Category: Civil Rights - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

The Lane Evans Forum: Putting People First - Saturday October 19th at 1 pm

10/9/2019

Election 2020: Putting People First -
Saturday, October 19th at 1pm

Augustana College
Denkman Building
Wallenberg Hall
3520 7th AV
Rock Island, IL 61201 (map)

The Lane Evans Forum

Celebrating the memory and progressive populist legacy of the late Congressman Lane Evans (D-17 Congressional District of Illinois).

Hear and share ideas, messages and principles that will earn votes and support.

Learn how you can be a catalyst for change.

Join us for a dynamic conversation!

Featuring special guests:

Representative Jan Shakowsky (D-CD 9 IL)
Fred Harris, Former Senator (D-OK) and former Presidential Candidate
Jim Hightower, America's #1 Populist
Thomas Frank, Best-Selling Author of "What's The Matter With Kansas?"

RSVP online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lane-evans-forum-tickets-73484073843

PACG Book Club for October - December of 2019 and January - March of 2020

9/8/2019

PACG Book Club Selections for October of 2019 - March of 2020

The PACG Book Club will continue this year with our theme of racial justice. Our book discussions are held on the first Saturday of the month at 10:30 am at the Davenport Main Public Library, 321 N Main St, Davenport (map). We meet in the small community meeting room on level LL, unless noted otherwise. Everyone is welcome. Come even if you have not read the book. Contact Alta Price if you have questions.

The following are our selections for the next six months. Some of the later ones may change, so check back here as it gets closer to March.

October - Thursday, October 10th at 6 pm, UUCQC (map) Board Room
We are not meeting in October. The PACG Book Club invites everyone to join the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities (UUCQC) for discussion of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. We will discuss the book at our November book discussion.

November - Saturday, November 2nd at 10:30 am - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

December - Saturday, December 7th at 10:30 am - Honky by Dalton Conley
(Note: You can pick up a copy of Underground Railroad from Alta at the December book discussion or at the Holiday Party.)

January - Saturday, January 4th at 10:30 am - Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
(Note: Return your library copy of the book to Alta at the meeting.)

February - Saturday, February 1st at 10:30 am - The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Du Bois (or anything by W.E.B. Du Bois)

March - Saturday, March 7th at 10:30 am - They Can't Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery

Are You Registered to Vote?

9/4/2019

Are You Registered to Vote?

PACG Message to Our Membership

Are you Registered to Vote?

Check here:

Iowa Residents: sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/
- If you’re not, go to www.scottcountyiowa.com/auditor/voter-registration for Scott County Voter Registration information.

Illinois Residents: ova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup
- If you’re not, go to www.rockislandcounty.org/VoterRegistration/ for Rock Island County Voter Registration information

After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Rita Hart

8/27/2019

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Rita Hart -
Monday, August 19th at 6:00 pm

Civil Rights

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Rita Hart, who is running in the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Congressman, Dave Loebsack. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Ms. Hart to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." At the PACG Blog you can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation.

We are trying to set up similar meetings with Republican candidate, Bobby Shilling, and Democratic candidate, Newman Abuissa. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price

The Crisis at the Border: Principles and Proposed Legislation

8/22/2019

The Crisis at the Southern Border: Principles and
Proposed Legislation

Representatives from various organizations in the Quad Cities have been meeting to address immigration issues. Our organizations include Progressive Action for the Common Good (Civil Rights Forum), One Human Family (Immigration Task Force), Quad Cities Interfaith (Immigration Task Force), Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Many of us are concerned about the humanitarian crisis at the border. We are opposed to locking up children and separating them from their adult family members.

Principles:

Although we may differ on the problems we address and our proposed solutions, we agree on the following principles regarding the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees who come across our southern border. We call upon all members of Congress and candidates for Congress to consider these principles when devising legislative approaches to fixing the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

Children should not be locked up in detention centers.

Children should not be separated from their adult family members, or used as bait in immigration enforcement actions.

