The Amp

It's Asian-Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month, an opportunity to celebrate the history of and leaders in the APA community. Amid increased incidents of anti-Asian discrimination and harassment during the COVID-19 pandemic, now is an opportunity to discuss the contributions of Asian-Pacific Americans using the values of Community and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Power of POP: Media Analysis of Representations of Immigrants in Popular TV Shows; The National Coalition for Asian-Pacific American Community Development's Spotlight: Asian American & Pacific Islander Poverty; Asian Americans Advancing Justice's A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans in the United States
• Hashtags: #APAHM20; #APAHM; #APAHeritage; #WeCrossedOceans; #AAPI2020

During May, Community Action Month calls attention to the positive programs by Community Action Agencies that help thousands of families across the U.S. These organizations were founded in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty and funding provided by Community Services block grants. Join the conversation by using the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Shifting the Narrative on Poverty; and Community Action Partnership's 2020 Community Action Month Toolkit
• Hashtag #CommunityActionWorks

The month of May is also National Mental Health Month, when advocates draw attention to the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental illness and push for policies that support them and their families. For criminal justice reform advocates, use this theme to talk about the impact of criminalizing people with mental illness. Cite the values of Mobility, Economic Security, and Community when talking about this hook. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Eliminate the Criminalization of Public Health Issues; National Alliance on Mental Illness’ WhyCare? Campaign
• Hashtags: #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth; #WhyCare; #MHM2020; #StampOutStigma

During May, the federal Administration on Community Living recognizes Older Americans Month. The campaign is a great opportunity to discuss racial and economic justice. Discuss the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Shifting the Narrative on Poverty; and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' How Medicaid Work Requirements Will Harm Older Americans 
• Hashtag: #OAM20; #ConnectCreateContribute

May Day is also known as International Workers' Day. In past years, immigrant leaders and allies have gathered for marches and rallies calling attention to Immigration Issues. Use this opportunity to talk about the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Messaging tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Quick Tips for Talking Immigration Issues and 5 Key Facts: Online Discussion of Immigration in The Trump Era
• Hashtags: #May1; #MayDay;

Today would have been folksinger and activist Pete Seeger’s 101st birthday. Use Pete’s birthday to talk about the need for artists and activists to move others to support progressive social change and work together for economic and racial justice. Cite the values of Economic Security, Voice, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Working with Cultural Influencers and The Case of the Cultural Influencers; 
• Hashtags: #PeteSeeger

Also on the same day, but in 1898, civil rights activist and educator Septima Clark was born. Clark is most famous for establishing "Citizenship Schools" which taught reading and citizenship rights to adults throughout the South. Clark often said “Literacy means liberation.” Connect her legacy of activism to the ongoing work for racial and economic justice today. Cite the values of Voice, Community, and Economic Security. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice and SNCC Digital Gateway Project’s Septima Clark.
• Hashtag: #SeptimaClark

On this day in 1961, the original group of 13 Freedom Riders left Washington, D.C. on a Greyhound bus to protest segregated bus terminals in the South. Use the anniversary to discuss how today's racial justice activism echoes their pioneering actions and furthers their work. Cite the values of Voice and Mobility.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice and Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice
• Hashtag: #FreedomRides; #BlackLivesMatter

Today would have also been the birthday of artist Keith Haring, who was a pioneer in pop and street art on LGBTQ issues. Use his birthday to talk about the importance of artists in the struggle for intersectional social justice. Cite the values of Voice, Equality, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; WePresent’s Yes, but why? Keith Haring
• Hashtag: #keithharing

On this day in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was signed into law by President Chester A. Arthur. In 2012, the U.S House of Representatives and Senate formally expressed regret for denying basic freedoms to Chinese Americans. While today's Muslim Ban is an Executive Order, you can draw the comparison to this earlier legislation that is now seen as a shameful act of xenophobia and discrimination based on national origin. On April 10, 2019, Democrats in Congress, led by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) in the U.S. House of Representatives and Sen. Chris Coons (DE) in the U.S. Senate, introduced the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (No Ban) Act, as companion bills H.R. 2214 and S. 1123. The legislation wouldn’t just repeal Trump’s Muslim, asylum, and refugee bans — it would limit the ability for this or any future administration to do something like it ever again. Cite the values of Equality, Voice, and Community when discussing the bills.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Messaging Advice on The Supreme Court's Muslim Ban Decision and Talking About the Muslim Ban 3.0; National Immigration Law Center’s RepealTheBan.org, fact sheet and toolkit; The Chinese Historical Society of America’s Civil Rights Suite: Exploring the History of the Chinese American Fight for Equality; 
• Hashtags: #NoMuslimBanEver; #RepealTheBan; #NoMuslimBanEver

