BLM, COVID Relief & Gun Violence: Your civic action to-do list for 8-31-20
Statement from JWI's CEO Meredith Jacobs from August 26, 2020.
JWI grieves with the families of those who were shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There is no room for vigilante justice in America. The horrors of what is unfolding are untenable. The victims of the Kenosha shootings should be alive today. Jacob Blake should be home with his family today. Black people should feel safe in our country today.
We recognize there is nothing we can say that is more important than what is being said by Black voices and we will use our platforms to lift those voices. We must all come together in our work to dismantle the systems that continue to perpetuate this horrific violence.
3. Black Lives Matter.
In a nutshell: JWI along with over 600 Jewish organizations, denominations, and synagogues took out a full page ad in the New York Times to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Take action: Email your senators and tell them to co-sponsor the House passed Justice in Policing Act, an important first step in reducing police violence and securing long-overdue accountability for law enforcement.
2. The American people desperately need relief NOW to help them get through this pandemic.
In a nutshell: Congress must pass a COVID-19 relief package that includes not only economic supports for unemployed, underemployed, and low-income families but also funding and policies specifically addressing the unique needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
Take action: Next Wednesday (9/9) join JWI and our coalition partners for a day of action – call your senators and representative in the morning and then participate in a Twitter storm at 1pm ET!
1. In the past week we have seen horrific videos of gun violence in the street of our cities.
In a nutshell: Over the summer there has been a dramatic spike in gun violence and mass shootings, particularly in communities most impacted by the coronavirus.
Take action: Tell your federal, state, and local officials to support an assault weapons ban, universal background checks, and funding for violence interruption programs.
