August 16

Freedom for our Families: Prophetic Action Day at the Sacramento State Capitol

We can and must hold police to a higher standard to reduce the number of deadly shootings. We have a right to know about how police departments investigate these killings and other police misconduct (like when officers commit sexual assault, lie in police reports, or plant evidence). Two bills in the California legislature can make this a reality - but only if we demand they pass!

 

AB 931 will change California's legal standard for when police can use deadly force to match best practices already in place at some departments - and that we know work to reduce police killings. Specifically, it will clarify that police should use deadly force only when there are no alternatives, and consider the officers' conduct leading up to a shooting in determining whether deadly force is justified.

 

SB 1421 will improve transparency and make sure police departments are holding officers accountable by restoring Californians' right to access records of officers who use serious force and are found guilty of committing sexual assault or serious misconduct by their department.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ASK THEM TO PASS AB 931 AND SB 1421!

 

Sample Call Script

(Note: SB 1421 has passed the senate, but AB 931 must pass both houses. Ask your Senator to support AB 931; ask your Assemblymember to support both bills.)

 

"Hello, my name is [CALLER NAME] and I am a [CITY/TOWN] resident. I'm calling today to ask [REPRESENTATIVE] to support [SB 1421 and/ or AB 931] to increase police transparency and accountability.

Senator Richard Pan: (916) 651-4006

Assemblymember Ken Cooley: (916) 319-2008

Assemblymember Jim Cooper: (916) 319-2009

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty: (916) 319-2007

Find your legislators:  

http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

On Thursday, at the Ramsey Courthouse in St. Paul, Minnesota, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violently took Carlos Urrutia to deport him. Carlos, the father of three minor children, was engaged for seven years in immigrant rights advocacy with ISAIAH, ACT's sister organization in Minnesota.  

ISAIAH leaders and family members asked questions of the agents, well within their rights, but the agents refused to state who they were with or why they were taking Carlos. Instead, they physically grabbed, pushed and pulled leaders out of the way while also restraining Carlos.   This video , recorded by Community Organizer Catalina Morales, shows the atrocity described.

It represents the barbaric treatment ICE dispenses to the tens of thousands of immigrants who are ripped from their families and dropped in a country that is no longer their home.

To learn more about Carlos' arrest read the Think Progress report  here. Yesterday,  Carlos was granted a stay of removal by a federal judge.  For now Carlos won't be deported but will remain detained

Carlos is a husband and has resided in the U.S. 25 years, a majority of that time in Minnesota. He now sits in a human cage, separated from his family. Like every other person, Carlos deserves dignity, his humanity and an opportunity to thrive. Like everyone else, his past has not been perfect, but imperfection should never be a reason to mistreat or deny the humanity or sanctity of anyone. 

Let's hold ICE accountable and help Carlos:

Contribute: His family has established a fund for those willing to contribute to the mounting court costs and legal fees. See the  Go Fund Me.

Call: Call Carlos' Congressional representatives and ask them to intervene. Here is what to say:

"Hi my name is _________________ . I'm calling about ICE in St. Paul. Carlos' Alien number is 205-945-136. ICE should not conduct enforcement actions in court houses. It creates fear and is reckless. I am calling to ask Representative/Senator _____________ to intervene in the case and have ICE return Carlos to his family." 

Senator Amy Klobuchar: 612-727-5220, 507-288-5321, 218-287-2219

Senator Tina Smith: (651) 221-1016, (507) 288-2003, (218) 722-2390

Representative Betty McCullom: (651) 224-9191

Register here.

Future of California Elections  invites youth ages 15-18 to submit their original artwork based on what inspires them to be a future voter. The art contest also spreads awareness about pre-registration, which allows eligible 16 and 17-year-olds in California to  preregister to vote  and automatically registers them when they turn 18.  Deadline for submissions is August 13, 2018 . The winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and their artwork will be featured at the 2019 FoCE Annual Conference. For more information on pre-registration and the art contest,  click here .

Homelessness & Housing, 3rd Fridays (next on August 17), 10 am to 12 pm, contact Carlos Montes-Ponce at

Live Free, Third Thursdays, 6:30 pm, contact Ryan McClinton at ryan@sacact.org for location and more information

Reinvestment, 1st and 3rd Thursday  at 2:30,  contact Ryan McClinton at  ryan@sacact.org  for location and more information

Youth Justice, every other Thursday, 5 pm to 7 pm, contact Reggie Hola at reggie@sacact.org for location and more information

What We Are Reading This Week

 

Islamophobia isn't just wrong. It's making Muslims sick

Join us to transform Sacramento!

Sincerely,

Tere Flores

Acting Director