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

After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Theresa Greenfield

2/20/2020

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Theresa Greenfield
Tuesday, February 18th at noon

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Theresa Greenfield, who is running in the Democratic primary to be the candidate to run against Senator Joni Ernst. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Ms. Greenfield 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 a similar meeting with Republican candidate, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Representative Dave Loebsack. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price

African Americans in Davenport Struggled to Educate Their Children

2/16/2020

Did You Know About the Struggles of African Americans in Davenport to Educate Their Children?

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As part of PACG's on-going fu ndraiser to pay for a large kiosk display at the MLK Interpretive Center, the struggle African Americans had to educate their children is the subject of this week's blog post about local cultural and ethnic history.

Local historian Craig Klein has gathered the following information from research in eastern Iowa.

The Colored School Controversy
As in other midwestern states, the struggle for equality in Iowa schools began long before the Civil War. Believing that blacks were inferior to whites, members of Iowa’s First Territorial Assembly enacted a general school law in January l839 that barred black children from attending school with their white peers. As a result, when Iowa gained admission to the Union in 1846, school laws already in place prevented black children from attending the “common schools” established in each county. Paralleling other “whites only” practices sanctioned by Iowa’s early constitution, this arrangement was supported by most Iowans in the late 1840s and 1850s. However, increasingly in the 1840s and 1850s, Iowans sympathetic to the plight of blacks began to question the wisdom and morality of this school law provision. Prompted by the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, the debate over equality in Iowa schools became heated in the 1850s. At the constitutional convention of 1857 in Iowa City, delegates favoring open enrollment for all school children met fierce opposition from die-hard opponents of equality. But when it became obvious that neither side would prevail, the convention approved compromise language that mandated the creation of separate, state-supported schools for black children. In the school law of 1858, the state legislature enacted this provision into law.[1]

The debate over equality in Iowa schools also resonated at the local level. Charting the course of the debate over this issue in Davenport, Iowa, from 1858 to early 1860, the following news articles and minutes of Board of Education meetings shed light on the controversy that arose over the city’s early “Colored School.” Though Davenport only had a handful of school-aged black children in 1858, their presence became a contentious issue. Formed in May 1858, the city’s first Board of Education apparently sought to resolve the issue by quietly allowing several black children to attend School No. 3 at the southeast corner of Sixth and Warren streets. But in a disparaging June 26, 1858, editorial, the Daily Morning News, a local newspaper with decidedly Democratic and southern sympathies, called on concerned citizens to have these children expelled-a summons that soon bore results. On September 15, 1858, thirty-eight Davenport residents signed a petition asking the Board of Education to expel “some four or five Negroes” then attending the Stone School House at the corner of Seventh and Perry streets. Because the school law of 1858 only allowed for mixed schooling if there was unanimous consent for it in the community, the Board of Education had no choice but to comply: on September 18, 1858, it ordered the expulsion of these children from the city school system.

While most citizens acknowledged that the Board had no legal recourse, the decision to remove the children disturbed many Davenporters. Seeking a solution to the crisis, they heatedly debated the issue amongst themselves, arriving shortly thereafter at a consensus to establish a separate school for black children outside the school system. Some residents favored this solution for pragmatic reasons as well: they feared opponents of tax-supported “free schools” would use the controversy to destroy the city school system. Apparently responding to public sentiment, the Board of Education moved on November 8,1858, to establish a separate school for black children in a room in the newly-constructed Baptist Church at the corner of Perry and Fourth streets. But it is unclear if this school ever opened. After failing to establish another separate school in April 1859 (whether it was in the Baptist Church or another location is unclear), the Board moved in late 1859 to establish a “Colored” school in a room in School No. 3 at the corner of Warren and Sixth streets. Opening in early December, this venture soon failed “for want of pupils.” Before mandating an open school system in the early 1860s, the Board reportedly tried one last time in l860 to establish a separate school for black school children in the Baptist Church. But this experiment was short-lived as well.

