08/30/21 - Missouri Mondays - 58th Anniversary of MLK’s March on Washington! Take action now!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays filled with important news, events, and actions. Thank you for staying informed and taking action with us! YOU make a difference!
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION IN DC FOR THE MAKE GOOD TROUBLE RALLY COMMEMORATING THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF MLK’S HISTORIC MARCH ON WASHINGTON
On Saturday, voting rights advocates all across the country participated in virtual and in-person marches organized by March On for Voting Rights, to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington, and demand “that the vision of MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech be deferred no longer.” In the spirit of voting and civil rights icon John Lewis and the first March on Washington, allies with the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition joined the Make Good Trouble rally in DC calling for voting rights protection.
Since January, 48 states have introduced 389 bills that amount to shameful, outright voter suppression, and many have already become law. Missouri already has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country and GOP state lawmakers are back at work holding sham election security committee hearings trying to make it even harder for Missourians to cast their vote. We must take action and participate in our democracy in every way we can.
Take action with MARCH ON FOR VOTING RIGHTS! Call Senators Blunt and Hawley and demand Federal voting rights legislation!
You can also take action by taking the pledge to protect voter rights and by signing up to help register voters at MARCH ON FOR VOTING RIGHTS!
Use this link to call Senators Blunt and Hawley https://marchonforvotingrights.org/call_fvr/
MISSOURI VOTER ADVOCATES APPLAUD PASSAGE OF VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT AND CONDEMN MISSOURI EFFORTS TO MAKE VOTING HARDER
Last week the U.S. House passed “the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, which will restore key protections of the Voting Rights Act gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court. This congressional action came as Missouri lawmakers held a multi-hour hearing Tuesday advancing vague and unfounded speculation about election security, including debunked theories presented at Mike Lindell’s maligned cyber-symposium.” “Passage of the John Lewis VRAA in the House is a critical step to blocking discriminatory voting measures and bringing greater transparency to elections, but now the Senate must act. Missouri’s voters need Congress to pass the VRAA and the For the People Act to combat the spate of voter suppression measures advancing in states around the country including Missouri…”
Read MOVPC’s full statement HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EzVTyHc9Y2_H6hcQfuEScpTji-90UDQk/view
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TELL ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMITT SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR BASELESS AND DANGEROUS ANTI-MASK LAWSUITS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK AND WASTING TAX DOLLARS! CALL HIS OFFICE 573-751-3321
In addition to the lawsuits Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed against mask mandates in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jackson County and Kansas City, Schmitt has filed suit to prevent mask mandates in the state’s school districts. When COVID is spreading exponentially across the state, he disputes the schools’ efforts to keep their students safe and in-person learning. As more and more children are getting COVID and more children are needing to be hospitalized, Schmitt plays political games, callously ignoring the health and safety of our most vulnerable.
TELL HIM TO STOP! CALL HIS OFFICE NOW!
573-751-3321
Further reading here: The Missouri Independent
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SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT (HB 85) NOW LAW IN MISSOURI
The Second Amendment Preservation Act (HB 85) is now law in Missouri after a Cole County Circuit Court judge denied the request to block it. The new state law “declares certain federal gun laws invalid and threatens financial penalties on law enforcement agencies that enforce them. Circuit Judge Daniel Green sided with the state in a lawsuit filed jointly by St. Louis city and county that argued the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause and will hinder law enforcement’s ability to deter crime. The law in question — set to go into effect Aug. 28 and dubbed the “Second Amendment Protection Act” by legislators — declares that when “the federal government assumes powers that the people did not grant it in the Constitution of the United States, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.” It then states that federal gun laws adding special taxes on firearms, requiring registration or tracking of firearms, ammunition and accessories, or taking away guns from “law abiding citizens” cannot be enforced in the state. Missouri law enforcement agencies and officers face civil fines of up to $50,000 for cooperating with federal agencies to enforce the law. The U.S. Department of Justice says the law has already undermined drug and weapons investigations, submitting an affidavit submitted to the court stating that a dozen state and local officers have withdrawn from participating in federal task forces at least in part because of the law.” Read the full story here: Missouri Independent Aug 27 2021
RALLY FOR JUSTICE FOR KEVIN STRICKLAND AND LAMAR JOHNSON
TODAY MONDAY AUGUST 30TH
12 pm - 4 pm
Missouri Supreme Court Bldg
207 W High Street
Jefferson City, MO
Join the National Organization of Exonerees, clergy, and elected officials from across the state in Jefferson City, Monday August 30th, 12-4pm in front of the Missouri Supreme Court, to rally for justice. Attorney General Eric Schmitt (whose office is in the Supreme Court building), continues his fight against wrongfully convicted Missourians like Kevin Strickland and Lamar Johnson.
