March 13, 2017 01:27 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (March 13)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

“The pressure is working.”

For almost two months, Coloradans have been turning out by the thousands to hold President Donald Trump and right-wing Sen. Cory Gardner accountable for the steady stream of bad news about what’s happening in Washington.

Friday evening, Rachel Maddow of MSNBC recounted in detail the enormous success of the protests in Colorado against Trump and Gardner. When this began in January, Cory Gardner called the citizens gathering outside his offices “paid protesters.” Gardner told Coloradans to “not be afraid” of Trump’s agenda. And he assured us that the Trump/Gardner plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, was in our best interests.

Today, Cory Gardner is singing a very different tune. Instead of telling Coloradans to “not be afraid,” Gardner leads off every speech now with issues on which he and Trump don’t agree. After making the promise to repeal Obamacare a central plank in his campaign, Gardner suddenly claims to be worried about Medicaid recipients in Colorado who could lose care.

We still don’t know how Gardner is going to vote. But we know that the protests are working. We know that Gardner would not even be paying lip service to these issues if not for the protests he has faced at home. What we are doing to fight back against Trump is not in vain, and once again Colorado is being held up as a model. Thank you–and keep fighting!

Here are things you can do to fight back this week:

Featured event: Ralph Carr Freedom Defense Act Rally

Call to Action! It is time to take action against unconstitutional Federal overreach that will adversely and dramatically impact Colorado residents and law enforcement. On the 16th the Ralph Carr Freedom Defense Act brought by Representative Salazar and Representative Esgar will be heard in the Judiciary committee. At 12pm there will be a press conference on the west steps of the capitol.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax, Denver
When: Thursday, March 16, 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Youth Civic Engagement Forum

Join us for this unique opportunity to experience democracy in action! State and local leaders will be meeting with young voters to talk about important issues and focus on solutions. Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams will open the event speaking about the importance of youth civic engagement. The evening will then turn to a panel of state and local elected officials discussing issues important to Colorado youth and fielding questions from youth in the audience. RSVP to join us for this unique close up with Colorado elected officials.

Where: History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver (Colorado Room)
When: Monday, March 13, 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Resist Trump Tuesdays

Republican’s foolish attempt to replace not repair the Affordable Care Act will deny health coverage to MILLIONS! Even Cory Gardner has his doubts! Why do they hate the poor and aged among us? At the same time, we are still mystified by Trump’s curious Russian connections. The swamp just gets deeper and deeper. Join us to raise our voices and #ResistTrumpTuesday!

Where: Skyline Park, 1125 17th Street, Denver
When: Tuesday, March 14, 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

CWAM Museums Advocacy Day

Join us at the Colorado State Capitol to advocate for museums. Set-up one-one-one meeting with local legislators or museum advocates. Then, attend a cocktail reception at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Wednesday evening. Enjoy cocktails, appetizers, presentations by museum professionals and legislators.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax, Denver
When: Wednesday, March 15, 10:00am

Jose Antonio Vargas – “My Life as an Undocumented American”

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and filmmaker whose work centers on the changing American identity. He is the founder of Define American, a non-profit media and culture organization that seeks to elevate the conversation around immigration and citizenship in America. In 2015, MTV aired White People, a television special he directed on what it means to be young and white in America as part of its “Look Different” campaign. In February 2016, Jose launched #EmergingUS, a multimedia news platform he conceived focusing on race, immigration, and the complexities of multiculturalism. At the University of Colorado Boulder, Jose will speak about his experience as an undocumented immigrant in America and as an immigration reform activist, exploring one of the most divisive questions facing our country today: how do you define “American”?

Where: Glenn Miller Ballroom, University of Colorado, 1669 Euclid Ave, Boulder
When: Wednesday, March 15, 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day

Women’s Health, along with our partners in the Colorado Reproductive Freedom Coalition, will lobbying for legislation to promote reproductive choice and access to healthcare, and urging legislators to oppose legislation limiting our reproductive rights and freedom. Please join us! RSVP required for this event.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax, Denver
When: Thursday, March 16, 8:00am

Click here to RSVP.

The Far Reaching Effects of Wastewater Injection: Recent Case Studies of Anthropogenic Earthquakes

Will Yeck, National Earthquake Information Center, USGS: The Far-Reaching Effects of Wastewater Injection: Recent Case Studies of Anthropogenic Earthquakes. At Shepherd of the Hills Church, 11500 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood. All are welcome. Social time 6:30, meeting begins at 7.

Where: Shepherd of the Hills Church, 11500 W. 20th Ave, Lakewood
When: When: Thursday, March 16, 7:00pm

Click here for more information.

Stand Up for Climate: An Experiment with Creative Climate Comedy

Humor is a tool underutilized in the area of climate change; yet comedy has power to effectively connect people, information, ideas, and new ways of thinking/acting. This event will feature a range of comedic approaches, including stand-up comedy, sketch and situational comedy, and improv.

Where: TBA, University of Colorado, Boulder
When: Friday, March 17, 5:00pm

Click here for more information.

March: Demand Russia-Trump Ties Investigation

We need to come together across the country and march to demand that Congress do their job and open a full, public, non-partisan, and independent investigation into Trump’s connections to Russia. Let’s make our voices heard on Saturday, March 18th and march to demand that Congress do their job and open up this important investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia.

Where: Denver’s Civic Center Park, Colfax and Bannock, Denver
When: Saturday, March 18, 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the protests in Colorado have become a rallying point for all of us who are concerned about where our nation is headed. But the hope that you inspire with your actions is no longer just a story for local consumption. Because you are not getting bored, getting distracted, or giving up when the weather isn’t perfect, you are proving how much these issues matter to all of us. You are proving that Coloradans are neither self-absorbed nor ignorant of what’s happening. And you are showing America the way forward in these difficult times.

Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the streets.