[1] Amie Cooper, “A Stony Road-Black Education in Iowa, 1838-1860,” Annals of Iowa 48(1986), 113-34

Source: Davenport’s Pioneer African American Community: A Sourcebook, p. 19

Citizen petition protesting the presence of black children in Davenport public schools. (Davenport Daily Gazette on Sept. 22, 1858) On September 15, 1858, thirty-eight Davenport citizens signed a petition protesting the presence of black children in city schools. Presented to the Davenport Board of Education, this petition appeared in the Davenport Daily Gazette on Sept. 22, 1858, along with copy of the Board’s September 18, 1858 decision to expel several black children from school. (The 1868 date on the petition is in error.)

The Stone School House - The school from which several black children were expelled in late September 1858. Bowing to demands from thirty-eight citizens, the Davenport School Board expelled several black students in late September 1858 who had been attending School No. 2, also known as the Stone School House, at the corner of Seventh and Perry Streets. Newly built in 1854, the Stone School House was later renamed Adams School.

The Baptist Church - The site of Davenport’s first colored school. Seeking to keep the controversy over racially mixed education out of the city school system, Davenport school officials moved to establish a separate school for black children in November 1858 in the newly-built Baptist Church at the southwest corner of Perry and Fourth Streets. However, it is unclear if this school opened at this time. After school officials failed to establish separate instruction for black children in School No. 3 (later known as Old Jefferson) in December 1859, black children were reportedly again placed in a segregated classroom in the Baptist Church. Probably operating in 1860, this school soon failed as well.

The Brick School House - The site of a segregated classroom for black children in late 1859. After Davenport’s first separate school for black children in the Baptist Church closed in the spring of 1859, school officials organized another "colored school" in the Brick School House at the southeast the corner of Sixth and Warren Streets. (Also known as School No. 3, the building was later renamed Jefferson School.) Though a woman named Mrs. M.A. Fearing was hired to teach this school for $20 per month, it soon closed because of low attendance.

You can help preserve this history like this by making a donation to purchase a display screen for the Martin Luther King Interactive Center.

For other Blogs in support of this project, see also:

Did You Know About African American Women's Clubs in Davenport During the Progressive Era?

Did You Know That Frederick Douglass Visited Davenport in April of 1866?

Did You Know That Aeronaut Professor John Byrd Piloted His Balloon from Davenport in August of 1883?

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Aeronaut Professor John Byrd Piloted His Balloon from Davenport in 1883

2/14/2020

Did You Know That Aeronaut Professor John Byrd Piloted His Balloon from Davenport in 1883?

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As part of PACG's on-going fu ndraiser to pay for a large kiosk display at the MLK Interpretive Center, the Davenport visit of African American aeronaut [1] Professor John Byrd in 1883 is the subject of this week's blog post about local cultural and ethnic history.

Local historian Craig Klein has gathered the following information from newspaper articles in Davenport. We have decided to post them here in their original format because their colorful language and descriptions are an integral part of this rich history.

It should be noted that, as in all of our Blog posts on local cultural and ethnic history for the MLK Interpretive Center fund drive, PACG did its own quick search for Professor Byrd. Not surprisingly, there was no information available, including in the History of Ballooning. This online listing includes hundreds of aeronauts, dating back to the 1700s.

[Craing Klein note: This intriguing articles below were graciously contributed by Jack Martens of Winnetka, Illinois, who found them while doing research on Davenport’s German immigrant community.]

August 30, 1883 (Thursday)--Davenport Democrat--News article entitled “The Aeronaut's Flight”:
Between 4 and 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon the first balloon ascent that has been made from Davenport in a long time was accomplished by Prof. John Byrd, the colored aeronaut.  His balloon was filled at the gas works, and required 12,000 feet of gas to round it out to its full proportions of 25 in diameter and height of 30 feet.  It was then conveyed to the fair grounds and made ready for the ascent. The professor seated himself in the basket, gave the word, the ropes were loosened, and up the ship of air arose, gracefully, steadily, beautifully.  After reaching a height of a thousand feet it veered to the northwest a little, but as it mounted into a higher atmosphere, it was carried eastward, continually ascending until the professor says he was nearly two miles above the earth—so high, at any rate, that he became very cold. When over east Davenport, some of the ropes on the globe of the balloon became entangled and some broken and he clambered out of his basket and up to the cords, repaired the damage, and regained his basket for safety. People in East Davenport who were watching the balloon with glasses witnessed this hazardous feat. Having sailed in the high atmosphere until he was nearly benumbed, the professor began to descend, and between 6 and 7 o’clock he landed on the farm of Mr. E. R. Wright, about six miles north-east of the city, in safety, though the top of the balloon was rent some by bushes. His balloon stopped within about twenty feet of a hundred stand of bees; had it gone among them there would have been a sight worthy of the view of gods and men.

