#community action

[switchscene]

A punk house is a magical place. Like, no really it is. The one I spend time at, it's down in Florida and it's one of the only music venues in the city that's not centered around sex or drinking. It's run by local queer punks, there's a "dorm" where you can sleep if you're having a a bad time at home, there's space for traveling bands to spend the night after a show, there's a community garden and a pop up shop and once it's autumn there's a bonfire most nights. We see so many shows there, and hang out and do art together, and recently we had a big fundraiser to keep it there another year. It was my band's biggest show we've ever played and it was the best time ever <3

Here's us closing our set with To Risk To Live by Days N Daze, follow us (Twig and Leaf) on Instagram and if you're ever in South Georgia or North Florida, hit us up and we can jam together.

[destroyingangelneveragod]

Long-term Reparations for a Black Family

The below write-up is from a previous post I made for Courtney but I copy and pasted it as I'm fatigued and it's still relevant.

For those of you who know my blog, you know my friend Courtney needs support. The reality is it is unlikely that that will change soon given that she is a disabled single mom providing for 3 kids with a low-wage job. I love her dearly and she genuinely struggles every day. I want to make the world better for her. I talk often about the power of community care. Courtney needs this consistently. If you are a non-Black person who is financially secure, please consider giving her reparations every month or biweekly. I will put her paylinks below. To work towards and as an accomplice of Black liberation, you need to be committed.

This part is not copy pasted but new.

Currently, her family is struggling with food, getting their water on, and saving for next month's rent. They don't have water at the moment and her son has no clean underwear left. They really need the water back on. The sooner the better. They need 136 more to get the water. If you see this, please send a dollar if possible, or even 50 cents. Small donations add up. Give reparations consistently and commit, but if you can't do it consistently still help out when you can.

Cash.me/browni3mom

Venmo @courtney-reece-85

[solarpunkshoppe]

https://x.com/Esqueer_/status/1785492559252365490

Remember, the machine will never care about hypocrisy. They only care about profit. Keep the pressure on.

[katcurio]

A tiny activism zine. Free digital download available on my ko-fi!

[luulapants]

Btw for those of us in deep blue states, sanctuary states and cities, cities that are gonna be taking refugees in the coming years...

We gotta figure out our housing. We need to start working on making space for people. NOW. Property buying collectives to get real estate out of corporate hands, community housing, co-ops, breaking down single family zoning laws. I truly believe this is step one for us.

Get ready to build up and invest in depopulated post-industrial cities that have space to take people and make sure the housing there is liveable, affordable, and available. We can't just cram everyone into NYC and Chicago and LA. Time to start thinking about transit options to expand access to underdeveloped regions. Branching satellite operations of community services from huge metros to smaller ones.

Don't just get ready for the next election. Get ready for the next census.

[noenvyy]

Bill H.R. 9495--Declares Certain Non-profits terrorist organizations

Please read and share and CALL YOUR SENATORS

EMERGENCY: Earlier today, MAGA Republicans in Congress just rammed through legislation that could give Donald Trump the power to destroy organizations that oppose him—including MoveOn.1

Even more terrifying, 15 Democrats voted in favor of the bill.2

The bill, H.R. 9495, gives the Treasury Department—i.e., the Trump administration—unilateral power to declare a nonprofit to be a "terrorist-supporting organization" and strip its tax-exempt status.3 Organizations that oppose him could be shut down with just a swipe of a pen from Trump.

While Trump's Cabinet appointees soaked up the news cycle, the House tried to push this thoroughly dangerous bill under the radar last week. Two-thirds of the House was initially needed to pass the bill. But now Speaker Mike Johnson has figured out a new way to require only a simple majority to pass the bill, and the House voted to pass the bill earlier today.

H.R. 9495 was originally written to attack organizations showing support for Palestinians, and it is a dire threat to nongovernment organizations trying to support the Palestinian people suffering in the current war, but it could give the Trump administration the ability to declare any organization as "supporting terrorists"—with no proof, no burden of evidence, no due process.4,5

More than 150 religious, reproductive health, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+, environmental, and educational organizations, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, have spoken up against this awful bill.6

The House tried to push through the bill with a two-thirds majority procedure last week, and 52 Democrats voted for it.7 Today they needed only a simple majority, and the House passed the bill with the support of 15 Democrats. We cannot allow a MAGA-controlled Senate in January to pass this bill.

This bill is different. If it passes, it has the possibility to silence any organization that Trump targets. And considering his history of retribution, we know he won't miss out on this opportunity to try to shut us down. It's an especially frightening prospect given Trump's previous attempt to designate anti-MAGA protesters and pro-Palestinian advocates as terrorists, and to vilify those he disagrees with as the "enemy from within."10

We need to sound the alarm in a major way to stop H.R. 9495 and prevent Trump from shutting down nonprofit organizations!

