What Should I Call About?

[redgoldsparks]

Ending Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement, info and call script

What is qualified immunity? A legal rule known as “qualified immunity” often shields police officers and other government officials from being sued by victims and their families, even if the officers violated their civil rights. (Forbes.com)

History: The Civil Rights Act of 1871 gave individuals the right to sue state and local officials for infringing on their rights. This act was made to protect Black citizens after the passing of the 14th Amendment. However, since 1967 the Supreme Court has issued several decisions gutting this act by inventing the qualified immunity doctrine. And in 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that government officials were entitled to qualified immunity from civil-rights lawsuits, if their actions didn’t violate “clearly established” rights. These rights are so narrowly defined it is almost impossible to win a case. (Forbes.com and Pressley.house.gov.)

In the first week of June 2020 Congress members in both the House and the Senate have begun work to abolish qualified immunity. In the House: Pressley (D-MA) and Amash (L-MI) introduced the Ending Qualified Immunity Act. They are joined by co-sponsors: Omar (D-MN), Velázquez (D-NY), DeGette (D-CO), Norton (D-DC), Espaillat (D-NY), Meeks (D-NY), Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Takano (D-CA), Blumenauer (D-OR), Lee (D-CA), McGovern (D-MA), Carson (D-IN), Pingree (D-ME), Maloney (D-NY), Kennedy III (D-MA), and García (D-IL). (Pressley.house.gov) In the Senate: Harris (D-CA), Markey (D-MA) and Booker (D-NJ) announced they will introduce a Senate Resolution that calls for the elimination of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. Sanders (I-VT), Warren (D-MA), and Hollen (D-MD) are co-sponsors. (Harris.senate.gov)

Please call your representatives to support this! If you don’t want to talk to anyone on the phone, call after business hours and leave a message. You can also text “Sign XITZCS” to 50409 (the resist bot) to send an email to your representatives.

If your representative was listed on a previous slide, say: My name is___ and I am calling from (city, state). My zip code is ___. Thank you for supporting the effort to end qualified immunity for law enforcement. This issue is extremely important to me, please do everything you can to move it forward in Congress.

If you representative was NOT listed, say: My name is___ and I am calling from (city, state). My zip code is ___. I am calling to ask you to support the effort to end qualified immunity for law enforcement. This issue is extremely important to me, and I urge you to do everything you can to move it forward in Congress.

Final tips:

Your congresspeople have multiple offices. You can call EACH OFFICE, not just one location.

Your congresspeople have an email submission form on their website. You can repeat this same script in an email.

The website 5calls.org has many more short scripts such as this to help you make political calls.

If you don’t know your representatives, search by zip code at: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Full text of the bill and resolution are available online: here and here. Note: a resolution is not as powerful as a bill. It is a statement of intent, not law.

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell the US Sentencing Commission: Create fairer sentencing guidelines!

The US Sentencing Commission is a bipartisan, independent agency created to reduce racist disparities in sentencing - and let’s be honest, they could do better! 

You can ask for fairer guidelines without ever picking up the phone. Email them at [email protected].

Here’s your script: “I’m writing because I’m concerned about racist disparities in sentencing. I ask the commission to take the following steps for a more fair federal justice system:

— Reform the career offender guideline to lessen the length of sentences. — Change the guidelines around probation so that it is available to more people. — Change guidelines to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes. — Conduct a study to review the impact of parental incarceration on minor children. With more data, the Commission could modify the Sentencing Guidelines and allow judges to take this factor into account when sentencing individuals for non-violent crimes. — Conduct a study to review whether the Bureau of Prisons is following the Commission’s encouragement to file a motion for compassionate release whenever “extraordinary and compelling reasons” exist. — Consider amending the guidelines to reduce sentences for first offenders.

Thank you!”

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell your state government: Support criminal justice reform!

Because of racism, far more people of color are in prison than white people - but most of the US prison population are held at the state and local level. 

While federal criminal justice reform is also important, reforms in your state can have a huge impact in people’s lives. And because state legislators hear less often from their constituents, your voice could have more of an impact for a more fair, less racist criminal justice system!

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m calling from [Your Zip Code]. I’m calling because I’m extremely concerned about racism in our criminal justice system, and I think our state should act so that no one is treated unfairly because of their race. 

I hope [Senator/Representative So-and-So] will support reforms such as reducing mandatory minimum sentences, reducing sentences for non-violent drug crimes, and passing alternatives to incarceration. Thank you!”

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell your state and local governments: End police violence against black people!

The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has sparked widespread protests against police violence towards black people. No matter where you live, you can call on your local police department to enact policies that prevent this kind of violence!

Two policies that make a difference are the use of body cameras - which must be turned on as soon as police are responding to a call - and evidence-based de-escalation training. Your city or state police force may already have these policies in place, or they might need pressure from the community to enact them.