On this day in 1973, Governor Nelson Rockefeller enacted the Rockefeller Drug Laws, which became the national policy model for addressing drug use and abuse through the criminal justice system instead of through the medical and public health systems. These laws mandated extremely harsh prison terms for possession or sale of relatively small amounts of drugs. Talk about this anniversary using the values of Redemption and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Eliminate the Criminalization of Public Health Issues; Drug Policy Alliance’s Background on New York’s Draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws; Jay Z and Molly Crabapple's video The War on Drugs Is an Epic Fail; New York Times’ video The Rockefeller Drug Laws
• Hashtag: #RockefellerDrugLaws

On this day 1886, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Yick Wo vs. Hopkins that all people—citizens and non-citizens—had equal protection under the law. The case stemmed from San Francisco’s discriminatory issuing of permits for laundries. The court concluded that the kind of biased enforcement experienced by the plaintiffs amounted to “a practical denial by the state of that equal protection of the law” and therefore violated the provision of the 14th Amendment. Discuss this anniversary citing the values of Equality, Voice, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; PBS’s The Strange Case of the Chinese Laundry; Oyez’s Yick Wo vs. Hopkins, Annenberg Classroom’s Yick Wo and the Equal Protection Clause
• Hashtags: #AAHM20 #APAHM #APAHeritage

Mother's Day is an important time to discuss economic and racial justice for families. Forward Together's Mama's Day campaign works to "ensure all families have the rights, recognition, and resources they need to thrive." In 2019, Black Love Bail Out prepared for the holiday by raising money to bail mothers out of jail and working to end money bail. Others have organized around Mothers' Day to oppose family separation and child detention. Use the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Take Action: 
  • Share a Mama's Day e-card.
  • Support the National Bail Out.
• Messaging Tool: The Opportunity Agenda's Promote Justice in Pre-Trial Services & Practices; Talking About the Crisis at the U.S. Border: Imprisoned Children and Separated Families and Talking About Economic Justice; Moms Rising’s #EndFamilyDetention social media toolkit and Mother's Day social media toolkit; National Bail Out’s toolkit;
• Hashtags: #mamasday; #freeblackmamas; #motherofexiles

On this day in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Brown vs. Board of Education that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Several of Trump’s judicial nominees refused to affirm Brown, a troubling sign for advocates. Cite this anniversary by referring to the values of Voice, Equality, and Mobility.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human rights’ Oppose the Confirmation of Judicial Nominees Who Decline to State Brown v. Board of Education Decision Was Correctly Decided; Legal Defense Fund's Meet The Legal Minds Behind Brown V. Board Of Education; The Historymakers' The Honorable Robert L. Carter; The Opportunity Agenda’s Devos’ “School Choice” Means No Choice for Many American Families
• Hashtags: #BrownVBoardofEd; #RetireSegregation

Today is the birthday of two racial justice champions Yuri Kochiyama (1921) and Malcolm X (1925). Talk about their important work with your networks while also asserting the need for ongoing activism to address social and economic injustice. Cite the values of Voice, Equality, and Economic Justice. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice and Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice
• Hashtags: #YuriKochiyama; #MalcolmX; #racialjustice; #APAHM19; #APAHM;#APAHeritage

Fighting COVID/Building Power: Workers & Unions on the Frontlines - An online forum via zoom featuring speakers from Make the Road New York, TWU Local 100, ATU Local 1056, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.  

On this day in 1968, only a few weeks after the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights activists formed the Poor People's Campaign and set up a shantytown known as “Resurrection City" on the National Mall to draw attention to poverty in the U.S. Many saw this as an initiative to complete King’s unfinished work. Today the Poor People's Campaign is on a #TruthandPovertyTour across the U.S. Use the anniversary of this action to discuss the values of Community, Voice, and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: The National African American Museum's City of Hope exhibition resources; The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars and Talking About Economic Justice
• Hashtags: #CityofHope1968; #ResurrectionCity; #TruthandPovertyTour

This is also Red Nose Day 2020 which, through engagement with celebrities, raises awareness and funds to help children in need. Watch and tweet during the prime time Red Nose Day Special on NBC and look for Red Nose Day face filters in your favorite social media apps. Use this opportunity to discuss the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars and Talking about Economic Justice; Working with Cultural Influencers; UnidosUS’ Noses On!; First Focus’ Millions of children at risk if government changes poverty measure; 
• Hashtag: #RedNoseDay

Today is Harvey Milk Day and what would have been the 90th Birthday of one of the nation’s first openly gay elected officials. His life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1978. Milk’s life provides an important milestone in the struggle for LGBTQ rights. Also use the hook to discuss the Equality Act (see Emerging Issues above). Cite the values of Voice, Equality, and Community when discussing Milk and LGBTQ rights. 

