Good morning, to all of my fellow climate organizers in the Pacific Northwest,
You’re getting this email from me on a Tuesday morning, my usual day off, so you know this must be good.
Things are happening very quickly in the movement, and I want to make sure that all of my local groups have all the information they need to respond in a good way this week to the urgent call for support and amplification of Juneteenth this week. This situation is emergent and there will be more resources and guidance coming out from the M4bl in the coming days, and a video of the call as well.
There are extensive and awesome call notes at the bottom of this email!
We had an incredible regional conversation call last night immediately after the 4pm national Juneteenth mobilization call from the Movement for Black Lives yesterday. This amazing national call was directed specifically to all of us environmental and climate organizing groups, and provided a compelling and clear call for all of us to show up this week in support of Black lives, and how to do it. The organizers were clear: all climate activists are needed this week in defense of Black lives and in the weeks to come, and we must choose a side, even if it means leaning into some discomfort.
Please reach out to me if your group needs guidance or support in how to participate! There will be a video of the call soon that I will send out as well.
What you need to know:
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Support Juneteenth as much as possible
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Flank, Align, and Follow Black leadership
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Now is the time to choose a side
Spreading the news of the Juneteenth mobilizations is critical. Here are the principles, asks, and resources from the Movement for Black Lives that we encourage you to consider acting upon this week:
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Elevate the 6/19 Mobilization through your personal and professional networks
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Social media toolkit with sample posts, email language, graphics
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Mobilize your base!
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Commit to Following these important Principles in your work
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Donate to and Fundraise for the M4BL Mobilization Fund: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/movement-4-black-lives-1
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Direct donations to M4BL
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Fundraising appeals to your list
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Move donors to the effort
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Commit to Bottom-Lining an Action
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This is a top ask for community or place-based organizations, chapters, and affiliates, especially if they are Black-led or down to be accountable to local Black leadership
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Event map! For anyone organizing a local action, register it here as soon as possible. The organizers will moderate the event applications and help you find others in your region to align with
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Stay On Message
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Here is key messaging guidance on how to talk about the mobilization, M4BL, local, and national demands
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We need you to combat pushes to drive communities and organizations to more reformist demands that weaken our foundational demands. You will hear arguments to do this.
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We both understand that everybody does not need to engage in the narrative and policy space of M4BL AND progressives should not be undermining our efforts but flanking and complimenting them.
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The M4bl will provide message and policy guidance on this.
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Given limited bandwidth, M4BL is encouraging everyone to run with things as much as possible using the guidance above, but if you have important questions, email partners@m4bl.org.
Extensive and Awesome Call Notes:
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Slideshow from last night’s 350 PNW Conversation call (recap of national M4bl Juneteenth call)
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Excellent Notes on yesterday’s national M4bl Juneteenth call from Julia Smith (Olympic Climate Action)
We can do this!