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So many eyes on Georgia! Amazing! While y'all are watching, I think it's important to note that this dope ass organizing infrastructure is not only focused on electoral work! Here's some other issues/efforts that could use your attention:
The DAY BEFORE the election, @atlcouncil voted to undermine the hard-fought, organizing win around bail reform, because white folks in Buckhead asked them to. Share this petition to ask @KeishaBottoms to veto this regressive and ineffective ordinance: https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/atlanta_bail_reform/?source=sms114
ATL orgs @Snap4Freedom @RJActionCenter and @WomenOnTheRise1 have been working for years to shut down the city jail. The mayor has agreed, and communities created a vision for reallocation of those resources. Now, the work is to hold electeds to their promises and CLOSE THE JAIL!
A lot of eyes were on South Georgia earlier this year following the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. Local communities in Glynn County just voted to oust DA Jackie Johnson whose unethical behavior led to the mishandling of that case! https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/05/georgia-district-attorney-ahmaud-arbery/
There is a bond hearing for the McMichaels (Ahmaud's murderers) coming up next week. Will share more info around local actions as I get it.
We know that the criminal legal system will not transform conditions though, so orgs like @southerncenter and @Georgia_NAACP are working in collaboration to get rid of citizen's arrest in Georgia. https://twitter.com/southerncenter/status/1286287670344388608?s=20
@AJustGeorgia , a coalition formed in the aftermath of Ahmaud's death to support Southeast GA, has also been building in support of the family of Julian Lewis, who was murdered by a state trooper in Screven County. https://twitter.com/AJustGeorgia/status/1307367618337222659?s=20
In addition, we are building a response to support Marc Wilson in Statesboro, who was arrested after a warning shot he fired to defend himself and his girlfriend as they were terrorized by a truck full of young white people hit and killed a passenger. https://bossip.com/1918135/stand-your-ground-ga-family-say-son-was-wrongly-charged-with-murder-for-shooting-at-belligerent-racists-chasing-him-girlfriend/
ALSO! Groups around the state are working on dope projects and programs related to land, farming, and food sovereignty. @SRBWI has been doing that work for decades, and have been joined by folks like @g2gatl , @farmereva_ , SAAFON and more.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention what we've been able to build with @Mama_Fund , which has moved half a million dollars to metro Atlanta families since we started as an all-volunteer mutual aid collective in late March.
There are also all the folks doing worker organizing like @AtlantaJwJ, @AtlDomesticWork, @9to5GA and all the unions fighting the good fight in a VERY anti-worker climate. https://www.wedreaminblack.org/atlanta
Not to mention our ROBUST reproductive justice ecosystem that just this year sued the state to roll back an abortion ban. Shout out @SisterLoveInc , @SisterSong_WOC , @SPARKRJNOW , @AmplifyGA , @FWHC , @ARC_Southeast , @parishatcher and the whole Pissed Off Peaches coalition.
Then there is the amazing immigrant rights work, especially folks organizing in response to the forced sterilization at the Irwin County Detention Center, being led by @ProjectSouth and @GLAHR_ .
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-10-22/women-allege-medical-abuse-georgia-immigration-detention
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-10-22/women-allege-medical-abuse-georgia-immigration-detention
And the folks organizing across movements and identities like @ignitekindred , @byp100 , @OHRDemo and SO. MANY. MORE. When @AJustGeorgia says #GAGotGA, we mean that shit.
Family, help me out if there are any (non-electoral) efforts moving in the state that I didn't mention!
