Category: Uncategorized

7/30/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

Do you feel the urgency of now?

It’s hard out there.  There’s a pandemic that’s put many of us out of work and out of childcare.  We’re rocked by the strife of our inequitable systems.  And we’re years-deep into a bitter battle with governmental cruelty.

And so… we let the moment slide.  We’ll volunteer next week.  We’ll make some calls some other day.  We’ll write letters when things settle down.

But now is the time, folks.

You can’t afford to wait any longer.  The primaries are about to open to early voting, federal races for a dozen senate seats and the presidency are about to hit their peak, and every single day people suffer because of injustice.  There is a fierce urgency to this moment — you must feel the fierce urgency of now.  What will you say to your children or grandchildren if you watched this moment pass you by?

There’s a list of things to do below, and we are desperate for volunteers.

We need you.  Now is the time.  Get involved!  If you know someone who might possibly be interested, forward this to them.  Now is the moment when you are needed!


Morse Force.  The following is from Tashi, a student activist who is helping change her world.  Join her and help her.

Canvassing is on Friday (1-4 and 4-7) in Pittsfield and Springfield; on Saturday (10-1, 1-4, and 4-7) in Pittsfield, Springfield, and Holyoke; and on Sunday (10-1, 1-4, and 4-7) in Pittsfield, Springfield, and Chicopee! Which times and locations work for you? Sign up here: http://bit.ly/1MonthOut

Phone banking is on Friday (5-7), Saturday (10-12, 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9), and Sunday (10-12, 1-3, 4-6, 7-9)! Which times work for you? Sign up here: http://bit.ly/1MonthOut

We are also encouraging the Morse Force to show their support for this campaign by putting a lawn sign in their yard! To receive your own personal yard sign, sign up here: http://bit.ly/MorseYardSigns

Meet with Markey!  Volunteer for Markey!  Senator Markey will be in town this Friday (7/31).  He’s endorsed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Boston Globe, and backed by Greylock Together.  Come and see him in Pittsfield at Park Square from 2:00 – 3:00 pm, where he’ll talk about justice, health care disparities, COVID relief, and our essential freedoms.  After that, he’ll be in North Adams at MASS MoCA between 4:30 and 6:00, discussing teachers and climate change.  Come and chat with your senator!

Volunteer Owen T needs your help, too!

This election is going to be close, and every single phone call we make can make a difference! We’re looking for volunteers to make calls – any time that works for you works for us, but we’d love to have you at our Thursday evening phonebanks (5:30-7). Please let me know if you’re interested!

NC Phonebanking.  The map of possible Senate gains keeps expanding, and that means so do opportunities for activism!  Please join our phone banking efforts in North Carolina. Every Tuesday from 6:30-8pm we call to reach unaffiliated voters in this critical state to determine their stand on three key races: the presidential (Joe Biden), the governor’s race (Roy Cooper), and the US Senate seat (Cal Cunningham).  Register for the phone bank here.

Thank You Action Volunteers!  Tremendous thanks to our terrific team who represented GT on Saturday at the NAACP’s Student Day of Action in Pittsfield! Liza Barrett, Lucy Shepard, Karen Shepard and Wendy Penner welcomed many new faces and sold 75 BLM signs! They reported a steady stream of interested, engaged folks with many new NAACP-Berkshire County Branch memberships, voter registrations and fabulous student orchestral music in honor of Elijah McClain. Folks throughout the county continue to come to us for sign purchases! We are grateful to Elinor Goodwin at The Print Shop in Williamstown for making these available every day on Spring Street ($10/sign). Thank you, Elinor!

Brady Reforms from DA.  District Attorney Harrington has mandated new policies to ask flag questionable witnesses and spells out a process for determining what evidence is discoverable by defense attorneys.  It’s an important step in bringing our local prosecutors in line with the Brady decision.  Read more and promote the link on Facebook.

Eviction Moratorium.  Remember that Gov. Baker has extended the moratorium on evictions!  Until October 17th, no one can be evicted for the following reasons:

  • Nonpayment
  • Foreclosure
  • No fault/no cause
  • Any fault/cause except
    • Criminal activity that impairs health and safety of other residents, health care workers, emergency personnel, persons lawfully on the subject property, or the general public (collectively, “others”);
    • Lease violations that may impact the health or safety of “others”.

Letter-Writing.  Jeanne Marklin and Bernadine Williams are heading up this letter writing drive.  Want to help write letters from home to marginal voters in other states?  It motivates them to get to the polls!  Write or text Jeanne at jeanne.marklin@gmail.com or 413 672-1766, or Bernadine at bhw1@williams.edu or 781 956-6622. Let us know if you need us to include stamps, or if you will provide them for your packet. You can also print your own letters by going to the VoteForward.org site and signing up. You can really make a difference!

Voting.  The state primary is September 1 and the general election is November 3.  Everyone is eligible to vote by mail, however.  If you didn’t get an application to vote by mail, you can download one here.  You may need to register to vote first.  It can be sent in by mail, email, or fax to your local election official (town or city clerk).    Applications must reach your local election office by August 26 for the primary and October 28 for the general.  IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, JUST REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AND ASK!

BLM Vigil Every Friday in Williamstown.  Friday at 5:00 pm at Field Park, as usual, we will continue our weekly vigils in partnership with First Congregational.  Facebook event here.  Please wear a mask; social distancing practices observed.
 

ANTIRACISM IN ACTION – THIS WEEK’S RESOURCES

READ

LISTEN

WATCH

GIVE


Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.

Events (GCal,iCal)

Greylock Together Meeting via Zoom
August 9 @ 3:00 – 4:30 pm

 

Resist and persist!
    Alexander

7/21/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

“We showed that we are united and that we, young people, are unstoppable,” says Greta Thunberg. “We can no longer look away from what our society has been ignoring for so long whether it is equality, justice or sustainability.”

We’re witnessing something mighty, folks. 

