SURJ Boston

Public Education

BPS Walk Out For Black & Brown Lives

Tomorrow (Monday) 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM at City Hall Plaza: "Join every Boston Public School Young person and Young people across the City of Boston as we walk out for Black & Brown lives and meet at City Hall to do a silent protest of a "Die In" where we will lay in silence outside of the Mayor's office..." See the Facebook event here for more details.

Take action against BPS school closures!

• Community discussion on the Build BPS plan, which prioritizes land values over education. Click here for the schedule and show up to defend public schools!
• Read School Yard News' coverage of school closures
• Read Bay State Banner's coverage of BuildBPS discussions

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!

Housing Justice

Meetings to Discuss the Demands from the Homes for All People’s Assembly:

FRI 11/30: Meeting #2: Changing the Zoning Code to Protect Residents and Create Affordability

Action for Regional Equity (a Right to the City coalition member) is hosting a meeting on Friday, November 30, from 5:30-7:30pm at City Life/Vida Urbana headquarters (284 Amory St in Jamaica Plain). We are focusing on creating a change to the city’s zoning code to protect current residents and create affordability. Residents from across the city are invited. If you want to continue building a movement grounded in the leadership and solutions of people most impacted, you are welcome to come and help shape this demand! Light snacks provided with Spanish/English interpretation and childcare provided upon request. Please email marvinaction@hotmail.com if you are planning to come.

SAT 12/1: Meeting #3: Inclusive & Democratic Neighborhood Governance Over Development

Reclaim Roxbury (anther RtC coalition member) is hosting a meeting on Saturday December 1 from 11am-1pm at Alternatives for Community and Environment (2201 Washington Street #302, Roxbury (enter off Ruggles #3)). The meeting will focus on Inclusive and Democratic Neighborhood Governance Over Development. Residents from across the city are invited. If you want to continue building a movement grounded in the leadership and solutions of people most impacted, you are welcome to come and help shape this demand!Light snacks provided with Spanish/English interpretation and childcare provided upon request. Please email reclaimroxbury@gmail.com if you are planning to come.

City Council Hearing about Displacement

On November 13 there was a City Council hearing about the ongoing displacement crisis in Roxbury. The Boston Herald covered the meeting here and here is a video from CLVU of a Roxbury resident’s testimony.

Immigration Justice

#ICEOutofSuffolk call-in campaign to Sheriff Tompkins

On Tuesdays, call Sheriff Tompkins 617-704-6655 or Tweet @stevenwtompkins.

As part of Suffolk County’s contract with ICE, there are about 190 immigrants jailed in the South Bay Detention Center. Yet Boston has a city ordinance for sanctuary protections of undocumented immigrants. Tell the sheriff’s office that they have the ability to cancel the contract and the responsibility to ensure that all detainees are promptly released.

STOP CVE BOSTON - SIGN THE PETITION

The Youth and Police Initiative Plus (YPIP) is a CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) program funded by the Department of Homeland Security that targets Somali youth (age 13-17) in Boston, unfairly viewing and treating them as susceptible to “extremism.” Targeting Somali youth is racist, anti-Muslim, and must end! Read more at the link above.

Jericho walks in burlington mA

Burlington Area Clergy 4 Justice(BAC4Justice) organizers Jericho Walks, silent interfaith prayers and acts of solidarity. The walks draw inspiration from the Battle of Jericho, in which the community marched around the city of Jericho seven times, causing the city walls to fall. Join them on these Tuesday afternoons outside the ICE Field Office in Burlington, MA:
• November 20
• December 18

Contact Laura Wagner at lwagner@uumassaction.org for more information.

NO BUSINESS WITH ICE - SIGN THE PLEDGE

ICE is terrorizing immigrants at the border and in our communities. We can fight back by refusing to be complicit with institutions that cooperate with ICE.

Centro Presente: Volunteer ESL & CitizenSHIP Teachers

Email Meredith Gamble at mgamble@cpresente.org to volunteer!

Boston Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Network

• Sign up to support those caught up in the harm of our racist immigration system.
• Donate and share this fundraiser to help our community members fight their deportations and stay connected to their families.

Prison Abolition

FIRST 100 DAYS COURT WATCH

Court Watch to ensure District Attorneys implement the progressive policies they promised during their campaigns, starting on January 3, 2019 at Boston Municipal Court, Roxbury District Court, Dorchester District Court, Cambridge District Court, Lowell District Court. Contact Mallory Hanora at mhanora@justiceashealing.org for more information.

Justice for Roger Herbert #DeeperthanWater

Roger Herbert, a Black West Indian immigrant, died of cancer contracted at MCI Norfolk on October 19. He endured medical neglect and abuse, and his niece, Sophia, was repeatedly denied multiple visits in the weeks preceding his death. His loved ones inside prison, in a staggering show of solidarity, raised $2000 to cover his funeral costs - when they themselves make at most $3/day.

• Read and share Roger Herbert's story on facebook.

HOST A BLACK & PINK HOLIDAY CARD PARTY

Every year, Black & Pink volunteers send thousands of holiday cards to our incarcerated LGBTQ family. Host a card party for your friends, family, congregation, workplace, or community! "Most importantly, the holiday card party you are organizing is about planting a seed of hope. There is strength in hope, and when we fight together, we can win."

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!

• Saturdays in Lower Allston: from 12 noon - 3 PM at Swissbäkers. Contact Eli at eli@newgreyhair.com or Facebook page
• Wednesdays in JP: 7PM-9PM at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA.  Contact Annie at Annieatwater@gmail.com

Movement for Black Lives

BLM Boston Giving Campaign

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.