Unless we act now, our most treasured national monuments will be on President Trump’s chopping block. Trump, buoyed by big oil and gas companies, signed an executive order that puts 26 national monuments in jeopardy, including Washington’s Hanford Reach and the San Juan Islands. Just this week, we learned the devastating news that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is considering shrinking the borders of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, in order to open it to corporate mining and drilling. But we still have a chance to protect Bears Ears and the rest of our cherished national monuments. Earlier this week, I asked progressives across the country to submit public comments in support of our national monuments. In two short days, we have already received more than 7,000 responses. Will you help me get to 10,000 responses by the end of the week? Submit a public comment today, and help bring an end to the Trump administration’s attacks on our environment. Comments have poured in, from every corner of Washington state and all across the country. Here are just a few of the over 7,000 responses we’ve received so far:   We can not afford to let up. We are the last line of defense protecting many of the most beautiful places in America from devastation — the future of these parks depends on us. The Trump administration’s assault on our environment will not stop, and neither can we. Submit your comment now, and join the fight to protect our national monuments! Thank you, Maria Cantwell U.S. Senator

 

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee.  He rambled and stumbled through his answers, and was even defiant.                                                    He clearly looked uncomfortable. At one point during the testimony, Sessions said: “It is an appalling and detestable lie that I would collude with Russian officials.” ¹ But Jeff Sessions is an appalling and detestable liar.

Jeff Sessions lies aren’t limited to Russia either. While he’s covering up for rich and powerful friends like Trump he is straight up lying about his reasons for cruel decisions that could have devastating impacts on Black people–decisions like reinstating private prisons at the federal level to pay off Trump’s friends in the industry.

So far over 38,000 Color of Change members have joined in to demand the FEC expose the corruption between Trump and private prison company GEO Group. Carmen, your name is missing, will you sign the petition?  During the 2016 presidential election, GEO Group illegally donated to a Trump PAC and then immediately started seeing benefits after Trump’s election. But the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has yet to hold the large, profitable private prison company accountable. Meanwhile, Sessions continues to push for harsh and cruel punishments to fuel GEO Group profits with the suffering of Black communities. Something doesn’t add up here, and it’s time to connect ALL dots.

Sign the petition

Let’s #StopGEO,

Rashad Robinson, and the rest of the Color of Change Team

P.S. Check out the original email we sent below:

References:

1. “Attorney General Sessions calls allegations of collusion with Russia an ‘appalling and detestable lie’,” VICE, 12-20-2016 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/8043?t=6&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

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GEO Group is cashing in on Trump’s presidency.   It is time for the FEC to expose the private prison industry’s scheme to make profits off of people. TAKE ACTION!

 

GEO Group — one of the country’s largest and most profitable private prison companies — had a big plan this election season. Step 1: Pay big money to get Trump elected. Step 2: Make private prisons rich again. It all started during the 2016 presidential campaign when GEO Group illegally donated more than $225,000 to a Trump PAC, Rebuild America NOW.¹ Then as soon as he was sworn in, Jeff Sessions lifted the ban on the federal use of private prisons. And just last week, Sessions ordered 94 U.S. Attorneys to seek the harshest punishment for drug offenses. This is all music to GEO Group’s ears. The company knew by bankrolling Trump’s move into the White House, they would see their profits rise with each prison bed.

This all happened right in front of the eyes of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) — the group that is responsible for overseeing campaign finance laws and ensuring electoral and democratic integrity. It is against the law for companies that receive government contracts to donate to political campaigns. The Campaign Legal Center has led the fight in exposing the profiteers and filed a complaint against GEO Group with the FEC but the FEC has failed to do its job. It is time for the Commission to step up immediately and hold GEO Group accountable.

GEO Group and the Trump administration’s cozy relationship is dangerous and threatens our communities. Demand FEC holds GEO Group accountable for illegally scheming to make money off the presidential election.

There is no reason for private prisons to exists — these institutions do not serve the public’s best interest nor does it increase public safety. For decades, the cruel and money-hungry system has contributed to mass incarceration and the U.S. having the world’s largest prison population. After years of activism and community mobilization, The Obama administration was finally making the effort and took action to create prison reform. In August 2016, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced that the Obama administration would begin phasing out private prisons.² After the announcement, GEO Group’s stock took a deep nosedive. But they kept banking on Trump to crawl their way back into big profits.