We witnessed it in the spring of 2017 after the massacre in Parkland, FL at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, when students like Emma Gonzalez spoke up, stood up, and organized for the national March for Our Lives in DC; the tragic moment grew into a sustained movement, fueled by our youth, now 300 chapters strong. We witness it every Friday as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, now 17, strikes for our climate; she has reached week 72, never missing a Friday, having spent 18 months of her young life changing the lives of millions across the globe. We witness 17-year-old Indiginous teen activist, Helena Gualinga, as she fights to protect the forests in Ecuador because, “It’s about my home.”  We witness young BLM activists fighting tirelessly for racial justice as it intersects so many of their daily spaces—from gun violence to educational access to representation to the planet they have inherited. Zee Thomas, 15 (Nashville, TN), Tiana Day, 17 (San Roman, CA), Shayla Turner, 18 (Chicago, IL) and Brianna Taylor, 19 (Olivette, MO) are four of the young women leading the BLM youth revolution for racial justice. We’ve witnessed this before. John Lewis was just 23 when he delivered this speech at the March on Washington in 1963 as the youngest civil rights activist to deliver an address to the crowd that day, and he has left a legacy of good trouble in his wake. We are now the beneficiaries of this new, compassionate and spirited generation bringing truth to power. It is OUR job as voters, to listen and learn from these brilliant young folks, to amplify their calls, and to do all that we can to be sure that their hard work is answered this fall. “Young people are raising their voices and proving to everyone that there’s no age limit for social change.”  Greta’s clarity reminds us that, “Humanity has not yet failed.”  Therein lies the hope we are all invited to put into daily action. Our local youth right here in Berkshire County use their voices and their activism in astounding ways, every day.

 


NAACP Student Day of Action.  This Saturday (July 25th) is the Student Day of Action at Common Park in Pittsfield from noon to three.  We are co-sponsoring along with Berkshire Pride and the MWPC.  Stay socially distanced and wear a mask as you show up to this day of action!

  • Musical protest in honor of Elijah McClain – PHS orchestra members
  • Voter Registration
  • NAACP Membership Drive

We will be tabling at this event and will NEED VOLUNTEERS, since our contribution will be to sell BLM signs (all proceeds going to NAACP).  Contact Liza B if you can help.

GT Team Leader for Markey.  Meet Owen-Tucker Smith and commit to helping him as we re-elect Senator Ed Markey!

“For those of you who don’t know me, I just graduated from Mt. Greylock this spring, and this summer I have been spending time working as a fellow for Ed Markey’s senate re-election campaign! Ed is not only an original co-author of the Green New Deal, but he’s been fighting for progressive climate legislation all throughout his career. He’s also fought for Medicare for All, legislation combating qualified immunity for police officers and the Black women’s maternity crisis, and most recently bills to respond to the catastrophic impacts of COVID-19: paid sick leave, expanded unemployment insurance and food security programs, and moratoriums on evictions and mortgage payments. If you want to learn more about what Ed’s all about, click here!

 Basically, Ed is the most progressive US senator currently serving. Losing him would mean losing a ton of momentum in his fight for environmental justice, which we cannot afford right now. Good news – you can help Ed stay in the senate! In addition to regular county-wide Markey volunteering events, there are now weekly phonebanks specifically for Williamstown and Northern Berkshire County! We have been holding them on Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm, each beginning with a training to get you comfortable with making calls. Even if you’ve never made calls for a campaign before, we would love to have you—no experience required. If you’re interested in volunteering in any capacity with the campaign, whether it be coming to a Williamstown phonebank or one of the other Berkshire County events (there are a ton of opportunities, so if you’re busy on Thursday evenings there will be many other options!) please email me at owentuckersmith@gmail.com or text me at 413-884-5359 so I can get you info and get you connected with the right people! We’d love to start a team of Greylock Together folks who are interested in keeping this progressive champion in the senate.”

  • You might not be surprised to know that Owen and Maddy (our #TeamGideon captain) have done amazing work throughout their time at MGRHS leading the REV student group (Register Educate Vote); both worked as Fellows for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. Now as MG graduates, they are representing the voices of our youth progressive activists to ensure we turn Washington BLUE and put our most promising, progressive candidates in office this fall!! Greylock Together is grateful for their work and leadership.
  • Let’s flood the area with Markey signs! Thank you to GT leader Arlene Kirsch who is our local sign distributor. Want a lawn sign? Contact Arlene with your address and contact info: ackirsch@post.harvard.edu and 508-615-1056

GT Fundraiser: Cocktails and Conversation with Jon Lovett.  Our next fundraiser will beTuesday, August 25, 2020 at 5:00 pm with Jon Lovett, former presidential speechwriter, as well as a TV writer, podcast, host, and straight shooter widely respected on both sides! In 2017, he founded Crooked Media with Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor to build a progressive media network with shows, analysis, and content that informs, entertains, and inspires action. There, he co-hosts “Pod Save America” and hosts “Lovett or Leave It.”  

 100% of funds raised will go toward flipping Senate seats in the swing states of Maine, Colorado, North Carolina, Iowa, and Montana. This event is a collaboration between Greylock Together and Force Multiplier.

Inclusive Food in the Berkshires.  Wendy P sends along this invite to an event from her team at NBCC:

Please join the Berkshire Food Access Collaborative and the MA Food System Collaborative in a virtual community conversation that will focus on: “A Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Local Food System”.  This will take place on July 28th, from 10:00am-11:30am.  Please register here.

BLM Vigil Every Friday in Williamstown.  The vigils continue every Friday from 5:00 to 5:30 pm in Williamstown.  Facebook event here.

Planning Board Meeting Williamstown.  They’re holding a hearing on Wednesday (July 22nd) at 7:00 pm on allowing weddings and other events on farms, marijuana cultivation, and nonconforming dwelling rules.  Zoom link here.

 

ANTIRACISM IN ACTION… THIS WEEK’S RESOURCES:

READ:

LISTEN:

WATCH

  • Just Mercy – Film based on the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative 
  • Anguish and Action – Obama Foundation, Town Hall with John Lewis, 6 weeks before his death; “President Obama recently joined Congressman John Lewis, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson, writer and survivor of police brutality Leon Ford, Jr., and youth leader LeQuan Muhammad, in an intergenerational panel moderated by activist and author Darnell Moore, to discuss the mental toll racism takes on people of color.”
  • John Lewis: Good Trouble – Extended through 7/30 at Images Cinema!


Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.