The professor makes another flight this afternoon, and to-morrow afternoon. Had his exhibition been known abroad, it would have been a great attraction to hundreds of people, and increased the attendance at the fair.

August 30, 1883--Davenport Daily Gazette--Excerpt from a long news article entitled “The Fair”:
A very popular feature of yesterday’s programme was the BALLOON ASCENSION
which occurred at 4:30 from the space just north of the Floral Hall. The balloon had been filled at the Gas works, and was brought to the grounds through the streets inflated, avoiding the telegraph wires by an ingenious way of handling the ropes. The ascension was entirely successful in every respect, the balloon with its captain, Prof. Byrd, rising gently from the ground, and starting first in a northwesterly direction. After reaching a considerable height it struck a current of air going in an opposite direction, and was carried slowly to the southwest, finally disappearing from sight about 6 o’clock. A team was sent in the direction, and brought the aeronaut safely back to the city.

August 31, 1883 (Friday)--Davenport Democrat--News article entitled “Up In The Balloon”:
Why didn’t you make another ascension yesterday? was the question addressed to Prof. John Byrd, the colored aeronaut, this forenoon, by one of the directors of the county agricultural association. "We had an immense crowd on the ground, and you would have made money.”

“Well, sir,” replied the professor, “in the first place, all we got for the ascension on Wednesday was four dollars, and that was discouraging enough for it didn’t pay for the gas; besides, nobody encouraged us to make an ascension yesterday; and besides, too, when we were filling the balloon yesterday at the gas works, the bag tore open at the top and let the gas out, and every foot of gas had to escape before we could mend it.  There was another loss. The next time we go up in that balloon it will be because money is held out to us before we go.”

Professor Byrd is a slightly built colored boy of mulatto-tinge, and looks as if his weight would not balance more than a hundred pounds.

As he was talking a group twenty to thirty persons had gathered about him, all expressing a wish that he would make an ascension in the afternoon.  “Well, gentlemen,” replied the professor after listening patiently to their urgings, “business is business. How much will this crowd give to see us go up in the balloon?”  And that crowd dwindled to a very small group in less than ten minutes.

“Why on earth did you leave your basket and climb up on the outside of your balloon to fool with those ropes for, as I saw in last evening’s 'Democrat,'” asked one of the gents who remained.

“It wasn’t 'on earth' at all,” replied the professor with a laugh in which the group joined; “if it had been we would have been safe enough without it; but we were a mile and a half above the earth, and we saw the ropes flying loose, and then saw a rip in the canvas which bid fair to let the gas all out pretty soon.  Now you know it wouldn’t do to let that balloon collapse and fall with us clear down to the ground from more than a mile high; you know that yourself; just fall eight or ten feet once, and you’ll be mighty careful how you fall that little distance again.  Suppose we had come down on a fall for mile and a half.  We is a small man anyhow, but by the time we got to the ground we’d be so little nobody could find us.  We had to get up and mend that rip, had to do it, and tie the flying ropes, too.  And we climbed up, and first took some sticking plaster and covered the holes, and then tied the ropes.  Had to shift the ballast though to even up the other side of the balloon, and then when we came down had to even up the ballast before we could settle down again.  It was skaery getting out there, but we had to do it or die, and any man will take mighty big risks rather than die, and you know that yourself!”

The professor has the habit of speaking of himself in the plural.  It is “we” all the time with him.  In answer to other questions he said the balloon was made of cambric, and that it cost him $160 [2].  The ascension on Wednesday was the sixteenth that he had made, and about the “prettiest,” he believed.   When he was at the highest, the earth looked all alike, save the Mississippi river was like a narrow ribbon.  He went on up until he couldn’t see the river for the great clouds that were moving beneath him like “great rolling hills of snow”; and, what was strange, people on the ground could see the balloon all the time, notwithstanding the clouds, while he could see nothing but clouds beneath him.  He couldn’t understand it.  One can have a very interesting talk with the professor about his ascension.


