SURJ Boston
Actions & Updates
February 9, 2020
Legislative Updates — Keep Up the Calls!
Thank you to everyone for calling your legislators and getting others to do the same! Some bills were reported favorably out of committee and others have had their reporting dates postponed or extended, so keep up the calls!
Lift the Ban on Rent Control
The housing committee at the statehouse has postponed their vote on the Tenant Protection Act until March 31st. This means there are still 7 weeks left to call your legislators! Read more from Right to the City Boston here and find more information about calling here!
Phone Calls, Visitation, and Solitary Confinement
The act to provide no-cost phone calls to people in state and county prisons (S.1372) was reported favorably out of committee! The bills to remove restrictions on visits (H.2047) and to provide protections for people in solitary confinement (S.2413) have had their reporting dates extended to May 1st. Keep calling for stronger visits and for solitary protections! And stay tuned for action alerts with more information very soon.
Licenses for All
From Cosecha: "After a 3-day hunger strike, the Massachusetts Legislature transport committee has voted to advance the licensing act for all." Read more from Cosecha here!
MA Indigenous Agenda
Follow MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda on Facebook for future updates and action items this legislative season. The bills to redesign the racist MA flag and seal, prohibit Native mascots in public schools, and protect Native artifacts were reported favorably out of committee! The bills to support Indigenous Peoples Day and educate Native youth did not advance.
Fund Black Organizing in Boston
Documenting Violence in Boston's Origin Story
Violence in Boston reached their fundraising goal for a documentary about their origin story! Additional donations are welcome to help cover PayPal fees.
Housing Justice
Emergency Petition for #OurSuffolkDowns
Yesterday, a coalition marched in East Boston for real affordability and displacement protections in the plan to redevelop Suffolk Downs. We need you to help get to 500 signatures on the petition to demand that Mayor Walsh meet with community members to discuss their grave concerns before the planned BPDA vote this Thursday. Sign the petition here and share on social media!
Keep Calling for Rent Control!
The committee vote on the Tenant Protection Act has been postponed until March 31st, so there are 7 weeks left to call your legislators! Read more from Right to the City Boston here and find more information about calling here! Remember to report that you called to track our efforts.
CHANGE THE INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT POLICY (IDP) AND WIN TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Coalition for a Truly Affordable Boston is organizing to demand bold changes to the city's affordable housing policy to address the crisis of displacement faced by working class communities. 13% affordability is not enough. We need private developers to include 1/3 affordable housing to help our communities thrive, at lower rents & prices we can truly afford. Learn more about the coalition and sign up here for email updates on the campaign.
Canvass Monthly with City Life/Vida Urbana
The SURJ Housing Justice Action Partnership is seeking canvassers to support City Life/Vida Urbana’s anti-displacement work on the third Saturday of every month. Canvassers help CLVU learn about what housing issues are happening locally, and spread the word about City Life so people can connect with housing justice organizing work and legal support. If you are interested in attending a canvass or if you'd like to learn more, please reach out to Brian at brian@mutualaid.info.
Prison Abolition
Keep Up the Push TO #KEEPFAMILIESCONNECTED and say No to Solitary Confinement
The Public Safety Committee extended the reporting date to May 1st for both the bill for Stronger Visits and the bill to further protections for people subjected to the torture of solitary confinement. Follow this link to find all the information you need to call the Commitee Chair as well as your own legislators about stronger visits, and mention your support for solitary protections (S.2413) too! Please spread the word to 5 friends & keep up the push to get these bills out of committee. Stay tuned for an action alert with more detail soon!
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.
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!
- 1st/3rd 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 Supremacists
No Fascist USA! Webinar
Thursday, Feb 13, 2020 8:00 PM
From SURJ National, join this webinar with Hilary Moore and James Tracy, authors of "No Fascist USA!". This book tells the story of the John Brown Anti-Klan Committee and highlights tactical lessons we can apply to fighting white supremacy today. Register here!
if you plan to join, shoot us an email over at surj-boston-action@googlegroups.com so we can follow up about your experience :).
