Neighborly actions here and there
Free trees, abortion access, repealing LEOBOR, maintaining the freedom to assemble, Narcan training and more
Hi everyone. Here are a few more things to do with and for our neighbors in the coming days.
TODAY, 4/5, anytime during the day, remotely: Is your neighborhood low on trees? If so, would you like a free tree to plant? There are 1000 trees available to Rhode Island residents. Register here while supplies last.
Anytime this week: Senate Bill 773, a bill repealing part of Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBOR), is going to be heard by the Senate soon, so this would be a great moment to write to them and to your own RI senator in support of this bill. LEOBOR prevents accountability and consequences for many forms of police abuse; many officials have cited it as a roadblock to any meaningful lessening of police power. No hearing is scheduled so far that I know of, but this is a good one to get ahead of.
4/7, BY 2pm (to sign up) / 4/8, 4pm and onward (to testify): Another day, another bill (Senate Bill 404) attempting to make nonviolent protest a crime. Let me know if you need talking points on this one. Thanks to Jenna for the heads-up! Written testimony should go to jpbaxter@rilegislature.gov by 2pm on 4/8. Include your name, bill number, and viewpoint (for/against/neither) at the top of the message.
4/8, BY 2pm (to sign up) / 4/9, 4pm and onward (to testify): A number of bills restricting abortion access are being heard in this session. 5552, 5865 and 5996 are more obviously anti-choice; 5037 and 5579 are sneakier. (You can click on each of them at the link above to read the bills.) Sign up to testify about bodily autonomy, wanted children, the disproportionate toll this will take on poor people and POC who don’t want to be pregnant or have a child, and the lack of need for any moral panic whatsoever on this issue. Or send written testimony by noon on 4/9 to housejudiciary@rilegislature.gov. Include your name, bill number, and viewpoint (for/against/neither) at the top of the message.
4/10, 10:30am, Burnside Park, Providence: Join the PVD Wide-Awakes for a Narcan training! Learn how to save the life of someone who’s overdosed on opioids. Perfectly free and no need to register, just appear.
Anytime this week: Speaking of safe opioid use, a bill authorizing harm reduction centers has PASSED the RI Senate—thanks to all who wrote in or testified!—and now needs to pass the house. This, too, will save lives. Here’s an easy template for writing to your RI rep about it.
Anytime this month, 36 Amber St, Johnston: Winsor Hill School is collecting food pantry donations all month for students in need. You can leave them on the porch! If you’re in a food donation mood, there are also still community fridges rocking at 705 Westminster St and 640 Broad St in Providence, with a particular need for staples and for shelf stable things that can be eaten right away.
With love,
Kate