August 31, 1883--Davenport Daily Gazette--News note in “Davenport Briefs”:
Prof. Byrd, the colored aeronaut, goes from here in a few days to Macomb, Ill., where he will make two ascensions, and from there he will go to Iowa City.  His ascension here was a success in every particular.

You can help preserve this history like this by making a donation to purchase a display screen for the Martin Luther King Interactive Center.

For other Blogs in support of this project, see also:

Did You Know About African American Women's Clubs in Davenport During the Progressive Era?

Did You Know That Frederick Douglass Visited Davenport in April of 1866?

[1] aeronaut: one who operates or travels in an airship or balloon
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aeronaut
[2] If purchased today, the balloon would cost about $4000.

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Frederick Douglass' Visit to Davenport in 1866

2/14/2020

Did You Know That Frederick Douglass Visited
Davenport in April of 1866?

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Frederick Douglass
(image courtesy of the Library of Congress)
During a lecture tour in Iowa and Illinois in late April 1866, black anti-slavery advocate Frederick Douglass spoke before a standing-room-only audience in Davenport's Metropolitan Hall on April 27, 1866. Addressing the question of What shall be done with the negro? during the period of Reconstruction, Douglass eloquently appealed for black male suffrage and full political equality before the law. Well received by his listeners, his extemporaneous talk lasted two hours.

Craig Klein shared this 1857 artist's sketch of Metropolitan Hall, where Frederick Douglass spoke. The Davenport Public Library special collections department located the image.

The Davenport Public Library special collections department also located the image below of an announcement in the paper regarding Mr. Douglass' upcoming presentation.

As part of PACG's on-going fu ndraiser to pay for a large kiosk display at the MLK Interpretive Center, Frederick Douglass's lectures in Iowa and Davenport are the subject of this week's blog post about local cultural and ethnic history.

Frederick Douglass (c. February 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York, gaining note for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings.[1]

Local historian Craig Klein has gathered the following information from newspaper articles in Iowa. We have decided to post them here in their original format because the language and descriptions used by the articles' authors is definitely a part of this rich history.

April 25, 1866 (Wednesday)—Davenport Daily Gazette--Announcement of Frederick Douglass' lecture schedule:
By letters received from George S. Bowen, Esq. of Chicago, his Western Agent, we see Mr. Douglass has refused over thirty invitations to lecture in the West from lack of time.  He speaks in Moline Wednesday night, Muscatine Thursday, Davenport Friday, Morris Saturday, and Chicago next Monday, and is paid $100 for each lecture. [note: in 2020 this fee would be just over $3000.]

April 27, 1866 (Friday)—Davenport Daily Gazette--News item entitled The Lecture To-Night
The orator who to-night addresses our citizens at Metropolitan Hall was once and for many long and bitter years a slave-owned, held, and assessed as “chattels personal.”  At length he yielded to the promptings of his nature, gave scope to his ardent yearnings, and sought freedom in flight towards the North Star.  Then followed earnest efforts for knowledge; prolonged conflict with poverty; fierce contests against the hateful spirit of caste, which denied him his manhood; and, a length substantial victory.  In this at least, his triumph is complete in earning and winning for himself a confessed intellectual equality with the ablest and best logicians and orators of the country, and an undeniable superiority to thousands who in speeches in the legislative halls and on the stump have vainly tried to establish color of skin as a test of mental power, political rights, and moral worth.  This self-made man--if ever a man made himself by the industrious cultivation of God-given power is now one of the best, to say the least, public speakers in the United States.  Everywhere crowded audiences listen to and are profited by his irresistible arguments and eloquent appeals; and everywhere those who listen once would gladly hear again.  We need urge no friend of freedom to attend Metropolitan Hall tonight.  We would rather urge the attendance of those who have hitherto denied the capability of the colored race and would yet deprive them of full political equality before the law.  We could wish that every “anti-negro suffrage” man in this vicinity might hear Mr. Douglass tonight, and then tell us, if possible, why color of the skin should longer be the test of fitness to use the ballot.  There will be a crowded house tonight, sure, and we advise those who want good seat to go early.  Tickets at Luse & Griggs'.

