05/30/22 - Missouri Mondays - Remember our fallen military, read their stories.
Let our grief move us to act on gun reform! Tell Gov. Parson to veto voter suppression bill HB 1878! Join Stand Up KC at City Hall Jun 1!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays. Thanks for staying informed and taking action. YOUR VOICE makes a difference!
On this Memorial Day let’s pause to remember and honor our military and their sacrifices in service to our country. “Take some time to read someone’s story, to put a name to a face, to make it personal this year.” Navy Seal Steven Holley and Navy Seal veteran Clint Bruce created Carry The Load, “connecting Americans to the sacrifices made daily by military, veterans, first responders and their families.” “Holley described what motivated him to start the group: ‘It was some pain, some anger and some frustration of having lost those friends.’” “You die twice — when you physically pass and then when people forget about you,” said Dave Wirtz, whose son, Scotty Wirtz, 42, an operations support specialist with the Defense Intelligence Agency, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019. “Their mission is they’re never going to forget about Scotty or everybody else,” he said of the group.”
Carry The Load has raised over $32 million, most of it going to educate the public about the military and to physical and mental health services for veterans. Make a donation to Carry the Load here: https://www.carrytheload.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2441&2441.donation=form1
Full story NBC News May 29 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-navy-seals-want-never-forget-true-meaning-memorial-day-rcna30691
All Americans are encouraged to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.
Find Memorial Day events at the WWI Museum in Kansas City here: https://www.theworldwar.org/memorialday and listed in our upcoming events doc HERE
“The U.S. is uniquely terrible at protecting children from gun violence”
“This week's massacre in Uvalde, Texas, was yet another grim reminder that in the U.S., where civilians own nearly 400 million firearms, children are more likely to die from gun violence than in any other high-income country. The killing of 19 fourth-graders and two adults at Robb Elementary School has unleashed an outpouring of grief and sadness across the nation. It has also, once again, spurred many to ask why the United States has failed to make any significant changes to its gun laws following the horrendous mass shootings that now happen with regularity.”
“Guns are now the leading cause of death among young people in the U.S.
For decades, car crashes were the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 19. But the gap between car crash deaths and firearms deaths began to steadily narrow in recent years. In 2020, gun violence overtook car accidents to become the No. 1 cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that while firearm-related deaths overall increased 13.5% between 2019 and 2020, among children and adolescents they surged a staggering 30%.”
~~NPR May 28 https://www.npr.org/2022/05/28/1101307932/texas-shooting-uvalde-gun-violence-children-teenagers
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“Gun Violence in the US Far Exceeds Levels in Other Rich Nations”
“Mass shootings like the horrific attack that killed 19 children and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, or the murder of 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York the week prior, are all too common in the US. There have been 214 mass shootings—defined by Gun Violence Archive as one in which at least 4 people were shot—in the US within the first 145 days of the year. These types of tragedies feel unique to America, where there are more civilian-owned guns than people. In reality, gun violence is a huge issue in many other countries—just none that the US would consider a peer. Countries with high rates of violent gun deaths tend to be poorer. Gun deaths are high in places like El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia, where gang violence and drug trafficking are prevalent. Among developed economies, no others have nearly as many violent firearm deaths as the US.”
~~Bloomberg May 26 https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-us-gun-violence-world-comparison/
MEANINGFUL GUN REFORM MEANS ELECTING DEMOCRATS – PERIOD.
