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February 3, 2017 | Deeds Digest No. 37
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Hello #ChangeMakers!
Wow, what a week it has been. On the national front, of course, a ban that excludes people from 7 different Muslim countries ('LEARN' more below) -- none of which have been the source of terroristic acts in our country, and, that also gives preference to “Christians.” As a lawyer who respects the Constitution, I don’t even know where to begin...
Closer to home, the State of Texas held a hearing this week on a “Sanctuary City” bill that would force our local police to become federal immigration officers. One of our team members here at Deeds Not Words, Alicia Weigel, joined hundreds of others in protesting and speaking out against the bill. This is an issue that we are going to see in states across the country and we will all need to be prepared to join her in fighting back.
For several years, Texas legislators have been attempting to pass similar legislation. Earlier versions of the bill would have permitted local police to act as federal immigration officers, asking people for proof of their immigrant status as part of a routine traffic stop, for example. That was bad enough. This version actually requires local police to do so. Both are very bad policies.
I sat on the committee that heard this bill in the Texas Senate two sessions in a row. Both times, police from throughout the state testified that enforcement of such a law would drive undocumented immigrants who are victims of crime underground. We heard testimony from women who were victims of domestic abuse and who cried as they told us that they would have no where to turn if reporting abuse meant they would be deported and separated from their children.
Make no mistake about it — criminals who are in our jails are already having their immigration status reviewed. In fact, there’s already state law requiring it. I voted in favor of that law. But the “sanctuary city" laws under consideration do nothing to serve public safety, and instead are nothing more than enforcement of “Hispanicphobia.” As the state of Arizona experienced years ago when enforcing a similar law, adopting this approach can have devastating effects on the economy as immigrant workers leave the state.
Both the Muslim ban (“Islamaphobia”) and the Sanctuary City bills (“Hispanicphobia”) threaten the very fabric of who we are as a country. And though I have felt angry and sad to see our state and federal leaders feeding their white nationalist base through the advancement of these ideas, I am also inspired by the tremendous outpouring of opposition that is occurring at airports the country and elsewhere.
Want to know what you can do to help, #ChangeMaker? See our 'Do' section below, and learn how you can effectively fight back. Your voices, your actions matter. Now, more than ever.
xo,
- Wendy
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This week’s #ChangeMakers: Sally Q. Yates
As Acting Attorney General Sally Yates stood up against the controversial executive order which restricted many immigrants and refugees from entering the United States. Ms. Yates put her job on the line for the sake of others by refusing to defend an order she did not believe was lawful. Although this action cost Ms. Yates her position as Acting Attorney General, she’s become a national hero -- and this is just one of many battles she’s faced in her striking career of fighting for #justice.
Know a hero making a difference in their community? Send us a picture of someone you’d like to see as #ChangeMaker of the week here, along with their story, and you might just see it in the next Deeds Digest. |
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#SelfCare is important in these times of media overload and activism in overdrive. Read about what you can do to #StayOutraged Without Losing Your Cool!
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Not exactly sure what the executive order on immigration is all about? Here’s a quick breakdown:
Immigration
- A 90-day hold on immigration from seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen
- Does not include countries from which actual radical terrorists have killed Americans since 9/11 (oh, and conveniently that our current Commander in Chief does business in)
- Gives Director of Homeland Security 30 days to add any additional countries to the immigration ban
Refugees
- Suspension of the American Refugee Program for 4 months while application and screening processes for refugees goes under review
- Suspends Syrian refugees from entering from entering the U.S. Indefinitely
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Want to DO something about the immigration and refugee ban? Call the reps’ offices in your state and make your voice heard:
Who to call:
What to say:
- A few extra talking points never hurt. Here are some to get you started:
- The “Muslim ban” would be a direct violation of both the First Amendment and the Fifth Amendment
- The Executive Order is “explicitly disapproving of one religion and implicitly preferring others.”
- The ban, which is supposed to bolster national security, will likely have the opposite effect and further drive anti-American sentiment and extremism.
- Share your own feelings or stories on why the people fleeing these areas need our compassion, not our bigotry!
- Find more tips here!
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#WendyOnWheels: Wendy's visits with #ChangeMakers across the country!
For years now, Wendy has been traveling the country to inspire and be inspired by young women making a change in their cities.
Wendy loved the young women leaders she found at University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where she spoke about the importance of remembering Roe v. Wade.
Back here in Austin, Wendy met students from St. Edward's University and UT here in Austin who sacrificed their Saturday and Sunday to become Democracy Coaches - talk about commitment! Led by the incredible team at Generation Citizen pictured above, they'll be teaching middle and high school students how to get more involved in #CivicAction. Bravo! |
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