For several years, AFSC has been deeply involved in opposing the police militarization program known as Urban Shield in the Bay Area. Urban Shield is a global weapons expo and SWAT training exercise that brings together law enforcement agencies and first responders from the U.S. and around the world—including those forces known for severe human rights abuses, including Mexico and the apartheid state of Israel—to collaborate on new forms of surveillance, state repression, and state violence..  

Community members continue efforts to keep Juana in the U.S. with her family where she belongs. 

It was an odd scene for the Fourth of July in High Point, North Carolina—40 people milling around an office park, all with cellphones stuck to their ears, the afternoon sun beating down on platters of food and tubs of ice cream on folding tables set up in the parking lot. A large emblem posted on the front of the building gave more away: “U.S. Senator, Thom Tillis.” The festive phone-callers were all leaving voicemails on his answering machine in Washington, D.C.

After President Trump called for the firing of NFL players who take a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, over 200 football players participated in solidarity actions over the weekend. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.

1. For the NFL, it was ‘Choose Your Side Sunday’, by Dave Zirin via The Nation

Andrew Willis Garcés is AFSC North Carolina immigrant rights organizer in Greensboro.

This week, efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act ramped up again, this time via the Graham-Cassidy bill. While a recent announcement by Sen. John McCain means the bill is unlikely to move forward, it will likely not be the last of such efforts. Meanwhile, demands for a more just health care system are continuing to grow. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.

This month, heads of state and government from throughout the world will descend on the United Nations for the opening of the 72nd session of the U.N. General Assembly. This year’s theme is “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.” And it’s certainly critical now given the range of global challenges we face, including an unprecedented level of humanitarian need, rising inequality and exclusion, growing climate change impacts, and increasing threats to our shared security. 

Chris Crass is a longtime organizer, educator, and writer working to build powerful working class-based, feminist, multiracial movements for collective liberation.  He is a one of the leading voices in the country calling for and supporting white people to work for racial justice.

The last few weeks have seen catastrophic natural disasters – from Hurricanes Irma and Harvey to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, an earthquake in Mexico, and devastating flooding in South Asia. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.

1. Season of smoke, by Naomi Klein via The Intercept