Delivering masks to farmworkers in the San Joaquin Valley Jose Eduardo Chavez / AFSC
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Pan Valley Institute (PVI), Fresno
Protecting each other during COVID-19
Myrna Martinez Nateras reports that the San Joaquin Valley in California is rapidly becoming a COVID-19 hotspot with over 10,000 cases in the region. Working with partners, AFSC has delivered 2000 masks to farmworkers along with information on protecting their health and worker rights. Read more.
Children crunch carrots in New Mexico.
People of the Land Program, Albuquerque
Farm to School Program provides healthy food -- and more
Over the past school year, New Mexico kids in five school districts got to savor great local food. Much of that food came from small-scale, sustainable farms and farmer
co-ops supported by AFSC, which manages the state-funded program that gets nutritious produce to these children while also strengthening the local economy. Angelina Lopez-Brody of AFSC writes that the COVID-19 pandemic has put into stark relief the importance of supporting a thriving local-food system. Learn more.
Kumeyaay tribal bands and supporters (photo: AFSC San Diego)
US-Mexico Border Program, San Diego
Acting in solidarity at the border
Representatives of the Kumeyaay tribal bands and supporters recently returned to the site where Border Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers intend to use explosives for an 18-foot border wall. While explosives have been suspended temporarily, other disturbances to the land will proceed, including grading of the earth. AFSC staff will continue to monitor the situation and support the Kumeyaay tribal bands with their demands for access to their lands, where their people have lived since time immemorial. Follow AFSC-San Diego on Facebook for updates on this and other work.
Economic Activism Program, Oakland
Long-term work behind the scenes leads to big wins
June 2020 saw the culmination of long-term work by Economic Activism staff behind the scenes resulting in huge public successes. In this summary, Dalit Baum of AFSC writes that three high-tech giants have announced they will stop supplying the police with facial recognition technologies. In addition, the Racial Justice Investing Coalition, which AFSC has been working with, published this powerful statement about promoting racial equity.
Kelly was recently freed after nearly three years in detention.
Immigrant Rights Program, Denver
Trans asylum seeker freed after nearly three years in detention
Kelly, a young person originally from Honduras who had over 92,000 people sign a petition for her freedom, is now free after 1051 days in ICE detention. Kelly has been a strong organizer and advocate for others. The AFSC/CFIR Facebook page notes: “Thank you to everyone who fought for Kelly and to those who continue to fight for our immigrant communities and help restore humanity to people caught in a system that intentionally destroys human dignity. We celebrate and continue to fight for the families, children, LGBTQ community and all those seeking asylum.”
67 Sueños, Oakland
Lead organizer sought for youth-led program
Applications will be accepted through August 6 for a Lead Organizer with AFSC’s 67 Sueños program in Oakland. The organizer will work closely with the 67 Sueños team to build a strong youth-led organizing program that supports youth in building power and winning changes that impact their lives and the lives of people in their communities in Oakland and the Bay Area. Building on 67 Sueños’ work in immigrant justice and police accountability, the Lead Organizer will initiate and develop local partnerships and coalitions as well as work with other AFSC networks. Apply here.
Project Voice Immigrant Rights Program, Oregon-Washington
Delivering facemasks and resources to farmworkers in Oregon
In coordination with community partners, AFSC staff and volunteers recently visited farms in West Salem and North Salem to deliver facemasks made by faith communities in Albany, Corvallis and Portland. The organizations delivered food boxes and popular education materials about COVID-19, along with thanks to these essential workers who put food on our tables. Follow AFSC Oregon-Washington on Facebook.
Demands from incarcerated people at San Quentin State Prison
Healing Justice Program, Oakland
Take action to support people incarcerated in California
AFSC staff are asking people to demand that California Gov. Gavin Newson immediately release all people at high risk of illness and death due to COVID-19. In particular, the Governor must release the elderly and those with underlying health issues that put them in acute danger of COVID-19. The only way to control the spread of this global pandemic (inside prison walls and beyond) is to grant releases, stop ICE transfers for those released, and reduce the state’s prison population. Take action now.
Roots for Peace Program, Los Angeles
Celebrating the defunding of a state surveillance program
AFSC’s Roots for Peace partnered with other organizations in the successful #NoPVEinCA coalition. (PVE is short for “Preventing Violent Extremism.”) Staff write: “After much organizing, meeting with legislators and powerful public comments, we celebrate this statewide win to defund the PVE surveillance program that would further harm communities of color, especially our Black, Muslim, and immigrant communities. We celebrate the lead organizing team in our coalition and our collective efforts.” Learn more about this important win here, and follow Roots for Peace on Instagram.
AFSC staff and volunteers collected nearly 400,000 signatures on the Second Chances Act petition.
Arizona Program, Tucson
400,000 Arizonans agree that people deserve a Second Chance
After a tremendous effort that netted nearly 400,000 signatures on petitions, the Second Chances Act initiative qualified for the November ballot. The Second Chances, Rehabilitation, and Public Safety Act is a statewide ballot initiative that will safely reduce the prison population, expand rehabilitative programs, reduce recidivism, create a more just sentencing system and save taxpayers money. See AFSC Arizona’s celebratory video of gratitude for all those who volunteered their time to make it happen.
AFSC also led the effort to guarantee that masks are permitted and available to people incarcerated in Arizona’s state prisons; finally, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry relented. See the story from the Arizona Republic here.
More news
Check out AFSC’s suggestions for how to talk about defunding ICE and CBP while investing in communities….AFSC now has a page full of resources on defunding the police…. Sign up for AFSC’s e-course series for white people of faith to deepen their work for racial justice….Pat Rumer, an AFSC supporter and activist in Oregon, explains why borders should not be barriers to human rights.
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