[2024-09-03] Organizing Notes 40: XR Week of Rebellion, Jubilee Justice and Our Revolution Endorses MA Candidates!

ORGANIZING NOTES

September 3, 2024

        When We Organize We Win

Support The Extinction Rebellion Week of Rebellion

Support the Extinction Rebellion Week of Rebellion

For over a year, XR Boston has held a Stand-Out in front of the State

House, urging our government to make the right move for our future,

and commit to No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure in Massachusetts.

Despite this, our leaders have failed to listen to us. Despite bringing a

climate bill to the floor, our leaders failed to do their job. So, it’s time

to get loud.

After this devastating failure, we need to let our government know that

the crisis we face can’t be “kicked down the road” for another two years.

It is a crisis that demands bold action, it demand’s No New Fossil Fuel

Infrastructure.

Join XR to celebrate their determination to win the bold action

we need. From Sunday September 22 through Saturday

September 28 the XR Week of Rebellion is the place to be.

The “main” Week of Rebellion event is the Rally, Die-In, and Dance party

on Thursday September 26. Be sure to check this webpage between now

and then, because events might be added. Take a look and sign up and

we will see you soon!

ORMA’s Climate Crisis Working Group is committed to supporting the

important work of XR and we encourage people to participate in as many

of these activities as possible. RSVP here, and we look forward to seeing

you at the Rally and Die-In on Thursday September 26th!!

Jubilee Justice: Call for President Biden to Issue Clemencies

Please read our petition to President Biden and sign below. We will only publish your name and town on the petition when we deliver it to the President. Please also share widely to help us reach our initial goal of 500 signatures!  Read and Sign!

With early voting starting, we are excited to announce our Massachusetts slate, led by U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Jim McGovern, who have both called for a ceasefire and to freeze US military assistance to Israel.

We’re proud to support two great candidates for Massachusetts State House: Evan MacKay, a union leader and pro-democracy organizer running in Middlesex 25th District, and Heather May, an educator and union organizer running in Middlesex 9th District.  

And, we’re endorsing Mara Dolan and Stacey Borden for the Governor’s Council in Districts 3 and 4, respectively, and Allison Cartwright for Supreme Judicial Clerk in Suffolk County.

Join SURJ Boston for an in-person Mass Meeting on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 pm at Emmanuel Church in the City of Boston (15 Newbury St) where we’ll make sense of how we got here, get clear on the role of white people in growing movements for racial and economic justice, and commit to action 

Progressive Mass is holding a virtual information session on the five ballot questions slated to appear on the November ballot. Join PM on Thursday, September 13 at 7:00 pm on Zoom to learn more about the five questions and what they would do.

RSVP here!

In November, Massachusetts voters will decide on a ballot question to replace the standardized MCAS tests as a high school graduation requirement, and instead require students to demonstrate that they have mastered the state’s education standards, skills and competencies through their schoolwork and teacher evaluations.  Please help spread the word to VOTE YES ON 2! Sign up to Canvass or Phonebank today!

Cambridge’s New Emergency Response Services

Cambridge has taken a step toward providing alternative (non-police) emergency response services.  The city just announced a one-year $150,00 contract with HEART (Holistic Emergency Assistance Response Team) to provide violence prevention services. Until now HEART was funded primarily through community contributions, with additional funding from foundation grants, a grant from the state, and ARPA funding.  HEART provides support with no police involvement using its highly trained team of supportive responders from the community.  

The city still refuses to pass requests for assistance to HEART.  However, HEART does respond to direct calls from the community.  Each year the city receives about 1000 calls requiring medical or social service care.

Almost simultaneously Cambridge announced that a new emergency response service, CARE, which operates within a new Community Safety Department, has begun to make a small number of responses to mental health calls, sometimes accompanied by the police.  the readiness of the CARE service providers is uncertain as three employees were let go shortly after the unit was created and before it began responding to any calls. The situation is further complicated by the police’s refusal to concede any control over responses.   

      If you would like to work with ORMA Members on

• Climate Change
• Community-Based Alternative Emergency Response Teams
• Ranked-Choice Voting
• Housing For All       

ORMA depends on your support to continue Bernie’s Political Revolution to create a society, a politics, and an economy that works for everyone, not just billionaires, corporations and the political elite.

If you value Organizing Notes and its twice a month distribution schedule, please make a donation to ensure its continued existence.

Invest in Change Now!

Please send requests for action items, articles or upcoming events

for the next Organizing Notes to 

beccobrien.orma@gmail.com by Thursday, September 12th.

We’d love to have you send us your favorite pictures of Bernie here in MA!

Campaigns End, Movements Endure