Call to Action Archive
Suit Up Maine publishes new calls to action (C2A) each week. The current actions can be found on our homepage, but past C2A can be viewed here in our archive by topics. For more information on the specific issues and the working groups that produce them, click on the issue headers below.
ABORTION RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK: How You Can Stand Up and Fight Back
Extreme abortion bans have passed in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi, and more are pending in several state legislatures. All are designed to take advantage of the the Supreme Court’s new conservative majority in an attempt to overturn Roe v Wade.
QUICK ACTION: Find out how YOU can help support, protect, and expand abortion access.
BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Because Mitch McConnell slashed the time frame for reviewing nominees, many highly objectionable have been rushed through to confirmation, and others now face IMMINENT votes.
QUICK ACTION: Call Collins and King and tell them to voice their opposition to these extremist nominees facing imminent confirmation votes.
MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: This week in Augusta
Here’s our Legislature Roundup for the week of May 20, where you’ll find details on public hearings and work sessions on bills on juvenile justice reform, extreme risk protection orders, tax credits for working families, and justice for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors on tribal lands. You’ll also find information on upcoming votes on bills to restore the social safety net for asylum seekers, remove outdated barriers to abortion services, and create a state Equal Rights Amendment. QUICK ACTION: Review this week’s public hearings, submit testimony on bills that matter to you, and tell your legislators how you’d like them to vote.
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BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Because Mitch McConnell slashed the time frame for reviewing nominees, many highly objectionable have been rushed through to confirmation, and others now face IMMINENT votes.
QUICK ACTION: Call Collins and King and tell them to voice their opposition to these extremist nominees facing imminent confirmation votes.
THE MUELLER REPORT: Reset the Narrative
The Mueller Report is finally available. Why haven’t you read it yet? There is nothing more dangerous to Trump’s re-election chances than an informed electorate.
QUICK ACTION: Turn off the pundits, put away the editorial page, and read the report as Mueller intended it to be read. Find links to versions for all platforms and print here, and plan your own book club gathering to discuss it with your friends.
#SaveTheCensus: No citizenship question on the 2020 Census
The Trump administration wants to add an untested and unnecessary citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. Census, which could discourage immigrant participation and potentially change how congressional seats are distributed among states and how federal funds for health care, education, infrastructure and more are distributed to the states. The question has been challenged in the courts and will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court April 23. QUICK ACTION: Learn more and ask your MoCs to support the 2020 Census IDEA Act.
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GUN REFORM: Maine’s New Gun Bills Need Your Support
Only five of the 11 new gun reform bills remain alive in the Maine legislature, covering Extreme Risk Protection Orders (“red flag”), background checks, safe storage, ghost guns, and waiting periods. Meanwhile, Republicans are pushing a deadly “Stand Your Ground” bill.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more about the bills, check their status, and make sure your legislators know how you want them to vote!
MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: This week in Augusta
Here’s our Legislature Roundup for the week of May 20, where you’ll find details on public hearings and work sessions on bills on juvenile justice reform, extreme risk protection orders, tax credits for working families, and justice for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors on tribal lands. You’ll also find information on upcoming votes on bills to restore the social safety net for asylum seekers, remove outdated barriers to abortion services, and create a state Equal Rights Amendment. QUICK ACTION: Review this week’s public hearings, submit testimony on bills that matter to you, and tell your legislators how you’d like them to vote.
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FACT CHECK: Correcting Anti-Vaccine Testimony
While measles outbreaks are spreading across 22 states and Maine’s pertussis rate is the worst in the nation, our state’s non-medical vaccination opt-out rate is more than triple the national average. At a recent hearing for a bill that would strengthen vaccination requirements for school children, false and misleading information was shared by anti-vaccination advocates. We decided to do some fact checking to set the record straight.
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MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: This week in Augusta
Here’s our Legislature Roundup for the week of May 20, where you’ll find details on public hearings and work sessions on bills on juvenile justice reform, extreme risk protection orders, tax credits for working families, and justice for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors on tribal lands. You’ll also find information on upcoming votes on bills to restore the social safety net for asylum seekers, remove outdated barriers to abortion services, and create a state Equal Rights Amendment. QUICK ACTION: Review this week’s public hearings, submit testimony on bills that matter to you, and tell your legislators how you’d like them to vote.
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CELEBRATE EARTH: Join an Earth Day action this week!
Earth Day is April 22 and communities around the state have planned events and actions all week. QUICK ACTION: Find an event near you and take action to celebrate Earth!
