Cedar Rapids NOW made a donation to the July 12 Lights for Liberty event. The turnout was amazing - and so many people came from beyond Cedar Rapids. Here is a thank you note from the group. Keep up the great work - Eastern Iowa Center for Worker Justice!
No body is illegal.
I had high expectations for our Q&A with campaign staffers. Admittedly, I didn't know the hierarchy of political campaigns, but I was relying on campaign staffers to push questions up the ladder to appropriate people. Maybe that was not communicated well enough. Including the context is not always my strength.
Unfortunately we had to cancel the Q&A event Thursday apparently because my questions were just too powerful in terms of policy and numerous (though not all questions would be asked). Honestly, the response was disappointing, but I was not in a mood to fight about it or dilute it so it didn't really add value.
I was out of town when this came to a head, and it caused a lot stress. I felt bad about canceling, but I didn't want to put on an event I didn't stand behind. - Erin
On April 4, the House of Representatives passed H.R.1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 (VAWA), with strong bipartisan support. It is time for the Senate to take action on a substantially similar bill that maintains important protections for vulnerable survivors while making critical enhancements to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
We must keep the pressure up on the Senate! Senators need to know their constituents care - and are watching! Ask your Senators from both parties to pressure their leaders to GET VAWA DONE with the modest improvements found in the House-passed bill.
ACTION ITEM: We are asking you to post one tweet a week on WEDNESDAYS AT 2:00 PM until the END OF AUGUST. Hashtags are #VAWA2019 and #VAWA4All!
Copy and paste from list (or create your own):
1. VAWA is key to preventing & helping victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. @[SenatorHandle]: stand up for #VAWA4ALL! #VAWA19
2.Brave survivors of intimate partner violence & #GunViolence are sharing their stories &demanding progress. @[SenatorHandle]: take action & fight for #VAWA4ALL. #VAWA19
3.@[SenatorHandle]: survivors of gender-based violence need change, not deadlock.#VAWA4ALL #VAWA19
4.@[SenatorHandle]: the #MeToo era is not the time to roll back important protections for victims of gender-based violence or even to maintain the status quo. They need a#VAWA4ALL! #VAWA19
5.@[SenatorHandle]: now is NOT the time to maintain the status quo. Any bill coming through the Senate must be substantially similar to #HR1585. Victims & survivors need a#VAWA19 with enhancements! #VAWA4ALL
6.@[SenatorHandle]: #NRA falsely claims #HR1585 is an unprecedented expansion of gun laws, but in reality, it just modernizes current law to prevent dating abusers & stalkers from having guns and putting survivors at risk. #VAWA4ALL #VAWA19
7.Every 16 hours, a woman is murdered by a male intimate partner with a gun.@[SenatorHandle]: we need federal laws to put a stop to this senseless violence.#VAWA4ALL #VAWA19
8.@[SenatorHandle]: >80% of Native American & Alaskan Native women are victims of intimate partner violence/sexual violence/stalking, often by non-tribal members.#VAWA19 will hold non-Native predators accountable. #VAWA4ALL
9.#VAWA19 will ensure tribes have the power to prosecute non-Native sexual predators who prey on Native women. All women deserve justice & safety. @[SenatorHandle], Iexpect nothing less. #VAWA4ALL
10.More than 3 women are murdered by their partners EVERY DAY in the U.S. But VAWA saves lives. @[SenatorHandle]: the Senate needs to put forth a strong, bipartisan#VAWA4ALL now! #VAWA19
11.#VAWA19 invests in gender-based violence prevention & helps victims & survivorsre build their lives. @[SenatorHandle], we need #VAWA4ALL – there’s no time to waste!#VAWA19
