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TYRE NICHOLS ACTIONS

There are numerous actions you can take -- no matter where in the U.S. you live -- to protest the kind of police violence most recently seen in the murder of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols by a gang of Memphis police officers. Click through to this Google doc to learn more. The doc will continue to be updated throughout this week.

Actions for Week of Jan. 30

MONDAY, JAN. 30
(1) JUSTICE FOR TYRE NICHOLS - NATIONAL
WHERE: VIRTUAL
WHEN: HOW ABOUT NOW?
As stated in the boxed text above, there are actions you can take -- no matter where you live -- to fight the brutal police violence that claimed the life of Tyre Nichols in Memphis.

Bookmark this Google doc listing actions you can take from home. It will be updated throughout this week.
If you're in NYC and on Facebook, follow Indivisible Activate NYC for marches and rallies that are announced after this newsletter's deadline. (It is also possible that supplementary newsletters will be sent out this week.)

(2) IMMIGRANT AID - NYC
WHERE: WATSON HOTEL, 440 W. 57TH ST
WHEN: ONGOING
This is a developing situation: On Sunday, Jan. 29, migrants who were being housed in the Watson Hotel were forced out by the NYPD and ferried by NYC buses to an unsafe detention camp in Red Hook, Brooklyn. This camp has 1,000 beds, few bathrooms, and no storage for personal possessions. A number of migrants refused to get on the bus and were camped out in front of the hotel, being hassled by the NYPD, as this newsletter was being written. At that time, they were in need of tents, blankets, food, and water (I was able to send them some pizza around 1 AM). If you are still using Twitter despite Elon Musk's ownership, follow these accounts for updates about what is happening and how you can help:

If you work or live in the area, I encourage you to walk by and offer any supplies you might be able to bring, and amplify the cause on social media. As of this writing, another bus was expected to come for the protestors at 7:30 AM, and a press conference was scheduled for 2:30 PM but those are subject to change.

TUESDAY, JAN. 31
(1) TUCKER LIES MORE THAN SANTOS - NYC
WHERE: 48TH AND 6TH
WHEN: 12 PM - 1 PM
Join the activists of Truth Tuesdays and Rise and Resist for their weekly protest outside Fox "News" headquarters in New York City. The theme this week is that the Fox propaganda network and its star, Tucker Carlson, normalized the shameless lying that made George Santos possible.

RSVP on Facebook. As with all in-person events, you don't have to participate in the action or in the entire action to contribute. You are welcome to walk by to take photos and amplify the activists on social media.
NATIONAL OPTIONS: Find out how you can join a monthly Fox protest in the DC area, or get help setting up a protest in your own city.

(2) DRAG STORY HOUR DEFENSE - NYC
WHERE: 344 AMSTERDAM AVE (AT 76TH ST)
WHEN: MEET UP NO LATER THAN 4 PM
Drag Story Hour is a national program started in 2015 in which drag performers read books to children in libraries, schools and bookstores to celebrate diversity and encourage kids to read. MAGA extremists and other fascists have seized on this program as their latest anti-LBGTQIA+ cause; they have been showing up at libraries to harass and threaten the performers, families and children, and the library staff. While this has shut down events in other cities, here in NYC, allies have successfully outnumbered the protestors and allowed the events to continue. The actual story hour starts at 4:30 PM but allies will start assembling at 3:30 PM. To participate in this direct action, arrive no later than 4 PM.

As with all in-person events, you don't have to participate in the action or in the entire action to contribute. You are welcome to walk by to take photos and amplify the activists on social media.
NATIONAL OPTIONS:
- Donate to Drag Story Hour through the program website.
- Look up your local library to see if it is having any Drag Story Hours you can support, or to suggest that it does get involved with the program if it isn't already.
- If you're in Florida, Google is your friend: Check for book banning in your local school system, regardless of whether you have children in the system. Make plans to attend the next school board meeting. Invite friends or use social media to search for anti-book-ban activist groups in your location.

(3) STOP SANTOS ORGANIZING CALL - NATIONAL
WHERE: ZOOM
WHEN: 8 PM ET - 9 PM ET
The liar needs to go. Join local activists working on getting rid of George "Whatever his real name is" Santos no matter where you live.