• Messaging and communication tools: Human Rights Campaign’s Take action, pass the Equality Act now; The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; Center for American Progress’ Protecting Basic Living Standards for LGBTQ People; Social Justice Sexuality’s Intersecting Injustice: A National Call to Action Addressing LGBTQ Poverty and Economic Justice for All
• Hashtags: #HarveyMilk; #HarveyMilkDay; #EqualityAct; #FaithforEquality; #LGBTQ

On this day in 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which gradually raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. It was the last time that the federal minimum wage was raised. Use this anniversary to talk about the need to change this to create economic opportunity for more Americans through a liveable wage. Cite the values of Economic Security and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s The Fight for $15 in the Era of Trump: Where Does the Public Stand? and Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars; Economic Policy Institute’s Raising the federal minimum wage; National Employment Law Project's A Baseline for Economic Freedom
• Hashtags: #FightFor15; #LivingWage; #MinimumWage

On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the president to “negotiate” with southern Native American nations for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in order for white Americans to settle their ancestral lands. Today, we see this act as legitimating the genocide of native people. Despite this history, Jackson continues to be honored on the $20 bill and President Trump has cited him as his hero. Talk about this anniversary by citing the values of Voice, Equality, and Community

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Standing Rock, Ferguson or Mexican Border, ‘We Are All Related’; U.S. Department of Arts and Culture's #HonorNativeLand: A Guide and Call for Acknowledgement; National Congress of American Indians' Proud to Be Campaign; Reclaiming Native Truths’ Changing the Narrative about Native Americans; IllumiNative’s The false narratives, invisibility, and the erasure of Native peoples must end
• Hashtags: #NAHeritage; #IndianRemovalAct

On this day in 1851, Sojourner Truth made her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio. Today,  scholars see the speech as an intersectional critique of single-issue activism. It’s also an important anniversary in light of recent abortion bans passed at the state level and their potential impact on people of color. Use this anniversary to discuss intersectionality and the values of Voice, Equality, and Community. 

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
• Hashtag: #AintIAWoman

On May 30, 1955, the Supreme Court ordered that schools should be integrated “with all deliberate speed." Known as “Brown II,” the order was issued because few schools had integrated since the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. Today, several of Trump’s judicial nominees refused to affirm Brown, a troubling sign for advocates. Cite this anniversary by referring to the values of Voice, Equality, and Mobility.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human rights’ Oppose the Confirmation of Judicial Nominees Who Decline to State Brown v. Board of Education Decision Was Correctly Decided; The Opportunity Agenda’s Devos’ “School Choice” Means No Choice for Many American Families
• Hashtags: #BrownVBoardofEd; #RetireSegregation

Today is the birthday of Walt Whitman (b. 1819). Because Whitman criticized slavery and stood up for social justice, he is considered the first "poet of democracy" in the United States. The poet’s sexuality has been disputed but some still consider him a gay icon. Use Whitman’s birthday to discuss the role of artists in changing hearts and minds for lasting social change. Cite the values of Voice and Equality. 

• Messaging and communication tools: Academy of American Poets’ Whitman at 200; Studio 360’s American Icons: Leaves of Grass; Humanities DC’s Walt200.org; 
• Hashtags:#WaltWhitman;

On this day in 2009, Dr. George Tiller was assassinated in Wichita, Kansas. Tiller was the medical director of Women's Health Care Services and was targeted by anti-abortion extremists. Use the anniversary of Tiller’s death to talk about the dire need for reproductive healthcare for women living in poverty. Recent state legislation banning abortion also makes Tiller’s life more resonant. Cite the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: New York Times Editorial Board’s The Doctors Who Put Their Lives on the Line; PBS POV’s documentary After Tiller; 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; Democracy Now's Remembering Dr. George Tiller
• Hashtags: #GeorgeTiller; #DrGeorgeTiller