Safe Communities Act - Call to Action January 31, 2018
January 23, 2018
Safe Communities Statewide Call-in Day January 31, 2018
In the past year, the Trump administration has been fueling the anti-immigrant agenda with shocking aggression: from the travel ban, to stepped-up arrests and detentions, to threatening Dreamers. Right now, we have a chance to make a real difference in ensuring that state and local law enforcement cannot play a role in detaining and deporting immigrants.
The Safe Communities Act—a Jane Doe Inc.'s Legislative priority—must be reported out of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security by February 7th, and we need your help to advance the bill favorably!
Here’s what you can do:
Wednesday, January 31st: Statewide Call-in Day!
Help us flood the State House with calls on Wednesday, January 31st! Call your legislators and invite others to do the same! We encourage anyone to call their legislators when they can, but there is a higher chance that you will reach someone between 9am and 5pm. When calling, we are specifically asking our legislators to advocate for the Safe Communities Act with their leadership.
To be connected automatically, just text SAFEMA to 52886 or go to http://actnow.io/UD40884
If you prefer, you can look up your legislators here and call.
Key components of your call:
· Introduce yourself as a constituent from [your city/town]
· Say that you are calling in support of the Safe Communities Act [Bill #S1305 and H32690]
· Tell them, in 1 sentence, why the bill is important to you
· Ask your legislator to advocate that the bill be reported favorably out of committee by Feb. 7
Sample Script for call-in day:
“My name is ________ and I am a constituent. I live in _(city/town)_. I am calling because I support the Safe Communities Act and want to urge _(your legislator)_ to call the chairs of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee—Senator Moore and Representative Naughton—and ask them to give the bill a swift and favorable report before the February 7th report-out deadline.”
Remember, legislative aides are influential too, so don’t get discouraged if you’re unable to speak with a legislator directly! If your call goes unanswered, leave a message! Voicemails tend to be more persuasive than e-mails!
This bill will provide critical support and safety for immigrants in Massachusetts, those who live in all communities of the Commonwealth, many of whom are survivors who experience additional barriers in seeking help and services because of immigration threats and realities in our current climate. Constituent pressure is incredibly powerful in determining the fate of bills like this one! Can we count on you to participate in our statewide day of action and encourage your networks to do the same?
For more information about the Safe Communities Act, please visit http://www.safecommunitiesact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SCA-factsheet-Jan2018.pdf
For a list of legislative sponsors, please visit http://www.safecommunitiesact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SCA-legislative-sponsors.pdf