SURJ Boston

Confronting White Supremacy

Straight pride parade organizers Mark Sahady, John Hugo, and Chris Bartley are known white supremacists who are using "straight pride" as they have used gun rights, "free speech," abortion, immigration and other "culture war" issues to thinly cover for their attempts to build a white supremacist, fascist movement.

Here is more information:
Good summary and rundown of Straight Pride organizers ties to organized fascists, ThinkProgress, 2019.

ThinkProgress 2018, background on Resist Marxism of which Sahady is a key organizer and links to attacks in Charlottesville.

Antifash Gordon Twitter Thread laying out history of Straight Pride organizers

Housing Justice

SIGN: Petition for a Stronger Inclusionary Development Policy

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA, formerly the BRA), will be updating their Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) over the next few months and we need YOU to sign the petition to demand a stronger IDP for Boston that includes one third affordable units and a redefinition of "affordable" that makes units truly affordable. Sign the petition here!

Support the fight against an unjust eviction: Donate today!

We are continuing to raise funds for the Grahams, who have been organizing with City Life/Vida Urbana to fight an unjust eviction. They have now settled their case and plan to move out; we thank them for putting up a fight against housing displacement!  Our goal is now to raise a total of $10,000 to cover their attorney fees (which were higher than originally expected) as well as a donation they plan to make to City Life/Vida Urbana to support other families who are fighting displacement in Boston. We still need to raise around $4,400 for the Grahams' fundraiser and your support is greatly appreciated! Please donate here if you can. Thank you!

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 to stop YPIP 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.  

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 BIJAN | Donate to BIJAN | Share BIJAN| Host someone thru BIJAN

Prison Abolition

SIGN UP TO BE A MEAL CAPTAIN FOR FJAH PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE!

Looking to feed the movement? Families for Justice As Healing is asking allies to provide meals to support their participatory defense meetings, where people fighting cases get together to plan their legal defenses and find community support. These meetings are based on the model of Mothers in Charge, a Black woman-led organization in PA.

SURJB is seeking meal captains to:

• coordinate a meal happening every 2 months (doesn't mean you DO everything, but you make sure everything HAPPENS)
• get groceries, cook for 15, deliver to FJAH in Roxbury

Interested in participating in meal coordination or a part of the meal? Fill out this google form

SEND POSTCARDS FOR CLEMENCY!

It's not too late! The first phase of the Clemency Campaign goes 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 LGBTQ+/HIV+ people 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 chatting. Formerly incarcerated and court involved people especially encouraged to attend. Cis, straight and/or free world allies are welcome!

• 2nd/4th Wednesdays in JP: 7-9pm at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA.  Contact Annie at annieatwater@gmail.com; wheelchair accessible.
• ON HIATUS UNTIL AUGUST 4th. Sundays in Cambridge: 3-6pm at Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge; partially wheelchair accessible, no accessible bathroom.

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)

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.

Movement for Black Lives

blm vigil at first baptist jp

Thursday, August 1, 5:30 - 6:30 PM, 633 Centre St, Jamaica Plain

Monthly vigil in support of Black Lives Matter

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.

Solidarity and Reparations        

DONATE: WESTERN MASS SURJ REPARATIONS CAMPAIGN

Western Mass SURJ has been working on a cross-class reparations campaign in close partnership with a multiracial coalition of grassroots organizers. They are collecting reparations payments on behalf of and in coalition with Stickii Quest and ShaeShae Quest, who are Black queer and trans organizers living in Springfield. These payments will go towards the purchase of a house in Springfield in late 2019. Read more about this exciting campaign and DONATE.