For-profit private prisons or detention centers should not be used to detain asylum seekers or refugees. Any immigrant in a detention facility should receive adequate food, water, medical care, soap, toothpaste, bedding and access to legal representation. They should be protected from sexual abuse.

Alternatives to incarceration should take priority for families and other asylum seekers who pose no risk to the community. Bring back and expand the Family Case Management Program started as a pilot program under the Obama administration.

Invest in infrastructure and develop new ways to streamline processing of asylum seekers and refugees. Follow international and U.S. laws on treatment of asylum seekers and refugees and ensure they are treated fairly and receive due process.

Provide aid to countries like Guatemala and Honduras to help them address the problems that cause their citizens to flee their homes.

Proposed legislation on the crisis at the southern border:

Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019 - Would establish immigration judges as independent judges so that they are not under the Department of Justice, which prosecutes immigration cases. Read the details of the Act here.

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019 - Would require legal counsel for indigent asylum seekers, children, and other vulnerable groups who cannot afford a lawyer. Read the details of the Act here.

For further information:

National Immigration Forum: Working Paper: Addressing the Increase of Central American Migrants, updated May 2, 2019

Migration Policy Institute: Policy Solutions to Address Crisis at Border Exist, But Require Will and Staying Power to Execute, April 2019

Bipartisan Policy Center: Policy Proposals to Address the Central American Migration Challenge, July 26, 2019

Human Rights First: Testimony of Michael Breen, President and CEO, Human Rights First at the Hearing Entitled: “Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border” before the House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Note: There are many other pertinent articles at Human Rights First.

American Civil Liberties Union: Immigrants’ Rights and Detention

NPR: ACLU: Administration Is Still Separating Migrant Families Despite Court Order to Stop,
July 30, 2019

Southern Poverty Law Center: No End in Sight, October 3, 2018

WOLA: Beyond the Wall: A Campaign Defending Human Rights and Migrants in the Trump Era and Migration & Border Security

Note: There are many useful resources at WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America),
with up-to-date analyses of new Trump Administration policies. WOLA advocates for
human rights in the Americas.

Next Civil Rights Forum Meeting - July 21st at 3:00 pm

7/1/2019

Civil Rights Forum Monthly Meeting -
Sunday, July 21st at 3:00 pm

Greatest Grains
1600 N Harrison St, Davenport IA (map)

Civil Rights Forum

Notice the time change to 3 pm. Greatest Grains is closing an hour earlier.

Join us to hear what's happening in the Auto Theft Accountability Program, in Juvenile Justice, and on immigration.

Most of the time will be devoted to how we can use the Davenport DCAP (Davenport Citizens Advisory Panel) model to end racial profiling in Bettendorf. We particularly need Bettendorf residents to step up.

Learn more about statewide efforts to end racial profiling in this article from the Iowa ACLU. Notice that Davenport is singled out as a leader on this issue.

Alta Price

Lights for Liberty Vigil

7/1/2019

Lights for Liberty Vigil - Friday, July 12th at 7:00 pm

Mercado on 5th
5th Avenue and 12th Street, Moline, IL (map)

Civil Rights Forum

A national organization called “Lights for Liberty” is calling for communities around the country to join them in holding an event called: “Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Detention Camps”.

PACG is a co-sponsor of our local event which will be held at Mercado on 5th in Moline on July 12th from 7 - 9 pm. See the event Facebook page for more information: facebook.com/events.

Join us in delivering this very important message!

To find out more about the organization and their plans for this national vigil, you can go to their website - www.lightsforliberty.org

Allison Ambrose

Lights For Liberty Planning Meeting and Protest Save the Date

6/22/2019

Lights For Liberty Planning Meeting - Wednesday, June 26th at 1:00 pm and
Save the Date for the Protest Friday, July 12th

Planning Meeting Wednesday, June 26th at 1:00 pm at
Chancery of the Diocese of Davenport
780 W Central Park AV, Davenport, IA 52802 (map)
Civil Rights Forum and One Human Family QCA

Dear Friends of One Human Family QCA,

As you are probably aware, President Trump has announced that there will be a massive round-up of 2,000 immigrants next week. We are hearing terrible reports of the already existing horrendous, sub-human conditions in the immigrant detention centers; centers which are already brutally overcrowded and under-served.

