The Amp

June is Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month. Discuss intersectional issues for the LGBTQ community, including racial and economic justice. Cite the values of Economic Security, Community, and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; Social Justice Sexuality’s Intersecting Injustice: A National Call to Action Addressing LGBTQ Poverty and Economic Justice for All; Immigration Legal Resource Center’s Special Considerations for LGBTQ Immigrants
• Hashtags: #Pride2020; #PrideMonth

Immigrant Heritage Month provides another opportunity to talk about the economic challenges and contributions of immigrants in the United States. Reference the values of Economic Security, Community, and Voice.

• Messaging and Communication Tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Quick Tips for Talking Immigration Issues and Power of POP - Media Analysis of Representations of Immigrants in Popular TV Shows; Immigrant Heritage Month 2020 Campaign
• Hashtags: #CelebrateImmigrants; #IHM2020; #ImmigrantHeritageMonth

Movement for Justice in El Barrio presents a Charla (Conversation) with Immigrant Women from El Barrio Impacted by COVID-19 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Lean how low-income, immigrant communities of color have been affected at a higher rate than any other demographic in New York City. Hear about the movement's response in dispersing much-needed aid and resources to its immigrant community in East Harlem. 

Today is the anniversary of Congress approving the Constitution’s 19th amendment, which gave white women the right to vote. While an important accomplishment, Jim Crow laws prevented many women of color from exercising this right for decades. Cite the values of Equality and Voice when talking about this anniversary. 

• Messaging and communication tools: Challenging the whitewashed history of women’s suffrage (Southern Poverty Law Center); African American Women and the Nineteenth Amendment (National Park Service); When the Suffrage Movement Sold Out to White Supremacy (New York Times Editorial Board)
• Hashtag: #19thAmendment; #WomensVote

On this day in 2015, Kalief Browder took his own life after spending three years in New York’s Rikers Island jail. Browder had been awaiting trial for stealing a backpack and spent two years in solitary confinement. Supporters point to Browder’s incarceration as the source of his mental illness. Citing Browder’s story, advocates successfully pushed the City of New York to close the facility because of its mistreatment of inmates. With the release of the series “When They See Us,” many Americans again questioned the treatment of Black men in our criminal justice system. Use this hook to further the discussion by citing the values of Equality, Redemption, and Voice. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Promote Justice in Pre-Trial Services & Practices; Promote Community Safety through Alternatives to Incarceration; The Central Park Five: Looking Back; When They See Us: Thirty Years Since the Central Park Five Case 
• Hashtags: #KaliefBrowder; #justice4kalief; #WhenTheySeeUs; #TheCentralPark5; #CentralPark5

On this day in 1965, the Supreme Court upheld the “right of marital privacy” in the case of Griswold v. Connecticut, which ensured access to contraception. The case provided precedent for the court to legalize abortion in the Roe v. Wade case eight years later. Recent state-level bans on abortion could be potential challenges to these landmark decisions and disproportionately impact people living in poverty. When talking about this anniversary, cite the values of Economic Security, Voice, and Equality.

• Messaging and communication tools: Sister Song’s What is Reproductive Justice?; NARAL’s Reproductive rights are human rights; National Women’s Law Center’s Reproductive Health Is Part of the Economic Health of Women and Their Families; Center for American Progress’ 13 Ways States Can Protect and Advance Women’s Health and Rights; 
• Hashtags: #GriswoldVCT; #ThanksGriswold; #StopTheBans; #YouKnowMe  

Loving Day celebrates the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision on the case of Loving v. Virginia, which struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage. Use the anniversary to talk about racial justice with the values of Equality and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice and Frank Conference’s Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal: Mixed, Mulatto, Swirl: A Documentary Journey of Discovery; LovingDay.org’s resources
• Hashtag: #lovingday

