The Amp

On Friday, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration plans to deploy elite tactical agents from the Border Patrol in Sanctuary Cities this month until May. The agents have enhanced Special Forces-type training, including sniper certification, and will be equipped with stun grenades. This is blatant fear-mongering for immigrant communities and dog whistling to Trump’s base. Cite the values of Community and Economic Security when talking about these developments.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Redefining Sanctuary and What does safety really mean in America?; LUPE’s Statement: Trump Deploying Border Patrol to Interior Cities Shows Why We Need a New Border Vision; United We Dream’s Trump Escalates Attacks Against Immigrant Communities; New York Immigration Coalition’s Bombshell NYT Report Reveals New Escalation in Trump's War on Sanctuary Cities; America’s Voice’s On Press Call, Advocates Blast Trump’s Decision to Send Tactical Units to Cities that Welcome Immigrants; National Immigrant Justice Center’s Chicago Is Prepared To Respond To Trump’s Latest Threat To Militarize Our City;
• Hashtags: #FreeToStay; #FreeToMove; #sanctuaryeverywhere

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee marked up the No Ban Act will be headed for a vote on the House floor soon. This legislation will repeal Trump's Muslim, asylum, and refugee bans, change immigration law to prohibit discrimination based on religion, and limit the power of this administration or any future administration to enact similar bans. This Friday is the implementation date for Trump's Muslim ban expansion. Advocates are planning protests and actions around the country. Discuss these developments by citing the values of Equality, Voice, Economic Security, and Community. 

• Actions Requested: Contact your elected officials to #RepealTheBan and #StandWithMuslims by hosting or attending an event in your community.
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About the Muslim Ban, Trump v. Hawaii; The International Refugee Assistance Project's IRAP Opposes New Immigration Restrictions Expanding the Muslim Ban; Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights' With Expansion of Muslim Ban, Trump Stokes More Fear to Curry Favor with Base; Church World Service's Expanded Muslim Ban is Discriminatory and Morally Reprehensible; Amnesty International USA's Efforts to Revive the Muslim Ban are Atrocious; 
• Hashtags:  #NoBanAct; #RepealtheBan

There is less than a month to submit comments on The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new rule that would remove oversight measures that ensure fair housing enforcement. this new rule by citing the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Take Action: Comment now on the new rule and encourage your networks to do so too!
• Messaging and communication tools: #FightForHousingJustice’s resources; The National Housing Law Project’s HUD Launches Administration’s Latest Attack on Civil Rights by Retreating on Fair Housing; National Low income Housing Alliance’s HUD’s Proposed AFFH Rule Is Not a Fair Housing Rule; National Fair Housing Alliance’s NFHA Opposes HUD Proposal to Dismantle Fair Housing Act, Weaken Enforcement; The Opportunity Agenda’s Realizing the Promise: How to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing; Why Fair Housing, Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity and Reforming HUD’s Regulations to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing
• Hashtags: #KeepHousingFair; #FightForHousingJustice; #FairHousing

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

Events and Cultural Hooks:

• Black History/Black Future(s) Month 
• #ToImmigrantsWithLove campaign continues: Deadline Friday, Feb. 28
• Protecting Immigrant Families webinar on public charge: Wed. Feb. 19 At 2pm EST
• EST
• #JudicialIndependence Twitterstorm: Wed. Feb. 19 at 3pm EST
• 9th Democratic Presidential Debate: Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 9pm EST 
• World Day for Social Justice: Thursday, Feb. 20 
• Amnesty International USA's Presidential Candidate Forum: Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6pm PST/9pm EST
• Implementation Date for Trump's Muslim Ban Expansion: Friday, Feb. 21 
• Webinar: The Opportunity Agenda's Narrative Research Lab: Friday, Feb. 21 at 2pm EST
• Nevada Primary: Saturday, Feb. 22 
• The NAACP Image Awards: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8pm EST 
• Black Joy Parade: Sunday, Feb. 23 
• Protecting Immigrant Families Teach-In on public charge: Monday, Feb. 24
• 10th Democratic Presidential Debate: Tuesday, Feb. 25
• Refugee Council USA's Grassroots Advocacy webinar: Friday, Feb. 28 at 12pm EST
• The For Freedoms Congress: Friday, Feb. 28 - Sunday, March 1
• South Carolina primary: Saturday, Feb. 29

Historical Anniversaries

• Supreme Court decides unanimously to bar South Asians from becoming U.S. citizens: Feb, 19, 1923
• War Relocation Authority established to relocate Japanese-Americans: Feb. 19, 1942 
• Nina Simone's birthday: Feb. 21, 1933 
• Malcolm X assassinated: Feb. 21, 1965 
• W. E. B. Du Bois' birthday: Feb. 23, 1868 
• Hiram Revels sworn in as senator from Mississippi: Feb. 25, 1870 
• Trayvon Martin killed: Feb. 26, 2012 
• American Indian Movement begins occupation of Wounded Knee: Feb. 27, 1973
• The Kerner Commission releases report on race relations: Feb. 29, 1968

You don't need to wait each week for the Amp action alert to find out what's coming up. You can easily add our media hooks and events to your work calendar, which will automatically update when you refresh your calendar. Here's how:

• Google Calendar:  Follow these instructions to subscribe to calendar using an email address (not link option). Copy and paste this entire address:      o33rmu231ochbp5i16botmsvus@group.calendar.google.com 
• Outlook: Follow these instructions. Copy and paste this entire link:   https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/o33rmu231ochbp5i16botmsvus%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
• Apple iCal for Macs: Follow these instructions. Copy and paste this entire link:   https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/o33rmu231ochbp5i16botmsvus%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics