The Amp

In response to local activism in North Carolina, several sheriff departments ended their collaboration with ICE. But the Republican-controlled legislature worked with ICE to draft and introduce a bill, HB370 (similar to Arizona’s “Show Me Your Papers” law), which would force the sheriff deputies to interrogate people about their immigration status, report and detain individuals for ICE, and comply with any request for assistance from ICE. The bill has already passed the House in April and will soon be voted on in the Senate. When discussing this issue, cite the values of Community and Economic Security. 

• Take action: Sign and share Mijente’s petition. Add your organization to this sign-on letter
• Messaging and communication tools: ACLU of North Carolina’s N.C. House Passes Anti-Immigrant Bill that Would Force Sheriffs to Work with ICE; NC Policy Watch’s podcast episode on HB370; The Opportunity Agenda’s Speaking Out On Arizona’s “Show Me Your Papers” Law
• Hashtags: #HB370; #ShowMeYourPapers

Each Monday this month is a decision day at the Supreme Court. Next Monday, the justices could release their decision on including the citizenship question in the 2020 census. Follow SCOTUS blog for live updates. Discuss these developments with your networks citing the values of Voice and Equality.  We will be sending talking points when a decision is made so keep an eye out for our email.

• Messaging and communication tools: Census Count’s Message Toolkit and resources; #WeCount Coalition’s Social Media Toolkit; NALEO Educational Fund’s SCOTUS Decision prep toolkit; The Opportunity Agenda’s Census Data: A Fair and Accurate Count and Census Data and Storytelling; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ talking points; Brennan Center for Justice’s Backgrounder on Federal Laws that Protect Census Confidentiality  
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• Hashtags: #SaveTheCensus #2020Census #Census2020

The Trump Administration is trying to change the way we define poverty by using a different way to calculate inflation. The government uses the “poverty line” to determine who’s eligible to get assistance like food, health care, and home heating. If the Trump White House uses a method that shrinks inflation (as they’ve suggested), they will deny assistance to people who really need it. Even so, the Office of Management and Budget is seeking comments on this potential change right now.

• Take action: To comment on behalf of your organization, or as an expert, with a detailed comment: Use Coalition on Human Need's portal. To comment as a member of the general public: Use CHN's portal at this link.
• Messaging and communication tools: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Trump Administration Floating Changes to Poverty Measure That Would Reduce or Eliminate Assistance to Millions of Lower-Income Americans; TalkPoverty's Trump’s Plan to Lower Poverty by Redefining It, Explained; The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today and Talking About Economic Justice
• Hashtags: #redefiningpoverty; #usapoverty

We’re halfway through Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month in this special 50th anniversary year of the Stonewall Uprising. Discuss intersectional issues for the LGBT 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: #Pride50; #Pride2019; #PrideMonth

Immigrant Heritage Month is the time to #CelebrateImmigrants and share affirmative stories of the crucial ways that diverse communities enrich our society. Reference the values of Economic Security, Community, and Voice.

• Messaging and Communication Tools: Quick Tips for Talking Immigration Issues and Power of POP - Media Analysis of Representations of Immigrants in Popular TV Shows
• Hashtags: #CelebrateImmigrants; #IHM2019; #ImmigrantHeritageMonth

Today in Washington, D.C., Rev. William Barber and other faith leaders will begin holding Moral Witness Wednesdays in front of the White House calling for an end to policies that harm immigrants and people living in poverty. They write “It is time to warn the nation and call this administration to repent of their sins.” Cite this the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Take action: Sign and share the petition and join the event in DC or watch via livestream.
• Hashtag: #MoralWitnessWednesday

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’sTalking 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

From 3:00 - 4:00 pm EST, the Aspen Institute’s Ascend program will host a webinar on “The Father Factor” about “connecting justice-involved families to opportunity as they re-enter our communities.” The webinar follows up from their recently released report on the role of fathers in family prosperity. Register here.

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. In a positive development, the House of Representatives just passed the Dream and Promise Act which would give permanent status to these Dreamers. Advocates are now calling on the Senate to take up the legislation. Discuss this anniversary by referring to the values of Voice, Community, and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: United We Dreams’ A New Milestone in Our Fight for Liberation and Digital 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: #DreamAndPromiseNow; #DreamAndPromiseAct; #DreamAndPromise

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

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. El Refugio in Georgia collected Father's Day cards for men detained in the Stewart Detention Center and will send them this week. Focus on the values of Economic Security and Mobility.

• Take Action: Join advocates in Gadsen, AL (and promote online) in calling for the closure of the Etowah County Detention Center. For immigrant families, 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

The “I Am An Immigrant” campaign is holding Immigrant Heritage Month events across the country. Today Boulder, Colorado will #CelebrateImmigrants with an interactive public art installation during a day-long event, featuring food carts, live music, and more. Details here.

Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved Americans gained their freedom in Texas, two years after the 1862 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