SURJ Boston

Public Education

make calls for the promise and cherish Acts

SURJ Public Ed's partner BEJA (Boston Education Justice Alliance) is requesting that folks call these reps to support the Promise and the Cherish Act if they live in their district. We need to fund our public schools and colleges by passing these bills this spring – in time for local communities to include the funding in the next academic year’s budget and in time for public college students to avoid tuition and fee hikes this fall. Students can’t afford to wait. More information is here and a phone script for calling is here.  

Chyna Tyler of South End/Lower Roxbury
Chynah.Tyler@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2450

Michael Moran of Allston/Brighton/parts of Brookline
Michael.Moran@mahouse.gov  (617) 722-2014

Aaron Michlewitz of Back Bay, Downtown Crossing, parts of Chinatown
Aaron.M.Michlewitz@mahouse.gov  (617) 722-2990

Liz Miranda of Dorchester, Uphams Corner, Fields Corner  
liz.miranda@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2430
*supports the Promise Act (k-12) but not the Cherish Act (higher-ed)  

Kevin Honan, parts of Brighton
Kevin.Honan@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2470
*supports the Promise Act (k-12) but not the Cherish Act (higher-ed)

Show up on June 12 for the final bps budget vote!

SURJ Public Ed would like to ask folks to show up this upcoming Wednesday June 12th at 5 PM to the final BPS budget vote at the Bruce C. Bolling Muncipal Building, 2300 Washington Street, School Committee Chamber, second floor, Roxbury, MA 02119. Public Ed members will be in attendance.

Organize for the Promise Act

Know anyone in Wellesley, Weston, or Wayland that is interested in equity in Public Education? Please have them contact Tonya Tedesco (tonyatedesco@gmail.com). In conjunction with BEJA & MEJA, we are doing suburban outreach to win support for the Promise Act.

Immigration Justice

Muslim Justice League

We continue to urge the Boston Police Department to end its involvement in CVE, including the Youth and Police Initiative Plus (YPIP) program that treats Somali Diaspora youth as potential "extremists." Raise Your Voice: (1) sign the petition at tinyurl.com/StopYPIP and (2) Tweet or post a facebook message -- using #StopYPIP -- if you believe Boston should not treat our communities as national security threats based on religion, race, or where we're from.  

CALL-IN TO SUPPORT ICE DETAINEES

While February's 70 person strong hunger strike has ended, we must continue the pressure for better conditions at the facility and for all detainees to be immediately released. Please read the full list of grievances sent from the detainees and call Sheriff Tompkins @ (617-704-6655), Suffolk County DA Rollins (617-619-4000), and Governor Baker (617-725-4005) to demand humane conditions and the shutdown of the ICE facility.

Boston Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Network

Join our network of members fighting the injustice of our racist immigration system 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

Movement for Black Lives

BLM Boston Campaign 21

BLM Boston regularly works to coordinate financial support for Black women and children fleeing abuse and/or experiencing housing insecurity. 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.

Prison Abolition

SEND POSTCARDS FOR CLEMENCY!

The first phase of the Clemency Campaign is now until July 31. It's not too late to sign up! We will be mobilizing our communities to send 1 postcard per week asking Governor Baker to release women who:

• are elderly
• have a long-term illness
• are enduring a long bid (more than 10 years)
• are criminalized survivors of violence

We are also sending postcards to the parole board since they have decision making power. If you commit to do this PLEASE email Ruckus (enviropacifibinarchafeminist@gmail.com) and Ashley (ashley.tartarilla@gmail.com) so they can keep track.

Call for Quilters!

Are you a quilter? A later phase of the clemency campaign above will need many quilters to support making giant quilt with patches for each women enduring incarceration. If you’re interested, email Ashley (ashley.tartarilla@gmail.com)

Support Sisters Unchained

Sisters Unchained is a program dedicated to the collective leadership, healing, and creative expression of women and non-gender conforming people of color who are impacted by incarceration. They currently have people on the waiting list for their programs, so give today so they can bring more women and GNC folks into their work!

BLACK & PINK VOLUNTEER DROP IN

Black and Pink’s mission is to abolish the criminal punishment system and to liberate LGBTQIA2S+ people/people living with HIV who are affected by that system, through advocacy, support, and organizing.

These drop ins welcome any kind of abolitionist energy, whether reading and entering mail into the database, writing letters, playing cards, or just chatting. Formerly incarcerated and court involved people especially encouraged to attend. Cis, straight and/or free world allies are welcome!

• Wednesdays in JP: 7-9pm at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA.  Contact Annie at annieatwater@gmail.com; wheelchair accessible.
• Sundays in Cambridge: 3-6pm at Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge; partially wheelchair accessible, no accessible bathroom.