Photo via The Baltimore Fishbowl

Written by Jackson Bird. 

This week we’re dedicating the reFRESH to ways you can take action against the ever-frightening and increasingly racist policies of the current administration.

Some ways to take action…

Families being separated. The anti-Muslim travel ban being upheld. Justice Anthony Kennedy announcing his retirement, likely heralding a majority conservative Supreme Court that will reverse vital human rights cases like Roe v. Wade.

…it’s been a week.

If you’re as overwhelmed and apoplectic as we are, here are a few ways you can take action:

1. Educate Yourself. 

Here’s why families are being separated and why there are so many better options.

Fuzzy on the timeline of the travel ban and which parts of it were blocked by which courts? Here’s a rundown.

Why exactly, is Justice Kennedy’s retirement so frightening for abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and more? Lawrence Hurley explains.

And finally, watch Ai-jen Poo recount what she saw on her visit to the border.

2. Call Your Senators.

You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and have the operator connect you to your legislator’s office. You can also look up your legislator’s contact information directly here. As for what to say…

For family separation, tell them to support Senate Bill 3036, the Keep Families Together Act.

For the Supreme Court appointment, tell your senator to reject any nominee that would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade (or any of the myriad of issues at risk, but abortion is guaranteed to be the litmus test for appointees).

3. Hit the streets.

Saturday, June 30th, is the Families Belong Together Day of Action. Visit their website to learn more and find an action near you.

Follow MPower Change to find #StandWithMuslims rallies and actions near you.

As the fight continues, use this interactive map from the ACLU to find rallies by issue and location.

4. Donate.

Support the organizations that are leading the fight and providing services to those affected. There are so many doing this work, here are just a few we recommend:

• The National Network of Abortion Funds
• Raices, the Texas-based education and legal defense organization supporting families at the border
• MPower Change the Muslim grassroots organizers leading much of the #NoMuslimBanEver efforts
• If you buy GenEquality’s “I Really Do Care” t-shirt, proceeds are going to fourteen of the organizations fighting for families being separated.

via GenEquality

5. Vote.

Don’t stay home this year. We have a chance to put progressives in office who can stand against racist, misogynist, and anti-LGBTQ+ policies–and who can block the nomination of a Supreme Court justice who would vote for all of those things. Check you’re registered to vote, when your states primary elections are, and how you can help others turn out to vote too.

And now to end on a high note after this dumpster fire week, here’s rising star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seeing how big of a lead she had in the New York District 14 Democratic primary. (Which she later, of course, won.)

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