Events (GCal,iCal)

NAACP Day of Action
Common Park, Pittsfield
July 25 @ 12:00 to 3:00 pm

Greylock Together Meeting via Zoom
August 9 @ 3:00 – 4:30 pm

 

Resist and persist!
    Jess

7/15/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

We live in an incredibly litigious society.  People sue each other constantly over all kinds of nonsense — I mean, last year a Tennessee doctor sued a former patient for $25,000 because she left him a bad Yelp review.  But astonishingly, you usually can’t sue the police.  They’re protected by qualified immunity, so you can only sue police officers (or any agent of the state) when they violate your rights if that right has been “clearly established” beforehand (ie. if a court has previously ruled on that exact scenario).

So this past May, for example, when Fresno police robbed Micah Jessop and Brittan Ashjian at gunpoint of $225,000 during a search, their lawsuit was dismissed because (as the court said): “There was no clearly established law holding that officers violate the Fourth or Fourteenth Amendment when they steal property seized pursuant to a warrant”.  Seriously.

If a roofer steals from you while putting up your roof, you can sue them.  If a doctor empties your wallet while removing your appendix, you can sue them.  But if a cop steals from you while searching your car… well, you can file a complaint.

We must end qualified immunity.  There’s a bill that just passed the state senate which would sharply limit it to cover only when “no reasonable defendant could have had reason to believe that such conduct would violate the law,” which seems like it will work.  Now it’s hit the House of Delegates and it’s open for public comment until Friday.  Email your testimony about why this is important to Testimony.HWMJudiciary@mahouse.gov

Find out more about qualified immunity at NPR’s MarketWatch or this Washington Post column.


Voting.  The state primary is September 1 and the general election is November 3.  Everyone is eligible to vote by mail, however.  If you didn’t get an application to vote by mail, you can download one here.  It can be sent in by mail, email, or fax to your local election official (town or city clerk).    Applications must reach your local election office by August 26 for the primary and October 28 for the general.  IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, JUST REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AND ASK!

Hunger Stories.  If you are experiencing food insecurity due to the pandemic, your story deserves to be heard.  Share your experiences so The Food Bank of Western Mass. can better address hunger in our communities. Anyone who fills out the survey will be entered into a drawing to receive one of two $50.00 grocery store cards. Anonymity will be upheld. Learn more here.

NAACP Day of Action.  Save July 25th in your calendar to attend the Day of Action at Common Park in Pittsfield from noon to three.  Stay socially distanced and wear a mask as you show up to this day of action!

  • Musical protest in honor of Elijah McClain – PHS orchestra members
  • Voter Registration
  • NAACP Membership Drive

We will be tabling at this event and will NEED VOLUNTEERS, since our contribution will be to sell BLM signs (all proceeds going to NAACP).  Contact Liza B if you can help.

RCV on the Ballot!  Thank you to everyone who signed the petitions — ranked choice voting has been certified for the ballot!  Now we just need to tell everyone we know to vote YES on RCV!

Williamstown and North Adams Racial Equity Committees.  The Williamstown committee has been tasked with a purpose, and the members appointed (listed here).  The North Adams working group purpose is here.  The first meeting of the North Adams working group will be next Thursday (23rd); details about the agenda and a link to watch are here.

Let’s pause to recognize that while it’s great that this work is beginning, it is work.  These are people — most of them Black and Brown — who are not only dealing with the same difficulties as everyone else, plus the systemic racism of our times, but now they’re also going to be volunteering their time and energy to try to change their communities.  Thank you, heroes!

Housing Stabilization Bill.  Let’s ask the rest of the Berkshire delegation, esp. Senator Adam Hinds and Rep. John Barrett, to join Tricia Farley-Bouvier in cosponsoring HD5166/SD2992, An Act to Guarantee Housing Stability during the Covid-19 Emergency and Recovery. Prevent evictions and homelessness among vulnerable communities in our state!

Markey.  Vote for him.  Tell other folks to vote for him. Volunteer if you can.
 


BLM Vigil Every Friday in Williamstown.  The vigils continue every Friday from 5:00 to 5:30 pm in Williamstown.  Facebook event here.

Planning Board Meeting Williamstown.  They’re holding a hearing on Wednesday (the 22nd) at 7:00 pm on allowing weddings and other events on farms, marijuana cultivation, and nonconforming dwelling rules.  Zoom link here.

HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST RESOURCES FROM JESS

READ

LISTEN

WATCH

“Using interviews and rare archival footage, John Lewis: Good Trouble chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, now 79 years old, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life.” 

 

FOLLOW & SHARE

  • SURJ – @showing up for racial justice
  • @mvmt4blklives

LEADERS TO FOLLOW

RAISING ANTIRACIST KIDS


Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.

Events (GCal,iCal)

GT Book Group via Zoom
July 16 @ 7:00 pm
How to Be an Antiracist

NAACP Day of Action
Common Park, Pittsfield
July 25 @ 12:00 to 3:00 pm

Greylock Together Meeting via Zoom
August 9 @ 3:00 – 4:30 pm

 

Resist and persist!
    Alexander

7/7/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,
 

“I knew then and I know now that, when it comes to justice,
there is no easy way to get it.”  
 – Claudette Colvin
 

118 Days to the General Election. But who’s counting??  Let’s CELEBRATE the victories we are having as we continue to build momentum!

 

No faithless electors:  The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the presidential electors who make up the electoral college are not free agents: they can be compelled legally to vote for the winners of the popular vote in that state. While this rule does not favor any political party, it was critical that the issue be settled in advance of November, thus eliminating the risk that “faithless electors” might decide the next president. (Next step? Let’s eliminate the Electoral College, please). Join the coalition of voters ready to mobilize if #45 refuses to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election. Thank you, Indivisible! Protect the Results 

Vote-by-Mail passes in Massachusetts: A new law temporarily allows Massachusetts voters to cast their ballot by mail without specifying a reason. The law applies to both the September 1 primaries and the November 3 general election. It is set to expire at the end of the year.
 
Facebook feels the heat: More than 750 companies — including major corporations like CocaCola, Unilever, Best Buy, Ford, Starbucks, and Hershey’s — have suspended advertising on Facebook to protest the platform’s tolerance of hate speech and disinformation. Feeling the heat, Facebook met with civil rights leaders from the N.A.A.C.P., the Anti-Defamation League, and Color of Change, all of whom remained unpersuaded.
 
GOP senate candidates are getting sweaty, too: A new poll spells trouble for GOP senate candidates in Arizona, Michigan, and North Carolina. Meanwhile, Susan Collins appears to be in trouble, too. (Which swing-state senate candidate are you helping to elect? Let’s flip that senate!)

