NOW IS THE TIME TO ATTACK STRUCTURAL RACISM
Jump to today’s actions:
Background
W.E.B. DuBois recognized America’s split personality—as the land of the free and the home of the slave—which we’ve never had the will to change.
Although these contradictions continue, George Floyd’s murder, the coronavirus pandemic’s highly uneven impact on communities of color, and Trump’s callous responses to both, have finally made white America confront deep-seated racial inequities. The more than 23 million who’ve participated in Black Lives Matter protests since May—supported by 87% of Democrats, 76% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans—make Black Lives matter the largest protest movement in American history.
We must not waste this energy for transformative change. Rather than focusing solely on police and criminal justice reform, we must push to eliminate the structural racism keeping people of color from achieving full equality by reinvesting in their communities. As first steps
The Senate must pass HEROS Act, George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and Emmett Till Antilynching Act,
Congress must enact the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which identifies systematic racism as a public health crisis and requires CDC to develop both anti-racist health policies and programs preventing law enforcement violence.
Congress must commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
1. Call the Senate.
Script for Sen. Merkley
Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Thank you for co-sponsoring the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism. Please use your influence to convince the Senate immediately to: Pass the HEROS Act, H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and H.R. 35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act; pass the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act; commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
Script for Sen. Wyden
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. The Senate must, as first steps in the fight to end structural racism, immediately pass the HEROS Act, H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and H.R. 35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act; co-sponsor and work to pass the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act; convince your colleagues to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Please co-sponsor the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism and use your influence to convince the House to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
Script for Greg Walden (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Please co-sponsor the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism and use your last few months in office to convince the House to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Please co-sponsor the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism and use your influence to convince the House to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Please co-sponsor the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism and use your influence to convince the House to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Due to structural racism, communities of color are being disproportionately harmed and killed by police violence and COVID-19. Please co-sponsor the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, which is a good first step in the fight against structural racism and use your influence to convince the House to commit to post-pandemic rebuilding based on anti-racism and economic justice.
3. Get 2020 Ready.
Oregonians are joining with activists across the country to power a LANDSLIDE democratic victory in November 2020, from the White House to the Senate to the State Houses. Here’s how you can get involved:
Elections Power Hour weekly strategy call. Mondays at 5pm
Call Arizona voters. Thursdays, training at 5pm, calling begins at 5:30
Write letters to voters with Swing Left and Vote Forward. Saturdays 12-2pm
Write postcards to Voters of Color with Reclaim Our Vote. Sundays 3-5pm
Sources:
Nine black artists reflect on the question: “Is America at a point of reckoning?”
States are calling racism a public health crisis. Here’s what that means
Calls to declare racism a public health crisis grow louder amid pandemic, police brutality
How police are causing a public health crisis
Racism Is a Public Health Crisis, Say Cities and Counties
Ending police violence requires public health-based approach: APHA statement guiding work, outreach
