1. Call your Senators and urge them to oppose two lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary:

1. Oregon Assistant US Attorney Ryan Bounds to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
2. Thomas Farr, Trump’s nominee as a judge with the US District Court for Eastern North Carolina

Bounds has used racial slurs to describe people of color, dismissed efforts address campus sexual assault, and denigrated the LGBTQ community, while Farr has a record of not only defending racist voter suppression laws, but actually participating in efforts to suppress black voters. Use this script compiled from 5 Calls:

“I’m calling to urge Senator ___ to oppose Ryan Bounds for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals due to his appallingly racist, sexist and homophobic writings, and his attempts to conceal them during his first nomination. Likewise I want to express my opposition to Thomas Farr’s nomination for a federal judgeship. Farr has a long track record of defending unconstitutional voter suppression laws and racist gerrymandering. He cannot preside impartially over cases involving civil and voting rights. I urge the Senator to vote against both confirmations.”

Call:

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841 or (415) 393-0707
• Sen. Kamala Harris: (202) 224-3553 or (415) 355-9041

2. Call your Members of Congress and ask them to support legislation to halt Trump’s ZTE deal.

Background: the Trump administration imposed trade restrictions on ZTE, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, to punish it for violating international sanctions related to Iran. Trump recently moved to reverse those sanctions in order to jumpstart trade negotiations with China.

From Rogan’s List: “Coincidentally, a Chinese state-owned construction firm has signed a $500 million deal to build a theme park in Jakarta, which will include Trump-branded hotels, golf courses, and other developments. … Let’s A) tell our MoCs that we expect Congress to investigate whether Trump is making foreign policy based on his personal financial interests, and B) demand that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform look into the matter.”

You can use this script from 5 Calls:

“I’m calling to urge Senator/Representative ____ to support legislation that limits or bans the sale of American components to ZTE and protects our security interests. I also demand hearings into the connection between the Chinese loans to the Lido City developer and Trump’s abrupt change in policy towards ZTE. At best it is inconsistent trade and foreign policy, and at worst it could be evidence that Trump was bribed.”

Call:

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841 or (415) 393-0707
• Sen. Kamala Harris: (202) 224-3553 or (415) 355-9041
• Rep. Zoe Lofgren: (202) 225-3072 or (408) 271-8700
• Rep. Ro Khanna: (202) 225-2631 or (408) 436-2720
• Rep. Anna Eshoo: (202) 225-8104 or (408) 245-2339
• 1-844-USA-0234 to find your MoC]

3. A reminder that tomorrow, June 3 is the TWWSJ Voting Information Potluck. Whether you’ve got your ballot all filled out or you barely know who’s running for Governor, come and talk voting ** SUNDAY JUNE 3**, from 5-7 p.m. Bring your ballot, a snack or dessert or drink to share, and, if you can, reusable plate/napkin/cutlery. Event information on Facebook (please RSVP). And if you can’t make the potluck, stay tuned. You’ll be able to play along at home and add your voice to the discussion.

2. Do you know whom you’re voting for? Come share your insights with us. Are you lost in a sea of candidates and measures? Come work through them with us! Together We Will San José is hosting a Voting Information Potluck Sunday, June 3, 5-7 pm. Come talk about ballot measures or races that haven’t received much discussion. Or come celebrate our new alliance with the San José Peace & Justice Center! Bring your ballot, a snack or dessert or drink to share, and, if you can, reusable plate/napkin/cutlery. Get all the details and RSVP on Facebook.

3. Can’t make the potluck? Stay tuned. You’ll be able to play along at home and add your voice to the discussion.

4. Get Out the Vote! From Rogan’s List: “With Election Day less than a week away, there is a real danger that NO Democrats will advance to the runoffs in three key primary races in CA-39, CA-48, and CA-49. With our Jungle Primary system, only the top two vote getters will advance to the general election, so we MUST boost the Democratic turnout. Fortunately Flip the 14 and the Courage Campaign, two organizations with active field and digital campaigns in California are partnering to help push a Democrat into the top two. We can help by signing up to volunteer with their texting program today. We can sign up to make phone calls with Courage Campaign. We can sign up to text, phone, or email with Flip the 14. We can sign up to email people we know in these districts, using Voter Circle. Let’s Flip these districts Blue!”

5. Get Out the Vote! See this post if you can help in Tracy Saturday, June 2; Sunday, June 3; or Tuesday, June 5

6. Get Out the Vote! If you prefer to phone bank, join this event on Election Day.

What can we do?

1. Show up for a rally, *tomorrow* JUNE 1 at noon. The ACLU in partnership with United We Dream, Domestic Workers’ Coalition, and Move On is holding rallies in front of immigration enforcement offices. The one in San Jose is at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 150 Almaden. Protest on the sidewalk outside the building. Do not go up to the U.S. Attorney’s office since it is federal property (h/t Ruth Silver Taube). RSVP for the event at the ACLU People Power site.

