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.
The next Hour is June 9th 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 hello@hauswitch.com if you need guidance. Photo by Dave Wells.
Jeff Cohen, Chair of Salem’s No Place for Hate, is running for Councillor at Large in Salem.
We were lucky enough to hear him speak on the Sanctuary City Ordinance and learned that anyone can march with No Place for Hate in the Salem Pride Parade! Check out the Facebook event here and we'll see you there at 11am on June 24th!
Safe Communities Act Update
The hearing was last week. Senator Joan Lovely had “previous engagements” and Charlie Baker (as far as I know) did not attend but still has plans to veto.
MBTA Update
The HausWitch crew went to the Beverly public meeting on the closures to the MBTA and learned that they will be providing more ferry services during the weekend closures. We were also told by one of the contractors that they would try to complete the North Station to Salem part of the project first. We have no way of knowing how reliable that is but we’re VERY happy someone is listening.
Text RESIST to 50409 and follow prompts to send messages to your reps. “I demand an independent prosecutor to investigate Trump/Russia ties now. Impeach Donald Trump.”
1. Email cheryl@hauswitch.com to get on The Witching Hour email list.
2. Take a moment to BREATHE
3. Call and thank 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, # STREET, ZIP].
I'm calling to urge Rep. Seth Moulton to support H.R. 2282, the Equality Act of 2017. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer people still face significant violence and discrimination at the workplace, in the housing market, and in everyday interactions. Civil rights protections must be expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected characteristics.
OPTIONAL: Add a personal story or experience about why this issue is important to you.
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 today to urge the Senator not to vote for any healthcare bill that does not preserve the Affordable Care Act's protections for people with preexisting conditions. The Senator should work to repair the Affordable Care Act, not replace it with an inferior bill that leaves millions uninsured and drives up costs for millions more.
[OPTIONAL: Share a story about why protections for people with preexisting conditions is important to you.]
I'm also calling to ask that the Senator support the creation of an independent commission on the Trump-Russia matters. Neither special counselor Mueller nor the congressional committee investigations are leading to public, unclassified answers about any possible wrongdoings that may have occurred, and the American people deserve to know what really happened.
Lastly, I’m calling because I’m strongly opposed to the SNAP / food stamp budget cuts proposed by Trump - a 25% cut to this effective and important program is unacceptable. I ask that the senator strongly oppose cutting of the SNAP / food stamps program and continue to support this and other critical social safety net programs.
Thank you for your time and attention. [IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
5. Call state-level senator, representative, and Governor Charlie Baker.
+1 617-725-4005 (Office of Governor Charlie Baker)
+1 617-722-1410 (Joan Lovely, Senator)
+1 617-722-2396 (Paul Tucker, Representative)
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY, # STREET, ZIP].
I'm calling to support the Safe Communities Act. (FOR PAUL TUCKER: ...and to thank you for your continued support of sanctuary policies.)
It is important to realize there is no real correlation between any rise in crime and immigrant populations residing in an area. It's actually more important for everyone to feel safe reporting any sort of crime in their neighborhood rather than worry about deportation if they contact their local authorities. The Safe Communities Act doesn’t stop immigration police from doing their jobs and does not stop state or local police from cooperating with them. What it does do is ensure Massachusetts dollars do not get spent on federal initiatives to deport our friends and neighbors.
FOR BAKER: I’d also like to thank the governor for adding Massachusetts to the US Climate Alliance.
Thank you for your time and attention.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
6. Call the Office of Budget and Management, Mick Mulvaney
+1 202-395-3080
Hi my name is [NAME] and I’m calling from [CITY, STATE].
I’d like to leave a message for Director Mulvaney.
I’m calling to express my objection to the Interim Rule “Coverage of Certain Preventative Services under the Affordable Care Act.” This broad expansion of exemptions to the contraception mandate will erode access to preventative healthcare for millions of Americans. Any plan to publish this new rule should be abandoned, or at the very least, allow for a period of public comment.
Thank you for your time.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
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 Moon on 06/23/17:
6/12/17
Black Lives Matter Boston Open Meeting
6/13/17
MA State House Rally in Support of the Paris Agreement
6/14/17
Together North Shore Monthly Meeting
6/19/17
Systematic Racism & the Legacy of Education
6/20/17
MA Clean Energy Tour - Danvers
6/21/17
Muslim Justice and Climate Change Teach-In
6/21/17
A Mercifully Progressive Night with David Eppley and Jeff Cohen
6/24/17
North Shore Pride Parade and Festival
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 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.