Zoom link.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1
DRAG STORY HOUR DEFENSE - NYC
WHERE: 112 E. 96TH BETWEEN PARK AND LEX
TIME: MEET UP NO LATER THAN 3:30 PM
Drag Story Hour is a national program started in 2015 in which drag performers read books to children in libraries, schools and bookstores to celebrate diversity and encourage kids to read. MAGA extremists and other fascists have seized on this program as their latest anti-LBGTQIA+ cause; they have been showing up at libraries to harass and threaten the performers, families and children, and the library staff. While this has shut down events in other cities, here in NYC, allies have successfully outnumbered the protestors and allowed the events to continue. The actual story hour starts at 4 PM but allies will start assembling at 3 PM. To participate in this direct action, arrive no later than 3:30 PM.

As with all in-person events, you don't have to participate in the action or in the entire action to contribute. You are welcome to walk by to take photos and amplify the activists on social media.
NATIONAL OPTIONS:
- Donate to Drag Story Hour through the program website.
- Look up your local library to see if it is having any Drag Story Hours you can support, or to suggest that it does have one.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2
INDIVISIBLE CALL FOR NEW YORK STATE - NYS
WHERE: ZOOM
WHEN: 7 PM ET - 8 PM ET
Indivisible members -- and non-members! -- can join this conversation about the state budget and constituent priorities with state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3
VIGIL FOR MONTEREY PARK/HALF MOON BAY VICTIMS - NYC
WHERE: STEPS OF QUEENS BOROUGH HALL
WHEN: 7 PM - 8 PM
The Queens County Young Democrats AAPI Caucus will be holding a vigil for the victims of these two recent mass shootings at 120-55 Queens Boulevard.

Follow the organizers on Facebook for any updates to the event plan.
NATIONAL OPTION: Join Moms Demand to help end gun violence.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4
ABORTION-CLINIC DEFENSE - NYC
WHERE: MOTT AND PRINCE STREETS
WHEN: 8 AM ET SHARP
People who need abortions are being threatened everywhere, including NYC. On the first Saturday of every month, anti-abortion Christian extremists meet at Old St. Pat's Basilica in Soho. They get an NYPD escort and walk a couple of blocks to intimidate the patients at the nearby Planned Parenthood clinic. And every month, the activists of NYC for Abortion Rights are there to slow down the march of the Christian extremists, defend the clinic, shield the faces of the patients, and drown out the harassment. If you are in NYC and are willing and able to participate in this level of direct action, I strongly recommend doing so.

Read about clinic defense on Instagram before you go, and show up on time. You can also sign up to get news from NYC for Abortion Rights directly.
If you can't stay but can be in the area between 8 AM and 10 AM, walk by, take photos, and amplify the action on social media.
NEW YORK CITY/STATE ALTERNATIVES:
- Call or Resistbot your state senator, state assembly person, and Governor Kathy Hochul and tell them to go to the next clinic defense on Saturday, March 4. People who believe NYC -- or any urban center -- will always be "safe" for abortion seekers NEED to see the on-the-ground harassment in real time even when abortion is still LEGAL in the state. To use Resistbot, text the word STATE to 50409.
NATIONAL OPTIONS:
- Call Old St. Pat's and tell them to stop opening their doors to anti-abortion terrorism. Phone number is 212-226-8075.
- Follow and share NYC for Abortion Rights posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Help expose your local fake clinics that pose as abortion clinics, but actually pressure people into keeping unwanted pregnancies. There are nearly 3,000 of these fake clinics, aka "crisis pregnancy centers," in the U.S. and fewer than 1,000 actual abortion clinics. You read that right. Fake clinics outnumber real ones 3 to 1. Go to the Expose Fake Clinics website to get started.

-- Indivisible Activate NYC 2023 newsletter #5, curated by Wendy Brandes, who will send additional newsletters this week as warranted for actions relating to Tyre Nichols and police violence.

Disclaimer: By choosing to attend any events listed herein, I acknowledge the risks involved, and that I agree to participate non-violently and in accordance with the law. During some events, acts of civil disobedience may be initiated by individual participants. I acknowledge and agree neither Indivisible Activate NYC nor the newsletter writer can be held responsible for any such acts of individual participants which are unlawful, nor are Indivisible Activate NYC or the newsletter writer soliciting my participation in any such activity. I agree that I am solely responsible for any decision to participate in any acts of civil disobedience and any consequences, legal or otherwise, that may result from that decision.

The FAQ about this newsletter can be found on this Google doc.