Please, please please, flood the Senate with calls to make it very clear that we will not abide by this attack on our First Amendment rights. We need to step up before it's too late. Use this link to find and contact your representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Take Action: Tell Congress to OPPOSE H.R. 9495

1. Visit the IS Action Center to sign a petition to oppose H.R. 9495. 

2. Call your Congressional Representative TODAY and urge them to vote NO on H.R. 9495 when it comes up again for a vote. You can find contact information for your Member of Congress here. And the list of California representatives who already voted yes on previous votes here.

3. Social Media Engagement: Post on your platforms and tag your Representative to urge them to oppose H.R.9495.

Sample posts:

ACTION NEEDED As a constituent of [@RepresentativesSocialMedia] and a staunch supporter of the nonprofit sector, I urge you to vote NO on H.R. 9495. This bill may be well-intentioned but it erodes due process and jeopardizes vital services for vulnerable communities.

Nonprofits are critical to our communities. H.R. 9495 may mean well, but it threatens due process and risks harming those we serve. [@RepresentativesSocialMedia], vote NO on #HR9495. #ProtectNonprofits 

Sample script for calling your representative:

I’m calling to urge you to oppose H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, scheduled for a vote later today. This bill poses a direct threat to nonprofits by granting the Treasury Secretary unchecked power to label organizations as “terrorist supporting” and strip their tax-exempt status. Even worse, this can happen without evidence, intentional links, or any requirement to disclose the reasons for the designation. The lack of due process and accountability leaves nonprofits defenseless against vague and potentially politically motivated accusations.

While the bill includes provisions for tax relief for American hostages—a noble cause—this should not come at the expense of jeopardizing nonprofit operations and democratic values. These provisions should be separated into their own bill that doesn’t include the unchecked harm to nonprofits. 

Please oppose H.R. 9495 to protect nonprofits and the communities they serve. Thank you for your time and consideration.

____________________________________________________________

Sources:

1. "HR 9495: Bill Threatening Nonprofits Passes House," Nonprofit Quarterly, November 21, 2024 https://act.moveon.org/go/200463?t=8&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. "Congress Is About to Gift Trump Sweeping Powers to Crush His Political Enemies," The Intercept, November 10, 2024 https://act.moveon.org/go/200453?t=10&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

5. Ibid.

6. "Civil Society Letter to House Opposing H.R. 9495," ACLU, September 20, 2024 https://act.moveon.org/go/198929?t=12&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

7. "House GOP Moves to Ram Through Bill That Gives Trump Unilateral Power to Kill Nonprofits," The Intercept, November 15, 2024 https://act.moveon.org/go/200452?t=14&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

8. "No Labels files DOJ complaint about groups boycotting its 2024 presidential ballot access effort," CBS News, January 18, 2024 https://act.moveon.org/go/186092?t=16&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

9. "MoveOn.org and Bucks man defend post-insurrection petition in NAC, Worthington defamation claim," Phillyburbs.com, June 7, 2021 https://act.moveon.org/go/200454?t=18&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

10. "Scalise preps vote on terrorism bill decried as a gift for Trump," MSNBC, November 19, 2024 https://act.moveon.org/go/200446?t=20&akid=416946%2E34090080%2EE7NXm5

[shipperwolf1]

Trashing Their Rights: Alabama town uses ‘debtors’ prison’ for people in arrears on garbage bills

The SPLC and EJI collaborate to take on Alabama's debtor prison system

[allthecanadianpolitics]

A pop-up thrift store drew in a crowd bright and early Saturday because there was something appealing about it – no price tags.

Over 100 people attended the pay-what-you-can event held by volunteers with the Dartmouth community fridge on the grounds of Christ Church near downtown. 

"You pay, you don't," said Elizabeth O'Hanley, one of the organizers. "You pay a lot, you pay a little. It's up to you to make the decision."

O'Hanley regularly volunteers at the Dartmouth community fridge, which offers free food and hygiene products to hundreds of people per week. She said the need is only growing as the cost of living in Nova Scotia continues to rise [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[boymanmaletheshequel]

Reminder to my fellow American witches and pagans, as the Trump administration begins to dismantle our economy and prices begin to rise, especially corporate prices, try to shop at local small businesses as much as you can! They are going to struggle more than anyone, and need your support and finance much more than any greedy price gouging corporation. That’s all. 💙🏛️💚

[nando161mando]

[yo-aloe-vera]

BeLoved Asheville Searching for Space for Free Store Open To Those Affected by Helene

BeLoved Asheville, a grassroots organization that has spearheaded a great deal of the hurricane relief efforts around Asheville, NC, is trying to find space to open a free store where those affected by Helene can come and choose what they need. They write:

"We’re embarking on a mission to create a FREE Store—a place where anyone affected by the hurricane can come and find clothing and other essentials at no cost. We want this to be a space of hope and community, where neighbors help neighbors. Now, we need your help to find the perfect location!