April 28, 1866 (Saturday)—Davenport Daily Gazette--Newspaper article entitled Fred. Douglass on Suffrage that summarized and commented on Douglass' talk the previous evening:
The lecture of Fred. Douglass at the Metropolitan Hall last night, delivered to an audience which crowded every available seat and in part only found standing room, embraced and was mainly composed of a solid, logical earnest and unanswerable argument in behalf of impartial and universal suffrage.  “Reconstruction” was announced as the subject of the lecture, but that was but the text for the real theme.  Introducing text and argument by a rapid glance at the grave perils which now environ the country, with a President determined to enforce his policy if at all within the reach of possibility, with traitors where loyal men only ought to be and loyal men in places which traitors ought to fill, Mr. Douglass proceeded to state that the whole question of “Reconstruction” centers in and is embraced in the solution of the negro problem. “What shall be done with the negro” this lecturer urged is the question of the hour.  The answer was given by Mr. D. in a word--Give the negro the ballot; and to the support and defense of this answer the lecturer devoted the greater part of his effort.  He argued that the elective franchise should be extended to the negro because he is “a man;” because the ballot is necessary for his education; because it is essential to his protection; because he has earned it; because the Nation owes it to him for his help in the hour of trial and danger; because the Nation may need him again; because without giving it the National honor cannot be vindicated; because this is a country of universal suffrage; because the National peace will be hereby assured; and because sound Statesmanship requires it.  In enforcing these several reasons, Mr. Douglass presented argument after argument in a manner so clear and so convincing that it would seem impossible for any intelligent listener to escape his conclusions.  He showed how well and how nobly the negroes of the United States have vindicated their manhood, and how heroically they have attested their devotion to a country to which they owed nothing and from which they had received nothing but oppression and wrong.  He demonstrated the utter folly of the colonization scheme.  He exposed to deserved ridicule the idea that the negro must become annihilated and the whole race, in the United States, become extinct under the advancing tread of Anglo Saxon civilization; and made his hearers understand very clearly that the last hope of the extinction of the American negro expired with the death of that system under which alone there was possibility that they could “fade” out.

The objections to negro suffrage were briefly but forcibly met, particular attention being given to those on which Mr. Johnson lays so much stress.  Mr. Douglass showed conclusively that no possible evil would or could result from the doings of justice to all men in the Republic and the carrying out of the great principles of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution.

Thus much as a faint outline of this very able lecture.  Of its delivery we need only say that Douglass has lost much of his fire since we first heard him, in Albany, nearly twenty years ago.  His utterance is very deliberate and at times unpleasantly slow.  He seldom indulges in pathos and his style is entirely free from labored attempts to arouse the feelings of his auditors.  As stern fact, a new idea or an old one presented in a fresh light, a strong argument, a fervid appeal or a happy hit, over and anon occasions an outburst of applause, but no metaphors, illustrations or anecdotes are introduced by the lecturer to that end.  The lecturer and his audience move steadily on from premises to argument and from argument to conclusion, under the pressure of words simple and well chosen for that end.  Here is his strength as a public speaker.  Even while listening to him and moved by his argument and appeals, one is inclined to deny him the praise of being a great orator; yet if the provinces of oratory is to convince and arouse those to whom its words are addressed, it would be difficult to name many living orators, in the United States at least, greater than Fred. Douglass.  With more of the fire of youth, he would entrance and inspire an audience as powerfully as he now instructs and interests.  Yet this “man” was once and long a slave in these United States, and today if a citizen of Iowa, native American though he is, could not vote for a town constable, while thousands who were ten, eight or six years ago in other lands in utter ignorance of American institutions are gladly welcomed to the ballot box!  “This ought ye to have done and not left the other undone!” Let us pray for and “work” for, and fight for the grand victory for Justice and Liberty when all men of every race and color shall enjoy that perfect equality before the law that is their just due.  In Iowa, at least, the battle has been well begun.  The victory is surely coming and cannot be delayed.