The Republican party continues to loosen gun laws and block any kind of meaningful reform. A quick look at the bills filed in the Missouri Senate in 2022 tells the story. Democrats filed bills that would attempt to reign in the increasing numbers of deaths caused by firearms. Bills such as the following:
Prohibiting the possession or purchase of firearms by person who is subject to an order of protection or has committed domestic violence
Reporting any person convicted of domestic violence in the 4th degree or stalking in the 2nd degree to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and the FBI
Prohibiting the sale, gift, or loan of a firearm to anyone on the Terrorist Screening Center’s list or to a member of a terrorist group
Repealing the non-enforcement of Federal Gun Laws in Missouri
Prohibiting open or concealed carry in St. Louis
Requiring that firearms must be sold or transferred through a licensed dealer who must run a violent history check on the purchaser
NONE OF THESE BILLS WERE EVEN ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE
Republicans filed bills that would further loosen gun laws across the state such as the following:
Exempting firearms and ammunition from sales taxes
Establishing a state minutemen group
Allowing concealed carry on public transportation
Allowing concealed carry in places of worship, polling places on election day, government buildings, any private property (even without consent of the owner), bars, places of higher education, childcare facilities, riverboat gambling facilities, amusement parks, and hospitals
Several of these bills were assigned to committee and voted Do Pass. Fortunately, they were successfully blocked before passage—with help from supporters like you!
Even a bi-partisan group of legislators were unable to pass a bill that would have closed the domestic violence loophole, despite Missouri ranking 2nd in the nation of women killed by men.
Missouri ranked second in the nation, behind Alaska, in the number of women killed by men, according to a national study that analyses 2018 homicide data. Among the Missouri women who were murdered by their intimate partners, 80 percent were killed with guns.
Republicans fear that they would be hurt in primaries if they participate in rational gun legislation.
It says something very dark about our politics,” said State Senator Lauren Arthur, D-Kansas City, “that they would rather be on record protecting the rights of convicted domestic abusers, rather than the rights of survivors of domestic abuse.”
If we truly want common sense gun legislation to address the tragedy of rising gun-related deaths in this country—the only democratic nation with this problem—we need to work to elect Democrats.
Volunteer now in your community! Sign up HERE to make a difference in gun legislation. https://www.mohousedems.com/get-involved
TELL GOV. PARSON TO VETO STRICT PHOTO ID & VOTER SUPPRESSION BILL HB 1878! CALL NOW (573) 751-3222!
Missouri Republicans passed HB 1878, an elections omnibus bill that has been delivered to the Governor and is awaiting his signature.
Among many things HB 1878 if signed into law would–
Disenfranchise voters by enforcing voter photo ID, something Missouri courts have repeatedly ruled to be unconstitutional.
Give the Secretary of State the power to purge voter rolls across the state.
Place severe restrictions on voter registration
Open the door to sham election audits
Return Missouri to a caucus state for the Presidential Primary, forcing voters who want to participate in a primary to wait hours in caucuses across the state, instead of allowing voters to simply cast a ballot.
Ban anybody from giving out absentee ballot applications and restricts Missourians’ ability to help other Missourians navigate a confusing system.
Grant the secretary of state the power to withhold state funding from local election officials.
As a concession HB 1878 would also create a two-week period prior to an election for no excuse absentee voting but voters would have to do so in person at the election authority (typically during working hours) and only for those with state issued photo ID. Early voting would be eliminated altogether if the unconstitutional photo ID provision is struck down in the courts.
The MO GOP majority has been trying to enact a photo voter ID requirement for more than 15 years in order to reduce turnout among racial minorities and other groups that tend to support Democrats and are most likely not to have a government-issued photo ID. However, the Missouri Supreme Court has struck down previous efforts for placing an unconstitutional restriction on the fundamental right to vote. A lawsuit challenging the latest photo ID requirement is expected.
CALL GOV. PARSON (573) 751-3222 NOW AND TELL HIM TO VETO HB 1878!
Read the bill HB 1878 here:
https://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/4557S.05F.pdf
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
🚩Who: Workers in Stand Up KC and the Missouri Workers Center, the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom, KC Tenants, and allies from faith, labor, civil rights, and community organizations, and YOU!!
🚩 When: WED, JUNE 1
🚩 What time: 10:00 AM
🚩 Where: KCMO City Hall (414 E. 12th St. KCMO 64106)
🚩 Why: Because in the richest country in the world, nobody should be homeless or left alone without legal representation!
