SURJ Boston

Movement for Black Lives

BLM Boston Campaign 21

At the end of 2018 BLM Boston, SURJ Boston, and other local organizations raised $2,500 to support a Black woman and child fleeing domestic violence getting settled in a safe situation. Become a monthly donor to BLMB to help them create a pool of resources for urgent needs! PAYPAL for one-time donations is m4blmboston@gmail.com.

Housing Justice

DONATE: ANTI-EVICTION LEGAL SUPPORT

The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) rallied on Valentine's Day to support a small business's fight against displacement in Boston's Chinatown. Mr. YenChi Chen is currently facing eviction from 106 Tyler St, where a new owner has already converted 4 residential units into Airbnb rentals. Learn more and donate here to support Mr. Chen's legal expenses as he fights to keep his business.

VICTORY: Dorchester Grandmother Keeps Her Home after Facing Eviction

Ms. Rosa Poincy, a Dorchester grandmother and Section 8 tenant living at Baker Chocolate Factory apartments was told to move out for no fault of her own. BUT after SPEAKING OUT and defending her home - with INCREDIBLE support from YOU - ROSA NOW HAS A NEW LEASE! THIS is how we end Boston's #DisplacementCrisis - organizing, taking the fight against displacement to the streets, and staying strong! Thanks to Dorchester Not for Sale, Dorchester People for Peace, Right to the City Boston, and Sheila Dillon for advocating on this case.

Immigration Justice

Call-in to Support ICE Detainee Hunger Strike

On Friday, February 15th approximately 70 I.C.E. detainees at the Suffolk County House of Correction launched a hunger strike calling for an end of abuse and for more humane conditions. Four people are currently being held in solitary confinement in direct retaliation for participating in this hunger strike. Join us for this Call-in Day by contacting the Suffolk County House of Correction and call for better conditions at the facility and for all detainees to be immediately released: 617-635-1000, extension 6510# or 2030#

PLEASE READ the full list of grievances sent from the detainees at Suffolk County: http://thefangcollective.org/suffolkletter

Reject the Wall

2/18 (tomorrow!) at 4 PM. Trump made up a national “emergency” to fund his racist, xenophobic, and unpopular wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. We refuse to stand for it. Nor will we stand for the “bipartisan” agreement on border security which funds Custom and Border Protection, ICE, more detention beds, more family separations, and more barriers. Join Cosecha Massachusetts and other organizations to say NO to the emergency, NO to the wall, and YES to permanent protection, dignity and respect for all undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers.

Community Intake Training

2/25 at 6 PM. This is a training on how to do a community intake specifically for vulnerable and impacted Southeast Asian community members threatened by detention and deportation. While open to everyone, we are looking for folks who would be interested in a follow-up community dinner and immigration legal clinic in the near future. Please RSVP here (dinner will be provided): https://bit.ly/intaketraining

Jobs with Justice Sip and Stitch Fundraiser

3/29 at 6:30 PM. Join Jobs with Justice for a "Stitch and Sip": we'll teach you the basics of cross stitch, then show you how to use it to create a radical work of art. All materials provided; no experience necessary.

Activist and detainee support

The Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network stands with our friends at No More Deaths, who were recently found guilty of misdemeanor charges in Tucson for leaving food and water in a part of the desert where 155 border crossers are known to have died since 2001 and where countless more have gone missing. No More Deaths is asking everyone who believes that people have the right to receive food, water, and medical care regardless of their documentation status to sign onto their Public Statement of Support, which will be published in a print newspaper ahead of the second round of trials beginning in late February.

Join our network of members fighting the injustice of detention and deportation through rides, donations, letters, advocacy, home hospitality, and much more.  
Join: bit.ly/joinBIJAN | Donate: beyondbondboston.org
Share: bit.ly/BIJANflyer | Host: bit.ly/BIJANhousing

MJL Anniversary Party: Be Seen, Not Watched

February 23rd at 8 PM! Muslim Justice League is 4 years old this month and we'd love for you to unplug and celebrate with us! There will be light refreshments, a room with art supplies, and an open mic for anyone who wants to perform music, poetry, or share a story - just let us know ahead of time. If you have visual art or materials you'd like to share (or sell) let us know! Tickets are $20 but free for members! Once you sign up for membership, you'll receive the discount code for your free ticket!

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 make 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.

Resources and Education About the Migrant Exodus

The Immigration Justice AP has compiled some resources to help you talk with others and build solidarity with the families and individuals migrating from Central America.

RESIST YPIP - SIGN THE PETITION!

The Boston Police Dept. is engaged in a Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program called Youth and Police Initiative Plus (YPIP) that targets Somali youth ages 13-17, getting them to talk to BPD officers under the indefensible assumption that they are inherently violent. More than 25 organizations signed our letter demanding BPD pull out of YPIP, yet they've continued. Sign the petition above!

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 Ed

BPS School Budget Cuts do not need to happen

This week, Boston Education Justice Alliance is having a planning meeting about how to push back against the BPS budget cuts. They are looking for students, parents, teachers and concerned community members to attend and brainstorm actions and strategies. The meeting is Wed, February 20th from 6-8 PM at St. Stephen's Church, 419 Shawmut Ave, South End.

Prison Abolition

SUPPORT PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE

SURJB is working to partially fund meals for Families for Justice as Healing's Participatory Defense weekly sessions. At these sessions, court-involved community members work together to defend themselves against the racist court system! Please note your donation is for Participatory Defense in the "additional info" line. Ongoing need is $75 per week, and any amount helps!

FIRST 100 DAYS COURT WATCH CAMPAIGN

Train to be a court watcher! Court watch happens between 9 am and 12 pm on weekdays, and this is appropriate for someone who can attend court at least once between now and the end of March. The First 100 Days Court Watch Project in Suffolk County is to hold the District Attorney’s Office accountable for reducing pre-trial detention and addressing racial disparities—promises District Attorney Rachael Rollins boldly campaigned on. Her campaign included a do-not-prosecute list, which you can read here. Volunteers sit in the courtroom, observe arraignments, and record what charges are being brought by prosecutors. This data will be collected and shared with DA Rollins. Sign up here to be wait-listed for a future training session.

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 LGBTQ/HIV+ prisoners' letters, learn about their struggles, and help out the Black and Pink family!

• Saturdays in Lower Allston: from 12 -3pm at Swissbäkers. Contact Eli at eli@newgreyhair.com or Facebook page; wheelchair accessible.
• Wednesdays in JP: 7-9pm at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA.  Contact Annie at Annieatwater@gmail.com; wheelchair accessible.
• *NEW* Sundays in Cambridge: 3-6pm at Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St in Cambridge; partially wheelchair accessible, no accessible bathroom.