On Wednesday, February 5th, more than 250 people from all over Washington journeyed to Olympia as part of the WA Immigrant Solidarity Network’s (WAISN’s) annual Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Day. Washington has 49 legislative districts, and residents of 42 of those districts participated. After a morning of learning, Lt Governor Cyrus Habib (himself the son of immigrants) and others spoke at a short rally on the steps of the Capitol building, and then meetings were scheduled with state representatives and senators all afternoon. The 2020 WAISN Policy Platform includes supporting three primary bills:
· SB6522/HB2567 Courts Open To All Act prohibiting warrant-less civil immigration arrests at courthouses
· SB6442/HB2576 Prohibiting For-Profit Prisons and detention centers in Washington state
· HB2856 Face Surveillance Moratorium until technology has improved to protect people of color, trans people, and those who wear head coverings or glasses
Two require immediate action!
The Courts Open to All Act & Prohibiting For-Profit Prisons
If HB2567 and HB2576 do not get passed out of the rules committee AND pass a vote by the full house by this Wednesday, Feb 19th then they are dead.
ACTION: Call your State Reps and Senator and urge them to support a full house vote!
Call the Legislative Hotline to leave a message for your legislators: 1-800-562-6000 / TTY for Hearing Impaired: 1-800-635-9993)
OR
1. Go to both of these links to leave a comment on both the House and Senate forms of the bill: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2567 and https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2576
2. Enter your address to find your legislators and then add your contact information.
3. Choose “SUPPORT” and add a comment.
Sample Script:
Hi, My name is [Name] and my address is [Address]. I’m calling to voice my support for HB2567 & HB2576. I am asking [State Rep/State Sen] to do everything possible to ensure these important bills get voted out of the rules committee and a full house vote before the cutoff this Wednesday.
