Compassionate Resistance for 4/6/17

This post is part of my “Compassionate Resistance” series, a regular roundup of stories of local resistance from across America. This series was inspired by and is part of Powerful Resistance, a grassroots project to counter the injustice of the current administration by promoting positive stories of justice and compassion.

• Learn more about my Compassionate Resistance series.
• Browse my Compassionate Resistance series archive.
• Follow my Compassionate Resistance Twitter feed at @Comp2Resist.
• Learn more about the Powerful Resistance project on Facebook.

_____

• Our Dishonest President (Los Angeles Times): "Those who oppose the new president’s reckless and heartless agenda must make their voices heard. Protesters must raise their banners. Voters must turn out for elections. Members of Congress — including and especially Republicans — must find the political courage to stand up to Trump. Courts must safeguard the Constitution. " (*First of a six-part series*)
• Five Fierce Women Poets to Inspire the Resistance (Ozy): "Poetry opens up a conversation, a narrative of humanity for people to engage with that isn’t just based on fear."
• You Can Now Join a Real-Life 'Dumbledore's Army' to Resist Against Trump (Kombini): "A group of Harvard graduates, moved by Donald Trump's presidential election, have founded a four-week training program 'that will sharpen the tools we need to fight back at the federal, state and local levels.'"
• 'Made by Refugee' Is a Guerrilla Art Project With a Strong Message About Immigrants (NBC News): "The design of the sticker is simple: A white rectangle with a thick black border and an small orange rectangle that evokes a flag by The Refugee Nation, an organization that supports refugees."
• Abortion: Stories Women Tell Is an Honest Look at How All Women Are Impacted by Abortion Laws (Glamour): "The goal was to share the stories of women who are out there and maybe aren’t voting or [are] in survival mode trying to take care of their families and figure out how they’re going to pay for college. These are the stories we wanted to hear: from women who are affected but aren’t the ones grabbing the microphone."
• Freedom House Opens Doors to Healing (Visalia Times-Delta): "The nonprofit will help both labor and sex trafficking victims. Services include comprehensive case management, crisis counseling, shelter, emergency financial assistance, criminal justice support, information and referral, ongoing mental health services and legal advocacy."
• [VIDEO] Meet Reyna Montoya, an Arizona Organizer and Dancer Who Fights the Power to Protect Immigrant Families and Their Kids (ColorLines): "In her interview, she talks about the impact of deportation and detention on families and children, and how she and others risked arrest to prevent a bus full of undocumented immigrants from being deported." (*First of a five-part series*)
• Reform Movement Urges Synagogues to Protect Immigrants Facing Deportation (JTA): "There are Reform synagogues in communities nationwide that are already supporting and protecting undocumented immigrants facing deportation within their communities, and with this resolution we hope growing numbers will join this holy work."
• Hit-and-runs Fell After California Gave Driver's Licenses to Those Here Illegally, Study Finds (Los Angeles Times): "The law 'has been an overwhelmingly successful program. It’s a big win for public safety. We know 850,000 people have passed a vision test and have proof of insurance.'"
• Arab Americans Lead the Charge for US Civil Liberties (AlJazeera): "Most of our work is done in coalitions. This is intentional. We come from a tradition of Third World liberation movements in solidarity with one another. We understand that we are more powerful and more effective when we shape our work according to the value of joint struggle."

###