January 02, 2018 01:27 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (January 2)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

The moment Donald Trump declared victory in the 2016 elections, we knew that 2017 would be one of the most ugly and painful years in American history. Elections matter. The choices we make for who to represent us in Denver and in Washington, D.C. have real-world consequences. The wrong choice, as we learned throughout the past year, can put in danger things we thought could never be seriously threatened.

In one short year, we learned the truth about the radical right wing’s agenda for the future of our country—and our worst fears have all come to be. It’s not an exaggeration. They want to wreck health care, public education, Medicaid, protections for LGBTQ Americans, equity for women, Social Security, and everything else the middle class depends on for our own prosperity and security. And now, after having passed a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans that will blow a trillion-dollar hole in the federal budget, they think they’ll be able to scare the American public into accepting these terrible cuts.

In 2018, we fight back.

The past year wasn’t just a horror story. Some say that the American people had to see with their own eyes what Trump and the far right really wanted to do to our country before they would fight back to stop them. The majority of Americans didn’t vote for Trump, and do not support what Trump has done over the last year to undermine affordable health care, demonize immigrants, slander and victimize women, and plunder the Treasury to reward his ultra-wealthy friends. In Colorado, thousands of you turned out time and again in every kind of weather to demand this madness stop.

This year, we start the long road to taking our country back. It’s not going to be easy. The sinister forces in American politics who inflicted Donald Trump on this country want you to be tired after the pitched political battles of 2017. They’re counting on you feeling hopeless, and believing that your resistance can’t stop them from carrying out their plans.

Working together, we’re going to make them eat their words. And 2018 will be different than 2016. Here is where it starts—as always, with you. Take action the week of January 2nd:

Featured Event: Official Women’s March On Colorado: One Year Anniversary

We believe that social justice, human rights, and equality for women and all marginalized people nationwide are shared American values. We firmly believe that there is still much work to do, and that real change will only happen when women are an active and respected part of the conversation. Until we have socioeconomic justice, and are active participants in a government that works for all of us, there is a reason to march. We will gather beginning at 8:30 AM. in Civic Center Park. The pre-rally will begin at 9 AM at the Civic Center Park Amphitheater, followed by the March at 9:30 AM and rally at noon. The map is posted at www.marchoncolorado.org.

Where: Denver’s Civic Center Park, Colfax and Bannock, Denver
When: Saturday, January 20 at 9:30am

Click here to RSVP.

Indivisible Denver: Women’s March Poster and Sash Making Crafting Party!

Where: Hooked on Colfax, 3213 E Colfax Ave, Denver
When: Tuesday, January 2 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

350 Denver Monthly Meeting Focus on Permaculture

We will have a presentation about how food is a critical aspect of the climate fight, by one of our volunteers, Nancy Taylor, who holds a permaculture design certificate, and has been a science teacher here in Colorado, at the Waldorf School. Please join us and find out more about this important topic, and all the work we do here in Colorado!

Where: Highlands United Methodist Church, 3131 Osceola St, Denver
When: Tuesday, January 2 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Cyber Bully Prevention Stakeholder convening

Ashawnty Davis, 10, died Wednesday after being taken off life support at a children’s hospital, two weeks after she was found hanging in a closet at home. Her parents said Ashawnty was bullied after a video of a fight she was in at her school in Aurora in October was posted on an app. Ashawnty confronted a girl who had already been bullying her, her mother said, and the fight was recorded on a cellphone and posted to an app called Musical.ly. Convening will address how to strengthen local and state policy around cyberbullying and the bully prevention program.

Where: Dayton Street Opportunity Center 1445 Dayton St, Aurora
When: Wednesday, January 3 at 1:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Indivisible Front Range Resistance: 1st Anniversary Gardner Visit

Last year on Jan 3rd, steering committee members of the two-week-old IFRR group visited Senator Cory Gardner for the first time in 2017. IFRR has since grown to 4,000 members and our mission is still to resist the Trump agenda. As we pivot toward electoral work in 2018, we want to check in on Senator Gardner in the new year and let his staff know that we’re going to hold him accountable for every poor decision he makes on our behalf. JOIN US.

Where: 721 19th St, Denver
When: Wednesday, January 3 at 9:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition: America Votes & Disability Advocacy Training

Open to the public, this advocacy training provides an educational opportunity for people with disabilities, families, community activists, allies, and anyone interested in understanding more about our elections process. If you have any of these questions you should attend this training!

Where: The Denver Foundation, 55 Madison St, Denver
When: Friday, January 5 at 9:30am

Click here to RSVP.

Moms Demand Action: Denver Meet-Up

Come learn more about Moms Demand Action. If you already know about us, come hang out with friends and help us make signs for the MLK Marade and Women’s March!

Where: First Mennonite Church of Denver, 430 W 9th Ave, Denver
When: Saturday, January 6 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Arvadans for Progressive Action: Conflict and Refugees

Come learn about the policies that cause refugees to leave their homes, and what can be done to help.

Where: Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr St, Arvada
When: Saturday, January 6 at 3:45pm

Click here to RSVP.

Together Against Neighborhood Drilling (TAND) Launch Party

Come help us officially kick-off TAND’s initiative to engage as many stakeholders as possible to combat neighborhood drilling. Meet with fellow community members, grab a beer, write a postcard and learn about ways you can contribute through accessible action items.

Where: Odd13 Brewing, 301 E Simpson St, Lafayette
When: Sunday, January 7 at 3:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Remember to watch your inbox for breaking updates and alerts as they happen. And thanks again for your commitment as we get to work this year taking our country back. See you next week!