The lecture occupied two hours in delivery and was almost wholly extemporaneous; Mr. Douglass had several sheets of notes but referred to them but three or four times.

You can help preserve this history like this by making a donation to purchase a display screen for the Martin Luther King Interactive Center.

For other Blogs in support of this project, see also:

Did You Know About African American Women's Clubs in Davenport During the Progressive Era?

Did You Know That Aeronaut Professor John Byrd Piloted His Balloon from Davenportin August of 1883?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass

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Iowa Voting Rights Restoration Lobby Day in Des Moines

2/12/2020

Iowa Voting Rights Restoration Lobby Day
Monday, February 17th at 2:00 pm in Des Moines

Civil Rights Forum

Our Forum is part of a statewide coalition that is working to pass HJR14 in Iowa. This House Joint Resolution would amend the Constitution to restore voting rights to people once they are off parole or probation. Iowa is currently the only state that permanently bans voting rights for these individuals. People can presently appeal through the governor, but that option may change with a new governor.

Our coalition is having a Lobby Day at the State Capitol in Des Moines on Monday, February 17th at 2:00 pm. We will provide transportation to and from this event.

Pastor Dwayne Hodges is leading the local efforts to organize people who are directly impacted by this issue. EXPO (Ex-incarcerated People Organizing) is a group being established for this purpose.

It is important that we show up to let our legislators know that we want everyone to have the right to vote.

If you are interested in participating in this fun event, please contact Amber Bordolo.

Alta Price

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Bobby Schilling

2/6/2020

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with
Bobby Schilling

Civil Rights Forum

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Bobby Schilling, who is running in the Republican 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 Mr. Schilling to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." You can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation at our PACG Blog post.

We are trying to set up a similar meeting with Republican candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price

Civil Rights Forum - A Message to Members

2/6/2020

Message to Our Members from the Civil Rights Forum - Update

The anti-immigration rally at the Pleasant View Baptist Church in Bettendorf and the subsequent protests have contributed to polarization in our community. We want to use Restorative Justice practices to bring people together and promote healing.

The Civil Rights Forum has used these negative events to take action promoting dialogue and education about immigration issues. We are also bringing people with different viewpoints together to bring healing to those who have been hurt by the controversy.

We have done a Peace Circle bringing immigration activists together with members of the Pleasant View Baptist church. It was very successful. We hope to work together with them on future social justice projects.
Both Republican candidates for Dave Loebsack's seat in Congress, Bobby Schilling and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, attended the anti-immigration rally at the church. We have already met with Bobby Schilling to talk about the crisis on the southern border (see After Action report). We will try to set up a similar meeting with Dr. Miller-Meeks.
We still intend to approach the City of Bettendorf about the problems with racial profiling in Bettendorf. Bringing Nick Fuentes (an avowed white nationalist) to speak in Bettendorf, and the recent distribution of hate flyers, make addressing the issue of racial profiling more urgent.

Contact Margie Mejia-Caraballo or Alta to get more involved.

Alta Price

Immigrants and Trafficking Among Us Program

1/25/2020

Immigrants and Trafficking Among Us Program -
Saturday, February 8th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Eastern Iowa Community College - Urban Campus
101 W 3rd St, Davenport, IA (map)

Civil Rights Forum

Civil Rights Forum - 2020 Platform Resolutions

1/25/2020

2020 Platform Resolutions - Civil Rights Forum

Here are Civil Rights Forum party platform resolutions. Print the ones you support and bring them with you when you caucus on Monday, February 3rd.

Issue: Separating Children of Asylum Seekers from Their Parents

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Whereas asylum seekers arriving at United States borders are allowed by international and United States laws to apply for asylum;

Whereas the present Administration has instituted a program separating children of asylum seekers from their parents as a way of discouraging asylum seekers from seeking asylum, particularly for people of color;

Whereas the courts have deemed separating children of asylum seekers from their parents illegal;

Whereas this draconian policy does nothing to alleviate the conditions leading to seeking asylum; and

Whereas this immoral, cruel punishment causes permanent harm to children; now, be it

Resolved that the United States government discontinue the Trump Administration policy of separating children of asylum seekers from their parents when they enter the United States.

