The Amp

Last week, President Trump announced and then rescinded his plan for immigration raids across the United States. Trump challenged Democratic leaders in Congress to come up with a plan to fix undocumented immigration in the next two weeks or his administration would go ahead with the raids. Advocates have called out the administration for using immigrant families as a political tool and scaring children across the country. While detention of children is egregious and worthy of attention, be sure to pivot to larger issues of family unity. Resist the urge to myth-bust and cite the values of Family Unity, Economic Security and Community.

• Take Action: Join the advocacy coalition's tweetchat on July 2 at 12pm EDT with the hashtag: #TrumpRaids
• Messaging and communication tools: Immigration Hub’s Digital Toolkit and Resource list on ICE Raid Preparedness; United We Dream’s #DefundHate Toolkit; LA RED’s Deportation Defense Guide for the Faith Community; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP’s) Threat of Mass Raids Yet Another Reckless and Misguided Fear Tactic and Our Children’s Fear: Immigration Policy’s Effects on Young Children; Immigrant Defense Project’s ICE Raid's Toolkit;
• Hashtags: #TrumpRaids; #FamiliesBelongTogether; #StopTheRaids; #NoRaids

Today’s Supreme Court decision in Department of Commerce v. New York, directing the agency to provide a better explanation for the decision to include a question regarding citizenship status on the 2020 Census leaves much unanswered. First, the issue of whether there is still time to include the question if the agency is able to provide a better pretext to do so - it is unlikely, but not impossible. Importantly, however, the ruling upholds certain key values. The Court held that the agency’s decision was subject to review, and that “agencies must pursue their goals reasonably.” 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Six Tips for Responding to Supreme Court Decisions; 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
• Hashtags: #SaveTheCensus; #2020Census; #Census2020; #WeCount

We’ve reached the culmination of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month. Friday is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which was a key turning point in the LGBTQ rights movement. 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 Project’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; #Stonewall50

We’re also wrapping up Immigrant Heritage Month to #CelebrateImmigrants. 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

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and their allies around the country are marking a Shelby Week of Action to push Congress to act to restore the Voting Rights Act. It’s been six years since the Supreme Court’s decision on Shelby County v. Holder, which gutted the law intended to end discrimination in voting nationwide, and ensure that every vote counts. Discuss this issue by referring to the values of Voice and Equality.

• Take action: Join an event in your state or host your own (Contact Lindsey Walker Walker@civirights.org for support).
• Messaging and communication tools: The Leadership Conference for Human and Civil Rights’ Toolkit and Social Media Guidance; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ An Assessment of Minority Voting Rights Access in the United States;  and the Leadership Conference Education Fund's The Great Poll Closure
• Hashtag: #RestoreTheVote

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. 

• Take action: Tweet presidential candidates about the ban. 
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Six Tips for Responding to Supreme Court Decisions; Preliminary Messaging Advice on The Supreme Court's Muslim Ban Decision; #NoMuslimBanEver campaign’s Understanding the Muslim Ban and How We'll Keep Fighting It and Social Media toolkit; Muslim Advocates’ Muslim Ban Decision Puts the Basic Rights of All Americans at Risk; Hashtags: #NoMuslimBanEver; #repealtheban 

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 50th 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: #Stonewall50; #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, one year ago, activists organized nationwide protests in opposition to the Trump administration’s family separation policy, which has separated hundreds of immigrant children from their parents. Now with the administration’s plans to arrest and separate immigrant families and detain even more children, this activism is even more important. 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: #CloseTheCamps; #FamiliesBelongTogether; #FamiliesTogetherAndFree;  #FreedomForFamilies; #EndFamilyDetention; #ReunifyFamiliesNow

At 12pm PDT/3pm EDT, join the advocacy coalition's #TrumpRaids tweetchat. See more above in Emerging Issues.

Also on this day, while members of Congress are home for the Fourth of July holiday, activists will gather at 12 p.m. noon local time at their local offices in protest. Their demands are: Close the Camps; Not One Dollar for Family Detention and Deportation and Bear Witness and Reunite Families. Discuss children in detention by citing the values of Family Unity, Voice, and Community.

• Take action: Host or Attend #CloseTheCamps Protest
• Messaging and communication tools: #CloseTheCamps campaign's materials; The Opportunity Agenda’s Promoting Family Unity; Imprisoned Children and Separated Families; and Supporting Child Migrants
• Hashtags: #CloseTheCamps
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On this day, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the landmark civil rights and labor law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Use this anniversary to reaffirm the values of Voice, Mobility, and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Vision, Values, Voice: A Communications Toolkit and Social Justice Phrase Guide
• Hashtag: #CivilRightsAct

As the birthday of the United States of America, Independence Day is yet another opportunity to raise the values we believe our nation should embody: Opportunity, Voice, Equality, Community and Mobility. Use this day to remind audiences about the importance of this country's land, and its original inhabitants, Native American peoples, and their plight for equality and justice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Our Values and Social Justice Phrase Guide
• Hashtags: #July4; #4thJuly; #IndependenceDay

Three years ago on this day, Alton Sterling was fatally shot several times at close range by Baton Rouge Police Department officers. Sterling had been selling CDs in a parking lot. His death was video recorded by several bystanders. This anniversary is an opportunity to discuss the values of Equality, Community, and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices and Why People Trust Their Lying Eyes: Implicit Bias and the Limitations of Video Footage in Tackling Police Brutality
• Hashtags: #AltonSterling #BlackLivesMatter

On this day in 1907, the pioneering artist and activist Frida Kahlo was born. Today her iconic work and image are shared as examples of politically engaged art and unapologetic self- expression. Use this hook to talk about the role of artists in social justice activism. Cite the values of Voice and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Pop Culture Strategies at Your Fingertips; “Artivism” Gets a 21st-Century Makeover and The Power of Pop; The Culture Groups’ Making Waves: A Guide to Cultural Strategy
• Hashtag: #fridakahlo

In 2016 on this day, Philando Castile was killed by Minnesotan police officer Jeronime Yanez during a routine traffic stop. Castile’s girlfriend video recorded the encounter while her infant daughter sat in the back seat. Castile’s death was yet another example of police brutality and the use of excessive force.  This anniversary is an opportunity to discuss the values of Equality, Community, and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices and Why People Trust Their Lying Eyes: Implicit Bias and the Limitations of Video Footage in Tackling Police Brutality
• Hashtags: #PhilandoCastile #BlackLivesMatter

Today is the deadline for comments on the proposed rule by Housing and Urban Development to deny housing to families who may have undocumented members. According to HUD’s own analysis, the rule would force as many as 25,000 mixed-status families – including more than 55,000 children – to leave their housing out of fear of family separation. The Center for American Progress writes, "It will force immigrant families to make an impossible choice: stay in their home or stay together as a family. This racist, xenophobic rule will compound the housing affordability crisis and the eviction crisis by forcing people out of their homes without creating a single new affordable home." Challenge the proposed rule by citing the values of Economic Security, Family Unity, and Community. 

• Take Action: Submit public comments via the coalition website to the Federal Register before midnight. 
• Messaging and communication tools: Keep Families Together coalition's resources.
• Hashtag: #KeepFamiliesTogether

On this day in 1868, Congress ratified the 14th amendment to the Constitution, which granted citizenship and rights to African Americans and formerly enslaved people. It also forms the basis of “birthright citizenship” for children of non-citizen immigrants. Use this anniversary to discuss the on-going struggle for civil and immigrant rights by citing the values of Community and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; Talking about the American Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendmentand Vision, Values, Voice: A Communications Toolkit
• Hashtag: #14thamendment