#MorseForce (Thanks to GT member, Samantha Page!)

What: Join friends and neighbors in support of Alex Morse and his campaign for Congress! We’ll be holding signs, waving at cars, dancing, and celebrating a candidate who will work for our community. THIS EVENT WILL PRACTICE SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES.

When: Saturday, 7/11, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Where: Field Park roundabout, Williamstown
What to Bring: A mask, a friend, water/snack, hand sanitizer, charged phone, homemade sign—showcase your #MorseForce Artwork
What the Campaign Will Provide: Beautiful Morse for Congress signs! Extra Masks, water, hand sanitizer
Register here:
https://www.mobilize.us/alexmorseforcongress/event/286184/

#TeamMarkey (Thanks to Kristen Elechko!)  

…will be hosting a Berkshire County Organizing Extravagnza and phone bank kickoff for Ed! 

Wednesday, July 8, from 6 – 7:30 pm over Zoom. If you would like to attend, please RSVP at this link, and the Zoom info will be sent to you: https://secure.ngpvan.com/A0Rti2PaMU26By9We9NirA2

We are energized to be building momentum in Berkshire County with chances to volunteer occurring every week. Be sure to join us for this informative opportunity as we kick off a Summer of campaigning! You might even get the chance to win a coveted Ed Markey lawn sign! 

#VoteForward

Help us reach our goal of sending 1000 letters to less-likely registered voters! Write or text jeanne.marklin@gmail.com or 413-672-1766, or Bernadine bhw1@williams.edu or 781-956-6622 to join in! 

#TeamGideon

Join Team Gideon for a Greylock Together GOTV Zoom phone bank on July 11 at 3 pm. No experience necessary! Want to get involved to defeat Collins in Maine? LOTS of other opportunities!
Email Maddy at maddyzart@gmail.com. Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/saragideon/event/283889/

Black Lives Matter Signs — WOW!! 

The terrific #BLM sign crew has gotten 700 BLM signs into our local communities! Their donation this week to the Berkshire County NAACP is over $1,600 directly from sign sales. Bravo!! We are grateful for our partner, Elinor Goodwin at The Print Shop Williamstown at 30 Spring Street for taking over sales duties. The signs will now be available for consistent hours and days/week at her business. It takes a village to change the world, and we are thrilled to see this tremendous effort magnify the visibility of our commitment and support of #BLM. Thank you, Janine, Julie, Janie and Liza for this remarkable team accomplishment. May we continue to go forth and MULTIPLY!! Words matter. Signs matter. Black Lives Matter. 

GT Book Group— Gather around our pre-pandemic March Book Pick…what could be more timely and critical?  Thursday, July 16 at 7 PM we will discuss Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist. Email gdoench@gmail.com for more info.

#BLM Weekly Vigils —  We continue our weekly vigils at Field Park. Join us in solidarity as we recommit to the daily work of dismantling systemic racism Together, and pay tribute to the countless Black lives lost to police brutality and other white supremacist violence.  RSVP on Facebook or just come by.  Please wear a mask; social distancing practices observed. 

GT MONTHLY MEETING via ZOOM – THIS SUNDAY!
It is months like these that we are ever grateful for the team and community we have built Together. Join us during this time of upheaval and hope for updates on all fronts, including the critical and urgent work being done in Williamstown and N. Adams around Race & Equity.
Special Guest(s) Mayor Tom Bernard and/or Ben Lamb will join us for updates on North Adams Racial Justice and diversity initiatives.
Remember that hope is an action. So many incredible folks doing the WORK of justice. (Zoom Link in Calendar Events below)

This week’s HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST RESOURCES – from Jess:

READ

LISTEN

WATCH

GIVE

FOLLOW & SHARE 

  • @michaeldtubbs—Stockton, CA Mayor, #StocktonOnMyMind premieres July 28 on HBO
  • @rachel.cargle #DoTheWork

LEADERS TO FOLLOW

RAISING ANTIRACIST KIDS

Events (GCal,iCal)

Greylock Together Meeting via Zoom
July 12 @ 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Guest: Tom Bernard/Ben Lamb
Zoom link here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84160751696?pwd=dGZwSW8vZ1hKbHlUN1Buczdvc1FWdz09
Meeting ID: 841 6075 1696
Password: 852759

GT Book Group via Zoom
July 16 @ 7:00 pm
How to Be an Antiracist

Greylock Together Meeting via Zoom
August 9 @ 3:00 – 4:30 pm

 

Resist and persist!
 Ali & Jess

7/1/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

It’s crazy to think that it’s 2020 and we’re having a debate about how much we should be honoring the Confederacy.  Yes, they’re tearing down the Confederate flag in Mississippi, but there’s a looming conflict brewing over the defense bill in Congress — the president has vowed to veto it if it includes Sen. Warren’s requirement to rename bases honoring Confederate generals.  Ridiculous.

There’s a lot going on soon and a lot of news below.  Read and share, please!

Evictions.  There’s a looming eviction crisis.  The Baker admin has announced that “low-income households facing difficulty making rent and mortgage payments” will qualify for up to $4,000 in assistance with payment dating beginning in April.  Any household with an income of 80% or below the area median can qualify.  I don’t know what number that might end up being, but if you are behind on your rent or your mortgage from the last few months, and you might qualify, please try and apply and find out.  Applications start today.  Contact our local RAFT program provider, BHDC at 413-499-1630, Ext. 100, or get more information on their website.

A lot of people who might desperately need this rent assistance may not be subscribed to this newsletter.  Take a moment and think about who you know who might need this help, and forward this email to them!

Williamstown Select Board Part Deux.  Tonight there’s a special follow-up to last week’s meeting.  Thank you to everyone who showed up — we need you to do it again!  Keep pushing until we get a bit closer to equity!  It’s tonight at 7:00 pm on Zoom: link here or call in at 1 929 436 2866.

Mayor to Meeting?  We’ve invited Mayor Bernard to join our next general meeting, and we hope either he or a representative will come and discuss racial equity issues in North Adams.  Cross your fingers and mark your calendars for the 12th!

124 Days to General Election.  There’s 124 days left to the general election.  Four months — wow.  Time to buckle down, folks!

