Actions

New action for Massachusetts!

We already have safe gun storage laws, but this bill will require schools to distribute information about safe storage. Information is not sent home by children and will not create more work for teachers or costs to schools. Check out An Act to promote safe firearm storage education and increase the well-being of students to find out more, and encourage your state senator(S.397) and state representative(H.548) to support this bill.

September 17, 6-8 pm, at Presence and Co. Love and Celebration in the 01867: A Night of Photography and Community by Barry Berman! Check out fantastic photographs by local artist Barry Berman. Check out the details in the link above. Photographs from our Pride Parade and other inclusive events will be featured!

Select Board members Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy, and Carlo Bacci made it clear they may not renew RCTV’s contract with the town of Reading. If the Select Board refuses to renew the contract, RCTV will be shut down.

This attack on independent public access television is eerily similar to the current White House administration’s defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Reading needs this reliable, unbiased source of information. Here are some ways you can voice your support for this vital community resource.

How to take action before August 25!

Email Select Board Vice Chair Melissa Murphy, who is leading contract negotiations for the Select Board.
Email Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, who is leading contract negotiations for the Town.
Email the entire Select Board.
Write Letters to the Editor and submit to The Reading Post, The Reading Observer, and Reading Recap.
Speak up at public comment during the next Select Board meeting on Tuesday, August 26, at 7 pm (Select Board meeting room, Town Hall).
Share this email with local friends and neighbors.

Fill Out The Member Survey

Attend a Protest

Wakefield and Friends Protest holds a weekly standout in Wakefield every Saturday from 11-12. on the corner of Main and Water Streets This is a non-violent, non-confrontational event with friendly, like minded people. Bring your own sign if you wish, but signs are also provided.

Melrose Wakefield Indivisible holds a standout every Wednesday evening from 5:30-6:30 at the corner of Tremont Street and Lynn Fells Parkway, Melrose.
Bearing Witness holds a standout on Wednesdays from 11-1 in Burlington across from the ICE facility at 1000 District Ave, Burlington. If you make your own sign, make it specific to the issues with ICE, e.g., “Families Belong Together”, “Abolish ICE”. They may have supplies onsite to make signs there. There is an orientation meeting at 11 for newcomers. Park in the overflow lot at Macy’s. This is a non-violent, non-confrontational event.
Anti-Trump Standouts on the Reading Common. These happen weekdays on the Town Common. Email Ben for more details.

Reading Peace Vigils. These are held on the second Saturday of the month from 11 am-12 noon in the Common. Sign up to be contacted about changes here. vigils@readingpeace.org

Call Your Representatives

Use the 5 Calls app!

Make phone calls to your federal legislators with the 5 Calls app. It provides names, numbers, scripts, and legislation to support or oppose, making it so easy to do a little action every day!

Support libraries!

Check out the national Library Advocates’ Engagement Guide: Check out this guide to learn how you can help libraries, museums, and the freedom to read on the federal, state, and local level.

Join the Recruitment and Activation Team!

Do you have outreach or marketing experience? Or do you just like to talk to people? We have some fantastic ideas about how to make the POP Huddle grow. The wonderful Ilka Walkley has agreed to take the leadership role on this existing team, but we need more people to fulfil our vision! Email Ilka here.

Donate To:

Reproductive Equity Now ensures everyone in New England can access the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare.
Fight for the First is a non-profit organization working hard to protect our First Amendment rights, oppose private interest groups that encourage book bans, and protect librarians who are being threatened with arrest
Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices is a non-profit organization that helps Black, Indigenous, and People of Color across the Merrimack Valley to connect, share resources, and create systemic change.
Donate to our national postcarding efforts! We have written over 100,000 postcards in our 8 years at the POP Huddle. These cards help register new voters or get out the vote across the country. All those cards and stamps add up! Please consider Venmoing Paula at @PTucci (Confirmation: 7597)

STAY INFORMED!

We will use our social media accounts a lot more for time-sensitive actions. Check us out @pophuddle on Instagram, Facebook, and Blue Sky.
If you are a Reading resident, check out the new local news website, the Reading Observer at ReadingObserver.com! Like and Follow on Facebook if you are on there too. Share articles as issues come up!

Several of you mentioned you would like a way to hear about time-sensitive actions so we can respond in real-time as events unfold. The admins of our Signal chat will post time-sensitive actions, and if you are able, you can respond right away. First, download the free Signal-Private Messenger app. Once you have the app installed, scan the QR code to get the invite. (No top-secret military plans included.)

Write Postcards

Write postcards to unregistered voters or to get out the vote across the country. There are some very important elections in this country NOW! Email Paula at pltucci@comcast.net to join the postcard team!