SURJ Boston

Housing Justice

Stop the no-fault eviction of a Dorchester Grandmother!

See photos from the vigil for Ms. Rosa here! UPDATE from CLVU: “About 100 of you turned up last night at the vigil to help Ms. Rosa Poincy keep her Dorchester home! THANK YOU for the #CommunityLove and #PeoplePower. #ChartwellHoldings, let Ms. Poincy remain in her home! Ms. Poincy is a disabled, low-income grandmother - there's no good reason to evict her; enough is enough. Please SIGN the petition if you haven't yet: clvu.org/chocolate_factory_petition”

SUPPORT local visual artists facing eviction at the Piano Factory

In late October, over 50 people protested the eviction of artists at the Piano Factory in the South End (you can read about it here or here!) The owners of the studio space, the Shoreline Corporation are refusing to negotiate with the musicians they’re evicting in order to replace the studio with luxury apartments. Can you CALL or EMAIL Shoreline Corp and tell them to stop putting profits over people? Call (617) 491-2320 (press 2 to reach Robert Leahy) OR email Robert Leahy directly at rleahy@theshorelinecorp.com. Thank you!!

Immigration Justice

Solidarity with the Central American Exodus

‼️URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED ‼️ Our sisters and brothers in the Central American Caravan have been resisting the violence they face in their country and have arrived in Tijuana. We have been actively engaging in supporting the #refugee#caravan #exodus but we need YOUR support! They are currently in need of food, sleeping bags, and blankets! Any #donation helps in making it possible to bring volunteers to the #border to support the #dignity, #respect, and permanent #protection of our migrant families!

Please share the GoFundMe among your networks. Donation link here. If you are interested in supporting directly, sign our volunteer pledge here.

SPONSOR: JOBS WITH JUSTICE

ICE is denying bond to people who have pending charges on the grounds that they are "dangerous," and then does not cooperate with local courts to allow people to defend themselves and clear their name because they are in detention. The charge is also used against them in immigration proceedings. This is an egregious undermining of due process that must end.

We are currently taking action to support our neighbor, Julio. Please help us get 1000 signatures on this petition that calls on the Middlesex and Suffolk DAs, and the Suffolk Sheriff to coordinate with ICE to make sure that Julio is transported to Cambridge District Court for his pre-trial hearings. And please support the fundraiser set up for Julio.

JOBS WITH JUSTICE END OF YEAR HOLIDAY PARTY

Friday 12/14, 6:00 PM, at 375 Centre St in Jamaica Plain. Celebrate the end of the year with us and the holiday/winter/snowy season!

SIM HOLIDAY PARTY 2018

Friday 12/14, 5:30 PM. Come enjoy good food, company, and learn about Student Immigrant Movement! This is open to the general public! RSVP for location here.

MJL WORKSHOP FOR MUSLIMS

Workshops on Islamophobia for Muslims are few and far between, with most of them catered for non-Muslim audiences. On Dec. 16th at 3:00 PM, join the Muslim Justice League for a workshop on anti-Muslim racism, for Muslims, by Muslims. We will be unpacking what anti-Muslim racism is, how it functions, and we will be sharing a timeline of surveillance and policing of Muslims in the US. There will also be a screening of a short film and activities where we’ll build practices together to resist! When we say for Muslims - we welcome folks who identify regardless of practice! The workshop is free for members. For non-members, we suggest a donation of $10! The workshop will be held in downtown Boston, accessible by the T. Please RSVP here for the exact address and other details.

#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:

• 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

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.

Public Education

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!

Prison Abolition

Support ARya's Re-entry!

Arya Serenity is the first openly trans woman to transition in a men's prison in Rhode Island. She will be released in January and her comrades in PVD Black and Pink are helping to raise money to get her on her feet. Donate to support Arya's re-entry here!

FIRST 100 DAYS COURT WATCH

Training: December 10, 7 pm, 100R Warren St, Roxbury, RSVP here

On January 2, 2019 District Attorneys will begin a new term in office. We’re launching a First 100 Days Court Watch Project in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties to hold District Attorneys accountable for reducing pre-trial detention and addressing racial disparities. Volunteers will monitor how well prosecutors are living up to their campaign promises and complying with recently passed criminal justice reform. Come be trained and learn how to sign up for shifts in the new year.

CALL: DEMAND THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION REINSTATE VISIT DAYS TO MCI-NORFOLK PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

#HowTheDOCStoleChristmas call-in campaign script and Facebook event.

The Baker administration and staff at MCI-Norfolk have canceled 10 visit days between now and the end of December, just as many major holidays are coming up for folks of faith. We can fight this -but we need your help!

Organizers at the Emancipation Initiative have kicked off their #HowTheDOCStoleChristmas call-in campaign. To support this effort we ask that you make three calls at least once a week to Governor Baker, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett, and DOC Commisioner Thomas Turco. We all know how important family visitation is, especially around this time of year, and we’re hoping that we can put the pressure on to reinstate these visiting days so that people can see their loved ones.

You can read more about this campaign and call script here and follow the campaign on Facebook here.

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.