The Amp

Last night, the House of Representatives took two historic votes on articles of impeachment, making President Trump the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. We have four tips that should be kept in mind when communicating about these monumental votes.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking Impeachment: Protecting our Democratic Values and The Impeachment Inquiry: Now What?; Center for American Progress’ Statement on House Approval of Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ The President Is Not Above the Law
• Hashtag: #Impeachment

The budget appropriations bill containing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding passed the House earlier this week and will move on to the Senate possibly today (Thursday, Dec. 19). The bill increases gross budget authority for ICE and CBP, including an additional $1.375 billion for wall construction. There’s still time to call on senators to reject this increased funding. Cite the values of Community and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: Defund Hate’s Vote NO on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020; National Immigration Law Center’s Spending Compromise Hurts Immigrant Communities; Southern Border Communities Coalition’s Congress Agrees to Budget Deal That Perpetuates The Failed Border Policies of the Past; United We Dream Action’s “No” on Funding Bill That Gives Trump Unobstructed Ability to Terrorize, Deport and Kill Immigrants
• Hashtag: #DefundHate

Earlier this fall, President Trump issued an Executive Order requiring that state and local officials consent to allowing refugees to be resettled in their communities. This week, Governor Lee of Tennessee (R) submitted written consent to the U.S. State Department to continue welcoming refugees; the 25th governor to do so.  As advocates work to add more states to this list, be sure to cite the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition’s press statement; The Opportunity Agenda's The Importance of Maintaining our Identity as a Nation That Welcomes Refugees; Refugee Council USA’s An Open Letter to Refugees; National Immigration Forum's Audio: Leaders Voice Support for Refugees; Welcoming America's WelcomingRefugees.org; SEARAC's Trump Administration Considers Further Cuts to Refugee Admissions
• Hashtags: #withrefugees; #StandWithRefugees; #NoRefugeeBans

Below is a list of communication hooks and events for this week that you can use to reach new audiences and inform existing ones. Click on each link for messaging and communication tools as well as hashtags.

Events and Cultural Hooks:

• Census Bureau releases American Community Survey: Thursday, Dec. 19
• Democratic Presidential debate in Los Angeles, CA.: Thursday, Dec. 19 at 9pm EST
• Christmas and Kwanzaa: Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 – Jan. 1
• Poverty Awareness Month: January 2020

Historical Anniversaries:

• Massacre at Wounded Knee: Dec. 29, 1890
• Emancipation Proclamation takes effect: Jan. 1, 1863
• Oscar Grant killed by transit police: Jan. 1, 2009 (10 year anniversary)
• Lemon Grove Incident: Jan. 5, 1931
• Zora Neale Hurston born: Jan. 7, 1891
• German Coast Uprising: Jan. 8, 1811
• President Johnson announces "War on Poverty:" Jan. 8, 1964

For a look further ahead in January, click here.