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PROTECT OUR WATERS: Oppose Trump’s “Dirty Water Rule”
The Trump administration has proposed widespread rollbacks to clean water protections, jeopardizing wetlands and drinking water for nearly half a million Mainers and millions of Americans. There’s just one week left to submit a public comment! QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment opposing the rollbacks by April 15.
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DO THIS NOT THAT: Stop The Spread of False Information on Social Media
Hoaxes, fabricated stories, and misinformation spread like wildfire on social media sites.
QUICK ACTION: Learn how to identify false stories, report hoaxes, correct inaccuracies and #ProtectTheTruth with eight powerful tips.
Settling the First Amendment Case Against Gov. Paul LePage
Suit Up Maine’s co-leaders Karin Leuthy and Kelli Whitlock Burton agreed to a settlement in their First Amendment censorship case against Governor Paul LePage. The terms of the settlement required administrators of the governor’s Facebook page to unblock Leuthy and Burton, create a process allowing others who have been blocked to request that their posting privileges be restored, and agree not to censor or block other constituents during Gov. LePage’s remaining time in office. Read their statement about their decision to settle the case.
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SUPPORT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Build Your Press Room
More than 300 newspapers across the country—large and small, right- and left-leaning—published editorials in a single day in support of a free press. Why? Because the president has targeted the news media in a way no leader of a free nation ever has or ever should.
QUICK ACTION: Support the work of reputable journalists by subscribing to local and national outlets and building your own diversified press room.
GUN REFORM: Maine’s New Gun Bills Need Your Support
Only five of the 11 new gun reform bills remain alive in the Maine legislature, covering Extreme Risk Protection Orders (“red flag”), background checks, safe storage, ghost guns, and waiting periods. Meanwhile, Republicans are pushing a deadly “Stand Your Ground” bill.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more about the bills, check their status, and make sure your legislators know how you want them to vote!
MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: This week in Augusta
Here’s our Legislature Roundup for the week of May 20, where you’ll find details on public hearings and work sessions on bills on juvenile justice reform, extreme risk protection orders, tax credits for working families, and justice for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors on tribal lands. You’ll also find information on upcoming votes on bills to restore the social safety net for asylum seekers, remove outdated barriers to abortion services, and create a state Equal Rights Amendment. QUICK ACTION: Review this week’s public hearings, submit testimony on bills that matter to you, and tell your legislators how you’d like them to vote.
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SUPPORT ERPO BILL: Reduce Suicide & Domestic Violence Gun Deaths
Last year’s “ERPO” bill was vetoed by Gov. LePage, but a new bill, LD 1312, has just been introduced. Extreme Risk Protection Orders reduce gun-related suicides and domestic violence homicides by temporarily suspending access to firearms for people who are a danger to themselves or others.
QUICK ACTION: Submit testimony in support of the bill and contact your legislators and Gov. Mills!
MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: This week in Augusta
Here’s our Legislature Roundup for the week of May 20, where you’ll find details on public hearings and work sessions on bills on juvenile justice reform, extreme risk protection orders, tax credits for working families, and justice for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors on tribal lands. You’ll also find information on upcoming votes on bills to restore the social safety net for asylum seekers, remove outdated barriers to abortion services, and create a state Equal Rights Amendment. QUICK ACTION: Review this week’s public hearings, submit testimony on bills that matter to you, and tell your legislators how you’d like them to vote.
read more
PROTECT TITLE IX: Oppose Protection Rollbacks for Student Survivors
The Trump administration has issued new Title IX regulations that would make it harder for students who are sexually assaulted to report the assaults. More than 100,000 comments were submitted during the public comment period on the rule, with the vast majority in opposition. QUICK ACTION: Stay tuned for updates and ask Reps. Pingree and Golden to support 3 bills in the House that protect Title IX.
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CHILD POVERTY IN MAINE: Support Bill to Improve Parents’ Access to Education and Training
Maine’s child poverty rate is increasing eight times faster than the national average. A bill in the Maine legislature could help bring those numbers down by increasing parents’ access to educational and training opportunities. UPDATE: LD 1774 is now law in Maine! After receiving overwhelming support in the House and Senate, the bill became law without the governor’s signature. A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this important legislation!
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Suit Up Maine is a statewide, all-volunteer, progressive, grassroots group of more than 5,400 Mainers that seeks to create and foster a more informed and engaged electorate. We raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren’t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state’s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.