We’re searching for a place to rent or buy in Asheville, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Waynesville, or Barnardsville. If you know of any available spots or have a space to offer, please reach out! Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community.

Let’s spread the word and make sure no one is left without the help they need!"

[destroyingangelneveragod]

Help Walaa and her family evacuate from Gaza

This fundraiser was shared with me via @palipunk , please circulate it the best you can so they can evacuate.

[hakaiika]

So I was perusing about Reddit, as I do cause I'm normally chillin' in trans and lesbian subreddits just vibing, and I see a post in r/Liberalgunowners talking about Kamala Harris's gun policy. Now, for whatever reason, in the last month, this subreddit has become pretty conservative. Now I went to make a rebuttal against someone saying they wouldn't vote at all cause Kamala isn't a good candidate for gun rights. Now, being a transfemme with a lot riding on this election, I point out this fact and how we can't pidgeon hole ourselves into single issues and how now is the time of putting the good of all Americans first before petty issues. He responds, saying how he's 55 years old and doesn't really care anymore cause he only jas 20ish years left.

I could not fathom this argument. As I am very open about growing up as an indigenous woman and, for us, the community, doing right for all, and providing for the next 7 generations are our paramount values. So to see someone say "yeah this doesn't affect me, so I'ma just care about this one thing for my personal benefit." honestly disgusted me. I am not one to judge most folks since many folks have their personal convictions for believing things... but really? Is this what colonial culture is? This is what killed my people? People who only care for themselves but not their neighbors and community? How could people be so heartless and greedy?

I know this was an emotional piece, but... I'm just... tired of this. Tired of people who benefit from colonial history trying to say that it's good to perpetuate colonial order. Can we, as Americans of all colors and backgrounds, do right by all, especially if you're older... we look up to you as our elders...

P.s If you're my gf reading this, don't kill me for not going to bed at midnight like I promised. I had to get this off my chest :3

[local-lesbrarian]

Yesterday, the board of trustees for the library I work at voted unanimously against banning This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson! This was a huge relief for me (and my fellow staff), and I just wanted to share a few takeaways from this experience.

For context, a library patron had submitted a formal request to have the book removed after seeing it displayed alongside other recent additions to our YA section. He took issue with, of course, the chapter on sex ed and provided pages of out-of-context quotes and straight-up lies to make the book appear "dangerous." Lots of the homophobia and puritanism you'd expect. Per our policies, we formed a committee to address his request, and the committee decided the book was fine where it was. Again per policy, he had the option to appeal to the board of trustees, which he took.

We found out he was doing this 5 days before the next board meeting. And even with that short warning, we had over 150 people show up to a small-town library board meeting that often has few or no public attendees! We couldn't fit everyone in our biggest room! Look at us all!!

Public comments are limited to 3 minutes or less, and that still lasted for more than an hour. People spoke who were parents, teachers, nurses, therapists, voting activists, workers at other libraries, and of course, many queer people. They talked about censorship, freedom of expression, freedom to read, the positive impacts of this book and books like it on youth, their own experiences as queer kids and teens or parents or such, and more--too many perspectives to list here. Every single speaker opposed the book ban. Every. One.

The patron who initiated this challenge was present, but left before public comment was over, without speaking.

So, those takeaways:

This is further evidence that campaigns of censorship and queer erasure are perpetuated by individuals and small groups, and don't represent the common view. You can check out stats on ala.org to back this up, but most people, including most parents, oppose book bans.

This turnout was gathered mainly through texts, email, chats (like Discord), phone calls, and word of mouth. Every town and city has people willing to fight and support those fighting the tides of fascism--keep in touch with your community and your allies, your local friends and trusted acquaintances, and when the time comes for action, they will show up.

Pushback, especially public, visible pushback, demoralizes bad actors. These are often people with little to do except organize and promote their hatred, often people with few material problems demanding their attention. (In this case, a retired eye doctor.) Give them a fight, and they often back down. If they don't back down, see #2 and beat them with numbers and passion.

Even after a victory, stay alert. We're prepping for litigation (not that we think he has a case, but he does have a reputation). We're also keeping a close eye on the smaller libraries in nearby towns and townships. Even if someone like this backs down once, they might try their luck somewhere easier. Keep those contact networks from #2 ready to go.

None of this is comprehensive, and your particular situation may well require different tactics. I'm not an expert, just a chronically online trans woman and librarian who's gotten unexpectedly attached to her current town. It was incredibly heartwarming to see so many people stand up for queer teens where I live, when it usually feels like nobody cares about what's happening to queers in the States. This post has already gone on longer than I expected, I'm just still quite emotional and wanted to talk about it. (Also still mentally drained from the past few days of stress...)

Huge shoutout to everyone who helped make this community action happen. Many of them were more eloquent or piercing in their comments, but here's my 3-minute spiel. It was delivered with none of the eye contact or dramatic reading I'd rehearsed because, holy shit, there were a lot of people there!