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Contents
The Flaws of Our System
Resistance Against Trump’s “Public Charge” Rule
Let’s Talk About Team Biden and Harris
Even Amidst a Pandemic, Farmworkers Must Still Work
Yet Another Unarmed Black Man Shot
Justice in the News
The Flaws of Our System
Wisconsin police shoot an unarmed Black man in front of his three children, severely injuring him, and protests erupt as a result (Learn more in the Call-to-Action section)
Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and other former Republican lawmakers are endorsing Biden for President
Ongoing Court Cases
Resistance Against Trump’s “Public Charge” Rule
Last year, the Trump administration proposed a “public charge” rule which would greatly reduce the number of green cards and other visas available to immigrants. As a result, community groups in New York City fought back in the ongoing lawsuit, Make the Road New York v. Cuccinelli.
What you should know about this case and the “public charge” rule:
Public charge is an immigrant who receives one or more public benefits (as defined in the final rule) for more than 12 months, in total, within any 36-month period
Ken Cuccinelli is the acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services
The rule attacks low-income immigrants of color, particularly Latinx, Black, Asian and disabled immigrants
“It raises the income, language, and wealth requirements for immigrants seeking to become permanent residents”
It punishes immigrants for using public benefits like Medicaid and SNAP
On July 29th, 2020 the Manhattan federal court issues two nationwide injunctions that temporarily suspended the “public charge” rule. Just a couple weeks ago, the Second Circuit issued an administrative order which limits these injunctions in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont (Second Circuit States).
What does this mean?
The injunctions were issued to help low-income immigrants utilize healthcare and other government services, which is especially crucial due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Before the injunctions, visa applicants had to show proof of private health insurance
In New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, these injunctions will no longer be effective in helping low-income students access essential government services
While this is definitely a step back in the Second Circuit states, Make the Road New York and other community organizations are continuing to fight back against these cruel and targetted “public charge” rules.
2020 Elections
Let’s Talk About Team Biden and Harris
While Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are far from the ideal democratic nominees for President and Vice President, let’s take a moment to analyze their platforms critically.
What Biden Supports:
Banning assault weapons and getting a stronghold on the NRA
Tuition-free college
Fighting climate change
Defunding the police
The abolition of ICE
Misinformation can be spread widely, however, did you know that Joe Biden wrote the 1994 crime bill to address sexual assault and domestic violence? Representative Jim Clyburn of North Carolina expresses that the 1994 crime bill has initiatives included in the bill that people would express they would want. This includes the Community Policing and Violence Against Women Act. Despite that, Republicans held the majority in Congress and stripped the bill of those positive elements, only retaining its punitive components.
Positives about Kamala Harris:
She is the first Black and South Asian American Vice President Candidate
She has political and legal experience
Things we should keep an eye out for:
Her platforms regarding criminal justice
Specifically, her work against police brutality
Her platform inconsistencies on health care
While Kamala Harris does have a bittersweet past in politics and controversial history with criminal justice, it is important to separate fact from fiction and fact check the often false information spreading about her.
Immigration
Even Amidst a Pandemic, Farmworkers Must Still Work
Working in the fields that provide food on the table for every American home is a risk for many farmworkers. Almost every part of the process of picking crops needs to be considered in light of COVID-19. Most of the time, farmworkers have to work without federal protections. Even though they are considered essential workers, they often don’t have health insurance or paid sick leave. As a result, they can’t afford to miss work in order to avoid being exposed and thus, risk their lives every day to harvest these crops.
Working in close quarters with others
Sleeping in bunk beds
Sharing kitchens and bathrooms
Riding together in crowded buses to the fields where they often work in groups
Some workers were still required to work or were sent back to their countries of origin even after testing positive for COVID-19
Nationally, there has been at least 3,600 positive COVID-19 cases among farmworkers
It is extremely difficult for undocumented migrant farmworkers to seek medical care during these times because of the strong fear of encountering ICE. This is devastating because agricultural workers are even more likely to contract COVID-19 than workers in other industries. Many farms have already reported outbreaks in California, Washington, Florida, and Michigan but the federal government has not established any rules or regulations to help prevent farmworkers from contracting COVID-19 or training to instruct employers on how to handle COVID-19 cases.
Donate to the
Farmworkers’ COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund
Call on Congress to act!
Sign this
petition
to compel OSHA to pass an Emergency Temporary Standard to protect workers, as well as provide premium pay and income for all workers regardless of their immigration status.
Call-to-Action
Yet Another Unarmed Black Man Shot
Just yesterday, a video was released of at least one police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooting Jacob Blake seven times, an unarmed Black Man, in front of his three children. He is currently in serious condition in a hospital nearby. The police were called because he was trying to break up an argument between two women. When is violence against Black men going to end?
If you have…
30 seconds: Text 'Jake' to 55156 to demand the immediate firing and arrest of the officer who attempted to murder Jake Blake
1 minute: Sign this petition and this petition
2 minutes: Learn more about the Hands Up Act
5-10 minutes: Call local officials to demand the police officers are held accountable for the attempted murder of Jake Blake:Kenosha City Attorney (262-653-4170)
Kenosha Mayor and City Administration: 262-653-4000
Kenosha Police Non-Emergency Line 262-656-1234
Wisconsin DOJ (608) 266-1221
$ for a good cause: Donate to the Milwaukee Freedom Fund
Written by: Namrata Subramanian, Daniele’ Evans, & Daisy Flores
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