On this day in 1987, President Ronald Reagan gave his famous "Tear Down this Wall" speech in Berlin. Although Reagan was addressing the Communist bloc, it’s worth noting that this previous Republican president publicly challenged the idea of using walls to separate or isolate people. In the speech, Reagan also said, “The wall cannot withstand freedom.” Use this anniversary to talk about the needs of the U.S./Mexico border region and how a wall proposal is blatant scare-mongering. Cite the values of Economic Security and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking Border Issues Amidst the Government Shutdown and 5 Tips for Talking About Border Communities Without Talking about A Wall
• Hashtags:#LoveYourBorderlands; #nobannowall; #noborderwall

On this day in 1966, the Supreme Court issued its decision on Ernesto Miranda vs. Arizona. The ruling created what became known as “Miranda rights”, the law enforcement procedure of reminding someone of their rights when being arrested. Use this anniversary to discuss the importance of criminal justice reform by referring to the values of Redemption and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices; Promote Justice in Pre-Trial Services & Practices; Building a Narrative to Address Violence in the U.S. and the Center for Popular Democracy’s Freedom to Thrive: Reimagining Safety & Security in Our Communities
• Hashtag: #mirandarights

On this day in 2012, President Obama announced the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. President Trump’s decision to end the program is still held up in the courts. Advocates are awaiting a Supreme Court decision on DACA in the coming weeks. Discuss this anniversary by referring to the values of Voice, Community, and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: United We Dreams’ Digital Toolkit and Studio Rev's Know Your Rights toolkit; The Opportunity Agenda’s Communications to Protect Dreamers and our Nation’s Values; 5 Tips for Talking About the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) and Promoting Family Unity
• Hashtags: #HereToStay, #HomeIsHere, #DACA

On this day in 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Plyler v. Doe that states could not deny public education to students who were not legally admitted into the country. Doing so, they said, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. Since the ruling only applied to K-12 students, other court cases and legislation made it possible for some states to deny undocumented students access to in-state tuition, scholarships, or enrollment at public colleges and universities.

• Messaging and communication tools: United We Dreams’ Systemic Racism in Education and Toolkit: Educators and Institutions
• Hashtags: #heretostay #PlyerVDoe

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Americans gained their freedom in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today's celebrations provide the opportunity to discuss the enduring legacies of racial injustice. Join the conversation, citing the values of Economic Security, Voice, and Community.

• Take Action: In Philadelphia, join the Close the Creek campaign for its Juneteenth event “From Plantations to Prisons - The Evolution of Oppression.”
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
• Hashtag: #juneteenth

World Refugee Day commemorates the strength, courage, and perseverance of millions of refugees. With the Covid pandemic, it’s an important time to connect this international observance to what’s happening in the United States and across the world. Cite the values of Community and Economic Security when discussing this.

• Messaging tools: The Opportunity Agenda's The Importance of Maintaining our Identity as a Nation That Welcomes Refugees and Talking About Unaccompanied Refugee Children Fleeing Harm; American Immigration Council’s As World Refugee Day Approaches, A Reminder That We Must Do Better; Church World Service's toolkit
• Hashtag: #withrefugees; #WorldRefugeeDay; #WorldRefugeeDay2020; #WRD2020; #StandWithRefugees

Father's Day is an important time to talk about racial justice and economic opportunity with your audiences. With the separation of immigrant families at the border and around the U.S., this holiday provides another opportunity to talk about the need for family unity. Focus on the values of Economic Security and Mobility.

• Take Action: Share the Immigration Advocates Network’s Make a Plan and Self-Screening Interview. 
• Messaging tool: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About Economic Justice - Communications that Support Efforts to Eliminate Poverty and Immigration Policy Solutions: Promoting Family Unity; United We Dream’s ICE and CBP Tracker 
• Hashtag: #fathersday #familiesbelongtogether

On this day in 1944, President Truman signed the G.I. Bill. As a result, thousands of World War II veterans were able to apply for funds for college education, unemployment insurance, and housing loans. However, less than 2% of these mortgages went to people of color. This is a good time to talk about the role of government in providing economic opportunity to all Americans. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today; Realizing the Promise: How to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing; History.com's How the GI Bill's Promise Was Denied to a Million Black WWII Veterans
• Hashtag: #GIBill 

