UPDATE: some of this week’s events have been cancelled or postponed due to Harvey recovery efforts. Please see below for updates.
We’re writing this on Sunday morning, as rain continues to drench Austin and the news out of Houston is very grim. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo (formerly of Austin) is instructing people not to go to their attics, but to their roofs. The 911 system is already overwhelmed, and the rain will continue for days.
If you are in a position to help, here are some resources and places that need volunteers and money:
The Austin Chronicle has a list of Austin shelters and primary sources of information.
Austin Pets Alive needs foster families and donations.
As Harvey was barreling toward the Texas coast on Friday, Trump wished us “good luck” and then pardoned Joe Arpaio. While not unexpected, this pardon is still shocking, for a number of reasons.
James Madison, our fourth president and “Founding Father,” said that abuse of the presidential pardon would be an impeachable offense. And “abuse” is too weak a word to describe Trump’s pardon of Joe Arpaio.
We’ve assembled a page for “Arpaio Facts,” like this one:
No posts found.You can use these facts when you call your reps this week. Some other points to note when you call:
- Arpaio was Trump’s biggest partner-in-crime in the “birther” conspiracy — the lie that President Obama was not born in the United States
- DOJ policy on presidential pardons is to wait for five years after conviction of a crime; Trump issued the pardon before Arpaio was even sentenced
- Trump’s pardoning of Arpaio sends a signal to others in Trump’s orbit who have been, or may be, accused of crimes: Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Don Jr. Some of them may refuse to even testify now that they know how easily obtained a pardon will be.
In sum, this pardon is a catastrophic violation of democratic norms. There must be consequences to this action, and your reps are the only ones who can impose those consequences.
Monday, August 28
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12 to 1 p.m. Legal Observer Training
Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave # 700
You will learn:
- how to best record facts and collect materials during public demonstrations and protests so that their materials can be utilized by defense attorneys or civil rights attorneys in resulting civil or criminal cases;
- how to assist with jail support, including jail release of demonstrators who get arrested; and
- how legal observing and jail support fits into the larger picture of movement lawyering.
6:30 to 8 p.m. Media Training for Activists
Hosted by Indivisible Rosedale Huddle
Talking to the media is an important part of our work as activists–but it can be nerve-racking and intimidating. Let’s fix that!
In this training you’ll learn how to:
- Draft a media advisory and press release about your organization or event
- Find the right journalists to contact with your story
- Develop interview skills–practice your message and stick to it!
- Look and sound your best for TV and radio
**We’re meeting in the 2-story white house at 5000 Burnet, in the middle of the food trailer court.**
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Tuesday, August 29
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All day. Get ready to Defend DACA.
In 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program became the largest victory of the immigrant youth movement. It allowed thousands of us to protect ourselves from deportation, receive work permits, while providing more freedom to thousands of youth and their families across the country.
A handful of far-right Republican politicians are attempting to take DACA away if Trump doesn’t end the program by September 5th. The clock is ticking – are you ready to fight?
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Wednesday, August 30
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6:30 to 8:30 p.m. San Antonio: Town Hall with Rep. Joaquin Castro
Luther Burbank High School, 1002 Edwards, San Antonio, TX 78204
Please join Rep. Castro for a Town Hall in San Antonio at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 30, at Burbank High School. All are welcome.
UPDATE: Has been moved to Tuesday, Sep. 5
7 to 9 p.m. Community Event: This is Us: Reflections on Charlottesville, Racism & What’s Next
From Austin Justice Coalition, location TBD:
Join us for a deep conversation on race, white supremacy/privilege, and hatred in America and how we can confront and defeat it to move forward to a better, more equitable nation.
This is a family friendly event and we encourage everyone to ask as many people to come as possible.
Learn more and RSVP on Facebook
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Thursday, August 31
ALL DAY
In solidarity with Workers Defense Project and Left Up to Us, we’re asking y’all to make some calls to City Council related to SB4, which goes into effect on Friday.
