Heartbroken for Pittsburgh, ending gun violence, and casting your vote for change: Civic action to-do list for 10-29-18

3. Tree of Life

The devastating shooting that occurred during Shabbat services at the Tree of Life Synagogue breaks all of our hearts. We mourn for all of the victims, and pray for the recovery of the wounded. While this is likely the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in the U.S., it is not an isolated incident. Anti-Semitism is on the rise both in the US and around the world – Contact your members of Congress and tell them to call on Secretary Pompeo to move quickly to appoint a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. The United States should be a leader in the world fighting hatred at home and abroad.  

2. Gun Violence Must End

The gunman in the mass shooting in Pittsburgh used four firearms (3 pistols and 1 assault rifle) to murder 11 innocent souls, and had purchased at least 6 guns. So far this year there are have been 297 mass shootings in which 306 people have been murdered and 1,203 have been injured. The gun violence epidemic in our country is impossible to ignore. We can not fight gun violence with more firearms, instead we need comprehensive gun violence prevention measures. Call on your members of Congress to mandate background checks for all firearms purchases, to ban assault weapons, to prevent individuals who are risk of harming themselves or others from possessing firearms, and to prohibit individuals convicted of dating violence from having guns. 

1. Vote for Change

This midterm election you can help determine the direction of this country. By voting for elected officials who believe in fairness and decency, commonsense gun violence prevention measures, and protecting the rights of women and girls, you can shape the political rhetoric and policies of our government. Join our “ Hear Us Vote” campaign, educate yourself on the ballot initiatives and local, state, and federal candidates for office, and make sure you know where, when, and how you are going to cast your ballot!