Quote of the Week:“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.” --Cesar E. Chavez Legislative Actions: The Key to Statewide Activism is Using TAN! If you're new to Take Action Network (TAN):
Support Operational standards for private detention facilities (Senate: Passed To Rules For 2nd Reading)HB 1232 requires the Department of Health to adopt rules governing private detention facilities' operations, such as the Northwest ICE Processing Center, related to sanitation standards, dietary requirements, individual rights violations, and environmental conditions. DEADLINE: Apr 16 • 5:00pm Support increased access to prescription hormone therapy (Senate: Passed To Rules For 2nd Reading) HB1971 increases access to prescription hormone therapy. It requires health plans that cover hormones to reimburse a 12-month refill of prescription hormone therapy at one time. DEADLINE: Apr 16 • 5:00pm Support SB 5184: Capping excessive parking mandates (House: On Floor 2nd Reading) This bill would cap how many parking spots local governments can require for new homes and commercial buildings, and give full parking flexibility to a set of building types that need it the most. It would allow more homes to be built in cities without restriction parking. DEADLINE: Apr 16 • 5:00pm Support HB 1163 - Permit to Purchase Saves Lives (Senate: On Floor 2nd Reading) This Act specifies requirements and standards for firearms safety training programs and issuance of concealed pistol licenses, specifies circumstances where a firearm transfer may be delayed, requires record keeping for all firearm transfers, and establishes reporting requirements regarding permits to purchase firearms and concealed pistol licenses. DEADLINE: Apr 16 • 5:00pm Federal Actions: Support the UN World Food Programme  The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been on the frontlines of the world’s worst hunger crises, fighting hunger and famine since 1962. Their programs include emergency relief, school meals, food assistance, and small-scale farming. They serve families, children and women, and refugees whose lives have been devastated by natural disasters, poverty, persecution, conflict and extreme weather turns. They are working in some of the world’s hardest-hit regions, including Gaza, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sahel, Mozambique, and Ukraine. Now facing massive federal funding cuts, the WFP needs your help. Funding shortfalls are forcing them to scale back or completely stop operations in the world’s worst emergency zones. They are forced to take food from the hungry to give to the starving, putting millions of lives at risk – especially women and children. Let’s step up and do our part. Action: Make a donation to the United Nations World Food Programme. Share Your Story: Our Senators are Listening Photo by Hümâ H. Yardım on Unsplash (cropped) From OI’s Rapid Response Federal Watchdog Team Senators Murray and Cantwell want to hear from Washingtonians directly harmed by the current administration’s cruel and chaotic actions. We’re collecting these stories and forwarding them to the Senators. Examples include:
Actions:
You’re welcome to share your story anonymously; however, bravely including your name and contact information allows for follow-up from the Senators. Please don’t use the form for general venting or actions that haven’t happened yet. Phone a friend and join an Indivisible committee instead. WA State Actions:Thank Governor Ferguson For Defying Donald Trump On his social media platform, the current president threatened to “withhold all federal funding” from any state that allows “sanctuary cities” – such as Olympia. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson responded, in part: “My team and I are working closely with the Attorney General’s Office to defend our state from unlawful federal actions. I am not going to allow the federal government to arbitrarily and unlawfully withhold funds that support individuals on Medicaid, our education system, child welfare, emergency relief and so much more.” Action: Thank Gov. Ferguson via e-message or by calling (360) 902-4111. Script: Thanks for working with Attorney General Nick Brown to defend Washingtonians from the bully in the White House. I hope other states’ governors will follow your example; he may yet learn to respect the law. Help Defend Public Education and Washington’s Schools Stop Moms for “Liberty” is a nonpartisan, focused movement to unite education advocates across the US to fight against the unwanted takeover of our public schools by anti-public education, right-wing-funded “moms for liberty” groups. Washington state has a very active, friendly, well-organized chapter called WA Stop M4L, which is currently recruiting for more members. A lot of good work needs doing, including:
Action: Fill out this form to join WA Stop M4L and help public schools in Washington to be welcoming, inclusive, and committed to accurate, honest, fact-based instruction. Come to Sierra Club’s Action Hour with Dave Upthegrove Monday, April 14  As the brazen attacks coming from the Trump administration continue, our community is seeking leadership, insight, and ways for everyday citizens to make a difference. Join Sierra Club on Monday, April 14, at 5pm for a statewide Zoom Action Hour to get an inside look at what they know, what they’re planning, and—most important—action you can take to fight for Washington’s wild places, climate, and communities. Washington state's Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave Upthegrove, will join this meeting to share what he knows about the impacts here in Washington, his plans to steward our state's public lands, and the best ways for you to stand up for wild places. Before and after we hear from the Commissioner, we’ll dive into a couple of quick but powerful actions you can take live on the call. Action: Register for this Monday, April 14 Sierra Club Zoom Action Hour with Dave Upthegrove at 5pm. Ask Gov. Ferguson to Help Halt Microplastics Microplastics are everywhere, and they're harming our health! Drinking water is one of the main ways people consume microplastics. But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasn’t taken steps to stop microplastics in drinking water. Your governor has the power to champion microplastic-free water. By law, when seven state governors petition the EPA to monitor dangerous chemicals like microplastics in our water, the EPA must comply or provide detailed justification for refusing to do so. Action: Send a message to your governor: Tell the EPA to monitor microplastics now! Local Actions:May Day Is Coming! Join Us for Two Events  From OI’s Unions and Workers Justice Team International Workers Day is May 1st, and the Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council is celebrating with TWO events! First, on Thursday, May 1st at the Capitol Theater attend a free screening of the classic Labor film Salt Of The Earth (once banned). The doors will open at 6:00 PM, and the film will start at 7:00. There will be a post-film discussion focused on local immigrant justice issues. Then, let's keep the May Day spirit alive on Saturday May 3 with an All Labor March for single-payer healthcare, immigrant rights, and our essential public services. Meet at the Tivoli Fountain at the State Capitol (103 Capitol Way S, Olympia, WA). Wear union colors if you have them. Union membership is not required. Comments are closed.
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