Indivisible National Webinar.  There will be a national activist webinar for all Indivisibles with info about what’s going on and what we can do on July 2, 8:00 pm. Sign up and join in!

#MorseForce  (from Ed Sedarbaum)

So impressed with how easy the Alex Morse for Congress campaign (The Morse Force) has made it to call voters on Alex’s  behalf. It’s all automated — all except for you, of course. The campaign dials voters for you and connects you only when someone answers. You don’t even need a phone if your computer has a microphone. When you get someone home, your first question appears on your screen. Depending on what the voter answers, your proper script unfolds on your screen. Easy as pie. If you want to give it a try, call me at 413-441-6006 or email esedarbaum@gmail.com.

Arlene Kirsch has Alex Morse yard signs!! Contact her at ackirsch@c4.net

#VoteForward

We’re hoping to send 1000 letters through VoteForward to registered voters who don’t vote on a regular basis. This has been shown to increase voting by as much as 3.5%! In order to do this, we can use donations of money — our goal is $500 to cover the postage. To donate toward this effort, please click the link at the bottom of this newsletter and give whatever feels right.  If you’d prefer to give physical stamps, just reply to this email and we’ll figure it out.

Jeanne Marklin and Bernadine Williams are heading up this letter writing drive. On Wednesday, July 1, (today!)  from 4-6, one of us will be in the parking lot at the base of Spring Street in Williamstown with packets of 20 letters ready to be picked up. If it isn’t raining, we’ll hang out at Lickety Split. If you’re going to come, please write or text jeanne.marklin@gmail.com or 413 672-1766, or Bernadine bhw1@williams.edu or 781 956-6622. Let us know if you need us to include stamps, or if you will provide them for your packet. You can also print your own letters by going to the VoteForward.org site and signing up. You can really make a difference!

#TeamGideon

Join Team Gideon in getting out the vote for the Democratic Senate primary! Sara needs a really strong turnout here to show Senator Collins and Mitch McConnell how excited Maine is to elect a pro-choice senator. Maddy Art will be leading a Greylock Together Get Out the Vote Zoom phone bank on July 11 at 3 pm. No experience necessary! If that timing doesn’t work for you but you’d still like to get involved, there are lots of other opportunities! Email Maddy at maddyzart@gmail.com. 
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/saragideon/event/283889/

Reparations.  H.R. 40 is a bill that would set up a commission to examine the institution of slavery and its impact and make recommendations for reparations to Congress.  Momentum is building, and the time to act is now. The ACLU wants you to send a message to your members of Congress urging them to support H.R. 40 — click here.

For more info on the topic:

GT Book Group.  We’ll proceed with our pre-pandemic March Book Pick…what could be more timely and critical?  Thursday, July 16 at 7 PM we will discuss Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist.  (Zoom link to follow before that date — keep reading your newsletters!) Email gdoench@gmail.com for more info.

BLM Weekly Vigils Continue.  Friday at 5:00 pm at Field Park, as usual, we will continue our weekly vigils in partnership with First Congregational.  At 5:10 pm, a speaker will give a short reading as we recommit to the daily work of dismantling systemic racism Together. At 5:15 pm, we will join in respectful silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds at the perimeter of the green for visibility and solidarity in honor of George Floyd and the countless other Black people killed by police brutality and other forms of white supremacist violence.  RSVP on Facebook or just come by.  Please wear a mask; social distancing practices observed. 


This week’s HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST RESOURCES – from Jess:

“Far too often, people think of themselves as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.” – Bishop Desmond Tutu

READ

LISTEN

WATCH

GIVE

FOLLOW & SHARE

  • #WeAreDoneDying on Instagram
  • @dearpwi   –  From BIPOC at predominantly white institutions, to the white people that should listen  

LEADERS TO FOLLOW

RAISING ANTI RACIST KIDS


Events (GCal,iCal)

Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom
July 12 @ 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Guest: Alex Carlisle, maybe a mayor also

GT Book Group
Zoom
July 16 @ 7:00 pm
How to Be an Antiracist

Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom
August 9 @ 3:00 – 4:00 pm

 

Resist and persist!
    Alexander

6/24/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

Justice doesn’t begin next year, after the election.  Justice doesn’t begin next month, or next week, or tomorrow.  We must start pursuing justice today — and every day.  What’s your cause?

  • #MorseForce  (contact Ed S to help elect a progressive to replace Rep. Richie Neal)
  • #TeamGideon (contact Maddy A to help replace Maine’s Susan Collins with a decent person)
  • #I’mStickingwithMarkey  (join their FB to help keep our Sen. Ed Markey)
  • #VoteForward (letter writing) (Jeanne&BernadineLeanMeanDreamTeam to help flip the Senate)

And all of us are working on #BLM!

Williamstown Select Board Meeting.  Thank you to everyone who showed up at the meeting, and thank you to those amazing and impassioned folks who spoke up.  There’s a video here if you want to get caught up on what happened — and if you’re a Williamstown resident, I highly recommend it.  9:53 is when the racial equity discussion starts. Abby is at 31:29. Jess at 34:25. Randy at 41:20. Tashi at 52:48. Me at 58:44. Annie at 1:04:01. Wendy at 1:08:03. Gail at 1:13:42. Bilal at 1:18:31. Peggy at 1:24:57. Sam at 1:29:55. Arlene at 1:31:46. Twink at 1:34:59. And Grace at 1:41:00.  I particularly want to point you to Tashi, Bilal, and Twink’s amazing contributions.  Oh, and three years after we started asking, Williamstown Select Board and everyone took the NIOC pledge.  Check it out.

Welcome to New Members.  Welcome to our new members.  We’ve gotten a surge of new activists in the last month, both here and in our Facebook group.  Please take a moment to share this newsletter or a Facebook invite to anyone local you think might appreciate a chance to make a lasting difference in their community.

Black Lives Matter Signs.  Now at 560 sold, but these are still available! And an update this week: Elinor Goodwin at The Print Shop Williamstown is now selling these right on Spring Street for easy access!  Julia Bowen, Janine Hetherington, Liza Barrett and Janie Strachan continue to sell as well. Signs are $10 each with $2 going to  NAACP – Berkshire Country.  Contact lizabarrett6@gmail.com to order. They come with stakes for those who need them. People can Venmo @jeanette-strachan or pay cash at pickup/delivery.

Williamstown BLM Weekly Vigil.  The vigil will be Friday at 5:00 pm at Field Park, as usual.

At 5:10 pm, a speaker will give a short reading on dismantling systemic racism from the center of the green. At 5:15 pm, we will join in respectful silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, in honor of George Floyd and the countless other Black people killed by police brutality and other forms of white supremacist violence.

RSVP on Facebook or just come by.  Bring your masks and keep your distance.

Blood Drive.  There will be a blood drive at the Williamstown Historical Museum, Tuesday, June 30 from 9am – 2:30pm:  All donations made via Berkshire Health Systems help local patients, and for those dealing with cancer, other illnesses, and emergencies, the need is great.  Donors are requested to be healthy without any symptoms of cough, cold, or fever.  Please eat a well-balanced meal and plenty of water before arriving to donate.  Please schedule an appointment, which helps prevent long wait times and assists BHS to plan for this event.  To sign up, please contact (413) 447-2597 x 2 or camuso@bhs1.org.

Election/Polling.

  • Booker probably lost to McGrath in the Kentucky primary, unless the late ballots get weird, which is too bad because McGrath is an amazing fundraiser but an unbelievably poor candidate.  Ah, well.
  • Bowman beat Engel in the Bronx, though!  A Black progressive took on a complacent committee chairperson and won.  Look out, establishment!
  • At this point, it’s safe to say that the significant lead in polling for Biden over Trump is real, with the very good NYT/Sienna poll confirming an advantage of something like nine points (according to the now-live 538 polling average).  Remember two things, though: there’s still four months before the election, so there’s a lot of time for that to tighten up, and Trump will probably have a two or three point advantage in the Electoral College.  Let’s win this thing by so much that we flip the Senate, too, and make Trumpism look like the loser that it is!

COVID-19 Update.  Massachusetts has the lowest transmission rates in the country, probably through a combination of moderately competent leadership (setting aside the Commons debacle). a generally liberal bent that encourages folks to wear their masks, and warming weather.  Great job — keep wearing your masks!

Not Even Half a Loaf.  Senate Dems are going to block Sen. Scott’s police reform bill, since it won’t be open to filibuster-free amendment on the floor.  This means that there’s only a small chance of any police reform passing, since the House bill will die in the Senate without a vote.  This is maybe a good thing, but it represents a pretty aggressive bet by Democrats, since it signals that they think they’re likely to get a better deal after the election.  But we saw this dance on immigration reform, and nothing ever happened.  Cross your fingers and work like hell.

Meeting Dates.  I know I got the dates wrong on the last newsletter for general meetings.  They are July 12th and August 9th.  Sorry about that!

This week’s HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST RESOURCES from Jess:

READ

LISTEN

WATCH

  • Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable – Luvvie Ajayi, Ted Talk, 2017
  • TNQ Show – The Next Question… Imagine How Expansive Racial Justice Can Be. The TNQ Show engages leading voices on critical topics of racial justice in America. Created by best-selling author Austin Channing Brown, Season 1 is now available featuring Nikole Hannah Jones, Andre Henry, Brené Brown, and more.  Here’s the Trailer!
  • Watchmen -HBO series, first two episodes streaming free now!

GIVE

  • Lots of impactful ways to give to the incredible Berkshire County Multicultural BRIDGE team! We are grateful for their work and continued partnership.

SHARE

LEADERS TO FOLLOW!!


Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.

Events (GCal,iCal)

Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom
July 12 @ 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Guest: Alex Carlisle

Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom
August 9 @ 3:00 – 4:00 pm

 

Resist and persist!
    Alexander

6/21/20 Wtown Select Board BLM Notice

Dear Greylock Together,

Tomorrow night (Monday the 22nd) at 7:00 pm, the Williamstown Select Board is meeting.  One of the issue they will be considering is whether or not to paint BLACK LIVES MATTER on Spring Street, as proposed by Randy F. in a recent letter to the board.  The agenda and Zoom info can be found here.

An excerpt from Randy’s letter:

This latest round of protests are not a wake up call for any of us. We are all educated enough to know there is systematic discrimination based on race, creed, and sexual orientation. Rather, these protests are, once again, asking us as individuals and as a community, what are we going to do about working to ensure that our Black community members feel safe, loved and supported? No, we cannot end discrimination, even within our borders. We can, however, provide a clear, unambiguous sign—for our children, Williams students, visitors, and, most importantly, those among us who are not willing to say enough is enough—that pronounces in no uncertain terms that in our community, Black Lives Matter. 

I request the Select Board to immediately approve “Black Lives Matter” be painted on our main street, Spring Street, as has been done in DC and now in other cities and towns. If the Mayor of Washington, DC can stand up to the President, surely we can stand up to the forces of the status quo in our community. Change does not happen if we keep doing the same. Your leadership behind the scenes is valuable, and appreciated. Our times demand more of all of us.

Be there and be heard. 
 

Resist and persist!
    Alexander

6/18/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

There are big events happening this weekend in both Williamstown (on Friday) and North Adams (on Saturday).  Now is the time when you might decide that you did enough — you went to a protest and made some calls, and now there’s other stuff going on in your life.  But justice doesn’t happen overnight.  This is the slow drilling of hard boards.  Go to one of the events this weekend or volunteer for another cause (like phonebanking for Gideon — see below).  Be an activist every week!
 


North Adams BLM March & Protest.  This Saturday (June 20th) there will be a march and a rally in support of Black Lives Matter in North Adams.  The march will begin at the MoCA overflow lot (where the farmer’s market is held) at 2:00 pm.  The march will be 2.3 miles in length.  For those who are unable to march, there will also be a stationary rally at the same time on the lawn in front of First Congregational Church of North Adams.  At both events, please wear masks and maintain social distancing; hand sanitizer and water will be available.  Facebook event here.

Williamstown Juneteenth Event and BLM Vigil.  First Congregational Church of Williamstown and Greylock Together are hosting an event tomorrow afternoon (June 19th) in celebration of Juneteenth.  The weekly BLM vigil will take place as usual at 5:00 pm at Field Park, but will be followed at 5:30 pm by an evening of music, movement, resistance, and joy.  Juneteenth is a day that honors Black freedom and Black resistance and centers Black people’s unique contribution to the struggle for justice in the U.S. This Juneteenth is a rare moment for our communities to proclaim in one voice that Black Lives Matter, and that we won’t tolerate anything less than justice for all Black people.  Otha Day, a renowned educator, facilitator, and musician, will share reflections on Juneteenth and lead us in rhythm, dancing, chanting, reflecting, and connecting with ourselves and one another.  Contact Rachel Payne with questions at rachel.r.payne@gmail.com or 617-309-0186.  Remember to wear masks and keep your distance!  Facebook event here.

Indivisible Markey.  Indivisible has totaled up your votes and those of other Bay Staters, and they have endorsed Sen. Ed Markey for reelection: “Sen. Markey is a leader of the climate movement and a progressive champion for a more just, sustainable, and livable future. He consistently demonstrates progressive leadership and vision by prioritizing working people and marginalized communities.”  There’s almost unanimous GT support for Markey, but you can also join the Berkshires 4 Markey group if you want to work on this specifically.

Boot Susan Collins Out. This past weekend, 10 mighty phone bankers joined Maddy Art (Intern for ME’s Sara Gideon campaign to defeat Susan Collins!). They were trained virtually (bravo!) and made a collective 415 phone calls! That’s how you flip the Senate: one outreach at a time, folks! Maddy is building a team of committed folks who can commit to this work on a regular basis. Please contact her at maddyzart@gmail.com to join in! This is something we can do Together! 

Elect Alex Morse.  We have a team leader for this effort in the person of Ed S, who is looking to build a small team of people to elect a progressive here in MA-1. More details to follow, but if this is something that interests you, reply to this email and let us know! 

HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST RESOURCES

READ

LISTEN 

WATCH

GIVE

  • To demonstrate Black power and clout in the publishing industry, Sunday June 14 – Saturday June 20, we encourage you to purchase any two books by Black writers. Our goal is to Blackout bestseller lists with Black voices. Better yet, buy those books at a black owned bookstore: Black Owned Bookstores in the US

SIGN UP

  •  Code Switch newsletter from NPR — See what news, politics and culture say about race and identity, sent weekly.


Black Lives Matter Signs.  These are still available.  Thank you to Julia Bowen, Janine Hetherington, Liza Barrett and Janie Strachan! They’ve loved delivering but it may be harder to continue to deliver to all. If someone is housebound or immunology compromised, they will certainly make arrangements. Signs are $10 each with $2 going to  NAACP – Berkshire Country.  Contact lizabarrett6@gmail.com to order.Signs are $10 each with $2 going to NAACP – Berkshire Country. Double-sided and they come with stakes for those who need them. People can Venmo @jeanette-strachan or pay cash at pickup/delivery.

Reminder: Food Resources.  If you live up here and you’re food insecure, you should be checking the NBCC Facebook page daily.  Pittsfield and south county will find the Greylock Glass food resource map very useful, especially the calendar at the bottom, as well as the invaluable Berkshire Mutual Aid Facebook group.

Resist and persist!
    Alexander

6/2/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

“I want their hearts to be broken,” Ricky Grant, in conversation during a #BlackLivesMatter Town Hall with Senator Markey on 5/31. “I want you to please, don’t be defensive and please look at what’s happening and allow your heart to be broken. Once your heart breaks you will KNOW what to do.” We are broken-hearted but filled with the fuel of resolve that could not be more clarifying in this moment in our country’s turbulent history.

We look forward to seeing those who can join us on Sunday for our monthly ZOOM meeting. We will center our conversation on police brutality and centuries-old systemic racism. There is no end to the list of things to be done, but we are asking you to pick one thing. When you’ve done that, you can pick another, and another after that. But right now, pick something. Let us know what you decide to do. 

Sunday at 3:00 pm, join us on Zoom.  We will talk and plan action.  (Meeting ID: 870 3262 3350,
Password: 637202, one tap mobile: +13017158592,,87032623350#,,1#,637202#  call in: +1 646 558 8656)

PROTEST

  • Stand up for Justice – Black Lives Matter Williamstown.  Friday, June 5, 5:00 pm.  Field Park Rotary, Williamstown.  Please: Wear a face covering, Do your best to social distance, Bring signs (no sticks), Encourage family, friends, and neighbors to participate.  Park at the Williamstown Public Library or the old Williams Inn at the Rotary, Stay in the green space.  Thanks to Margo Besnard and Erin Ostheimer for leading and bringing new energy to GT!
  • Make a CALL! Your voice matters, especially when multiplied!
  • SIGN AND SEND! Petitions help when the whole country signs on!

LEARN

  • Join neighbors Meg Bossong and Peggy Kern for their free online class: Everyday Abolition: A Virtual Teach-In, June 3, 8 pm, Register to join in HERE.
  • CAMPAIGN ZERO has boiled down necessary reforms into a ten-point plan, which includes limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability. 
  • Learn about POLICY SOLUTIONS. 
  • POLICE USE OF FORCE PROJECT – How police use of force policies can help to end police violence.
  • STAND UP and BE VISIBLE with a #BlackLivesMatter Sign of support and WELCOME in your yard. Some of our neighbors are organizing a group purchase and distributions of Black Lives Matter signs. Each costs $10. Of this, $8 covers the printing cost at Beck’s (local!) and $2.00 will be for a donation to NAACP – Berkshire Country. Please email lizabarrett6@gmail.com to reserve your sign. Thanks to Liza Barrett, Julia Bowen and Janie Strachan for organizing!

READ

SUBSCRIBE

  • Subscribe to the New York Times? Get Race Related   –  fantastic weekly newsletter

LISTEN

WATCH: VIDEO

WATCH: FILM/SERIES

  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — YouTube
  • When They See Us – (Ava DuVernay) – Netflix
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
  • The Hate You Give (George Tillman Jr) – YouTube

DONATE

LEGISLATE

Confederate Monuments Coming Down.  You may have missed this in all the chaos, but the confederate monuments in both Birmingham and Alexandria were taken down this morning.  Yesterday, the mayor of Birmingham grabbed a bullhorn and pleaded with protesters to leave the huge obelisk erected in honor to the Confederacy alone.  He didn’t want them hurt.  “Allow me to finish the job for you,” Mayor Woodfin said, and ordered its removal.

Quite a Journey.  Look at the back of this truck and see one person’s journey.
 