Fast food workers in Stand Up KC and the Missouri Workers Center are joining together with our allies at the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom and KC Tenants and holding a demonstration at 10:00am at City Hall in KCMO to hold our elected leaders and city officials accountable to the deadlines that THEY signed into law re: the full and timely implementation of Right to Counsel.
Can you join us? Be sure to wear a Stand Up KC shirt or wear something RED in solidarity with low-wage workers!
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Democrat Day of Action: Springfield MO Greene County
Saturday, June 4, 2022 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Phelps Grove Park, 950 E BENNETT St, Springfield, MO 65807
More information here: https://www.mohousedems.com/calendar/democrat-day-of-action-greene-county/
Join the Missouri House Democrats on Saturday, June 4th to kickoff our 2022 Campaign Season! Help support our Springfield Democrat House Candidates as we talk to voters in our communities about the issues they care about. We'll be eating some BBQ, hot dogs, burgers and sides, as we listen to each of our candidates talk about their campaigns! We hope to see you there!
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Using false claims of voter fraud, the MO GOP majority spent the 2022 legislative session attacking voting rights and ultimately passed a restrictive photo ID bill sitting on the Governor’s desk that contains many provisions suppressing our vote and our voice!
Join the MOVPC meeting
NEXT MONDAY June 6 at 10 AM
**No meeting May 30 due to holiday**
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYoceyuqTsqGN1NlXOMKb88rSExyr-kWjbt
MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot
and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri!
May is Asian/Pacific American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
PBS / Kansas City PBS
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | May 2022
Documentaries and programs that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.
https://www.pbs.org/articles/celebrate-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-may-2022
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The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.
Events, exhibits, collections and more here: https://asianpacificheritage.gov/
MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
Find more upcoming actions and events here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
CRISIS IN UKRAINE - HOW YOU CAN HELP
HOW TO HELP
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN - Help us provide fresh meals to communities in need. On Feb 24, Russia launched a large-scale attack on neighboring Ukraine, invading the country on several fronts. As a result, millions have fled their homes in search of safety. Working at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in southern Poland, WCK began serving hot, nourishing meals immediately. Now, we've expanded our efforts to serve people across the region in Romania, Moldova, and Hungary. WCK is also partnering with restaurants inside of Ukraine to get hot meals to anyone in need. Make a donation to WCK here: https://donate.wck.org/give/393234#!/donation/checkout
UNICEF - UNICEF is currently on the ground in Ukraine, helping children with water, health and education services. You can give a one-time or recurring donation here: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-children-are-bearing-brunt-intensifying-crisis-ukraine/39481
RED CROSS - The International Committee of the Red Cross is supporting the Ukrainian Red Cross right now. The groups are supporting food-producing initiatives, repairing infrastructure, and helping hospitals, schools, mental health facilities and community centers. You can make a one-time donation or a monthly contribution here: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS - American-based nonprofits as well as international organizations are collecting donations for supplies such as first aid backpacks, clothes, diapers, food, cots and other necessities. Donate here: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/ukraine
SUNFLOWER OF PEACE - Sunflower of Peace Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to helping Ukrainians affected by the Russian military invasion. Donate here: https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com/
MISSOURI COVID UPDATE
Missourians Vaccinated vs U.S. as of May 29 The New York Times
66% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (78% have received at least one dose in the U.S.)
56% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (67% are fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
Latest COVID Trends in Missouri as of May 29 - The New York Times
An average of 1,268 cases per day were reported in Missouri in the last week. Cases have increased by 58 percent from the average two weeks ago.
Deaths have increased by 78 percent.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 4 residents have been infected, a total of 1,470,425 reported cases. At least 1 in 296 residents have died from the coronavirus, a total of 20,752 deaths.
January 2022 was the month with the highest average cases, while November 2021 was the month with the highest average deaths in Missouri.
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MORE COVID-19 VACCINE, TESTING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/edit?usp=sharing
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays email at moactionalliance.com/signup
Follow us on Twitter at @MissouriAction, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com