2. Call your representatives and express your horror. You can simply say, “The treatment of immigrants at the border is unconscionable. What is the Senator/Representative doing about this?” More specifically, you can use this script from 5 Calls:

“I’m asking Rep___ to use Congress’ oversight authority to stop separating families at the U.S. border. This practice hurts innocent children and should be stopped immediately.”

While you’re at it, demand an investigation into ICE and Border Patrol abuse of detainees.

Call:

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841 or (415) 393-0707
• Sen. Kamala Harris: (202) 224-3553 or (415) 355-9041
• Rep. Zoe Lofgren: (202) 225-3072 or (408) 271-8700
• Rep. Ro Khanna: (202) 225-2631 or (408) 436-2720
• Rep. Anna Eshoo: (202) 225-8104 or (408) 245-2339
• 1-844-USA-0234 to find your MoC

3. Want to support a more specific legislative remedy? Call Senator Feinstein (Harris is already a cosponsor) and ask her to support the Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) for Separated Children Act (S.2937), which will protect children who have been abandoned at home or at school after their parents have been arrested or detained by US immigration authorities. Read about the protections this bill will provide via Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN).

4. Donate to an organization that is working on immigration and border issues, like the ACLU or KIND (Kids in Need of Defense). KIND aims to ensure that no unaccompanied children appear in the US immigration system without an attorney.

1. Check out our local Moms Demand Action chapter on Facebook.

2. Call Sen. Feinstein and ask her to cosponsor S. 2009, which aims to make background checks nearly universal. The bill would close the “gun show loophole” by mandating that all sellers run potential buyer information through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Use this script from 5 Calls:

“I’m calling to ask [SEN NAME] to support for S. 2009, the Background Check Expansion Act. Closing loopholes that allow the wrong people to buy guns is a necessary step Congress must take to strengthen our current gun policies and protect Americans from the rampant gun violence devastating our country.”

Call:

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841 or (415) 393-0707

3. Call your representative and ask her/him to introduce legislation to address children’s access to guns. Child Access Prevention (CAP) laws are proven to be among the most effective policies to reduce gun violence, including suicide and unintentional injuries and death. There are no CAP laws in place at the federal level, and 23 states do not have CAP laws.

Call:

• Rep. Zoe Lofgren: (202) 225-3072 or (408) 271-8700
• Rep. Ro Khanna: (202) 225-2631 or (408) 436-2720
• Rep. Anna Eshoo: (202) 225-8104 or (408) 245-2339
• 1-844-USA-0234 to find your MoCs

4. Donate to the new PAC created by parents from the Parkland community, Families Versus Assault Rifle PAC, which aims to take on candidates backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

2. Fight against juvenile fees in your state. #DebtFreeJustice

• Action 2: Fight against juvenile fees in your state (Wall-of-Us)

3. Support incarcerated moms.

• Action 3: Support incarcerated moms (Wall-of-Us)

4. Get local governments to lean in on gender pay equity.

• Action 4: Get local governments to lean in on gender pay equity (Wall-of-Us)

C2A Americans spend a total of $23.1 billion on Mother’s Day, yet America’s policies in support of mothers have always been among the worst in the world– and Trump has made them even worse. From gutting the Affordable Care Act to tearing immigrant mothers and children apart to forcing us to explain daily bad behavior to our children, the Trump Administration has made it harder for mothers across America. We get it, just like comedian Ali Wong many of us don’t want to “lean in” we want to “lie down”! But the stakes are too high and on this Mother’s Day, all-of-us must commit to fighting for the rights of mothers.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• 2018: Mother’s Day Spending to Reach $23.1 Billion (National Retail Federation)
• How New Mom Ali Wong Is Conquering the Comedy World (We Rise by PopSugar via Facebook video)

2. Contact your Representative and urge them not to pass any Farm Bill that will reduce or eliminate SNAP (nutrition assistance). House Republicans see this as a chance to take benefits away from at least 1 million households while also imposing expanded work requirements, even though there’s no evidence that such requirements improve employment rates. Currently more than 40 million people rely on this assistance, including seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and active military folks, and families with children. Tell your representative you expect him/her to protect SNAP.

Call:

• Rep. Zoe Lofgren: (202) 225-3072 or (408) 271-8700
• Rep. Ro Khanna: (202) 225-2631 or (408) 436-2720
• Rep. Anna Eshoo: (202) 225-8104 or (408) 245-2339
• 1-844-USA-0234 to find your MoC

3. Make Mother’s Day a happier, more just day for vulnerable women! Here are two excellent opportunities:

1. National Black Mamas’ Bail Out Day: Donate to help bail out as many mothers as possible who otherwise would spend Mother’s Day in a jail cell simply because they cannot afford bail. This organization also works to highlight the impact of inhumane and destructive bail practices on vulnerable communities.
2. Parcel of Love: Donate to help buy and deliver basic baby essentials to mothers in Syrian refugee camps. This year the organization hopes to provide 2,000 Baby Boxes to these vulnerable, displaced families.

A donation to either or both will make mothers in your life so much happier than a #1 Mom mug!