According to US Census Data, virtually every high income Cambridge household has access to the Internet, while only 50% of our low income neighbors do. This leaves 5,000 households struggling to take part in our thriving economy. Upgrade Cambridge invites you to learn more and join the discussion about whaat you can do about it.

Join Upgrade Cambridge at a screening of “Dividing Lines: Why is Internet Access Still a Luxury in America?” on June 21st, 7:30 PM, at the Central Square Branch of the Cambridge Public Library. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion involving the filmmaker and local digital equity advocates.

Please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dividing-lines-why-is-internet-access-still-a-luxury-in-america-tickets-46918082247

Maria Smith, an affiliate of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and Harvard Law School, created Dividing Lines to highlight the stark divides, uncover the complex web of political and economic forces behind them, and challenge audiences to imagine a future in which quality internet access is as ubiquitous as electricity. In Cambridge, census data show the reality of these stark divides. While virtually every high income household reports having broadband at home, only 50% of low income households say they have broadband. This leaves approximately 5000 of Cambridge’s poorest households cut off from what has become a necessity of modern life.

Panelists will include:

Dr. Colin Rhinesmith, an assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons and a faculty associate with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Colin’s research and teaching interests are focused on the social, community, and policy aspects of information and communication technology, particularly in areas related to digital equity and community technology.

Anne Schwieger, the City of Boston’s Broadband & Digital Equity Advocate. Anne works with people across Boston to figure out how they can make broadband work better for everyone. Anne also has served on the City of Cambridge’s Broadband Task Force.

Please join the Boston May Day Coalition in supporting the upcoming mobilization in Washington DC on June 23 organized by the Poor Peoples’ Campaign. For more information and to purchase bus tickets, please access the following link:

https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/come-to-washington-dc-for-the-poor-peoples-campaign-march-rally

State House action to protect immigrant families in Mass

Wed 20th 12:30 PM – 2 PM

Toddlers are being torn from their mothers’ arms. Children are being put in cages and warehoused at an old Walmart. Asylum-seekers escaping domestic abuse and gang violence are being turned away. And right in our communities, families are being torn apart every day by overzealous immigration enforcement. It’s morally abhorrent.

So what is Massachusetts doing to protect immigrant families? The state Senate passed a budget amendment with 4 basic protections, to stop police from helping round up immigrants and protect civil rights and due process. But the House is doing NOTHING, and Governor Baker has threatened to veto the Senate measure.

We’re NOT going to let them get away with this. Meet us on the State House steps at 12:30, and we’ll go into the State House together. Bring SMALL signs (8.5×11 or something you can roll up, so you can get through security), but most important, your voice. If the House won’t listen, we’re going to make ourselves heard!

Hosted by Pioneer Valley Workers Center,
https://www.facebook.com/PVWorkersCenter

also note

Sanctuary in the Streets General Assembly (Northampton)

https://www.facebook.com/events/374019913073713

Hosted by Pioneer Valley Workers Center
https://www.facebook.com/PVWorkersCenter

What is Sanctuary in the Streets?
Sanctuary in the Streets is a rapid response network of 2,000 people and 40 congregations mobilizing against raids and deportations, workplace abuse, and hate crimes. We have a 24 hour response hotline and have trained 800 people to rapidly mobilize as a detention is taking place. Thus far, we have accompanied over 40 individuals/families facing immigration detention and/or deportation, and have worked with dozens of workers to win justice in cases of wage theft, retaliation, and sexual harassment.

What happens at the general assemblies?
At our general assemblies, all our committees meet: fundraising, education and media, logistics and technology, events and training, and our newly formed mutual aid committee. If you’re new, you’ll attend an orientation to learn about the network and the current projects of each committee. You’ll then be ready to join a committee or plug into existing projects!

The Boston May Day Coalition has voted to endorse the upcoming ‘March Against Fascist Violence’ action organized for Saturday, June 2nd beginning at 10:30 AM. Please check the following link for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/236582200423612

This march will be a counter-mobilization in opposition to an ultra-rightist rally that will be held at the Massachusetts Statehouse. These rightist are supporters of the generalized assault conducted by the federal government against youth, working people, and especially undocumented migrants who are fleeing violence, devastation, and extreme poverty, often directly resulting from US policy toward their home countries. We voted to join the march and avoid any physical engagement with the rightists. Our main goal is to get our message out about the nature of the general assault coming down from the government and the need to build a fight back movement against it. We expect the action to be a noisy affair and BMDC has taken no position on the ensuing verbal exchanges that will take place. We expect that the police will be on hand to protect the rightists and don’t expect any physical confrontation.

On July 28, 2010, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared that every human being has a fundamental right to the access of clean safe water and sanitation (HRWS). This fundamental right is recognized in “International Law through human rights treaties, declarations and other standards.

The Color of Water Project Endorses This Action and encourages you to support and participate in the caravan and rally!

Calling all water warriors, human rights activists and community members who have or know families with loved ones incarcerated in Norfolk or any other prison in USNA to join the Clean Water Rights Caravan.

The caravan will be gathering on Saturday May 19, 2018 1:pm at the Reggie Lewis Center and leaving for Norfolk Prison. We will rally at 2:30pm to demand that the administration recognize and respect each person inside’s human right to clean safe drinking water and sanitation. The right denied them but granted to prison guards and their dogs!

For more information, please call The City School at (617) 822-3075