August 07, 2017 12:40 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (August 7)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

Last Friday, Cory Gardner got clobbered.

After Trump’s new EPA director traveled to Durango last week to tour a Superfund cleanup site, a hastily-arranged press conference was scheduled featuring Sen. Cory Gardner, Sen. Michael Bennet, Gov. John Hickenlooper, and several other elected officials. Even though there was originally only five minutes set aside for questions, Gardner called this meeting a “town hall”—which would have been Gardner’s first in over a year and a half.

Coloradans from across the state jumped at this sudden opportunity to hold Gardner accountable. Hundreds drove to Durango, more than six hours from Denver, and packed the hearing room where Gardner’s “town hall” was set to take place. Once it began, this five-minute “town hall” turned into hours of intense questions for Gardner—while the other officials present watched in surprise.

Cory Gardner had it coming. For nearly 500 days Gardner had avoided holding a single public event to answer questions about his priorities in Washington. Gardner broke every promise to protect Coloradans from the consequences of repealing health care, and hoped he would skate by without ever having to answer for his votes. But thanks to the quick response of hundreds of committed Coloradans, Gardner finally found himself with nowhere to hide.

The August recess is underway, and many great opportunities to hold our elected officials accountable are coming up! Your persistence in keeping up the resistance, even as the far right tries over and over to gain traction, is why they have failed to accomplish any of their goals since Trump became president. The next few weeks are absolutely critical. Let’s make sure everyone knows that we are in this fight as long as it takes, and that we won’t stop until the threats to our values and communities have ended.

Here are ways to take action for the week of August 7th:

Defund Detention and Death, Revitalize our communities

Join us Monday, August 7th, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the GEO Immigrant Detention Center at 3130 Oakland St, Aurora, CO 80010! Isidro Quintana will share action steps and information from the inside and from the conference. Mr. Quintana is an elder at his church, a father and grandfather, who was recently freed from detention and just returned from a Detention Watch Network training in Chicago.

Where: The Geo Group, 3130 Oakland St, Aurora
When: Monday, August 7 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

COURTHOUSE CORY: Rally for healthcare, stay for Gardner’s subpoenas!

Courthouse rally and hearing for 5 courageous healthcare advocates who Cory Gardner had arrested in his office. Senator Gardner was officially subpoenaed to appear, and now wants the charges dropped. Bring your voices and signs! Rally at 7:30 AM on the courthouse steps. Court hearing at 8 AM (open to the public and media). Senator Irene Aguilar, Senator Andy Kerr, and Rep. Joseph Salazar will be speaking at the rally. Join us!

Where: Lindsey-Flanagan Courthouse, 520 W Colfax Ave, Denver
When: Tuesday, August 8 at 7:30am

Click here to RSVP.

Drive for our Lives: with special guest Tom Perez

We have won an important battle in the fight for millions of Americans’ health care, but our fight continues. The resistance showed up—we called, we came to meetings, we rallied in the rain, and we won a critical victory in the fight to protect our care. But we know that President Trump and Republicans in Congress remain determined to take away health care, no matter how reckless it is or how many millions of Americans would be hurt. They will continue trying to take away your health insurance coverage, defund Planned Parenthood, make brutal cuts to Medicaid and will begin using the federal government to repeal the Affordable Care Act through sabotage. We’re not waiting for their next attack. Join a coalition of healthcare advocates, labor organizations, and community groups as their coast to coast BUS TOUR in defense of health care makes a stop in Denver – with special guest Tom Perez.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax, Denver
When: Tuesday, August 8 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Intersect Brewing Ladies Night Out Networking + Social

Enjoy a fun night out of networking, shopping and mingling at Intersect Brewing! Also come enjoy their delicious craft brews, snacks and outdoor patio! Food truck for this event is TBD. It’s FREE to attend, but please register your ticket via Eventbrite. Our vendors will be doing giveaways and raffles all night 🙂

Where: Intersect Brewing, 2160 W Drake Rd, Ste A-1, Fort Collins
When: Tuesday, August 8 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Paid Leave for Colorado Families!