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m calling from [Your Zip Code]. I’m calling to ask if our police department uses body cameras and provides de-escalation training to prevent police violence.

[if yes]: Glad to hear it! I hope the police department will make preventing police violence a top priority. Thank you.

[if no]: The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis shows that police violence is an urgent problem for this country, and we need policies that reflect that so that officers know they’ll be held accountable. I urge the police department to start using body cameras, and to require evidence-based de-escalation training for all officers.” 

Want to do more after you’ve called? Ask three friends or family members to call, too. The more leaders hear from the community, the more likely they are to act!

And watch this space - I’ll be sharing more ways to use your voice for racial justice as the week continues! 

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell the Senate: No vote on Trump’s Supreme Court nominee until after the election!

Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring, which means President Trump gets to appoint another Supreme Court justice - and he’s already promised to appoint someone who will overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Two years ago, Mitch McConnell blocked Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, saying, “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.” With just four months until Election Day, the same standard should apply now. Call your Senators and urge them not to vote on a Supreme Court nominee until after the 2018 election!

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [[your name]] and I’m a constituent from [[your city]]. I’m calling because I’m extremely concerned about the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. In 2016, Mitch McConnell refused to hold a hearing on Merrick Garland because it was too close to an election. I’m asking Senator [So and so] to apply the same standard now and refuse to hold a hearing or vote until the new Senate in January. Thank you.” 

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell Congress: Stop family separation at the border

More than 2,000 children have been separated from their parents at the border and held in detention centers. (ProPublica got a recording of children recently separated from their parents, if you want your heart shattered.) This is a result of a Trump administration policy referring everyone who crosses the border to criminal prosecution -- and while Trump is blaming Congress, the truth is his administration started this and could change it at any time. 

It’s horrifying, but Congress can do something to stop it. Here’s a script to call your Senators and Representatives:

“Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m a constituent from [Your Town]. I’m calling because I’m horrified about the Trump administration policy separating families at the border. Is Senator/Representative [So-and-so] co-sponsoring the Keeping Family Together Act?

If Yes: Great! I hope they’ll keep doing everything they can to stop family separations. Thank you! If No: That’s terrible. Separating families is wrong, and I hope they’ll co-sponsor the Keep Families Together Act.”

If your representative is a House Republican, they might say they’re supporting Paul Ryan’s immigration bill, which they’ll claim protects Dreamers and separated families. This is bullshit. The bill restricts access to asylum and makes it easier to deport parents - even without their children. Don’t fall for it!

Done calling Congress? Great! Here’s a few more ways you can help:

1) Donate: Here’s a page that lets you donate to 8 organizations helping families and kids at the border. Or, Slate has a long list of charities you can support. 2) Protest: You can find protests happening near you through Families Belong Together or Indivisible. 

[whatshouldicallabout]

Hi Dear, Dad here :-) . I'd like to suggest a script for calling members and challenging then to defend Trump's recent statements and efforts to obstruct the Russia investigation. Something like, "Trump says he can pardon himself, do you agree?" or challenging his pardons, "Trump is pardoning and considering pardoning people who have committed the same sort of crimes that he and others being investigated by Mueller are accused of. Do you support that?" Love you, Dad

Sure thing!

“Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m a constituent from [Your Town]. I’m calling because I’m concerned about President Trump’s recent comments on the Russia investigation. Does the [Senator/Representative] believe that Trump can pardon himself?”

Honestly, Republicans have worked hard to wiggle out of this question, so some pressing for a “yes” or “no” will probably be called for. Something like:

Them: “The Senator isn’t an expert on this issue in constitutional law...” (I’m looking at you, Ted Cruz.)

You: “Regardless, members of Congress are responsible for oversight of the executive branch, so I’m asking for the [Senator/Representative]’s opinion. Do they believe that Trump can pardon himself?” 

[whatshouldicallabout]

Gun control?

Yes! I’d recommend calling both the House and Senate on this.

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m furious that Congress hasn’t passed any legislation to prevent mass shootings like the one in Parkland. [Senator/Representative So-and-so] should publicly support a ban on automatic weapons, bump stocks and high-capacity magazines, as well as universal background checks for online and gun show sales. I also oppose any attempt to include reciprocal concealed carry in gun safety legislation. Thank you.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

About Us

Call your Senators and demand they protect DACA recipients and children's health insurance!

The deadline to fund the government is Friday, Jan. 19, and Congress still hasn't agreed on a deal to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program and protect DACA recipients from deportation.

Crooked has a great script to call your Senators in either party and urge them to demand a bipartisan budget that protects CHIP and DACA!

[whatshouldicallabout]

Is there anything we can say or request regarding the White House decision to deport nearly 200,000 people from El Salvador?