Reminder: Phonebanking for Sara Gideon.  On June 14 at 2 pm, join activist and high school graduate, Maddy Art, an intern on Team Gideon, for a Zoom phone bank to spread Sara’s positive vision for Mainers! Maddy will lead a brief training to familiarize everyone with the software and script, and then we will make calls Together on mute.  Sign up here or on the Facebook event.

Reminder: Hoosac Harvest Seed Swap.  Annual seedling swap will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30, 2020, in Mass MoCA’s main parking lot. Community members are invited to Wear MASKS and gloves, keep your Social Distance and bring seedlings to swap, or to come without seedlings and just choose offerings for their spring gardens. All seedlings are free–you don’t need to bring some to swap to take some home. Donations to Hoosac Harvest are encouraged. Contact Hoosac Harvest via kathykeeser@gmail.comfor more information or visit hoosacharvest.org.

Reminder: Williamstown Vote by Mail.  If you live in Williamstown and want to vote for the upcoming planning board seat, be sure to request your ballot for the June 23rd election.  Here’s a video by Town Manager Jason Hoch on how to do it, or just go to the town website for brief instructions.  If you want to know more about the candidates, here’s the League of Women Voters candidate forum.

Reminder: Ranked Choice Ballot Question.  Ranked Choice Voting is one of our priorities, and we need to make a final push to get it on the ballot for November!  Because of COVID-19, they’re gathering signatures electronically.  Go here to sign.

Reminder: Food Resources.  If you live up here and you’re food insecure, you should be checking the NBCC Facebook page daily.  Pittsfield and south county will find the Greylock Glass food resource map very useful, especially the calendar at the bottom, as well as the invaluable Berkshire Mutual Aid Facebook group.

Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.

Events (GCal,iCal)Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom (link forthcoming)
June 7 @ 3:00-4:00 pm

Phonebank Training to Support Maine Senate Candidate Sara Gideon
Signup Link
June 14
Facebook Event 

Resist and persist!
    Jess

5/27/20 newsletter

Dear Greylock Together,

There’s a lot going on, so let’s get right to it.

Phonebanking for Sara Gideon.  To flip the Senate in 2020, we MUST win Maine. Susan Collins was the deciding vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and to pass the 2017 Republican tax bill. She has moved from being a moderate Republican to voting with Trump 94% of the time, and Mainers are fed up and want to replace her with a progressive, pro-choice Democrat: Sara Gideon.  Read her Reform Agenda here.

On June 14 at 2 pm, join activist and high school graduate, Maddy Art, an intern on Team Gideon, for a Zoom phone bank to spread Sara’s positive vision for Mainers! Maddy will lead a brief training to familiarize everyone with the software and script, and then we will make calls Together on mute.  Sign up here or on the Facebook event.

Markey v Kennedy Straw Poll.  The results are in from last week’s poll of our members, and they are not ambiguous.
 
Hoosac Harvest Seed Swap.  Annual seedling swap will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30, 2020, in Mass MoCA’s main parking lot. Community members are invited to Wear MASKS and gloves, keep your Social Distance and bring seedlings to swap, or to come without seedlings and just choose offerings for their spring gardens. All seedlings are free–you don’t need to bring some to swap to take some home. Donations to Hoosac Harvest are encouraged. Contact Hoosac Harvest via kathykeeser@gmail.comfor more information or visit hoosacharvest.org

Whip Up Wednesdays at ROOTS. ROOTS Teen Center in will have a Youtube series of quick cooking videos, so people can watch the video & view the recipe for each box. All that we ask from participants is that they send us, or post to our page, a photo of what they make! This is for youth 13-22. Youth that participate will receive a free weekly box of the ingredients, including locally sourced produce, to use to make the recipes in the videos. For questions, more information and/or to register please contact Alex, Hicks-Courant at dropin@rootsteencenter.com or call 413-663-0250

North Adams Virtual Town Hall with Alex Morse.  Please join candidate for Congress Alex Morse for a virtual North Adams Town Hall on May 28th at 6 pm. Alex wants to hear the stories and experiences of how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting you and your communities in North Adams, and talk with people not just about what kind of candidate he is, but also about how he plans to fight for and represent the people of Western Mass through this moment and throughout recovery.  Event is here.

Honest Elections Project.  Seems like a major dark money group backed by the Mercers and Betsy DeVos is pouring money into their fight against voting.A powerful new conservative organization fighting to restrict voting in the 2020 presidential election is really just a rebranded group that is part of a dark money network already helping Donald Trump’s unprecedented effort to remake the US federal judiciary, the Guardian and OpenSecrets reveal.  The organization, which calls itself the Honest Elections Project, seemed to emerge out of nowhere a few months ago and started stoking fears about voter fraud. Backed by a dark money group funded by rightwing stalwarts like the Koch brothers and Betsy DeVos’ family, the Honest Elections Project is part of the network that pushed the US supreme court picks Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, and is quickly becoming a juggernaut in the escalating fight over voting rights.Read more in the Guardian.

Reminder: Williamstown Vote by Mail.  If you live in Williamstown and want to vote for the upcoming planning board seat, be sure to request your ballot for the June 23rd election.  Here’s a video by Town Manager Jason Hoch on how to do it, or just go to the town website for brief instructions.  If you want to know more about the candidates, here’s the League of Women Voters candidate forum.

Reminder: Ranked Choice Ballot Question.  Ranked Choice Voting is one of our priorities, and we need to make a final push to get it on the ballot for November!  Because of COVID-19, they’re gathering signatures electronically.  Go here to sign.

Reminder: Signatures for Markey.  Senator Markey’s staffer sends along to say that COVID-19 has made it incredibly hard to gather signatures to qualify for the ballot.  Go to this link to get a paper sent to your house that you can sign and return.

Reminder: Food Resources.  The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is collecting information about food resources throughout the area.  If you live up here and you’re food insecure, you should be checking their Facebook page daily.  Pittsfield and south county will find the Greylock Glass food resource map very useful, especially the calendar at the bottom, as well as the invaluable Berkshire Mutual Aid Facebook group.

Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.

Events (GCal,iCal)Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom (link forthcoming)
June 7 @ 3:00-4:00 pm

Phonebank Training to Support Maine Senate Candidate Sara Gideon
Signup Link
June 14
Facebook Event 

Resist and persist!
    Alexander