NCJW Weekly Advocacy Wrap-Up:
Friday, August 5, 2022
In this issue...

Write GOTV POSTCARDS AND LETTERS with NCJW

Our Afghan Refugees Escaped Taliban Crackdown

OCJCR -- Rebuilding Lives Anew: A Tisha b'Av Experience

UCI Law's 12th Annual Supreme Court Term in Review

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, August 17th -- 
Thanking Legislative Reproductive Rights Champions
Write GOTV Postcards & Letters with NCJW
Monday, August 8, 2–3:30 pm, Long Beach
We are writing Postcards and Vote Forward Letters! Join us for a Section Writing Party on Monday, August 8th,2 – 3:30 pm at a member’s home in Long Beach. 

We will write postcards to Virginia to be mailed in September and Vote Forward letters to Florida for mailing in October. 

Vote Forward’s letter writing campaigns are designed to reach voters in the congressional districts and states where boosting turnout will have the biggest impact on election outcomes, with a particular focus on reaching historically underrepresented voters in Black, Asian, Latino, and Native American communities. 
Reclaim Our Vote Postcards for Virginia are non-partisan postcards for Reclaim Our Vote, an initiative of the Center for Common Ground. Postcards will be held and mailed between September 5th and October 1st
 
If you have already participated in Vote Forward, log in at https://votefwd.org and pick the Florida “social” campaign marked with an "S".; print out your letters and addresses and bring them with you.

If you have not participated in Vote Forward but would like to do so, please email advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org and we will get you set up or we can bring letters and addresses for you.

We can only accommodate 12 people, so please RSVP to advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org as soon as possible. Let us know if you’d prefer to write postcards or letters

We will provide either envelopes and stamps and letters if you can’t print them, or postcards, instructions, addresses and stamps. RSVP to Co-VP Advocacy Deb Lelchuk at advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org. Hope to see you on August 8th! 
Our Afghan Refugees Escaped Taliban Crackdown
An article in the Los Angeles Times Thursday, July 28th described the Taliban crackdown that is destroying the lives of Afghan women and girls, based on a report from Amnesty International.  The report renews our appreciation of the difference we are making in the lives of the three young women our NCJW members are supporting. Read the article here. 

Reema, Masoma and Hameeda are just three of thousands of Afghan evacuees here on “Humanitarian Parole”, a status that allows for temporary lawful presence in the United States, but does not confer immigration status and does not provide a path to lawful permanent residence or another lawful immigration status.

The Afghan Adjustment Act would allow Afghan parolees evacuated from Afghanistan to have an opportunity to seek legal permanent residence. They are fleeing violence and persecution and deserve an opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety -- without the fear and limitations associated with uncertain immigration status. This is also critical because Afghans were advised to destroy documents associating them to the U.S. mission and other information that would otherwise be used to pursue an asylum claim.

Call on Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act that would allow evacuees from Afghanistan to apply for permanent legal status in the United States. Click here for a factsheet.
OJCR – Rebuilding Lives Anew:
A Tisha b'Av Experience
Sunday, August 7, 3 pm, Temple Beth El
Please join OCJCR on Sunday, August 7 at 3 pm for their annual Tisha b’Av program at Temple Beth El in South Orange County.

Please join OCJCR on Sunday, August 7 at 3 pm for their annual Tisha b’Av program at Temple Beth El in South Orange County. As we reflect on the losses Jews have suffered as a persecuted and displaced people many times over, we honor our obligation to help and connect with people who suffer these tragic losses today and are seeking refuge at our borders. Join us for an introspective program to mourn and to heed the call to ‘welcome the stranger.’

Special guests include a Ukrainian refugee and Ben Naté, Community Outreach Specialist of the Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE) from the office of the Attorney General of the State of California. 


UCI Law's 12th Annual Supreme's Court in Review
Prof. Michele Goodwin hosted UCI’s12th Annual Supreme Court Term in Review joined by an all-star panel on July 6 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Discussing cases affecting gun rights, reproductive justice and more, panelists engaged in a lively discussion to explore a Supreme Court term like few before it. 

Save the Date:
Thanking Legislative
Reproductive Rights Champions
Wednesday, August 17, 10 am
At our recent Lobby Day, Assemblywoman Christina Garcia suggested we send thank you notes to the members of the California legislature who have been reproductive rights champions since they have received hostility from those opposed to abortion access. Right after the July legislative recess we’ll let them know how much we appreciate them.

We'll gather virtually on Wednesday, August 17 at 10 am for the "Big Send" Kickoff. Together we will each send an email at the same time to abortion access champions. This mass "thank you" will heighten the impact for the legislators who receive them. 

More information to come!
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Questions about anything you have read or related to our Section’s advocacy? Email advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org.