There is clear, research-based evidence that private prisons do not work. Jeff Sessions still reversed the ban on federal private prisons. Sessions said the ban on private prisons hurt the prison system’s ability to meet the future needs for housing.”³ This, of course, is all code for increasing the imprisonment of people for profit. And it’s time to connect the dots. As soon as Sessions ended the Obama administration’s ban on federal private prisons, GEO Group became the first for-profit company to receive contracts to operate private detention centers under the Trump era.⁴ The payoff is HUGE. Two former aides of Jeff Sessions now work as lobbyists at GEO Group to help drive their influence. They even lobbied for and wrote legislation in Texas that would increase jail time for immigrant children and end safety regulations at the detention centers where these children are locked up.⁵ Since 1989, companies like GEO Group have spent over $35 MILLION lobbying and supporting political campaigns to keep Black people in jail. They’ve lobbied for longer sentences, “three-strikes” rules, and anti-immigration legislation like Arizona’s notorious racial profiling law. And they will keep giving the most money to any politician who will boost their agenda.

The private prison system isn’t meant to reduce crime. It is just an excuse to keep GEO Group’s bottom line intact. Demand an investigation.

For decades, the private prison industry has fueled mass incarceration, disproportionately affecting Black people. Over the years, too many neighborhoods and communities of color have been demolished and decimated by the “War on Drugs,” over policing and militarizing streets. We’ve seen these devastating effects in cities like New York, where the “Rockefeller” drug laws which set an automatic life in prison sentence for drug addicts and even those carrying just small amounts drugs. And even in Los Angeles, where in the 1980’s and 1990’s under the leadership of Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, homes were raided, and people were rounded up and shot and killed by police. The War on Drugs ruined lives all because of some “tough on crime” stance by greedy politicians to help the prison industrial complex grow and remain strong.

The private prison industry’s stronghold on profits takes away real funding and investment in safe, affordable housing, education, jobs, and community defense for Black people. Harsh and extreme drug and sentencing policies benefit the pockets of private prison companies. As of 2014, Black and Brown people made up roughly 60% of the prison population.⁶ This is what GEO Group wants. The more Black people who are jailed in their unsafe and poorly operated facilities, the more money they will have in their bank accounts.

Tell FEC: Investigate GEO Group’s “pay to play” arrangement with the Trump administration.

The Federal Elections Commissions has the opportunity to hold this private prison company accountable. By stepping up to investigate the wrongdoing of the GEO Group it will be a major force in exposing the corrupt nature of an industry that locks up Black people and stalls Jeff Sessions new “War on Drugs” effort and other racist policies. The FEC should not turn a blind eye to this pay to play scheme that is fundamentally hurting the lives of Black people and other vulnerable communities. A real investigation needs to happen NOW.

Sign the petition.

Until justice is real,

Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Anay, Clarise, Enchanta, Malaya, Katrese, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

1. “Pay to Play: The giant private prison operator GEO Group may have illegally funded a Donald Trump super PAC,” VICE, 12-20-2016 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7971?t=14&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

2. “PRIVATE PRISON COMPANY GEO GROUP GAVE GENEROUSLY TO TRUMP AND NOW HAS LUCRATIVE CONTRACT,” Newsweek, 05-11-2017 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7972?t=16&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

3. “Justice Department Keeps For-Profit Prisons, Scrapping an Obama Plan,” New York Times, 02-23-2016 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7973?t=18&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

4. “FOLLOWING SUPER PAC SUPPORT, PRIVATE PRISON COMPANY WINS TRUMP ADMIN CONTRACT,” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, 04-11-2017 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7974?t=20&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

5. “PRIVATE PRISON CORPORATION WROTE TEXAS BILL EXTENDING HOW LONG IMMIGRANT CHILDREN CAN BE DETAINED,” The Intercept, 05-02-2017 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7975?t=22&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

6. “Study: More People of Color Sentenced to Private Prisons Than Whites,” Huffington Post, 04-23-2014 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7976?t=24&akid=7594.1174326.EysDJE

Petitioning Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, BVT Superintendent and the members of the BVT School Committee BVT: GRANT MR. LEMARBRE THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS HE DESERVES AS HE BATTLES ALS! Petition by Kate Francy Upton, Massachusetts 2,112 Supporters Sign Kate’s petition Mr. Phillip LeMarbre is a beloved Advanced Placement Biology teacher at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) who was fired just 103 days prior to qualifying for full retirement benefits including health insurance. In the fall of 2016, Mr. Phillip LeMarbre was formally diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Shortly after his diagnosis, Mr. LeMarbre requested to return to teaching at BVT with accommodations but was denied by BVT officials.  Mr. LeMarbre has been teaching at BVT for 9+ years but in the state of MA, a teacher must have taught for 10 years to receive a full pension. Since his termination, Mr. LeMarbre was only 103 days shy of meeting the state requirement. Mr. LeMarbre is a well-respected educator and loving family man. Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, BVT superintendent, has declined to right this wrongdoing and grant Mr. LeMarbre the benefits he deserves and was requesting to work for. According to the ALS Association, “There can be significant costs for medical care, equipment and home health caregiving later in the disease.” We believe Mr. LeMarbre not only deserves his full benefits, but that Mr. Fitzpatrick and the school committee needs to lead by example to show the students at BVT that compassion takes precedence over policy. Please sign this petition requesting that superintendent Fitzpatrick and the school committee at BVT reinstate Mr. LeMarbre’s full benefits and allow him to receive the medical care and retirement he rightfully deserves.