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MISSOURI COVID UPDATE - Week 8/22-8/29
RISK CONTINUES TO BE HIGH IN MISSOURI
The entire country is still under high alert for transmission this week of COVID-19. While numbers decreased slightly, ICU beds are in high demand with many hospitals reporting 0 available ICU beds. In the greater Kansas City area, several hospitals report 0 ICU beds available while others report only 1. To check area beds available and number of Covid patients at each hospital, visit How Full Are Hospital ICUs Near You and enter your location. The strain on hospitals leads to other emergency cases being turned away and sent to other places, increasing critical treatment time and also straining EMT resources.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rates every county in Missouri as high risk for community transmission. The Independence Examiner reports that “Eastern Jackson County outside Independence has a transmission rate three times higher than the CDC’s threshold for high transmission.” According to US News & World Report, “Kansas City-area hospitals have had to transfer patients, both with and without COVID-19, as far away as Chicago and Oklahoma City.”
Continued mask mandates and above all vaccination continue to be imperative to stop the spread of this virus!
The Jackson County legislature will meet Monday, August 30, at 9:30 at the downtown courthouse to vote on extending the county’s mask mandate to Oct. 7. Public comment will be taken by those who wish to speak. The Jackson County Health department has submitted a lengthy report asking that the mandate be extended. Emails can also be sent to members of the Jackson County Legislature. Ask that they support Resolution 20749 on the agenda for that day. Currently the sponsors are Tony Miller, Scott Burnett, Crystal Williams, and Jalen Anderson.
The sign in table to speak at the public hearing will be set up outside the Legislative assembly area starting at 8am. The public hearing will only last one hour from 9:30am-10:30am, with a limit of two minutes per person. If you get on the list be prepared to speak- no repeat information will be permitted. What you say must be new or additional information.
LET’S GET VACCINATED MISSOURI! - PLEASE SHARE THIS RESOURCES LINK WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
FIND COVID-19 Vaccines KC Metro - Statewide and COVID-19 Testing & Recovery Treatment (KC Metro) HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/edit?usp=sharing
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YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES IN KC - HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP!
Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) and Della Lamb are the primary organizations in Kansas City for resettling people with Special Immigrant Visas — immigrants who worked as translators, interpreters or other professional roles for the U.S. government in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Donate household items and clothing to Jewish Vocational Services (JVS): https://jvskc.org/get-involved/donate-stuff/
Make a monetary donation to JVS: https://jvskc.org/give/
Make a monetary, furniture, or household item donation to Della Lamb: https://www.dellalamb.org/how-you-can-help/donate/
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MEDICAID EXPANSION - HOW TO ENROLL IN MEDICAID - PLEASE SHARE!
Apply for Medicaid through the online portal at: https://mydssapp.mo.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do
If the message “ineligible based on income” appears on the pre-screening page, hit NEXT and continue the application. DSS may still be making system changes.
Apply for Medicaid by phone at 855-373-9994
For translation services call 1-855-373-4636
TTY/TDD 1-800-735-2966/1-800-735-2466 for American Sign Language
Download & print Medicaid application:
English: https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/im-1ssl.pdf
Spanish: https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/im-1sslsp.pdf
Paper applications for Medicaid can be submitted via:
Mail:
Family Support Division
615 E 13th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
Fax: 573-526-9400
Email a scanned copy of your Medicaid application to: FSD.Documents@dss.mo.gov
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UPCOMING EVENTS!
HELP PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN MISSOURI WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
WEEKLY ZOOM TODAY MONDAY AUGUST 30 AT 10AM
Join Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Zoom weekly meeting with statewide advocates working to protect the right to vote in Missouri. Sign up for MOVPC 2021 Committees and Work Groups to protect voting rights in Missouri and join the next MOVPC meeting for a recap of this weekend's events.
Sign up HERE or text “MOVPC” to 66866 and watch for an email with details and the link to join the meeting
FIND MORE AUGUST-SEPT EVENTS HERE AND MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
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Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sat Aug 28 The New York Times
45% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (52% fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
52% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (61% at least one dose in the U.S.
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Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
627,196 confirmed cases and 10,453 deaths as of Sat August 28 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
769,507 total cases and 11,123 deaths as of Sat Aug 28 The New York Times
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
In solidarity,
Missouri Action Alliance
