The Witching Hour is HausWitch’s attempt to help our community stay accountable for their activism. We call representatives, senators and other government officials from around the Salem, MA area about things we care about and donate to local causes. This time we also heard from Heather about the March for Science on April 22nd. Mark your calendar!
The next Hour is April 26th at 7pm at the shop. Can’t make it to The Witching Hour? Too far away? Thinking about starting your own accountability group? Two words: Do it! Email cheryl@hauswitch.com if you need a little guidance.
We’re still collecting donations for the new community space in The Point!
They’ve reached almost $8,000 and need $22K more for the match with MassDevelopment.
Donations at the table at the front of the store or online here.
Walk for HAWC is on April 30th
The purpose of HAWC is to create social change by taking action against personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression. HAWC provides services and support to victims of domestic violence residing in 23 cities and towns on Massachusetts’ North Shore in order that they may make informed, independent decisions about their futures.
April is Autism Awareness Month
If you’re going to support a nonprofit support the Autism Self Advocacy Network. http://autisticadvocacy.org/ is run by people with autism for people with autism.
Learn about the MA statewide Safe Communities Act here: http://miracoalition.org/images/Documents/Backgrounder-Safe-Communities-Act.pdf
FYI: 2 WEEK SENATE BREAK
1. Email cheryl@hauswitch.com to get on the list for the Witching Hour Update Email
2. Take a moment to BREATHE
3. Call and thank our rep, Seth Moulton: (Check out https://5calls.org/ for more scripts)
+1 202-225-8020 (Office of Seth Moulton, our Rep in the House)
+1 978-531-1669 (Secondary Local Number if mailbox is full)
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
I’m calling to thank Seth Moulton for voting with minority and immigrant interests in mind and for listening to the voices of his Massachusetts constituents. I hope he continues to vote with our best interests in mind.
Thank you for your time and attention.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
4. Call and thank our senators
+1 202-224-2742 (Office of Edward J. Markey, one of our Senators)
+1 202-224-4543 (Office of Elizabeth Warren, one of our Senators)
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, @ # STREET, ZIP].
I’m calling to thank [SENATOR] for voting against the confirmation of Gorsuch in the Supreme Court. I’d also like to thank them for voting with immigrant and minority interests in mind. I hope to see them at their Town Hall meeting and I hope they continue to vote with Massachusetts’ best interests in mind.
Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
5. Call your City Councilor and thank them for voting for the sanctuary city ordinance. The final vote is on Thursday night, but there is a petition going around town to push the vote to ballot. Be sure to keep educating friends and neighbors.
Heather Famico - 978-219-4112
Bob McCarthy - 978-744-1759
David Eppley - 617-388-6394
Josh Turiel - 978-801-1673
Tom Furey - 978-744-5963
Beth Gerard - 978-219-7249
Steve Dibble - 978-744-7315
Hello [COUNCILLOR NAME]. I am a constituent from [WARD #] in Salem.
I’m calling to thank you for your support of the Sanctuary City proposal. I am glad to know that you want everyone to feel safe reporting any sort of crime in their neighborhood rather than worry about deportation if they contact their local authorities.
Thank you for your hard work and time.
6. Call Paul Tucker: 617-722-2396
Hello, my name is _____________, and I am calling from [town/city] to ask Representative [name of your Rep] to co-sponsor three amendments to the House Budget that serve and protect immigrants and refugees. The sponsors are asking for sign-on as soon as possible. The three amendments are:
Representative Cabral’s amendment increasing funding for the Citizenship for New Americans Program (CNAP), in Line Item 4003-0122, to $500,000. Rep. Cabral has asked that cosponsors sign on by 2 p.m. Thursday by contacting Al Medeiros at ext. 7639.
Adult Basic Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ABE/ESOL), in Line Item 7035-0002, to $31.5 million. Representative Koczera has asked that cosponsors sign on by 4 p.m. tomorrow (Wed) by contacting Danielle Allard at ext. 8674.
Representative Hunt’s amendment increasing critical funding for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services, in Line Item 4513-1130, to $34.5 million. Rep. Hunt has asked that cosponsors sign on by 3 p.m. tomorrow (Wed) by contacting Erin Walsh at ext. 8884.
Can Representative [name of your Rep] cosponsor these amendments today?
Please thank the Representative for supporting programs that serve immigrant communities in our state!
7. Choose two events and go to them before the next Witching Hour. Find a buddy, or a few and carpool.
Find all links to Facebook Events in our Google Doc: http://bit.ly/WitchingHourDoc
Before the New Moon on 04/26/17:
4/13/17 Salem Town Hall With Senator Elizabeth Warren
4/13/17 Sanctuary for Peace Ordinance Vote#2 City Council Meeting
4/13/17 SSDP presents "13th" and an open discussion about Mass Incarceration
4/14/17 2017 Fashion Show: Salem Arts Festival Fundraiser
4/14/17 ResisDance: Justice for the 3 Drowned Black Girls!
4/19/17 Community Organizing and Cultural Understanding in Jamaica Plain
4/20/17 A Night to Benefit the Victims of the Pickering Wharf Fire
4/20/17 MA Center for Native American Awareness Lecture @ Peabody Library
4/21/17 Earth Ways: Indigenous Lifeways as a Human Right
4/22/17 March for Science - Boston Area
4/22/17 March for Science Indigenous (Boston)
4/23/17 Organize to Win: Grassroots Activism Strategies w/Ben Winthrop
4/25/17 Everyone is Welcome Here
For your calendar:
i. March for Science: 4/22/17
ii. Walk for HAWC: 4/30/17
Friendly Reminder:
Our Moon Meditation starts at 8pm. If you come to The Witching Hour to get political and then want to stay for the meditation and feelings time please remember to buy your ticket ahead of time next time at stag.hauswitch.com/events. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay in the shop…without a ticket ;).
Questions? Email hello@hauswitch.com.
