This week we range far and wide to call for justice, starting with a Women's Moral March on Washington this Monday to mark the anniversary of the birth of the Women's Movement in the U.S. Sign up to help table for voter registration at events in NW and NC Philly. Celebrate our victory over the Mandatory Sentencing bill proposed by Rep. Amen Brown. If you've got children at home, read about the Child Tax Credit just released by the White House. You have another chance to participate in Penn's renter's survey. And check out what happened this week in history.
Women's Moral Monday March on Washington
Monday, July 19th, Washington, D.C.
In commemoration of the birth of the Women's Rights Movement at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, the Poor People's Campaign will be participating in a Women's Moral Monday March.
The action will start at the U.S. Supreme Court at 1 First Street NE at 11AM. Then, with support from nonparticipants, more than 100 women will take part in a Nonviolent Direct Action to: Call for an end to the Filibuster, pass all provisions of the For the People Act, fully restore the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $15/hour.
If you'd like to know more or sign up to take part in this action click the link below:
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Got Kids? Check Your Bank Account for Child Tax Credits
Good news for families with dependent children! Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration distributed $15 billion in expanded tax credits to families all across our nation. For the 86% of families using direct deposit, they will receive their child payment today, July 15th, and the 15th of every month for the rest of 2021. It will show up in their bank accounts described as “ChildCTC.” Others will receive their check in the coming days.
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Victory on Mandatory Sentencing!
Action Update
Congratulations to everyone who took part in reaching out to Rep. Amen Brown about his Mandatory Sentencing bill. Calls to Rep. Brown's office and visits by activists to let him know that his bill would do little to curb violence, while threatening onerous consequences to the lives of his constituents, got an immediate response as Brown pulled his bill from consideration. This is what democracy looks like
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Willing to Table for Voter Registration?
Sunday, July 31st
We have two opportunities to table for voter registration coming up on Sunday, July 31st. The first is at the Women in Reentry event in Vernon Park, 5800 Germantown Ave. The event takes place from 10AM-4PM.
The second opportunity is the "LOL: Loving Olney and Logan, Honoring Hometown Heroes" event at Clarkson Park at 5450 Old York Road (North Broad St) in the Logan section of the City hosted by State Rep. Stephen Kinsey. This events lasts from 11AM-4PM.
If you'd like to help, please email Lori Jardines at ljardinesmd@aol.com to coordinate your tabling time.
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Reminder: Take the Renter's Survey
Our friends at Community Legal Services are working with researchers at Penn to develop a survey of all renters in Philadelphia. The objective is to learn more about the prevalence of illegal eviction, housing discrimination, substandard housing, rent increases, and especially how these adverse experiences break down along lines of gender, race, ethnicity, and income and zip code.
The results of the survey will help us make informed decisions on next steps to help struggling residents. If you're a renter, please take the survey; if you know a renter, please forward this email to them. The more renters who participate, the more accurate the results will be, so to entice folks everyone who participates will be entered into a lottery to receive one of fifty $50 gift cards. If you're a renter, please take a moment to fill out this survey.
If you'd like to know more about what Philly leaders are doing to help renters, check out this article from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Click this link to Apply for Rental Assistance.
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This Week in History
July 16, 1945 – Manhattan Project. On this day, the United States successfully tested the first atomic bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
July 17, 2020 – John Lewis Dies. Civil Rights leader and U.S. Representative for Georgia John Lewis died at the age of 80. Before being elected to Congress, Lewis was the Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and a chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom .
July 19, 1848 – U.S. Women's Rights Movement Born. The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention in the United States. The meeting was the start of a 70-year journey, which eventually led to women's suffrage.
July 20, 1969 – One Small Step for Man. On this day, astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped off the lunar module Eagle to become the first person to walk on the moon.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director