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Celebrating Independence… And Our Right to Get Out the Vote — Weekly Roundup

July 6, 2018

View of the fireworks over Washington from JDCA headquarters.

This week, JDCA issued the following statement in honor of the Fourth of July: “JDCA wishes all Americans a happy Independence Day. Today, we remember our founding principles: we are all created equal, endowed with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…We also add the right of families to stay together, as well as preservation of our reproductive rights, freedom of speech, separation of church and state, racial and social justice, and the right to have every vote count. We look forward to expressing all these rights in November, when we head to the polls.” For more on action JDCA is taking to exercise these rights and how you can get involved, continue reading.

Volunteer for the Midterm Elections

Each passing day of summer brings us closer to the midterm elections, when we hope to flip the U.S. House and Senate to Democratic control.  As JDCA ramps-up its efforts to play a decisive role in the midterms, we encourage you to sign-up to volunteer. If you’re interested in volunteering – which can mean anything from voter registration, to door knocking and phone banking, to getting out the vote – please sign up here. While JDCA will need the most volunteers in those districts where we’ve endorsed candidates, you can play a role from anywhere, including your own home. Once you sign-up, we will be in touch to discuss your interest in serving as a volunteer.

Petition McConnell Over the Supreme Court

If you haven’t already done so, please sign JDCA’s petition demanding that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delay a confirmation vote on the next Supreme Court justice. Such an action would be consistent with the precedent Senator McConnell established in 2016 by claiming that Supreme Court nominees could not be confirmed in an election year. The next Supreme Court justice will serve as the determining vote on many issues affecting our lives and those of future generations – a woman’s right to choose, voting rights, freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and so many others. As JDCA Executive Director Halie Soifer expressed in a recent video, the stakes could not be higher and now is the time to ensure our voices are heard. The deadline for signing the petition this Monday, July 9, when President Trump will announce his nominee. Following the nomination, stay tuned for steps JDCA will continue to take to ensure our voices and concerns are heard on Capitol Hill.

JDCA Strongly Supports the Resignation of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt

JDCA welcomed the resignation of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt this week, expressing our hope that Pruitt’s resignation will lead to stronger protections for our environment, and meaningful action by the Trump administration to recognize and combat the undeniable reality of climate change. We called upon Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to quickly restore integrity to the agency’s operations, eliminating the endemic corruption that flourished under Pruitt. It’s long past time that the EPA administrator focus the issue that matters the most in this critical role – protecting our environment. Read our full statement here.

JDCA Denounces Trump’s Undercutting of Affirmative Action

JDCA condemned the Trump administration for its decision this week to rescind existing guidance to colleges and universities promoting the use of race to achieve diversity in school admissions. This is just the latest instance of President Trump continuing to attack and undermine efforts that foster racial, economic and social justice throughout the country. Read our full statement here.

Board Members Featured in the Jerusalem Post and Washington Jewish Week

Two JDCA board members published opinion pieces in recent days. Ada Horwich (CA) published an article in Washington Jewish Week entitled “In the Trumpification of the GOP, Rising Threats Confront Jewish Americans,” which focuses on the rise of anti-Semitism, including in the midterm elections. Peter Gillon (MD) published an article in the Jerusalem Post entitled “Project Blitz and the Attack on the First Amendment,” that explores an Evangelical strategy to undermine religious protections in the states and impose Christian religious beliefs on the general population.

JDCA Seeks Fall Interns

JDCA is looking for interns to work in its Washington, DC, office this fall. Do you know a prospective intern who wants to have a rewarding, meaningful and impactful internship experience furthering Jewish and Democratic values? Read the full posting here.