A national organization called “Lights for Liberty” is calling for communities around the country to join them in holding an event called: “Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Detention Camps”. The event will take place on Friday, July 12. To find out more about the organization and their plans for this national vigil you can go to their website - https://www.lightsforliberty.org/

The ONE HUMAN FAMILY QCA IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE is taking the leadership in organizing a local vigil to be in cooperation and coordination with the national one. They will be holding a planning meeting for our local vigil on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 at 1:00 pm at the Diocese of Davenport, 780 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport 52804. They are asking that everyone who would be willing to share in planning this significant event join them for this meeting! If you are interested in participating in the planning but cannot attend this time around, let me know and I will make sure that you are placed on the Planning Committee’s email distribution list. If you cannot join us in the planning but would like to attend the vigil, let me know and I will make sure that you are kept up to date with the details.

What is happening in these detention camps is a stain on the soul of the United States of America! We cannot stand by silently and permit it to continue. In the words of the philosopher Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” We must never forget that today’s current events are tomorrow’s history. When the history of these days are written, what will it have to say about the roles each of up played in creating that history.

Shalom / Salaam / Paz / Pax / Peace,

Rabbi Henry Jay Karp

D-CAP - Davenport Citizens Advisory Panel

6/10/2019

Civil Rights Forum Meeting - Racial Profiling
Sunday, June 23rd at 4:00 pm

Greatest Grains
1600 N Harrison St, Davenport, IA (map)

Civil Rights Forum

During our recent Race: Are We So Different discussion circles we heard stories of recent racial profiling by police in Bettendorf. At this monthly meeting, we will update members about the Car Theft Accountability Program and our efforts on immigration, but most of the meeting will be devoted to the issue of racial profiling.

The Davenport Citizens Advisory Panel (D-CAP) has been working on racial profiling in Davenport for about 10 years. Representatives from LULAC, Quad Cities Interfaith, and the NAACP meet monthly with the Davenport Chief of Police and his command staff to monitor racial profiling. They have had a significant impact on the problem.

Loxi Hopkins and others from D-CAP will give us information we can use to set up citizens advisory panels in other cities in our area. As a resident of Bettendorf, I want to help start a B-CAP! Join us to learn more.

Alta Price

Volunteer for QC Unity Pride Celebrations

6/3/2019

QC Unity Pride
Saturday, June 22nd at 11:00 am
and Friday, June 28th to Sunday, June 30th

Civil Rights Forum

We Need Volunteers Now!
March with us in the parade wearing PACG t-shirts to show our support! We also need help staffing display tables the weekend of June 28th!

Saturday, June 22nd, the parade starts at E 2nd and Warren St in Davenport (map) and crosses the Centennial Bridge to 3rd AV in Rock Island, IL (map).

The Pride Fest Celebration is a street festival beginning Friday, June 28th (map).

PACG is a Proud sponsor of QC Unity Pride 2019. Join us to march in the Pride Parade Saturday, June 22nd at 11am. Meet at Mary's on Second (map) at 10:30 am to get a t-shirt. The parade starts at E. 2nd St. Davenport then proceeds across the Centennial Bridge and ends at 3rd AV Rock Island.

Pride Fest is the following weekend, Friday, June 28th from 4pm - midnight and Saturday 12pm -midnight. PACG will have a booth there. If you are interested in volunteering at our booth contact Amber Bordolo.

For more information, check this Pride Fest link.

QC Unity Pride week of events are as follows:
June 22 - Unity Pride Parade
June 22 - Parade After-Party
June 23 - Dinner Cruise (Tickets available now!)
June 24 - Stonewall Movie
June 25 - Family Skate Day
June 26 - Pink Squirrel Pub Crawl (Davenport)
June 27 - Pink Squirrel Pub Crawl (Rock Island)
June 28 - Quad Cities Festivals Pageant Queen and King
June 28/29 - QC Pridefest

Information about additional events is on the QCUnity Pride website: qcunitypride.org.