SURJ Boston

Prison Abolition

COLLECT SIGNATURES FOR MASS POWER CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE #Right2Vote

The signature collecting for the Mass POWER campaign has begun! We have 100,000 signatures to get by November 20th, so we need all hands on deck. To sign up to canvas, please fill out this form. Additionally, the SURJ Prison Abolition Action Partnership is hosting two trainings for folks who want to learn how to be “signature captains” – AKA, people who help organize other people to collect signatures:

• Sunday, October 6th, from 12:30-2:30pm in Jamaica Plain (address released upon RSVP!), the SURJ Prison Abolition Action Partnership will be hosting a special SURJ Brunch that is equal parts brunch (it’s a potluck - bring a dish!) and a how-to training on how to collect signatures -- and help organize others to collect signatures! RSVP HERE. The Facebook event is here.
• Can't make the brunch? No sweat! We have another training on October 10th (location and time TBD; it will be in evening). RSVP Here. The Facebook event is here.

SUPPORT NEW BEGINNINGS!

New Beginnings Reentry Services is a Boston-based nonprofit that supports and empowers formerly incarcerated women and non-binary individuals as they navigate the challenges of reentering their communities. New Beginnings is starting a Women’s Voices Project/Movement that will focus on barriers women face once released. This fundraiser would allow New Beginnings to begin this program and further serve their community via counseling and support services. As they grow, they hope to establish a house for an 18 month residential program. Donate today to help us reach $1000 this month!

Donate Retired Cellphones!

Our friend Jude Glaubman is collecting retired cell phones for women leaving incarceration. If you have phones in usable condition to donate, get in touch with Jude at jglaubman@thecouncil.us

Call for Quilters!

Are you a quilter? We need quilter to support the national, state-by-state effort for women to receive clemency. The quilts will need to be completed by the end of September. Each quilt will feature the names of women seeking clemency in their state. If you’re interested, email Ashley (ashley.tartarilla@gmail.com).

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? Fill out the form and if you have questions email Ray at rachelbish91@gmail.com.

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.
• Sundays in Cambridge: 3-6pm at Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge; partially wheelchair accessible, no accessible bathroom.

Confronting White Supremacy

March on The Mile

Saturday, September 28, 11:30 AM
Massachusetts Ave & Albany St. (South End)

We ask you to SHOW UP this Saturday, September 28, and join the Boston Users Union for a "March on the Mile" to demand an end to Operation Clean Sweep, an ongoing police action targeting people in Boston experiencing homeless. More info about this Saturday's march here.

Following police violence against counterprotesters of the Straight Pride parade organized by white supremacist and fascist groups on August 31, we demand that DA Rollins’ office drop the charges against all 8/31 protesters AND all victims of Operation Clean Sweep.

Housing Justice

Renters Rising! Block Party

Saturday, September 28th from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The Brewery (upper parking lot), 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain
Free and open to all!

Fight for a stronger Inclusionary Development Policy!

Join us in demanding true affordability in private developments! Make the Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) match Community Need and Boston Residents’ Real Incomes to truly tackle the affordability and displacement crisis. Sign the petition and join us at 3 PM on Wednesday 10/16 to put the pressure on City Hall!

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST EVICTIONS

We are continuing to raise funds for the Grahams, who have been organizing with City Life/Vida Urbana to fight an unjust eviction. 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 $2,600 for the Grahams' fundraiser, and your support is greatly appreciated! Please donate here if you can. Thank you!

Immigration Justice

Driving Licenses for All Phonebank

Sunday, September 29, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Workbar Central Square, 45 Prospect St., Cambridge, MA

Come phonebank with us at Activist Afternoons to help all Massachusetts residents, regardless of immigration status, access the basic right of a driver's license! Please bring a laptop/tablet/other Internet device, and sign up here so that we'll be able to contact you with more information. Organized by Massachusetts Jobs with Justice!, Driving Families Forward, and Indivisible-Mystic Valley.

Drag the ICE Machine Outta Here: Ft. Naomi Chomsky

Thursday, October 10, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Jacques Cabaret, 79 Broadway Street

Join the Justice4Siham Campaign for a fun night of drag and musical performances to raise funds to help permanently reunite a family that was torn apart by ICE. For more information about the Justice4Siham Campaign, check out @FreeSiham or www.justice4siham.com.

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: 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

Public Education

FUND OUR FUTURE PHONEBANKING!

Wednesday September 26th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Jobs With Justice, 375 Centre St, Jamaica Plain

Participate in this phonebanking event to urge people to reach out to their legislators to support the PROMISE Act and the CHERISH Act. The PROMISE Act would ensure fair funding for K-12. The CHERISH Act deals with fair funding in higher education.

Please email Keri from SURJ Public Ed at kabonney@gmail.com with any questions!

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.

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.

Movement for Black Lives

BLM Vigil at First Baptist JP

Thursday, October 3, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
633 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Monthly Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter at First Baptist JP.

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.