Compiled by RADC Members - Tracy Wise, Jeff Poggi and Israel Igualate

#GetInvolvedGetInformedTakeAction

#RedlandsDemsAct

Welcome to this week’s Call to Action, where you can find some of the latest events and news to help you take part in the issues that matter to our communities.  If you have a call to action that you would like us to highlight, email us at: [email protected] 

ACTION ITEMS 

For Wednesday, April 27, 2022

1. Link to President Obama’s Stanford Speech re: Social Media

Last week, President Obama gave a speech at Stanford University on the impacts of social media: “Challenges to Democracy in the Digital Information Realm.”  As we navigate the flood of issues coming at us, which social media can amplify and distort, his thoughtfulness is always worth a listen.

A link to his full remarks and a YouTube video of the talk can be found here: https://www.obama.org/democracy-challenges-2022/ 

2. Taking Action on the Equal Rights Amendment (No, It Is Still Viable)!

We have only until April 30th for Biden to direct the U.S. Archivist to publish the ERA.  After the current Archivist David Ferriero retires, there is little hope that a new Archivist will be confirmed before November and we may lose our last, best hope for ERA publication.  

From Kamala Lopez of the Equal Means Equal team: “In January of 2020 the ERA was finally ratified by the 38 necessary states, but the Federal government immediately blocked it from being published in the Constitution. We must urge President Biden to reverse this block and instruct the U.S. Archivist to publish the ERA immediately.”

EME’s website states: “Our grassroots educational, organizing and advocacy operations helped secure the votes needed to finally pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Nevada, Illinois and Virginia. Now that enough states have ratified the ERA, our pursuit for equality and justice moves into the courtroom.”

For more information, you can also go to:  https://www.equalrightsamendment.org/ 

Congress has tried to take action, but cannot break the 60-vote minimum to stop the filibuster. 

Please contact President Biden and Vice President Harris (phone and message links, below) ASAP with this simple message “Please direct the U.S. Archivist to publish the ERA ASAP before the April 30th deadline”:

President Biden--1-202-456-1111 or https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ (select “President”)

Vice President Kamala Harris--202–395–5084 or https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ (select “Vice President”)

3. Access to Banned Books Being Provided to Teenagers by New York Public Libraries!

School libraries are under attack across the country.  Pulling books from school libraries is not new, but these efforts appear to be increasing.  New programs have been announced by New York Public Libraries and the Brooklyn Public Library to help counter these actions.  If you are aware of any school districts which are banning books, and you know teenagers in those districts, please share this information with them ASAP so that they can access those books.  As there are time limits for registering, please act quickly.

  1. “The NYPL is opening access to a selection of commonly banned books (including Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger) via its free e-reading app, SimplyE, now through May.”
  2. “In addition, the Brooklyn Public Library is offering young adults, ages 13 to 21 nationwide, the chance to apply for a free eCard from BPL in order to get access to the library’s extensive collection of eBooks. The card will be good for one year and is designed to complement access to resources for teens in their local communities….

“To apply for the card, teens can send a note to [email protected], or via the Library’s s teen-run Instagram account, @bklynfuture. The $50 fee normally associated with out-of-state cards will be waived. Teens are also encouraged to share videos, essays, and stories on the importance of intellectual freedom and the impact that book challenges and bans have had on their lives.”

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/nyc-libraries-are-offering-free-digital-library-cards-to-people-across-the-u-s-041322 

And with that we want to remind you to submit your event or call to action for consideration to: [email protected] -- Have a great rest of the week!

STICK A PIN IN THIS

  • The midterms are on their way!  Early voting begins on May 9th and runs through June 6th for the June 7, 2022, primary. For RADC endorsements and information about the candidates to volunteer for, go to: https://www.redlandsareademocrats.org/endorsements 
  • Advocating for a vibrant downtown Redlands with a reuse of the site of the current derelict Redlands Mall:  The Planning Commission and the City Council will hold an upcoming joint meeting to discuss the project in greater depth. We will alert you to when that date and time will be and how you can participate (in-person and/or virtually).
  • Redlands City Redistricting:  Our Congressional maps have been set, and the City Council voted unanimously on March 1st to select Public Map One. The final vote came through the March 15th consent calendar. This is the map RADC advocated for, as the best map to recognize neighborhoods and promote equity while being well within the numerical requirements. This will be our new Redlands district map for the next 10 years. Thank you, everyone, for your efforts in preparing, submitting, and advocating for this map!
  • The Rittenhouse trial demonstrated that judicial elections are incredibly important. Let us pledge together to become better informed prior to the next election where judges are on the ballot to ensure that we are electing qualified, non-partisan members of the bench to serve the judiciary in our region. #NoRittenhouseJudgesHere

https://followourcourts.com/2022/03/a-look-at-who-has-filed-to-run-for-judge-in-sb-riv-counties/