10/04/21 - Missouri Mondays - Keep fighting for justice! Take action NOW!
A Women’s March rally on Saturday at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City was one of hundreds nationwide in support of abortion access and reproductive rights after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Texas law banning nearly all abortions in the state to take effect putting abortion access across the country in jeopardy. The KC rally was spearheaded by the Reale Justice Network, ACLU of Missouri, Operation Liberation and other organizations. Protesters took to the streets of Country Club Plaza, holding signs and chanting “abortion justice now.” Local organizers said the stakes feel higher than ever. “We don't have time y'all. It is dire," Justice Gatson, director of Reale Justice Network and an ACLU Missouri organizer, told the crowd. "I want you to understand that where we are right now is not good." In 2019, Missouri enacted a law, HB 126, that prohibits abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy or because a fetus is diagnosed with Down syndrome. It has yet to take effect after being blocked by courts.The state appealed to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and a three-judge panel upheld the injunction in June. But in a rare move, the full court agreed to hear the case. Republican lawmakers in Missouri have already announced plans to introduce more abortion restrictions modeled after the Texas law, as St. Louis Public Radio reported.” KCUR Oct 2
Update on Missouri’s HB 126’s Abortion Bans
“On September 1, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas' six-week abortion ban to take effect, ignoring 50 years of precedent and nearly eliminating Texans' right to access abortion. The Texas law has created a ripple effect, impacting abortion access in the South and Midwest. As Texas patients are now traveling to neighboring states for abortion care, appointments are booking up, displacing patients in those states.”
“Today it’s Texas. Tomorrow, it could be Missouri. Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region — the last health providing abortion in the state — continues to fight House Bill 126 in court. The 2019 law “would make abortions illegal after eight weeks of pregnancy, including in instances of incest and rape, with the only exception being if the pregnancy puts the person’s health at risk. The law would also outlaw abortions based on a Down syndrome diagnosis.” On September 21, the full Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (one step from the Supreme Court) considered whether to continue to block these abortion bans. We await a decision, which could make Missouri the second state to ban abortion before many people even know they’re pregnant.” MO Monitor Sept 30 - Planned Parenthood Advocates in MO
What you can do!
Donate to MO abortion fund https://mofund.org/donate
Donate to TX abortion fund bit.ly/txfunds
Support the ACLU of Texas
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STOP THE EXECUTION OF ERNEST JOHNSON
The state of Missouri is set to kill Ernest Lee Johnson, an intellectually disabled man on October 5. Please help by calling upon Governor Parson to use his executive powers to grant clemency to Mr. Johnson and prevent Missouri from engaging in torture.
Sign the petition HERE
Call Gov. Parson (573) 751-3222
For more ways to be involved and informed on the death penalty in Missouri, please visit Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (MADP) www.madpmo.org
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As of October 1st nearly 300,000 Missourians have access to affordable, quality healthcare thanks to Missouri voters who passed Medicaid Expansion.
Eligibility - The newly eligible population includes any adult from age 19-64 living in Missouri and whose household income is below 138% of the federal poverty line. Anyone previously eligible is still eligible as well.
Coverage - Physician services, psychiatry, family planning services, nursing facility services, home care, lab and X-ray services, family nurse services, dentistry, behavioral health services, and more are covered by MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid program.
Application - You can apply for Medicaid at the Department of Social Services website at this link: www.mydss.mo.gov/healthcare/apply
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Kevin Strickland Innocence Hearing Moved Out of Jackson County
“The Missouri Supreme Court late yesterday removed the entire Jackson County Circuit Court from the innocence petition of Kevin Strickland, a Kansas City man who prosecutors say has been wrongfully imprisoned for more than four decades. The high court appointed a retired judge from Clay County and the state's Western District Court of Appeals to take up the innocence hearing. It's unclear how the change will affect the timing of the hearing, but it had previously been scheduled in Jackson County for next Tuesday and Wednesday. Because the new judge will have to rehear every motion the previous judge ruled on, a delay is likely. In the decision, Chief Justice Paul Wilson wrote that the Jackson County judge acted appropriately, "nevertheless, to avoid even the appearance of partiality or impropriety, this Court finds it necessary to prohibit (Jackson County Judge Kevin Harrell) and all other judges of the 16th Judicial Circuit from presiding." KCUR Early Bird Oct 1 KCStar Oct 1
Another innocent man still sits in prison after 26 years. Lamar Johnson’s legal team and a conviction integrity unit argue that the evidence against Johnson “has disintegrated.” The only eye witness was paid $4,000 and has admitted he was coerced into his testimony. Meanwhile, the real perpetrator escaped punishment, and the victim’s family did not receive justice. Governor Parson has still not pardoned Johnson. KCTV5
Call Gov. Parson (573) 751-3222 and demand that both Kevin Strickland and Lamar Johnson be pardoned. Despite evidence and calls from prosecutors to release him, Parson clings to his misguided “belief” that Strickland is guilty.
Help Kevin Strickland by donating to his GoFundMe fund organized by the Midwest Innocence Project: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kevin-strickland-after-wrongful-conviction
Help Lamar Johnson by donating to his GoFundMe fund organized by the Midwest Innocence Project:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lamar-johnson-after-wrongful-conviction
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UPCOMING EVENTS
VOTING RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK IN MISSOURI LEGISLATURE!
Join the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition to help protect the right to vote in Missouri!
TODAY Monday, Oct 4 at 10AM
Zoom meeting link HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/j/92149884120
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FIND MORE UPCOMING EVENTS HERE:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
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MISSOURI COVID UPDATE - Week Sept 27-Oct 3
The CDC recommends that the following groups should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine):
people aged 65 years and older
residents aged 18 years and older in long-term care settings
people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions
The CDC also recommends that the following groups may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks:
people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions
people aged 18–64 years at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting --CDC
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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Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sun Oct 3 The New York Times
48% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (56% fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
55% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (65% at least one dose in the U.S.
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
680,293 confirmed cases and 11,524 deaths as of Sat Oct 2 MO Dept of Health and Senior Service
841,679 total cases and 12,228 deaths as of Sun Oct 3 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
