This Week Was Rough

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Local police confiscated this yard sign made by Marion Stanford of Hamilton, Texas, after neighborhood complaints. (Washington Post) 

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STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! by Kathy Sherretts

This week was rough.
After the Kavanaugh confirmation and the Republicans’ celebratory jitterbug on the floor of the Senate, what can I say? There has been so much written, so eloquently, about this political moment by women (and men) who are re-examining details from their own pasts. 
Here's something concrete we can do: pressure our lawmakers to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. This landmark legislation from 1994 supports protections for women from sexual and physical abuse. It will expire in December, and a new reauthorization bill has no support from Republicans.
So, vote. Help someone else vote. 
--Kathy Sherretts

Department of Irony:
Buzzfeed: Merrick Garland Has Recused Himself From The Ethics Complaints Against Brett Kavanaugh by Zoe Tillman
Judicial ethics experts expect the complaints filed against Kavanaugh to be dismissed now that he has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. 

We are fighting back!
The Guardian: 'Survivors will not be quiet': Kavanaugh backlash boils over by Sam Levin.
"A crowdfunding campaign to support a future opponent of the Republican senator Susan Collins went viral on Friday, earning more than $2m, with donations pouring in as the Republican gave a lengthy speech announcing support for Kavanaugh." 

Podcast:
99 Percent Invisible: Pockets: Articles of Interest #3 (21 minutes)
Feminism meets fashion: when we talk about pockets, we are talking about who has access to the tools they need—who can walk through the world comfortably and securely.

Article:
The Guardian: America has become a gerontocracy. We must change that. by Daniel Bessner and David Austin Walsh
Elderly leaders are making decisions for future generations that will have to deal with the consequences of these choices. They can prevent new ideas from entering into national policy. The simplest solution would be to make it easier for younger people to vote.

​"The average age of a congressional representative is 59, with leaders in their 70s and 80s. We must have lawmakers who look like the people they represent," argue Daniel Bessner and David Austin Walsh in an article in The Guardian.

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For more ways to take action check out the action plan put together by PAGE (Progressive Action Global Exchange), and Americans of Conscience; read the featured action suggested by Indivisible; or check out the online training platform of Resistance School and sign up to any of the more than 15 free courses they offer on organizing 101, team building, contacting voters, and building movements.
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