11/29/21 - Missouri Mondays - Strickland exonerated--MO will pay him $0 /GoFundMe to help new start
+ Arbery murder convictions - Hanukkah Begins
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays! As Hanukkah begins we are reminded that a little light can dispel a lot of darkness so keep on shining your light! Thank you for taking action and staying informed! Together we can make a difference!
HANUKKAH THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BEGINS
“The “Festival of Lights” tells the story of the Maccabees, an army of rebels in Israel who revolted against the Seleucid Greek King Antiochus, who was trying to kill all the Jewish people. While the exact historical truth of the series of events that led to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem is a topic of debate, every year Jews around the world celebrate the victory of the Maccabees over their oppressors and the miracle of the temple’s menorah burning brightly for eight full days.” Yahoo Nov 28 2021 https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/hanukkah-2021-does-jewish-festival-171054696.html
“One of the cornerstones of Hanukkah celebrations is lighting the menorah each of the eight nights of the holiday. Lighting the menorah reminds Alana Rudkin of Pittsburgh that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness."I would encourage folks to connect to their inner light, making room for self-reflection and growth," Rudkin said.” CNN Nov 28 2021 https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/28/us/hanukkah-2021-celebrations-wellness/index.html
________________________________________________________________
KEVIN STRICKLAND EXONERATED BUT STATE OF MISSOURI WON’T PAY HIM A DIME - GOFUNDME SET UP TO HELP
On Tuesday, Nov 23 after more than four decades in prison for a crime he did not commit, a judge vacated Kevin Strickland’s 1978 conviction and he was finally freed. Despite the longest wrongful imprisonment in Missour history, Kevin Strickland will receive no compensation from the state of MIssouri. “In Missouri, only those exonerated through DNA testing are eligible for a $50 per day of post-conviction confinement, according to the Innocence Project. That was not the case for Strickland.” CNN Nov 24 https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/24/us/kevin-strickland-exonerated-triple-murder-trnd/index.html
GoFundMe to help Kevin Strickland restart his life
The Midwest Innocence Project is sponsoring a GoFundMe to help Kevin Strickland restart his life. To make a contribution go HERE: https://gofund.me/9b5e5e8b
________________________________________________________________
THREE MEN FOUND GUILTY OF FELONY MURDER OF AHMAUD ARBERY
Greg McMichael, son Travis McMichael and neighbor William Bryan were convicted of murder today in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The three men chased Mr. Arbery while he was jogging and "trapped him on a quiet street and blasted him with a shotgun."
“We commend the courage and bravery of this jury to say that what happened on Feb. 23, 2020, to Ahmaud Arbery — the hunting and killing of Ahmaud Arbery — it was not only morally wrong but legally wrong, and we are thankful for that,” said Latonia Hines, Cobb County executive assistant district attorney."
"Though prosecutors did not argue that racism motivated the killing, federal authorities have charged them with hate crimes, alleging that they chased and killed Arbery because he was Black. That case is scheduled to go to trial in February."
StLouis Post-Dispatch Nov 24 2021 https://www.stltoday.com/news/national/3-men-charged-in-ahmaud-arberys-death-convicted-of-murder/article_bf61f124-4c37-5d37-a640-cb8f38e8346a.html
________________________________________________________________
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION JOBS GROWTH DRAMATICALLY UNDERESTIMATED BY 626,000 JOBS
“The government sharply underestimated job gains for most of 2021, including four months this summer in which it missed more job growth than at any other time on record. In the most recent four months with revisions, June through September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported it underestimated job growth by a cumulative 626,000 jobs — that’s the largest underestimate of any other comparable period, going back to 1979. If those revisions were themselves a jobs report, they’d be an absolute blockbuster. In an average month before the pandemic, estimates would be revised by a little over 30,000 jobs, or just 0.02 percent of all the jobs in the United States. The recent revisions to the jobs reports have been much larger. The missing jobs surfaced through revisions to the widely watched non-farm payrolls number that BLS releases each month. The data is considered preliminary until it has been revised twice. The fixes are typically minor, but recent revisions have been big enough to turn a substantial slump into a surprising surge.”
WAPO Nov 16 2021 https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/11/16/government-underestimated-job-growth/
________________________________________________________________
MOVPC #KNOWDISINFO (DISINFORMATION) HOLIDAY CARDS TO SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Without a shared understanding of the truth, we cannot engage in good decision-making on any level. We must defeat misinfo, disinfo, and manipulation in order to secure our shared future!
**GET ALL MOVPC PRINT READY CARDS HERE**
https://movpc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click
________________________________________________________________
UPCOMING EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDAR
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Join the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition partners from all across the state to find out how you can help protect the right to vote!
Weekly MOVPC Meeting
Mon Nov 29
10 AM
Text MOVPC to 66866 or register HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYoceyuqTsqGN1NlXOMKb88rSExyr-kWjbt
________________________________________________________________
WINTER WORKSHOP (Virtual on Zoom)
Hosted by Indivisible St. Louis and a coalition of Indivisible groups across Missouri
SAT DEC 4
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/2YROIpU
Indivisible members from all over Missouri will be coming together for Winter Workshop 2021! Groups around the state will be sharing what their group specializes in. Mediator and Trainer, Olga Liapis-Muzzy, is going to discuss Using Deep Canvassing Techniques to Fight Disinformation in real life and our everyday interactions with people in our communities, families, jobs etc. Final hour is Missouri Happy Hour! This is an optional space, but one where you can get to know some new friends, participate in some deep conversations, and join Debbie Kitchen in her kitchen to learn a quick drink recipe. For questions reach out to Debbie Kitchen, Group Leader Indivisible St Louis at indivisiblestl314@gmail.com.
________________________________________________________________
2021 MO Jobs with Justice Celebration (Virtual)
Wed, Dec 08 • 6:00-7:00 PM
Host Contact Info: info@mojwj.org
Buy tickets HERE: https://www.mojwj.org/featured/2021-end-of-year-celebration/
2021 marks another year that has tested us all, shown the power of solidarity, and proven that we all need a little more joy in our lives. You already know that we showed up on the picket lines, made calls, marched in the streets, met with our elected officials and more – because you are a big part of this movement!
Through this solidarity, we will keep showing up for each other, we will keep defeating the greedy few who want to divide us, and we’re going to safely (ie virtually) get together to reflect on the year, celebrate our wins, and maybe see if 2021 is the year we finally nail our justice-themed carols!
Please, buy your tickets to the 2021 End of Year Celebration now – and we’ll see you on Wed Dec 8 at 6:00 PM!
________________________________________________________________
NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH
What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.
Find more information and events HERE https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/
________________________________________________________________
FIND MORE UPCOMING EVENTS HERE:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
________________________________________________________________
MISSOURI COVID UPDATE - Week Nov 21 - Nov 28
COVID-19 Vaccines
CDC now recommends that everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots (updated Nov 19, 2021)
CDC has expanded recommendations for booster shots to now include all adults ages 18 years and older who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary series. Get more information and read CDC’s media statement on booster shots here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1119-booster-shots.html
CDC Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines HERE: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html
CDC COVID-19 booster information HERE: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html
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
________________________________________________________________
Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sun Nov 28 The New York Times
59% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (70% at least one dose in the U.S.
51% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (59% fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
733,443 confirmed cases and 12,520 deaths as of Sat Nov 27 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
914,006 total cases and 15,449 deaths as of Sun Nov 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
