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

Decision delayed on Iowa's top caucus spot - Of Interest to PACG Forum Members

8/16/2022

Decision delayed on Iowa's top caucus spot

Civil Rights Forum and The Real MainStream

Iowa will have to wait until after the mid-term elections to learn whether it will keep its spot as the first political caucus of the presidential season, reports the Nebraska Examiner. Iowa is vying to keep its early spot along with New Hampshire, and challengers Nevada, Maryland and South Carolina. Critics say Iowa should not hold such an influential spot because it lacks diversity (emphasis added).

Read more in the link above.

The Real MainStream is the only blatantly LGBTQ-affirming, intersectional, progressive publication serving Illinois and Iowa. Subscribe to the Real Mainstream here.

PACG Webmaster

Vote Today in the Illinois Primary - Action Alert

6/28/2022

Vote Today in the Illinois Primary! - Action Alert
Tuesday, June 28th from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm

A Message to Our Members

Have you voted by early by mail or in person in Illinois? If not, go to your polling place today!

We are all aware of the numerous challenges facing our democracy. Your vote matters more than ever and it is the path forward for change.

Here are a few resources if you need more information today:

For voting instructions and assistance: https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/VotingInstructions.aspx

Find your vote by mail drop box here: https://www.elections.il.gov/VotingAndRegistrationSystems/VoteByMailBallotDropBoxLocations.aspx?T=637915089565405758

Polls are open to vote in person from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Glenda Guster

Reimagine Gender - No Hate In Our States

6/26/2022

Alok Vaid-Menon Wants You to Reimagine Gender -
ACLU At Liberty Podcast

Civil Rights Forum

From the "ACLU At Liberty Podcast:"

This year brings an unprecedented surge of anti-trans legislation banning everything from sports participation to healthcare access. So far, we’re tracking roughly 280 state bills that have been filed ahead of or during this legislative session. At the same time, the Supreme Court is on the precipice of delivering a final decision that will likely overturn Roe v. Wade, blocking people who can get pregnant from abortion care. These attacks are actually all part of the same movement, a movement against bodily autonomy and our ability to live freely no matter our model or make, a movement to re-entrench gender hierarchy and binary thinking.

To that end, we’re bringing you a conversation with Alok Vaid-Menon, a nonbinary writer, performer, public speaker, activist and artist exploring the themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of 'Femme in Public, Beyond the Gender Binary, and Your Wound/My Garden.

Listen to the ACLU At Liberty Podcast: Reimagine Gender now.

Dee VanThournout

ACLU of Iowa Meet and Greet - PACG Event

6/24/2022

ACLU of Iowa Summer Meet & Greet Events: Davenport Edition
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

LULAC Center
4224 Ricker Hill Rd
Davenport, IA 52802 (map)

Women's Equity Forum and Civil Rights Forum

Come hear timely updates on our work from ACLU of Iowa staff, meet other ACLU advocates in Davenport, and find out more about how to get involved in some of the most pressing civil liberties issues in our state!

Everyone who registers will receive a free ACLU of Iowa t-shirt and have the chance to win raffle prizes from local businesses. Appetizers will be provided.

Please RSVP by June 28.

Schedule:
5:30-6: Check-in and mingling
6-6:45: Program
6:45-7:30: Social time

Register here: https://secure.everyaction.com/FMnVs-ygaUuoA1Y9vGSG1A2

Alta Price

Second Anniversary of Racial Equality Now! rally - After Action Report

6/22/2022

Second Anniversary of PACG Racial Equality Now! Rally - After Action Report
Saturday, June 18th at 12:00 pm

Civil Rights Forum

Members of PACG gathered to mark the second anniversary of the Racial Equality Now! rally started by Caryn Unsicker along with Glenda Guster. After George Floyd's death, Unsicker knew the local and national press coverage as well as all the huge rallies would die down and things would return to normal until the next black person was killed. She called her friend, Glenda, and others who agreed to help start a local rally that would go on indefinitely until racial inequality in our country is no longer an issue.

The group has gathered from noon to 12:30pm almost every Saturday since June 13th of 2020. They have extra signs and always welcome anyone who wants to stand with them for racial equality.

Unsicker says she is encouraged by the many positive honks and waves from passersby of all races. It tells her that many people realize there is racial inequality embedded in our society and that they are willing to talk about it.

