Call to Action: June 19, 2018


STOP TERRORIZING VULNERABLE FAMILIES


When families flee violence in Central America and ask for asylum in the US, armed officers confront them and, on Trump’s orders, pry children from their parents and disappear. More than 2,000 children have been taken from their families and imprisoned. More child detention centers are being opened to handle the overflow.

The parents and children have no idea if they will ever be reunited. The American Academy of Pediatrics says this sudden, forced separation can result in a lifelong emotional disability, similar to PTSD.

Consistently, Trump and his propaganda machine have blamed immigrants for everything from draining welfare services to murder. It’s working. Hate crimes have soared. As ICE sweeps through communities, a climate of fear from the armed bigots and federal thugs of ICE now oppress immigrant neighborhoods.

Trump is feeling significant blowback. Republicans and Democrats, religious leaders and pediatricians, scholars and ethicists, even Laura Bush have all denounced this policy.

Turn up the heat!

Call your MoCs now. They need to stop this policy of torturing children and terrorizing families. Bills that capitulate to Trump’s demands for border wall funding and a reduction in legal immigration are ransoms we cannot pay.


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR MERKLEY AND WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to thank you for exposing this intolerable situation. Now it must be stopped. We need to demand an end to this. Support Senator Feinstein’s bill and any other bills that put a stop to this cruelty. But don’t give in to Trump’s ransoming of children for border wall funding and a reduction in legal immigration rates. Thank you.” 

SENATOR JEFF 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
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

SENATOR RON 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
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/


**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon, [zip code]. I am calling to say I cannot believe you condone inflicting lifelong damage on children. You may have an opportunity to stop it this week, and I hope that immigrant families will have your support. But, please do not to capitulate to Trump’s ransom demands for border wall funding and a reduction of legal immigration rates. No public servant should give in to such immoral pressure. Thank you.”  

COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me


**ACTION THREE: REMEMBER FOR THE MIDTERMS**

What did your Member of Congress do to help (or harm) these families? Are your values being represented? Remember that come November.  

If you want to do something more now, join the protests at ICE offices and detention centers.