This week we say NO KINGS
Dear Companions,
Given the violence and violation of Trump’s use of the National Guard and U.S. Marines to break up a non-violent peaceful demonstration condemning his anti-immigrant policy, I think it is important for a powerful presence to oppose his illegitimate, unconstitutional violation of the right of free assembly. Please consult the information below about non-violent presence to face Trump’s imposition of an ultimate crisis. If he can get away with this, it will be hard to stop other of his cruelties.
With blessings for shalom in thought and shalom in action, and with knowledge that the Holy Spirit can only act if we do
— Arthur
Happy Tuesday, Activists!
We hope you had a great weekend. Seems like we've got something going on this week! Apologies but this is a long one this time. And we'll have more information later in the week.
Our nonviolent No Kings event on Saturday will start at Love Park, at 15th and JFK Boulevard, at Noon. Then we'll march to the Art Museum for the rally. Sign up here. And after you sign up, tell your friends to sign up too!
We know the Trump regime activated the National Guard and now the Marines to crush peaceful protests against brutal ICE raids that’ve been taking place throughout Los Angeles County. We know the deployment of military forces was an unnecessary abuse of power by this regime, intended to chill dissent against its attacks on our rights, our families, and communities.
They want to sow fear, to escalate, to provoke an emergency that will justify the exercise of ever-greater authoritarian powers. And we know this is scary - intentionally so. Fear is their goal because fear can be demobilizing and contagious. But we won't let them succeed. You know what else is contagious? Courage is contagious!
On June 14, groups all over the country will rise up in defiance of this regime’s authoritarian agenda. There are more than 150 national organizational partners, thousands of local leaders, and nearly 1,800 nonviolent protests globally. We are a force! Sign up here.
Since we know that tyrants aim to provoke violence as a pretense for enacting emergency powers and further crackdown, it’s essential we all commit to a central tenet of the No Kings mass mobilization: Nonviolence. Sign up below to learn about how to ensure our march and rally are nonviolent.
1. Learn how to handle any encounter with law enforcement and to de-escalate tense situations at our protests. Attend the ACLU’s Know Your Rights Training, TONIGHT at 7pm ET / 4pm PT, (en Español a las 5:15pm PT).
2. Sign up for the No Kings mass call this Thursday, June 12, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT to prepare for the huge day ahead! All No Kings attendees are highly encouraged to join Indivisible's pre-mobilization call this Thursday, with information about recent developments, tactics to de-escalate conflict, tips for successful demonstrations. This is a chance to come together in community to get fired up for Saturday.
Indivisible national has been in touch with the L.A. No Kings event organizers and offered additional resources to keep these events -- which are going forward as planned -- peaceful and productive.
We'll have more information for you and some guidelines later in the week. For now, please know that we are doing everything we can to ensure we have a non-violent event that energizes us all for the challenges to come.
Here is a list of things we want you to know about.
We'll have more later this week.
* Bring your refillable water bottles. It's likely to be pretty warm on June 14th and you'll want to make sure you're hydrated. The City will provide water fountains along the march so please bring your water bottles with you and you can refill them there. We are trying to avoid an endless stream of plastic water bottles or even paper cups!
* We need marshals/peacekeepers to help direct the crowd and deescalate potential conflict. Sign up here. No experience is necessary and you will be trained and have all the information you need for success.
* Hand out flyers now to promote the event. Do you have a little time to spread the word about our rally? We've got more materials for you! If you can come pick them up please use this link and tell us. We'll be handing them out again tomorrow from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Center City. You can take them around your neighborhood to friendly shops so they can display them.
* Share these graphics on your social media. You can promote the event on your social media feeds and your networks in general. You can use these graphics to post.
Simply save one or both and then add them to your post.
Are you in the suburbs?
Deadline extended!
You may want to know there are chartered buses coming from King of Prussia. Sign up by Thursday!
The fee is only $25 and you can sign up using the QR code or going to www.tinyurl.com/bustophilly
Help Support Street Medics If You Can
The Street Medics Hub is collecting and distributing essential medical supplies through grassroots community networks.
They have a proud history of serving communities during protests, disasters, and daily struggles when institutional systems fail.
They will be on the scene at our rally this Saturday. If you can, please consider supporting them.
CALL TO ACTION
The big disgusting bill is now being rewritten in the Senate before heading back to the House for a second vote. We want to maximize senators' changes and delay their process as much as we can -- because every change they make, and every day they take, will make it that much harder for the bill to pass both chambers.
Let's call our senators and demand they slow down the process and fight for SNAP and Medicaid. They must reject the budget-busting bill from the House.
Sen. McCormick – Phila office 215-405-9660; D.C. office 202-224-6324; email link
Sen. Fetterman – Phila office 215-241-1090; D.C. 202-224-4254; email link
For outside PA: Find your senators’ phone numbers and emails at this link.