Amplify Values In These Emerging Issues

Beyond Policing
Our communities continue to rise up in grief and resistance in response to police violence. On August 23, a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin fired seven shots at the back of Jacob Blake after responding to a call about a domestic dispute. And just yesterday, authorities in Rochester, NY disclosed details of a March 23 incident that resulted in the death by suffocation of Daniel Prude (the Appeal). Prude's brother had called 911 seeking help with his brother's mental health crisis. Both Blake and Prude are Black; the officers involved are white.
These incidents illustrate issues at the heart of the movement to defund the police. Heavily armed police trained to see members of our communities as a threat are not the response we need from local governments for de-escalating domestic incidents or mental health crises. Resources spent on militarizing our neighborhoods would be better spent on community mental health clinics, addiction recovery programs, counselors trained in de-escalating domestic disputes, and educators and advocates who can support communities in healing rather than police them with suspicion.
The Opportunity Agenda is releasing a new white paper, “Beyond Policing — Supporting #DefundThePolice,” which reveals that calls to enact moderate policing reforms are not backed up by a track record of success. Instead, the analysis shows why calls to defund the police open doors to new solutions that show promise and move beyond the police and punishment. Stay tuned for this research, which will be published in the next Amp.
From The Opportunity Agenda:
- 10 Lessons for Talking About Race
- Why People Trust Their Lying Eyes: Implicit Bias and the Limitations of Video Footage in Tackling Police Brutality
- Our Transforming the System tool was featured in this Obama Foundation roundup of racial justice resources.
Resources from our partners:
- Petition: Defund the Police and Invest in Black Communities (Defending Black Lives)
- Healing In Action Toolkit (Black Lives Matter)
- Anat Shenker-Osorio and The Race Class Narrative Action’s messaging guide on policing, protest, and racial injustice
- #BuildCommunities Plan (Just Leadership USA)
Hashtags: #DefundThePolice, #SayTheirNames, #BlackLivesMatter
Upcoming Media Hooks & Events
September 3 - 16
Events:
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- The month of September is the final month enumerators will count residents for the 2020 Census, it is also Hunger Action Month and National Recovery Month.
September 4 — Hunger Action Month continues with National Food Bank Day when communities recognize the importance of fighting hunger. Use this day to extend the conversation to focus on the underlying economic injustices that create hunger. Cite the values of Economic Security and Community.
- Take Action: Share Feeding America’s Find a Local Food Bank that you can support as well as Need Help? Find Food resources.
- Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking about Economic Justice and Shifting the Narrative on Poverty
- Hashtag: #NationalFoodBankDay

Labor Day, September 7 — Labor Day honors the contributions of American workers and the labor movement (the people who brought you the weekend, the eight-hour work day and improved working conditions). Use this holiday to highlight the importance of worker rights, including the right to organize and join a union.
- Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking about the Importance of Unions and Economic Security; Economic Policy Institute's How Today’s Unions Help Working People
- Hashtag: #LaborDay
September 12-20 is Welcoming Week, a time when communities bring together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. Use this week to discuss Community, Opportunity, and Equality. Kick off the week with Welcoming America's livestream event Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. ET (RSVP).
- Take Action: Participate in an event near you or use the Welcoming Week Toolkit to plan your own event. Print and share these Welcomer signs and postcards.
- Messaging and communication tools: A Winning Narrative on Immigration - Real Solutions, American Values; and 5 Key Facts About Online Discussion of Immigration in the New Trump Era
- Hashtags: #WelcomingWeek; #IWelcome

September 14, 4 p.m. ET — WE DECIDE: Arts, Culture and Voting Power. Join Arts & Democracy and the (non-governmental, people powered) U.S. Department of Arts & Culture to learn about inspiring nonpartisan programs in both urban and rural communities related to the election and census. The Zoom call will feature presentations from Andrea Assaf, Dr. Rob “Biko” Baker, Trupania “Trap” Bonner, amalia deloney, and Savannah Romero. RSVP required.
Birthdays, Anniversaries and Cultural Hooks:
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Gerhard Sisters via Wikimedia - September 5, 2017 — Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration was attempting to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Several lawsuits have prevented the program's complete shutdown. Use this anniversary to discuss the continued need to protect Dreamers and their families from deportation. Cite the values of Community, Voice, and Economic Opportunity.
- September 6, 1860 — The “mother of social work,” Jane Addams was born. Use this news hook to talk about the role of our nation’s public welfare programs in reducing poverty. Cite the values of Economic Security and Community.
- September 8, 1965 — Larry Itlong and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led 1,000 Filipino workers to strike against Delano, California grape growers. Itliong partnered with Cezar Chaves' National Farm Workers to come up with a plan that benefited both groups and together they formed the United Farm Workers Union. Cite the values of Equality, Voice and Economic Security when discussing this anniversary.
- September 9, 1971 — the Attica Uprising began in New York state. Use this anniversary to talk about the need to ensure decent detention conditions in today’s correctional facilities. Cite the values of Voice and Redemption.
- September 11, 2001 — This day is the anniversary of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. In addition to remembering and honoring those who lost their lives, we must continue to rise above hate and Islamophobia and put our Future Over Fear. Cite the values of Community and Voice when discussing this anniversary.
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- September 14, 2013 — A police officer in Charlotte, NC shot and killed Jonathan Ferrell while he was seeking help after being involved in a car accident.
- September 15, 1963 — white supremacists bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, killing four young girls.