Serving through the Storm: Choosing the Right Service Organization Hurricane season is here!  You can help communities stay healthy, safe and strong through the storm.  Get started before the storm strikes! Learn about three service organizations that help protect health and save lives when disaster strikes and how to join.  Learn More >> Beat the Heat:  Preventing and Treating Heat-Related Illness Summer is here and temperatures are rising across many parts of the country, putting many people at risk for heat-related illness. But not everybody has the same level of risk.  Children under four years of age, adults over 65, people who are overweight, and people who are on certain medications are more susceptible to heat related illness. Find out how you can prevent heat-related illnesses and how recognize when someone needs help.  Learn More >> Protect Your Partner from Zika If you are infected with Zika, you can transmit it to your partner – even if you don’t have symptoms.  Many people infected with Zika virus don’t have symptoms or only have mild symptoms, and they may not know they have been infected. Think you might be infected?  Recently traveled to a location where Zika is present?  Use a condom to prevent spreading the virus. Learn More >> Be Ready to Help!  Bystander Response Saves Lives During National Safety Month, people and organizations across the country are asking themselves “what does it take to keep each other safe?” One simple answer: be ready to help!  Learn about 5 simple steps that you can take to save someone’s life if they are hurt. Learn how you can help keep a critically injured person alive until help arrives.  Learn More >> Be a Super Dad! Make Sure Your Family is Ready for Disasters Make plans now to keep your family safe and healthy in a disaster.  Get a kit.  Make a plan.  Do a drill.  By taking some time to prepare before a disaster strikes, you can help your family face a tornado, flood, hurricane or whatever other disasters are common in your area.  Learn More >>

Do your part to protect our care. Take action now!

THIS is the moment. Right now Senate Republican leaders are finalizing the details of their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—in secret. They’re keeping the bill hidden until they’ve negotiated a deal with other Republicans, one that will very likely strip health care coverage from millions of people, including taking away Medicaid coverage and putting maternity coverage at risk. We can’t let them reach that deal. We need to flood the Senate phone lines now. Urge Your Senators to Oppose ACA Repeal Here are simple steps for calling your Senators. Step 1: Call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to one of your Senators. Step 2: Once you are connected, say: “As your constituent, I urge you to reject ACA repeal. No one should lose their health coverage, and this repeal bill threatens the health care of millions of people including women, elderly people, children, and people with disabilities. [If you have a personal story to share, adding why the ACA has been important to you is an especially powerful message.]” Step 3: Hang up, call again and ask for your other Senator. Take Action We are at a critical point in our fight to protect affordable health care. And yet, we’re hearing news reports that the Senate phones lines have been mostly quiet. There is too much at stake for any of us to stay silent right now. Whether you think your Senators oppose repeal or not, every call matters. Pick up the phone now and do your part to protect our care! If this repeal bill is similar to the House version like Senate Republican leaders and the Trump administration have promised, it would be devastating for women by: Blocking people from getting preventive health care at Planned Parenthood health centers, including birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment; Radically changing the Medicaid program in ways that will leave low-income women without essential health coverage; Allowing insurance plans to treat being a woman as a preexisting condition; and Penalizing women seeking insurance coverage that includes abortion. None of us can afford to sit this fight out. We need to call our Senators today – AND tomorrow – to show them that We, the Resistance will not stand for any attacks on our care. Thank you for fighting and resisting with us. Sincerely, Gretchen Borchelt Vice President for Reproductive Rights and Health National Women’s Law Center P.S. Do you or your friends or loved ones live in any of these states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia? The Senators there may be on the fence, so it’s extra important that they hear from their constituents in opposition of ACA repeal. Make sure to forward this email and tell your friends it is crucial that they call their Senators today. We the Resistance is our fight to protect our rights and freedoms and to defend the most vulnerable among us through powerful collective action. Every conversation you have with a loved one about the issues important to you, every call you make to Congress, every rally you attend is a part of that resistance. Join us — sign on to the We The Resistance manifesto.