Yes! Congress could pass a bill creating a pathway to permanent legal status for TPS recipients. You can learn more about those efforts here: http://www.savetps.com/You can call both your Senators and Representative about this. Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m deeply concerned about President Trump’s decision to end temporary protected status for Salvadorans recipients. It’s wrong to send 200,000 people back to one of the world’s most violent countries, especially when many have US-born children and deep ties to our communities. I want [Senator/Representative So-and-so] to support legislation creating a pathway to permanent legal status for TPS recipients. Thank you.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell the Senate: Save Net Neutrality!

Good news: Senate Democrats have gathered enough support to force a full Senate vote on overturning the FCC’s decision to end net neutrality. Now, we all need to call our Senators and demand they vote in support of this bill!

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling to ask Senator So-and-so to support Senator Markey’s resolution to overturn the FCC’s net neutrality decision. Thank you!”

Want to say a bit more about why net neutrality is important to you? Here are a few ideas:

“I’m worried that overturning net neutrality will lower competition and increase prices.” “As a small business owner/content creator, net neutrality will make it harder for me to reach customers and compete with bigger businesses.”  “As someone who uses the internet, I think it’s important to make sure that all content is treated equally.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

A script for representatives in support of states rights against Jeff Sessions and move for further legalizing marijuana.

Sure thing! This is a good one to call both your Senators and Representatives about. 

“Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m deeply concerned about the Attorney General’s move to crack down on states that have legalized marijuana. States should have the right to set their own laws about marijuana, a drug less dangerous than alcohol. I hope that Senator/Representative [So-and-so] will speak out against this decision and co-sponsor legislation to protect states that have legalized marijuana. Thank you.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

My group would love a script on the terrible effects the tax bill would have on the environment with the elimination of tax credits for electric car purchases, opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, and the lack of tax incentives for renewable energy while giving big oil companies a tax windfall. Thank you for what you do!

Gladly! Thanks for bringing this up - it’s an important issue that’s been a bit lost in all the ways this bill is awful!

“Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m deeply concerned about the environmental impacts of the tax bill. This bill takes us in the wrong direction by eliminating tax incentives for electric cars and renewable energy, opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and giving oil companies a tax windfall. I hope that [Senator/Representative So-and-so] will vote against the final version of this bill.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell Congress: Protect Net Neutrality!

The FCC is planning to roll back net neutrality regulations, letting companies like Verizon and Comcast decide what websites you can see and use. 

Demolishing net neutrality ends the internet as we know it. Here’s a good example how it would work instead: If you get internet from Verizon, they may force you to use Yahoo as your search engine (because they own it), and charge you extra to use Google.

We need to demand that our senators and representatives pass legislation to keep the internet free and open before the FCC meets on December 14.

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m really concerned about the FCC’s plan to roll back net neutrality regulations. I hope that [Senator/Representative So-and-so] will support legislation enshrining net neutrality into law. Thank you.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

The FCC is voting TOMORROW on Net Neutrality! Call your representatives TODAY to demand they protect the open internet!

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell your Senators and Representatives: Oppose the tax bill!

Last Friday in the middle of the night, Republicans passed their tax bill, complete with last-second amendments scribbled in the margins. They rewrote the entire American economy with no time for Senators to even read the bill or see expert analysis - and now, many middle class and lower-income families could face tax hikes or lose critical services just to pay for a tax cut for the wealthiest few.

But this bill still has a hurdle to clear: The House and Senate versions are very different, and need to be combined before the bill can pass. That means we still have time to call both members of the House and Senate before the final vote.

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town], and I’m frankly disgusted by the tax bill recently passed by the Senate. Adding last-minute amendments doesn’t fix the fact that this bill blows up the deficit and raises taxes on middle-class families to pay for a big tax cut for the wealthy. I want [Senator/Representative] so-and-so to vote against this bill when it comes to conference. Thank you.”

[whatshouldicallabout]

I oppose repealing net neutrality. What should I say?

Just posted a net neutrality script! http://whatshouldicallabout.com/post/167769774055/tell-congress-protect-net-neutrality

[whatshouldicallabout]

Tell Congress: Protect Net Neutrality!

The FCC is planning to roll back net neutrality regulations, letting companies like Verizon and Comcast decide what websites you can see and use. 

Demolishing net neutrality ends the internet as we know it. Here’s a good example how it would work instead: If you get internet from Verizon, they may force you to use Yahoo as your search engine (because they own it), and charge you extra to use Google.

We need to demand that our senators and representatives pass legislation to keep the internet free and open before the FCC meets on December 14.

Here’s your script: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m really concerned about the FCC’s plan to roll back net neutrality regulations. I hope that [Senator/Representative So-and-so] will support legislation enshrining net neutrality into law. Thank you.”