Immigration Justice
Join Us: Making Schools Safe from ICE
On February 27 at 6-8:30PM, join the Student Immigrant Movement, the Unafraid Educators, and youth from the St. Stephen's Youth Programs for a teach-in that will get you caught up on what has been happening to Boston Public Schools' students, the work that has been done around this for the past two years, and how to stay involved through upcoming action steps. For registration and additional info: bit.ly/noiceinbps
AARW Statement on Increased Deportations
"AARW alongside our partners across the country are standing together to denounce the increase in deportations of Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants. Please read and share this statement about recent updates about the Trump administration's efforts to deport Hmong, Lao and other ethnic groups who have heritage to Laos. If you or someone you know is impacted, there are a list of local and national resources that you can reach out to for support." https://bit.ly/communitystatementonlaos
BE A MONTHLY SUSTAINER FOR MASS JOBS WITH JUSTICE!
Massachusetts Jobs with Justice is looking for 20 monthly sustainers to kick off this year! A monthly donation, big or small, helps sustain their organizing for immigrants rights, worker’s rights, and education justice.
KEEP KIM SAN MAK HOME
Due to legal and organizing efforts, Kim San Mak was able to remain in the US and not be put on the scheduled deportation flight to Cambodia with the 25 Cambodian Americans on Monday, January 13th! However, he is still vulnerable for deportation. We are calling on community members to please support Kim San Mak by making calls throughout the week to the DA's office, and sharing with your networks.
SUPPORT MJL IN #UNMASKING FIDELITY
January 27th marked the 3 year anniversary of the initial Muslim Ban announcement. One step you can take today is to demand that Fidelity stop enabling bigotry - sign the petition and learn more.
SIM DACA Renewal Fund
The SIM DACA fund is being created to provide economic support to DACA recipients in MA. Applicants have to pay $495 in fees for their renewal application. Many members of our community, including DACA folks, live paycheck to paycheck and often are not able to pay for the application fees. We are asking our community to help the DACA recipients here in MA who are part of our community with any monetary support for their DACA renewal application.
Community Change, Inc.
SURJ Boston is a project of Community Change, Inc. (CCI), a Boston-based organization shining a spotlight on the roots of racism in white culture with the intention of dealing with racism at its source.
Get Educated
ANTI-OPPRESSION MEETUP
Sunday, 2/9, 2-5pm
The Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge
partially wheelchair accessible, on site bathroom not ADA compliant
This meetup is meant to hold space for anyone who wants to fight against oppression and discuss its effects on their lives in a community setting. Through the art of active listening in pairs, small, and whole group, we create a safe space and break down the oppressive system through our close-knit relationships. Our usual format for the meetings consists of share outs of our experiences, struggles, and successes, our reflections on our activist work, as well as the sharing of knowledge, resources, and theories. Main topics of the group meetings vary monthly and serve as a framework to expand the discussions of intersectionality of other oppressions--looking forward to seeing you there!
Confronting Systemic Racism
Starting March 4th, this course will focus on bridging a deep understanding of personal and structural racism into commitments and a solid plan to move forward! Participants will examine their experiential roles in the dynamics of systemic racism and find the next step in framing their roles in social justice movements. The course is geared to talk openly about our lived experiences in a racist and oppressive society as well as move beyond words toward action to dismantle racism, whether in our own personal sphere or in our communities.
Redistribution + Investment Study Group
Join a 4-week (Feb. 18-March 10) study group using a reparations lens to think about redistributing individual and collective wealth, with a focus on the Boston Ujima Project.
Understanding Islam Introductory Course
Wednesdays, March 18 - April 15 (4 sessions, no class April 8), 7:00-9:00 PM
Boston Workers Circle, 6 Webster St., Brookline
Understanding Islam: A Muslim Woman’s Perspective on the Essence of Islam, the Diversity of the Muslim World, and its Relationship with the West. This course is designed to bring an alternative voice, and a glimpse of the wider, sweeping, story of the 1.8 billion Muslims in the world. Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world.
Hayat will answer questions such as: Who are we? What do Muslims find so appealing in Islam? What do we believe? What underlies Islamic culture and community? What is our experience with non-Muslims?
Lecture and discussion based. Each session will include a presentation, interspersed with time for questions and answers.Find out more and register here.
KNAPSACK ANTI-RACISM GROUP
Knapsack is a multiracial group hosted by Community Change Inc that is committed to challenging the system of racism in the United States and the world. We engage in dialogue, build community, and support the efforts of racial justice leaders and organizations. We are dedicated to the struggle for shared liberation.
- For more, including meetups in the Metrowest area, see the meetup site
- Engage with the group on Facebook
White People Challenging Racism
Moving From Talk to Action: Find classes and sign up on the WPCR website
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