how Boston ‘free speech’ group acts as a front for far-right organizing.  Resist Marxism markets itself as a harmless conservative and libertarian group. But they have plenty of connections to the far-right.

Get Involved

Housing Justice

DORCHESTER NOT FOR SALE DINNER & COMMUNITY FORUM

On Wednesday, August 15 from 6pm-8pm at 42 Charles St (the Vietnamese American Community Center) Dorchester Not For Sale will hold our next Community Dinner and Forum. How do we prevent displacement of ANY current residents as new development explodes in our neighborhood? We focus again this month on housing affordability in new development and what is truly affordable for us to stay here and what we need to fight for together. DN4S is building a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-generational REAL resident-led community process that centers Dorchester residents most at risk of displacement in decision-making about the future of our neighborhood. We need ongoing financial support. Please make a donation today! Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/DotNot4Sale

Support elderly women renters

We’re almost to 500 signatures - please sign and share! Our Lady’s Guild House (OLGH) has operated in the Fenway for more than 60 years as a residence providing affordable housing for women of all ages and income levels. Rents at OLGH have rapidly risen since 2012 to the point that dozens of disabled, older, and low-income women have already been pushed out to make way for short-term residences and AirBNBs aimed at students and young professionals. This tax-exempt charitable organization is engaging in blatant age discrimination and causing unnecessary displacement. Please sign the petition to show that you support these women’s right to remain in their homes. Read a news story with more information.

Immigration Justice

Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund

More than 1,000 people are held by ICE every year in South Bay House of Correction in Boston. Some are from our local communities, others are sent to South Bay from the border and have no family or friends in Boston, but everyone in ICE jail is cut off from community support, legal recourse, and basic human rights. The new fund bonds our neighbors out of detention so they can be reunited with their families and have a chance to fight deportation. Please help us raise $100,000 over the next two months. Organized by the Boston Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN, pronounced "Beyond"). Donate and get more information.

Political Education Webinar

Wednesday, August 8, 8:00 PM
SURJ National is hosting a political education webinar on "The Alt-Right and Immigration." Register for the webinar.

Centro Presente needs volunteers

Centro Presente needs volunteer ESL and Citizenship teachers. Email Meredith Gamble at mgamble@cpresente.org to get involved!

Boston Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Network

Support those caught up in the harm of our racist immigration system. Sign up. Please join us in taking action by ensuring members of our communities have the resources they need to fight their deportations and stay connected to their families. You can donate and share.

Prison Abolition

Court Watch

We're looking for court watchers who want to challenge culture of white supremacy and punishment in our courts. Court Watch MA is a collective effort led by Families for Justice as Healing, ACLU, National Lawyers Guild, Massachusetts Bail Fund, and MA Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Register for a training & find information.

Support for Hunger Strikers

Families For Freedom has been in contact with several immigrant prisoners housed at Bristol County House of Corrections, where a major hunger strike involving over 60 immigrant detainees has been underway. The hunger strikers are resisting deplorable conditions including nearly nonexistent medical care, inedible food, abuse from facility employees, and exorbitant commissary prices. Their central demands are: (1) Adequate medical care; (2) Food with nutrition; and (3) Lower commissary and phone rates.

The strikers at Bristol County have asked for the public to provide support by calling in to the facility and the ICE field office and demanding that the strikers’ concerns are met:

Stop CMR483: Keep Families/Friends in Touch With Incarcerated Loved Ones

The Massachusetts DOC has implemented a new regulation limiting the number of visitors and only if they are on a pre-approved visitor list. Sign the Petition Against Visitation Rights Restraints.

Black & Pink Volunteer Drop In

Times are drop in/drop out, so come for as long or little as you'd like. You will need a laptop. Come read prisoners' letters, learn about their struggles, and help out the Black and Pink family!

Movement for Black Lives

BLM Boston Giving Campaign

BLM Boston is in need of funds to assist real folks (3 families) who have emergency needs and are displaced right now. "We can help them into permanent housing but need your help. Our need is $3,675.00 (total to help these 3 families)." PAYPAL for donations is m4blmboston@gmail.com. For longer range, recurring support join Campaign21 which moves us from emergency, crises driven giving to solidarity sustained giving.

Standout for Black Lives Matter

Thursday, August 23, 5:30 PM, Ashmont T station
Organized by Dorchester People for Peace. Spread the Word! All are welcome! Hold our banner and Black Lives Matter signs and hand out fliers.

Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

8/2/2018 5:30:00 PM In front of First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, 633 Centre St. Contact: Ann Philbin at aphilbin@aol.com

Public Education

Petition to demand PILOT Payments

A petition calling for our mayor and city councilors to demand our institutional neighbors contribute to the future of ours schools and community. Institutions such as Harvard, Northeastern, BC, BU which together neglected to pay $36 million in PILOT payments and continue to underpay. Sign the petition!

Educate Yourself

Community Change Inc.

SURJ Boston is a project of Community Change Inc (CCI), a Boston-based organization shining a spotlight on the roots of racism in white culture with the intention of dealing with racism at its source.

Knapsack Anti-Racism Group

Join Knapsack for more information:

White People Challenging Racism

Moving From Talk to Action: Find classes and Sign up on the WPCR website

Anti-Racism Collaborative

Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC) is a multi-racial collective of
anti-oppression educators and activists committed to supporting the movement for racial justice and equity. ARC holds critical education and community building spaces for engagement that explores the individual and collective processes of dismantling racism. Courses include:

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