June 22, 2020 03:10 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (June 22)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

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This weekend, Donald Trump let the terrible truth slip out.

At a rally in Tulsa on Saturday, referring to testing more Americans for COVID-19 in order to control the pandemic, Trump said, “When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people; you’re going to find more cases.”

“So I said to my people,” Trump said, “Slow the testing down please.”

And it gets worse: in an interview earlier today, Trump didn’t deny it, even after his subordinates claimed he was joking.

“If it did slow down,” Trump said, “Frankly, I think we’re way ahead of ourselves if you want to know the truth. We’ve done too good a job…”

With 120,000 Americans dead, the most positive COVID-19 cases of any nation, and no end in sight to the ongoing pandemic, President Trump just announced he doesn’t want to know how many Americans are actually suffering.

It’s an admission so horrifying it seems made up, but it’s not.

Trump’s close friend and ally Sen. Cory Gardner says he understands the importance of testing to track and isolate the spread of this pandemic. But once again Gardner is silent while Trump makes a joke out of everything Gardner claims to value.

Enough is enough: click here to call Cory Gardner right now and tell him to stand up to Trump before more Americans needlessly die. Trump’s reckless disregard for the health and safety of every American cannot be allowed to continue.

Next, take a moment to help Denver transform its police department. In my Denver Post column last weekend, I looked at the facts behind the movement to defund the police–and found there a lot of sense in moving funds into funding first responders who can deal with problems without guns where possible. In Denver, there’s a movement to do just that, and they need your help. Click here to contact Denver city government and urge them to reallocate police funding toward social services and education.

Thanks again for your help and participation on all these important issues. Here are more ways to make a difference for the week of June 22:

Featured Event: Decolonizing through Art and Philosophy

What do decolonization, art, and philosophy have to do with one another? Better yet, what CAN they have to do with one another? Come to this Zoom event and spend some time creating, collaborating with others, and learning more about decolonization and philosophy! This is an interactive, hands-on workshop! Recommended materials include anything you have on hand that you’d like to use for quick, visual artistic expression: paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint, canvas, pencils, play-doh, etc.

When: Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

DACA Update Webinar for Community

DACA Recipients! Have questions on what the Supreme Court #DACA decision means for you? TONIGHT join us for a conversation on how the decision will impact you, a chance to ask questions, and a way to get involved to the fight for comprehensive immigration reform.

When: Monday, June 22 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

9to5 Colorado: Know Your Paid Leave Rights

Every worker deserves paid time off to care for themselves and their loved ones. Yet, the U.S. is the only developed nation in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid leave. COVID-19 has made it clear that ALL workers must have access to these crucial benefits and that we must pass equitable worker laws, especially along race and gender lines. Join this training to learn about the fight for paid leave in Colorado, your rights under existing family and medical leave, sick time and unemployment laws, and what to do if your rights have been violated. We’ll also talk about winning economic justice for womxn and how you can join the movement!

When: Wednesday, June 24 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

The Road to 30 Virtual Tour: Colorado

Join the Center for Western Priorities and Conservation Colorado for the next virtual event in our series highlighting the bold vision to protect 30 percent of America’s lands and water by 2030, featuring United States Senator Tom Udall, Colorado Representative Joe Neguse, and Conservation Colorado Executive Director Kelly Nordini.

When: Thursday, June 25 at 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative: 2020 Virtual Legislative Wrap Up

Join us as we recap what happened in this unusual legislative session and celebrate big wins! We usually make this a festive in-person event at a brewery or something, so in lieu of being able to do that, feel free to BYOB to celebrate!

When: Thursday, June 25 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Talking about Health Equity: An Intergenerational Conversation

The pandemic has exposed systemic inequities and fault lines in our society, especially in health. On Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. on PBS12, a group of experts from across Colorado will discuss what health equity means, why inequities exist, how they play out in access to health care, nutritious food and housing, and what kinds of programs and policies we need to ensure that everyone regardless of who they are or where they come from has an opportunity to thrive.

When: Friday, June 26 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next week with more ways to take action. See you then.