A Word From Social Justice Coordinator Jason Taper Shalom y'all!
Social Justice is still going on--remotely. During this quarantine, I'm sharing opportunities to organize from home. If you want a way to help respond to the hardships this virus is causing, keep reading.Each issue has its own current point person to contact, if you'd like to get involved. We had a general Austin Jewish Social Justice Zoom meeting, with follow-up info and COVID-19 resources in this drive. And if you want to talk about what issues you're passionate about getting involved with, email me at jason.austinsocialjustice@gmail.com or text me at 469-834-9987 and let's talk!
Jason Taper
Social Justice Coordinator
Temple Beth Shalom & Congregation Beth Israel
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If You Read Nothing Else:
ATX City Council Votes Thursday, April 9, on COVID-19 Aid Cash Transfers. Email, call, and sign up to speak at the virtual meeting:
"I support Item 81, $15M of unrestricted cash transfers through FII." See council member contact information.
_______________________________________________________Reform Congregations--Immigration Work Website
Check out Daniela Weil's immigration advocacy website to find the latest actions and her thoughtful analysis, updated frequently. ______________________________________________________________ Opportunities for InvolvementReligious Action Center, Texas
Contact: Rabbi David Segal, dsegal@rac.org Action Item: RAC Action Alert -- Call Governor Abbott to oppose playing abortion politics in a crisis (RAC explainer here)
RAC-TX joined the Texas Voter Protection Coalition. See more information on the goals of this coalition. RAC-TX is pushing for universal vote by mail to ensure a safe and un-suppressed election. Temple Beth Shalom Social Justice Core Team (Anti-Poverty)
Contact: Larkin Tackett, 512-657-9383, larkin.tackett@gmail.com
Action Item: Call and email City Council in support of Item 81, a Cash Transfer Resolution, to be voted on Thursday, April 9 (Resolution here)
(email template here) ( council member contact info here ).
As was agreed in the federal bill, the best way to help those economically hurt by COVID-19 is through cash assistance. Austin City Council votes this Thursday on a $15M unrestricted cash transfer to those left out by the federal relief, and those who can't wait the potential months it may take federal relief to arrive. A coalition partner nonprofit, Family Independence Initiative (FII), has agreed to waive overhead costs, and would ensure 100% of the $15M goes directly to those in our community who are struggling. Email and call to ensure that this relief passes and that FII is a main recipient.
If you have time, please sign up to speak by tomorrow at 12 for the virtual meeting that City Council will have Thursday. Here are the instructions to do so. If you have questions on this issue, please contact me or Ivanna Neri of FII ( Ivanna@fii.com ).
* Education about strategies highlighted in NY Times, Tamarack Institute (Canada), and Central Iowa
* Partnering with other Austin organizations (LifeWorks, Community First! Village, and Capital IDEA) to conduct house meetings to understand issues and identify leaders of families impacted by poverty.
Upcoming Event: Monthly action team meeting led by Ofelia Zapata
When: April 15 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom (email Larkin Tackett for link)
Jewish tradition is filled with commandments to help the poorest among us: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the widow and orphan. When we organize to place working class voices at the center of how our community morally responds to poverty, we not only improve the advocacy we undertake, but fundamentally empower those who the Torah compels us to uplift. Advocates for Social Justice Reform (Criminal Justice)
Contact: Bob Batlan, bobbatlan1@gmail.com
Action Item: Call & email criminal judges to release inmates without cash bail ( article here ) ( letter here )
Gov. Abbott has attempted to require judges to collect monetary bail to get out of jail at a time when jails are hotspots of COVID-19. That puts the poor and all of us at a public health risk. Instead we urge judges to continue choosing personal (non-$) bonds, which still result in high rates of court appearances.
Unscheduled Upcoming Actions:
* Zoom meeting with Austin Interfaith regarding working together
* Zoom meeting regarding partnerships with others
* Zoom meetings with County Commissioners regarding potential state grant for representation of indigent at magistration
* Zoom meetings regarding discussions with District Attorney, County Attorney, and County Court at Law runoff candidates.
Work So Far:
* Created an Advocacy Group called Advocates for Social Justice Reform, made up of Temple Beth Shalom congregants and diverse partners
* Studied key Criminal Justice Reform issues in depth, focusing on Travis County
* Obtained grant from State of Texas to support formation of Travis County Public Defender Office
* Obtained minority representation for Public Defender Oversight Committee from within the group
"Justice, justice, you shall pursue." A just system of laws is ingrained from Leviticus through King David through every contradicting comment in the Talmud. Even an eye for an eye is blind to whose eye is taken, so we organize for a criminal justice system that is truly fair and impartial.
ICE Reform Advocacy
Contacts: Maria Reza, Daniela Weil
Action Item: Remote Sponsor an Asylum Seeker
One person needed to sign one letter and have one phone call with a woman detained at T. Don Hutto. Contact Daniela Weil.
Ongoing Action: Demanding Release of T. Don Hutto Detainees
Grassroots Leadership is asking folks to call (script here) and ask for the release of the women inside T. Don Hutto detention center, as they have little to no access to medical resources (the women inside have no choice but to purchase a bar of soap for $4 because the jail won't supply them with basic necessities). These are all women who are seeking asylum and have absolutely no need to be detained inside a hazardous jail, especially during an epidemic.
Grassroots Leadership also joined nine advocacy organizations by sending a letter to local officials about what can be done to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in our Central Texas communities, especially among the most vulnerable.
Work So Far: Organizing against ICE contracts and inhumane treatment of detainees, including research, elected official contact, and protests.
Our Jewish values compel us to show compassion to these women who fled their countries after seeing their families being killed, crossed the ocean and arrived in a place they considered a safe haven. The dangers of Germany then and Guatemala now both compel allyship. Central Texas Interfaith
Contact: Rachel Gunner
Action Item: Petition Congress for COVID-19 Relief ( petition here )
Central Texas Interfaith, a coalition of which Temple Beth Shalom and Congregation Beth Israel are a part, is one of the largest local advocates on behalf of faith communities. Austin Sanctuary Network
Contacts: Jessica Duran, Daniela Weil
Social Justice Opportunity: Supporting Hilda and Iván in sanctuary
Work So Far: This organization has been protecting Hilda Ramirez and her son Iván, who are Guatemalan asylum seekers, from ICE detention and deportation to certain danger, for four years.
“The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” So we show our love and solidarity with Hilda and Iván whenever we can.
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Contacts: Nancy Wolf, Russ Apfel
Social Justice Opportunity: Congregational Organizing for Refugees
Work So Far: HIAS hosted the Austin Jews for Refugees conference, providing education on the policies and lived realities of refugee issues and connection to nonprofits working in this space to over 200 participants.
Our own people’s history as “strangers” reminds us of the many struggles faced by immigrants today, and we affirm our commitment to create the same opportunities for today’s refugees that were so valuable to our own community when we fled our gravest dangers.
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