Issue: Restore Voting Rights to Ex-Felons in Iowa

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Whereas felony disenfranchisement is a permanent punishment for crimes with lesser periods of punishment;

Whereas people commit crimes at roughly the same rate regardless of race;

Whereas African American Iowans are arrested, tried, convicted and incarcerated at a much higher rate than white Iowans, making Iowa one of the worst states in the nation for racial disproportionality in sentencing and deprivation of the vote;

Whereas the vote is one of the strongest incentives for returning to the community and becoming involved in doing good; and

Whereas Iowa is the only state to permanently disenfranchise ex-felons; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the state of Iowa should restore voting rights to ex-felons, immediately by Executive order of the Governor, and permanently through a constitutional amendment.

Issue: Detention for Asylum Seekers

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Whereas both international and United States law allow people suffering persecution and threat of personal harm for their beliefs or actions to seek asylum;

Whereas asylum seekers must establish their case for asylum in a court hearing, not a court of criminal proceedings;

Whereas the history of asylum seekers shows they have not been a threat to life or property in the United States;

Whereas in the past, asylum seekers were not detained and dutifully attended their court appearances, particularly when given assistance in their native language to assure
awareness of their court dates and locations;

Whereas detaining asylum seekers is contrary to the intent of international law, and is a high expense proposition that makes the United States responsible for the care of detainees;

Whereas asylum seeking families have children, and locking up children is cruel, immoral and permanently harmful, now, be it

Resolved that

Asylum seekers be detained only if it can be established they pose a risk to the community.
Asylum seeking families with children not be detained.
Privately-owned or operated detention facilities not be used or constructed for detention of asylum seekers.
Asylum seekers be given assistance so that they know their legal rights and when and where they should appear in immigration courts, in order to avoid costly and dangerous detention.

Issue: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

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Whereas the Obama Administration established the DACA program by Executive order and the Trump Administration ended the DACA program by Executive order;

Whereas DACA recipients were brought to this country by their parents at an age when
they could not participate in the decision;

Whereas United States law does not punish children for the actions of their parents;

Whereas many DACA recipients have few ties to their country of origin, often an inability to speak the language, would be immersed in a culture foreign to them and have no legal status in the country of their parents’ origin;

Whereas before entry into the DACA program the applicants were carefully vetted by the United States government to preclude criminals or other undesirables;

Whereas DACA recipients have proven to be outstanding community members, have gone on to school, joined the military, become home and business owners, paying taxes and otherwise contributing to the economic life of the community;

Whereas DACA recipients trusted the United States with their contact information when
they applied for the program, putting them as well as their parents at risk of deportation, it would be a betrayal of that trust to deport them or their parents;

Whereas similar undocumented immigrant children can no longer apply for the program now ended; now, be it

Resolved, that

1. The United States Congress establish the DACA program by law, and
a. Extend the program to those who would have been eligible if the Trump Administration
had not ended the program.
   b. Provide a path to citizenship to all DACA recipients;

2. Iowa, and other states, should grant DACA recipients, and those who should have been DACA
   recipients if the Trump Administration had not ended the program, access to in-state
   tuition at state universities, driver's licenses, and work permits, to enable them to continue
their contributions to the United States.

After Action Report - Caucus Training

1/22/2020

Caucus Training - After Action Report

Davenport Public Library
Eastern Avenue Branch

Civil Rights Forum

On January 15th, we had a full house at our final nonppartisan caucus training at Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch. We are honored to have co-sponsored this training with the AAUW (American Association of University Women), QCAIR (Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees), and the Alliance for Retired Americans.

We mock-caucused both the Republican and Democrat formats, using fruit (oranges, apples, blueberries, tomatoes) as our candidates.

Iowans: the caucus will be held Monday, Feb. 3 at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm and you must be in line no later than 7 pm. Contact your local party to find your caucus location.

Democrat Caucus locations
Republican Caucus locations

Check out our photos from the training!

Julie Ross