The U.S. is the only industrialized country with 0 weeks of paid leave for workers. This ain’t right! At some point, everyone will need time off from work to care for a new child, care for a personal serious illness or that of a loved one! Join our grassroots community as we talk to State Represenative Faith Winter who sponsored the FAMLI Act HB17-1307 this past session! We will debrief how this year’s fight went and what we need to win paid leave in Colorado.

Where: 700 Kalamath St, Denver
When: Tuesday, August 8 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Our Revolution Metro Denver and Working Families “2nd Wednesday”

Join our fun and informative August get together with a “School Board Candidate Forum” for the Aurora, Denver, Douglas, and Jeffco school board elections for 2017. Meet some of the candidates, hear their platforms, ask a question, and learn how to get involved in the Political Revolution. We will be at the Skylark Lounge this month. The Skylark Lounge only serves libations, so we ask that you honor them by purchasing beverages, tip generously, and feel free to bring your own snacks and food for yourself.

Where: Skylark Lounge, 140 S. Broadway, Denver
When: Wednesday, August 9 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

9to5 Colorado Member Meeting : Building a Transit Committee

Its time to demand affordable transit from RTD, since the fare hikes we have seen a decrease in service and ridership. Cuts to the Nonprofit Pass program, and to rider services is putting a terrible strain on the people of Colorado. Simply put we cannot afford to ride. A solution to this is Income Based Passes. An income based pass would benefit both the people of Colorado and RTD, find out how we can win this campaign at our next member meeting. Food and drinks will be provided children are welcome to attend the meeting.

Where: 9to5 Colorado, 1634 Downing St, Unit A, Denver
When: Thursday, August 10 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

DPD Use of Force Policy: Updates & Input–Town Hall

Since April 2017, the city of Denver has held weekly Use of Force policy meetings. The Use of Force committee is composed of community members, community organizations, and Denver Police Dept. representatives. As a working group, Denver Justice Project was tasked to try and work collaboratively around developing and revising the Denver Police Dept.’s Use of Force policy. This committee was the result of public outcry against the Denver Police Department, as DPD was very resistant to creating a transparent process for the development of its Use of Force policy. This forum is an opportunity for community members to weigh in on the developments we’ve made and bring suggestions to the table that we can take back to the committee and include in the final product of DPD’s Use of Force policy.

Where: Denver Park Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3385 Albion Street, Denver
When: Thursday, August 10 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Black Women for Political Action Talking Politics Happy Hour

Come join us for our next Talking Politics Happy Hour! Stop by for food, drinks, networking, and great political conversation! Our next Talking Politics Happy Hour event will be held at the Cherry Creek Harbor, a locally black owned restaurant in Aurora! Everyone is welcome (even non-members)! No need to be an expert on politics. We will discuss local and national hot topics. Come learn more and join in the discussion!

Where: Cherry Creek Harbor, 13740 E Quincy Ave, Aurora
When: Thursday, August 10 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Run for Hope

“For the past 12 years, Run for Hope has raised awareness, provided education & given hope to those diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine disease, carcinoid, and now will also benefit other cancer survivors and organizaions.” -Jeanne Lambert, Run for Hope founder. Come sign up and run with us! Celebrate life and community with the best people around – support the END of cancer.

Where: City Park Ft Colllins, 1599 City Park Dr, Fort Collins
When: Saturday, August 12 at 8:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Reflective Democracy in Colorado

How can we achieve a more equitable society? What can we do in Colorado to make sure our representatives reflect the communities they come from? Join us as we review specific and actionable steps effect change in Colorado in 2017, 2018, and beyond!

Where: 2600 Leyden St, Denver
When: Sunday, August 13 at 2:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks again for turning out week after week to fight back. Trump and the far right are counting on you growing tired of resisting their agenda, but you’re proving that is a huge mistake. Remember to keep an eye on your inbox, as events during the August recess could be announced with little notice.

And above all, never doubt the end result. This is a fight for our nation’s future, and we are going to win it.