Archive for July, 2010

DREAM Activists Risk Deportation – Support Their Struggle!

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

From The Dream Team:

[On] July 20th, over 20 immigrant youth from all over the country are risking arrest and deportation to stage sit-ins at various congressional offices in Washington D.C. in order to urge congressional leadership to take action and pass the DREAM Act, a narrowly-tailored, bipartisan bill which would grant immigrant youth a path to citizenship.

After two months of coast-to-coast actions, including dozens of sit-ins, civil disobedience actions, and protracted hunger strikes by both undocumented youth and community members, they have decided to bring the cause of their lives to Washington D.C. The immigrant youth participating in today’s action hail from Illinois, Virginia, New York, California, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, and Michigan.

Support the immigrant youth who are risking everything- call your Senator right now and demand the DREAM Act.

These students are fighting for the chance to go college in the country in which they have spent most of their lives. We must not let bigotry and flawed immigration policy stand in their way!

Please join me in calling the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  Say what state you’re from, and they’ll connect you to the Senate office. You can use the script below:

Hi, my name is ___ I’m from the state of _____ and I’m calling to ask Senator _____ to do whatever it takes to pass the DREAM Act.  Thanks!

While you’re at it, take a minute to sign the Reform Immigration for America petition in support of the DREAM Act!

We are only weeks away from the Senate’s August recess, which means we don’t have much time. The time is now. We can’t wait any longer.

Let Elizabeth Warren Protect Main Street from Wall Street

Monday, July 19th, 2010

Frustrated that the financial reform bill recently passed by Congress isn’t as strong as it needs to be? Me too! But this demands that we continue to take action, not throw up our hands and back down. We need to keep up the pressure to make sure that the folks policing the financial sector make the most out of the power vested in them, rather than use it to continue to coddle the big banks.

The Obama Administration is considering appointing Elizabeth Warren to head the recently-established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In addition to being the person who came up the idea of establishing the Bureau in the first place, she has a reputation for standing up to Wall Street in order to protect the rest of us.

This is why Timothy Geithner and other Wall Street insiders are attempting to block her appointment.

According to John R. Talbott:

The bill has been written to put a great deal of power as to how strongly it is implemented in the hands of its regulators, some of which remain to be chosen. The bank lobby will work incredibly hard to see that Warren, the person most responsible for initiating and fighting for the idea of a consumer financial protection group, is denied the opportunity to head it.

Please join Credo Action Network by signing their petition urging President Obama to appoint Warren to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The petition reads:

Elizabeth Warren has proven that she is willing to stand up to Wall Street on behalf of consumers and is the logical choice to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Tim Geithner is a longtime Wall Street insider, and if he’s recommending against Elizabeth Warren that’s all the more reason to appoint her.

Click here to sign the petition today!

Argentina Legalizes Gay Marriage!

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Early Thursday morning, the Argentine Senate voted to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The President, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, has been a vocal supporter of the bill and is expected to sign it into law upon her return from an international trip.

Check out this video of supporters celebrating as they learn of the victory. It’ll bring tears to your eyes:

From Colorlines.com:

It’s clear that the United States is quickly falling out of step with international counterparts on the issue of gay marriage equality. Already Mexico City, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Afirca, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland have all legalized gay marriage. Uruguay allows same-sex couples to adopt children, but not marry. And Brazil at least recognizes some same-sex unions.

Dan Hawes, organizer for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, told The Post , “Every win we have gives momentum and hope to people everywhere, including activists in the United States working for the right to marry.”

Órale! Argentina’s victory is good news for anyone who cherishes freedom and human dignity. ¡Felicitaciones, Argentina!