Call to Action: August 25, 2017

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FIGHT RACISM: PROTECT OUR COURTS FROM EXTREMIST JUDGES
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#FightRacism
#ProtectOurCourts
#NoExtremistJudges

When Congress reconvenes, they will be voting on Trump’s judicial nominees—vetted by Federalist Society, an organization that assists conservative judges’ career paths—including securing lifetime judicial appointments http://bit.ly/2wJDSC2. These biased nominees threaten our judicial branch.

There are 32 district, circuit and federal claims court nominees, 4 awaiting confirmation (Palk, McFadden, Kelly, Schiff) and 3 awaiting votes in Judiciary Committee [Erickson, Friedrich, Schwartz)—who are right wing ideologues (http://bit.ly/2vtKose) and will aid Trump’s racist agenda by:
• Favoring corporate interests and far-right policies with hostility to civil rights and civil liberties http://bit.ly/2sTRk4f
• Championing unchecked executive power http://slate.me/2thzSGZ
• Advocating limiting government’s regulatory power http://bit.ly/2nTrxmN

With filibuster’s elimination, confirmations need only 51 votes. Senators can veto outrageous choices through “blue slips”, but only for the senator’s own state.

A more drastic tactic is to place “hold” on one or more nominees—a permissible Senate tactic http://bit.ly/2vlAee4, and one used by Sen, Wyden http://cbsn.ws/2itBPfK

All available weapons MUST be used to preserve federal courts as impartial, legitimate branch of government, and to stop Trump’s racist agenda. Until Trump agrees to work with both parties to pick mainstream judges . . .

We MUST urge Senators Wyden and Merkley to PUT HOLDS on all judicial nominees!

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**ACTION 1: CALL SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY**
If you can’t call during business hours, leave a voice mail! It all makes a difference!

SAMPLE SCRIPT
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am OUTRAGED by the extremist judicial nominees Trump keeps sending to the Senate for confirmation. The tactics being used so far to oppose them don’t seem to be working. So, I am asking the Senator to put HOLDS on all pending judicial nominees until Trump agrees nominating judges with bipartisan credentials. Thank you.”

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**ACTION 2: IF YOU CAN, GO TO A TOWN HALL AND ASK OUR SENATORS TO PROTECT OUR COURTS FROM RACIST, EXTREMIST JUDICIAL NOMINEES**
(http://bit.ly/IO_Events)

SAMPLE SCRIPT
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We look to the courts to protect our civil rights and maintain checks and balances within our government. This is why I am OUTRAGED by the extremist judicial nominees that Trump is sending to the Senate for confirmation. They are outside the mainstream. If appointed, these judges will fail to protect citizens from government overreach. What steps are you prepared to take to prevent the confirmation of these right-wing racist, sexist, homophobic judges? Are you willing to place holds on all pending judicial nominees? What about halting all business in the Senate until Trump agrees to send nominees with bipartisan credentials?”

If you can’t get to a town hall, please call Senators Wyden and Merkley’s offices to ask them the above questions.

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**ACTION 3: SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY**
Share this post with friends and family. Help them to call and tell their Senators to put holds on all judicial nominees until Trump agrees to send judges with bipartisan credentials.

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SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129

SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/trump-judicial-nominees-fed…
http://www.thedailybeast.com/to-ram-through-judges-gop-sena…