We have an update on the budget fight and what we can do. Tomorrow is a busy day with a rally in solidarity with City workers in the morning, followed by a rally to teach truth in our classrooms in the afternoon. You'll also have an opportunity to take a six-week course on how to run for office. And check out what happened this week in history.
City Budget: It's Not Over Yet, the Battle Continues
Latest News: Final votes in City Council are scheduled for 3 PM today on whether to cut taxes for the rich or fund essential City services in next year’s budget. Our experience tells us that budget target dates are frequently delayed, so the final votes could actually be deferred until the legal deadline of June 23rd.
What we know for sure, however, is that our ongoing media blitz coupled with our public testimony before City Council rattled some powerful political cages and stopped them in their tracks. They did not anticipate this pushback and our outreach to members of Council deprived Darrell Clarke the votes he needed to rubber stamp the Mayor's budget.
To those of you who participated in the media blitz: Well done, folks!
We Need to Keep Up the Pressure Today - Friday, June 11th. Please reach out to Council members with emails, phone calls, texts and tweets to tell them that we choose funding essential City services over more tax cuts for the wealthy. And that we’ll hold them accountable if they make the wrong choice.
Everything you'll need is in our toolkit - sample scripts for phone messages and emails, along with graphics, tweets and content for social media (like Facebook).
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Saturday Action: "Pledge to Teach the Truth" Rally
Saturday, June 12th, 12:30PM, 6th & Market
We encourage you to attend the rally at Protest Park this Saturday, June 12th in support of the work of our education allies. The Day of Action Rally is national effort being organized by Rethinking Schools, National BLM at Schools, and Zinn Education Project.
The rally is to call on our educators to pledge to "Teach the Truth" by shunning the feel-good history stories we've been told to gin up false patriotism, and to instead confront the real history of our nation.
Only by taking on the whitewashing of our shared history will we have a chance to heal as a nation. No need to sign up, just show up and lend your voice.
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Rally with City Workers for New Contract
Saturday, June 12th, 10AM, LOVE Park
Join ASFCME DC 33 and 47 workers to demand a fair contract. Folks will be meeting at LOVE Park for speeches and a show of solidarity. This action is a great opportunity to show that community members and organizations care about participating in our City workers' contract fight and the quality of City services we receive.
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Ever Thought About Running for Office?
Prepare yourself to run and govern by learning the context around the biggest policy issues impacting your constituents, the stories and language your constituents use to speak about these issues, the governing authorities you will have access to once in office to affect these issues, and experts you can consult to dig deeper when needed.
The Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center will be conducting a 6-week course, starting on Tuesday, June 14th. It is for those who are thinking about running, their partners, and others who are interested in learning about the process. The course is free, but space is limited.
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This Week in History
June 12, 1963 – Medgar Evers Shot. On this day, Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated in his driveway. He worked for the NAACP and was also instrumental in getting evidence for the Emmett Till murder case.
June 13, 1966 – You Have the Right to Remain Silent... The Supreme Court handed down its decision in Miranda v. Arizona, establishing the principle that all criminal suspects must be advised of their rights before interrogation.
June 14, 1777 – Flag Day. The Continental Congress adopted a resolution deciding on our first national flag, which became known as the “Stars and Stripes.”
June 17, 1885 – “Give Us Your Poor...” The Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor in 350 individual pieces of copper and iron (instructions included).
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director
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