July 08, 2019 02:33 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (July 8)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

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I hope you had a great long holiday weekend, because I’ve got some unpleasant news.

Last November, Gov. Jared Polis was elected by an overwhelming double-digit margin. For the last six months, Gov. Polis and the progressive majority we elected to solve problems has been doing just that. And the progressive agenda is winning the hearts and minds of Coloradans. A new poll out last week shows Gov. Polis has a net +15% positive approval rating from Colorado voters—popularity that most politicians today would envy.

But apparently it doesn’t matter how overwhelming Gov. Polis’ margin of victory was, or how happy most Coloradans are about his job performance. Today, local news outlets are reporting that a group of far-right Republicans has filed a petition to recall Gov. Polis from office, and are threatening to do the same to several state lawmakers. This comes after the recall attempt against freshman Rep. Tom Sullivan, whose son was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting, collapsed after voters refused to sign the petition just last month.

Republicans are abusing the recall system in Colorado for one reason: because they can’t win regular elections anymore. We shouldn’t go through the time and expense of holding special recall elections just so the losers of the last general election can have a do-over. Recalls are supposed to be used to remove criminals from office, and every two years we hold regular elections to decide who will represent us.

Priority #1 this week: visit our friends at Our Colorado Way of Life on the web and on Facebook, a group of concerned citizens just like you who are sick of the childish tantrums and extreme rhetoric from right-wing recall supporters. Volunteer to help targeted officials and fight conservative misinformation. The unfortunate reality is that the far right is going to keep trying to misuse recalls until the voters make them stop. So let’s roll up our sleeves and stop them now.

Once that’s done, here are more great ways to fight back for the week of July 8:

Denver Repro Health Happy Hour!

Join us for an inaugural repro health happy hour for Denver! Whether you work in the repro health, rights, or justice field, study it, or support it – this networking happy hour is a fun place to meet like-minded people in Denver. Join us!

Where: Improper City, 3201 Walnut Street, Suite 101, Denver
When: Tuesday, July 9 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

One Colorado: Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care Focus Group

Do you want to contribute to research that will help make health systems more inclusive for transgender and non-binary folx in Colorado? Do you live in Colorado, over the age of 18, and identify as transgender or non-binary? Join One Colorado and the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work for a focus group. The focus group will take no longer than 90 minutes and will be audiotaped. The purpose of this research study is to better understand the experiences of transgender and non-binary individuals in Colorado as they seek to engage with the healthcare system. Results from the study will inform One Colorado’s efforts to improve service delivery and policy across the state. Participation in this study is voluntary and focus group participants will be compensated for their time.

Where: Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St, Fort Collins
When: Wednesday, July 10 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Renters Rights Training

Knowledge is power! Come learn more about what your renters rights are in Colorado! This training will also include information on the rights and protections that renters gained this year. Childcare, interpretation and food will be provided.

Where: 7979 Meade St, Westminster
When: Thursday, July 11 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Licenses for All Panel | Panel sobre Licencias para Todos

Join the leaders across the state and nation who are fighting to expand access to driver’s licenses for all as we listen to a diverse panel of leaders! The panel will feature champions and unlikely allies who helped create and expand the driver’s license program for undocumented Coloradans, making Colorado a model for the nation. This panel will feature Senator Crowder, Representative Singer, Jon Slutsky with La Luna Dairy, and representatives from the I-Drive Committee and Licencias para Todos.

Where: 2525 W Alameda Ave, Denver
When: Thursday, July 11 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

2019 One Colorado For All Statewide Tour – Colorado Springs

As the state’s largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families, we’ve worked hard for the legal and political advancements we’ve achieved. And – there’s still so much work to do. As many of us know, legal equality and representation in elected offices does not eliminate the lived equality gap that affects many of us in our day-to-day lives. We are excited to announce our 2019 One Colorado For All Statewide Tour with seventeen stops all across the state, taking us from Grand Junction to Fort Collins, from Steamboat to Alamosa, from Pueblo to Aspen.

Where: Pikes Peak MCC, 1102 S 21st St, Colorado Springs
When: Friday, July 12 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Lights For Liberty

On July 12th, Lights for Liberty will shine a light on the horrific abuses of the Trump administration in human detention camps. People will begin arriving at 7pm local time at locations around the nation. At five main locations, legislators, activists, and organizers will speak until 9pm. At 9pm local time, at every detention camp, and in cities, towns, and homes around America, a silent sea of candles will light up the nation. Many thanks to our local sponsors for their support in organizing this event: American Friends Services Committee (AFSC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) CO, Colorado Immigrant Right Coalition (CIRC), Indivisible, and MoveOn.

Where: 3130 Oakland St., Aurora
When: Friday, July 12 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Where: 544 Rood Ave, Grand Junction
When: Friday, July 12 at 7:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Keep Abortion Safe: Patriarchy in Retrograde

Building power through creativity! $10 at the door.

Where: Mercury Cafe Denver, 2199 California St, Denver
When: Friday, July 12 at 8:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Superlocal in Denver w/ Cecile Richards & Jess Morales Rocketto

Cecile Richards, Jess Morales Rocketto, and the team at Supermajority Education Fund are hitting the road! We’re convening Supermajority members and local activists in Denver. Join us on Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a community building and training session—you’ll leave fired up and ready to build an agenda around gender equity. The event is free, and lunch and child care will be provided. Just fill in all your details and we’ll be in touch with more information.

Where: Denver, Location on RSVP
When: Saturday, July 13 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Deliver the message, DREAMers belong here!

Join us in telling our Senator Cory Gardner that DREAMers belong here! This is their home! This Saturday we will be coming to Cory Gardners office in Fort Collins to deliver countless pledge cards from constituents in support of the DREAM and Promise Act. More than pledge cards we are sending a strong message to Gardner, DREAMers are here to stay!

Where: 2001 S. Shields Street, Building H, Suite 104 Fort Collins
When: Saturday, July 13 at 2:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks for your help making all of these events successful. We’ll see you next week.