On this day in 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the third iteration of President Trump’s “Muslim Ban.” Previously, lower federal courts had found each iteration to be blatantly anti-Muslim, unconstitutional, and an abuse of the president’s power. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of Voice, Equality, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Six Tips for Responding to Supreme Court Decisions;  Messaging Advice on Muslim Ban Decision; #NoMuslimBanEver campaign’s Digital Action Toolkit on the Ruling; Joint Union Statement; Muslim Advocates’ Muslim Ban Decision Puts the Basic Rights of All Americans at Risk; Stand with MPower Change muslim grassroots movement. 
• Hashtags: #NoMuslimBanEver; #NoBanNoWall  

On this day in 2015, activist Bree Newsome removed the Confederate battle flag after climbing the flagpole in front of the South Carolina Capitol building. The flag was originally raised in opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and lunch counter sit-ins in the 1960s and has flown ever since. Confederate flags and many monuments honoring the Confederacy remain across the U.S. Discuss this anniversary and the underlying problem citing the values of Community, Voice, and Equality.

• Messaging and communication tools: TruthOut’s It’s Time to Honor Victims, Not Perpetrators, of US Brutality; Southern Poverty Law Center’s Whose Heritage? Community Action Guide and Whose Heritage? Public Symbols of the Confederacy
• Hashtags: #LoseTheLostCause; #WhoseHeritage

Today is the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a key turning point in the struggle for LGBTQ rights. Use the anniversary to discuss intersectional issues for the LGBTQ community, including racial and economic justice. Cite the values of Economic Security, Community, and Voice.

• The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; Queer Detainee Empowerment Project’s World Report on the LGBT Immigrant Experience; Center for American Progress’ ICE’s Rejection of Its Own Rules Is Placing LGBT Immigrants at Severe Risk of Sexual Abuse; Social Justice Sexuality’s Intersecting Injustice: A National Call to Action Addressing LGBTQ Poverty and Economic Justice for All; Immigration Legal Resource Center’s Special Considerations for LGBTQ Immigrants
• Hashtags: #Stonewall; #Pride; #PrideMonth; #MoreColorsMorePride

President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. The 41,000- mile “National System of Interstate and Defense Highways” insured safe and speedy transcontinental travel and created economic opportunity for millions of people. Infrastructure development demonstrates shows how we’re all in this together. Use this anniversary to discuss the need for new infrastructure spending and cite the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Infrastructure Plans Should Boost Affordable Housing for Lowest-Income Americans; Our Neighborhoods Our Future's Vision and Principles and Messaging Guide to Trump's Infrastructure Proposal; Partnership for Working Families' Infrastructure Week Social Media Guide, Graphics and Building America While Building Our Middle Class; Policylink's Equitable Infrastructure blog; Millions of Job's Ten Principles; In the Public Interest's Understanding and Evaluating Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
• Hashtags: #timetobuild; #BuildForTomorrow

On this day in 1972, in Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty, ruling it as unconstitutional under the 8th and 14th Amendments. Justice William O. Douglas concluded that the death penalty "is disproportionately imposed and carried out on the poor, the Negro, and the members of unpopular groups." Four years later, the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty on the idea that it was constitutional under the 8th amendment. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of Equality, Voice, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Tips for Talking About Law Enforcement Enhanced Penalty Laws and Americans are Becoming Less Punitive; Death Penalty Information Center’s Death Penalty Fact Sheet;
• Hashtags: #FurmanVGeorgia; #racialinjustice 

On this day in 2018, activists organized nationwide protests in opposition to the Trump administration’s family separation policy, which has separated hundreds of immigrant children from their parents. As family separations and deportations continue amidst Covid-19, advocating continues to be critical. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of Voice, Equality, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: Families Belong Together’s Resources; The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About The U.S. Border: Imprisoned Children and Separated Families; National Immigrant Justice Center’s Fact Sheet on Alternatives to Detention; Center for American Progress’ Video: Parents Respond to Trump's Order to Imprison Children and Families; 
• Hashtags: #StopDeportations #FamiliesBelongTogether; #FamiliesTogetherAndFree;  #FreedomForFamilies; #EndFamilyDetention; #ReunifyFamiliesNow