Call your Austin City Councilmember and ask them to support two items on tomorrow’s council agenda:
- Item 96: renewal of funding for emergency legal services for immigrant families impacted by SB4 (part of budget, which has a hearing tomorrow)
- Item 102: approve a resolution directing the city manager to provide monthly data concerning the enforcement of immigration laws, and that will provide information about the use of City resources for immigration enforcement
Not sure who your council member is? Find out here.
| District 1 Council Member Ora Houston | 512-978-2101 |
| District 2 Council Member Delia Garza | 512-978-2102 |
| District 3 Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria | 512-978-2103 |
| District 4 Council Member Gregorio “Greg” Casar | 512-978-2104 |
| District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen | 512-978-2105 |
| District 6 Council Member Jimmy Flannigan | 512-978-2106 |
| District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool | 512-978-2107 |
| District 8 Council Member Ellen Troxclair | 512-978-2108 |
| District 9 Council Member Kathie Tovo | 512-978-2109 |
| District 10 Council Member Alison Alter | 512-978-2110 |
1 to 2 p.m. Legal Observer Training
University of Texas School of Law, 727 E Dean Keeton St
The National Lawyers Guild has a rich history of training and providing legal observers at civil rights and anti-fascist demonstrations. Legal observers serve as part of the NLG legal team by documenting police activity and interactions with demonstrators.
Read more and RSVP on Facebook.
UPDATE: This has been postponed, and not yet rescheduled.
6 to 8 p.m. Community Event: Not Going Quietly: Interfaith Witness Against SB4
University Presbyterian Church Austin, 2203 San Antonio St.
Join with people of diverse faiths as we witness to our solidarity with the immigrant community and learn practical responses to the new law for congregations and faith-based ministries.
Contact Krystal Leedy for details or to get involved.
4 to 6 p.m. Show Up & Shout Out! Senator Ted Cruz…You Work For Us!
Hosted by TX-10 Indivisible at Sen. Ted Cruz’s office, 300 E 8th St.
SHOW UP & SHOUT OUT! August recess and not one open, public town hall from Senator Cruz. Let’s remind Congress and Cruz – You Work for Us. BRING NOISE MAKERS! I have 20 of these signs to share with the crowd. CORNER of 8th & San Jacinto Blvd.
6 p.m. Press Conference on SB4 at City Hall
Hosted by Workers Defense Project, Grassroots Leadership, ICE Out of Austin/ICE Fuera de Austin, Texas Advocacy Project & Austin Sanctuary Network
We will rally against anti-immigrant bigotry and racial profiling on THURSDAY. A judge in San Antonio is still deciding whether the racist, anti-immigrant law (also known as SB4) will be allowed to go into effect on September 1.
The judge could decide ANY DAY between now and then.
No matter what happens, communities in Austin will gather *Thursday, August 31* at 6 p.m. in front of Austin City Hall. We’ll be there because with or without SB4, we’re still fighting for local policies that keep Black, Brown and poor communities safe from arrest, incarceration, and deportation.
Friday, September 1
12 to 2 p.m. Statewide Strike & Youth Rally Against Hate
Texas State Capitol
From the organizers: SB4 opens the door for extremists to target immigrants and all people who look or speak differently. We can’t let that happen, and we won’t. That’s why we are calling for a Statewide Strike to protest SB4 on Friday, September 1, the day the law goes into effect. The same day, students will gather at the Texas State Capitol for a Youth Rally Against Hate to raise their voices with communities across Texas to say Basta SB4! Basta Texas!
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Volunteer with Indivisible Austin at Central Texas Food Bank
The Central Texas Food Bank needs help packing food boxes for Harvey evacuees, so we’re helping them out Friday afternoon! You must register directly through our group volunteer link to participate.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
*There are 40 volunteer slots available and we want to fill them all!
*You MUST register with the food bank to volunteer. Do that here.
http://indivisible.cafb.volunteerhub.com/events/indexv1
*You MUST be on time and stay for the ENTIRE shift (3 hours)
NO sleeveless tops or open-toed shoes allowed–we will be in a working warehouse
*Please watch this brief video if you’ve never volunteered at the food bank warehouse before.
https://vimeo.com/184720523
Saturday, September 2
11 a.m to 3 p.m. Basta Texas: Unity March and Concert Against Hate and White Supremacy
Indivisible Austin is proud to cohost the Basta March and Concert at the Texas State Capitol.
From the organizers: We’re bringing together Texas’ diverse communities of color with a free concert and march to show lawmakers that we are powerful, that we are united, and that we will fight against SB4 and all attacks on our community. The March is three days ahead of the deadline given to the federal government to end the renewal of DACA. If the program is renewed, the Attorney General from 10 states have threatened to sue the Trump administration.