WQAD8 (ABC) acknowledged our efforts on the news! Read the short article and watch the broadcast here: For 2 years, rain or shine, a local group has protested for racial equality

Caryn Unsicker

Iowa Is Better Than This! - After Action Report

6/7/2022

Iowa Is Better Than This! - After Action Report

On February 16th PACG was one of the sponsors of the "Iowa Is Better Than This!" event, lamenting the state's recent discriminatory legislation. Initiated by One Human Family - QCA, other sponsors included the American Association of University Women (AAUW) of Iowa, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa & Action Fund, and the League of Women Voters of Iowa.

As a reminder on the details of the event, here is our original After Action Report on "Iowa Is Better Than This!"

The hybrid event - online and Zoom - produced a 30-minute recording that has now been edited by One Human Family into just over six minutes. View the video here.

Allison Ambrose

QC Unity Pride Parade - June 18th - What You Can Do Now

5/31/2022

QC Unity Pride
Pride Parade - Saturday, June 18th at 4:00 pm
and other dates in June

Civil Rights Forum

June is Pride Month, and it was established "to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world." (Wikipedia)

QC Pride welcomes you to 2022 Unity Pride Week, with numerous offerings throughout June. There are several LGBTQI+ movies at the Figge and a Family Night is being planned!

The Grand Finale is the Unity Pride Parade on Saturday, June 18th at 4:00 pm. Here are more details for parade participants:

2:30 pm: Staging will occur at the TaxSlayer Center.
3:00 pm: All parade entries must be in their staging location.
3:15pm: Judges will begin scoring parade competitors.
3:30 pm: 2022 Quad Cities Unity Pride Parade kicks off

Parade will start at the TaxSlayer and will head east on River Drive, turning right (south) on 17th Street, turning right (west) on 5th Avenue, then turning right (north) on 12th Street.

Join us for these important celebrations.

Alta Price

Juneteenth Festival - What You Can Do Now

5/31/2022

Celebrate Juneteenth
Saturday, June 18th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Lincoln Center - TMBC
318 E 7th ST
Davenport, IA, 52803 (map)

Civil Rights Forum

The Friends of MLK (FoMLK) are proud to host the Quad City Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 18th at the Lincoln Center - TMBC. Find more information here.

Glenda Guster

March for Our Lives rally - Action Alert

5/31/2022

We Want Change! March for Our Lives Rally - Action Alert
Saturday, June 11 at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Vander Veer Botanical Park
215 W Central Park AV
Davenport, IA 52803 (map)

Moms Demand Action - QC

The Quad Cities chapter of Moms Demand Action is sponsoring this peaceful March for Our Lives rally.

In light of the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX—which claimed 21 lives, 19 of which were children—let us peacefully gather in unity to demonstrate our solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those who wish to no longer live in fear of gun violence. Activists are Marching in Washington, DC and across the nation.

March For Our Lives (MFOL) last marched in 2018, which resulted in the passing of some lifesaving legislation in states across the country. It's time to hit the streets once again.

An official MFOL March has been scheduled in DC on Saturday, June 11 demanding that President Biden and lawmakers take action immediately to stop the mass shooting epidemic. Organizers from the Quad Cities are putting on this local march around Vander Veer Botanical Park to honor the 100+ children and adults killed by guns in this country every single day and to demand that our lawmakers enact common sense gun reform.

This is an entirely peaceful and cooperative demonstration that welcomes families and people of all ages. Our goal is to gather in unity to demand a safer future for all of us.

Join us in the next chapter in our fight. If you are not in the QC area, find a march near you.

PACG Office Manager

"I Am the Future" Black History Video - After Action Report

5/17/2022

Civil Rights Black History Video - After Action Report

On Sunday, May 1st the video I Am the Future - Standing on the Shoulders of the Past was viewed at Friends of MLK Interpretive Center in Davenport, Iowa. Four of the interviewees were present to watch the video with the PACG members who worked on the project: Dr. Henry Brockington, Bill Gluba, Catherine Alexander, and AbdurRahmaam "Abdur" Howard. You can read more about I Am the Future in our blog post.

After the video we had a lively Question and Answer discussion. There were many questions for our interviewees from the people that attended the viewing. We had very positive feedback about the video. We plan to show the it at the Davenport NAACP Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 18th. There will be another showing of the video to PACG donors soon. In the meantime, you may view it on the PACG YouTube Channel: I Am the Future - Standing on the Shoulders of the Past here.

Glenda Guster