PNN’s mission is to engage, educate and empower our neighbors to make our City a better place to live. Here’s what’s coming up in each of these areas:
Engage: Coalition to Defend Democracy Rally, Buddy Canvass for Primary
Educate: Movie "Israelism", Good News for Student Loan Debt
Empower: Bring Our Money Home Petitions, Send Letter to Help Needy Students
Coalition to Defend Democracy March, Rally & Petition
Thursday, April 4th, 5:30PM-7PM, Starts at 1600 Arch Street
Join allies in the Coalition to Defend Democracy to protest Act 40, the law that strips prosecutorial power from the District Attorney and gives it to an unelected prosecutor appointed by the Attorney General. This law shows blatant disregard for the voters of Philadelphia, in particular, black and brown voters who overwhelmingly voted to retain our District Attorney for another four years.
We'll start at the Philly office of the Attorney General with a few words from movement leaders. This will be followed by a march to the Octavius Catto statue located at the South Portico of City Hall for the rally.
Want to do something now? Call the Governor (717-787-2500) and Attorney General's (717-787-3391) offices and demand that they stop discriminating against our city and refuse to appoint this special prosecutor. Don't let them steal our voice!
And please Sign the Petition demanding that the Attorney General declare Act 40 unconstitutional and to refuse to appoint this unneeded, unwanted, and illegally designated, special prosecutor.
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Ready to Buddy Canvass for the Primary? Sign Up Now!
We will be lending our canvass support to our slate of diverse candidates for state and federal offices, including races for little known but important offices of Attorney General, Auditor General and Treasurer. This canvassing will set the stage for our our work this summer and fall. If we want to win in the fall, we need to start that work now.
If you can help canvass on a Saturday or Sunday next month, please let us know your availability by filling out the form below. As usual, we will pair you up with a Canvass Buddy to make the important work we must do more fun together!
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Bring Our Money Home!
The money we taxpayers and City union members pay into our local $8.4 billion Pension Fund now gets invested in soul-crushing corporations around the world, as picked by Wall Street financiers. Led by PNN, the Philadelphia Public Banking Coalition means to bring at least some of that capital home with a program of Economically Targeted Investments. That program would bring wealth-building investments directly into communities that have been starved for capital ever since the days when redlining was official government policy.
If you think it’s time for the Philadelphia Pension Fund to actually put its portfolio to work for Philadelphians, sign the petition demanding it do so, linked below. And stay ready for further updates.
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Tell Your Reps to Vote "Yes" on HB 2063 to Help Students in Need
Every child in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is entitled to a quality education. We must ensure that taxpayer-funded scholarships are properly allocated and well accounted for and are targeted for students in need. HB 2063 guarantees that at least 90% of taxpayer contributions will fund actual scholarships for PA students who live at less than 200% of the Federal Poverty level. Click the link below to send a letter to your State Representative and State Senator.
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Movie: Israelism
Saturday, May 11th, 7PM, 4101 Freeland Ave.
Join neighbors for thought-provoking film by director Erin Axelman called "Israelism" that will be shown at Congregation Mishkan Shalom located at 4101 Freeland Ave in Roxborough. The movie traces the journey of two young American Jews as they become aware of the Occupation and Israel's dehumanization of Palestinians and begin to question whether support for Israel should define their Jewish identity.
The film features a range of American Jewish thinkers, community leaders and activists, and asks how Israel became the cornerstone of American Judaism, what the consequences have been, and what will happen as divisions continue to grow. You can view the trailer here.
The evening will start with a wine and cheese social, screening of the film, followed by panel discussion with the director and others. There is a suggested donation of $20 for the event.
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Good News for Student Loan Debt!
More than 7.5 million student loan borrowers have enrolled in the U.S. government's newest repayment plan since it launched in August.
President Joe Biden recently announced that he was canceling federal student loans for nearly 153,000 borrowers enrolled in the plan, known as the SAVE plan. Forgiveness was granted to borrowers who had made payments for at least 10 years and originally borrowed $12,000 or less.
The SAVE plan was created last year to replace other existing income-based repayment plans offered by the federal government. More borrowers are now eligible to have their monthly payments reduced to $0, and many will qualify for lower payments compared to other repayment plans.
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This Week in History
Mar 29, 1973 – U.S. Out of Vietnam. The last U.S. combat troops left South Vietnam as Hanoi freed the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam, ending America’s direct eight-year intervention in the country.
April 1, 1946 – United Mineworkers Strike. 400,000 mineworkers went on strike to win union-sponsored healthcare against black lung and other respiratory diseases from mining.
April 2, 1917 – Woman in the House. Jeannette Pickering Rankin from Montana became the first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
April 4, 1968 – MLK Murdered. Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered as he stood on a hotel balcony in Memphis. He was in town to support a sanitation worker's strike.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director
Or Send Donation to: Philly Neighborhood Networks, c/o Gloria Gilman, 121 S. Broad St, Suite 1710, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Contributions to Philly Neighborhood Networks using the above link are not tax deductible.
If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)(3) org, Philly Neighborhood Networks Justice Fund
Learn more about Philly Neighborhood Networks