Weekly Call To Action - February 6, 2022

Quote of the Week:

“What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe.” -- Bell Hooks ​

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​Take Actions Now:

 Push Back Against Threats of Violence to Our Public Officials!

Stand up for Democracy by thanking Doctor Fauci for his steadfast stewardship for science and truth. Push back against the aggressive campaign to bully and harm officials that hold to professional ethics even in the face of violence and threats to their families.

Action A: Write to Dr. Fauci at: Office of the Director, NIAID Office of Communications and Government Relations, 5601 Fishers Lane, MSC 9806, Bethesda, MD 20892-9806

• Make it real! Write a personal note or postcard thanking Dr. Fauci for his courage and steadfast work to protect our health. Gratitude heals and gives courage to public servants and people willing to stand up for us. Then 
• Make it public! Take a photo of your note or postcard (protect your address) and share it on social media to increase the power of your action. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see examples of courage and gratitude on Facebook?

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​Action B: On the local front let’s send a thank you postcard to:
Thurston County Health Officer Dimyana Abdelmalek
Thurston County Public Health
412 Lilly Rd. NE Olympia, WA 98506-5132​

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​Legislative Actions of the Week:

Washington Indivisible Legislative Action
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Do These Today! Deadline is 7AM Monday!

Legislative Actions

After taking the following actions, click the green 'I took this action' button. 

Sign in PRO to Support HB 1226 (School district elections) Allows for a simple majority vote on school bonds and levies. Requiring a 60% “supermajority” for passage is one tool used by Republicans to underfund public schools, an increasingly overt objective. This is our opportunity to put public school funding on the same footing as the people we elect; requiring only a simple majority.
Deadline: Feb 7 before 7:00am

Sign in "Pro" to Support HB 1814 (Community solar projects) Stimulate the deployment of community solar projects,
Deadline: Feb 7 before 7:00am
 
Sign in PRO to Support HB 1716 (Ballot casting locations) Vote centers and student engagement hubs should be free from electioneering and voter interference.
Deadline: Feb 9 before 7:30am

Take Action Training
If you are not a member of Take Action Network (TAN), sign up for a training session or request a meeting with one of the TAN trainers for a one-on-one session. It takes 15 minutes or less for the basic sign up.

If you are already a TAN member, watch this video to learn how to filter TAN so you only get the actions of interest to you. Introduction to TAN Activists. ​

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​Community Participation:

Stand with Striking Students

Peaceful Strike
About 200 River Ridge High School students will begin their second week of peaceful strike this coming Monday, led by their Black Student Union of North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS BSU). 

They are calling for a safe and inclusive school environment free from sexual violence regardless of sex, gender presentation, or sexuality, as well as safety from racism, harassment, initmidation, and bullying. Their strike follows years of patiently working within the system to receive help, only to be met with stonewalling, minimizing, re-traumatization, and dismissal.

List of Requests 
The NTPS BSU has written an articulate and reasonable list of requests to the Teachers' Union. The River Ridge High School student strikers have displayed an extraordinary amount of courage, dignity, organization, solidarity, and determination. Their efforts are being supported by their faculty advisors and a small group of school parent volunteers, but they need members of the public to show up so that the school administration sees that these brave souls have community support.

Negotiation with Administration
It appears that the administration will finally be entering into negotiation with them on Monday, so it is crucial that the students stand strong and that they receive support. 

Action: Please go spend an hour (or two, or more) with the students at River Ridge. Monday, February 7th, 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM at 350 River Ridge Dr SE, Olympia, WA 98513

• Bring a sign showing your support. You do not need to do anything other than to stand in the rear with your sign. See suggestions below.
• Bundle up (it might rain), 
• Wear a mask (not everyone is, but the strike is taking place out of doors in a large space and you can easily practice safe social distancing). 
• There is a big parking lot around the back of the school. Turn right at the stop sign entrance to the school. Let’s show some love and support for these courageous young people. ​

​​Sign Suggestions: 

• I Stand with the BSU
• Thank You for Your Civic Engagement
• Listen to These Young People
• School Should Be a Safe Place
• Students of RRHS: Your Courage Is Inspirational
• This _______ (auntie, father, your profession, etc.) Supports BSU