OCTOBER 2023

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🗳 Recently, we celebrated Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) on campuses across the country. During the week of celebrations, our HBCU Democracy Fellows hosted about 20 events registering hundreds of their peers and making sure they understood what would be on their 2023 ballot.

Since NVRD, our North Carolina fellows have been distributing the North Carolina nonpartisan voter guides throughout the community and hosting March to the Polls events to inspire students to vote early. In Mississippi, our fellows continue to host informational events about their statewide election. If you’re a student and you want to join our election efforts in North Carolina or Mississippi this year let us know by replying to this email.

The Atlanta City Council and corporate policing proponents have spent recent months pushing their plans to build an expensive, unpopular police training facility advocates labeled “Cop City” — all while trying to silence the protestors and organizers who are opposed.

🚨 As of this month these leaders have charged 61 “Stop Cop City” protestors under RICO laws — the same laws used to prosecute crime groups like the mafia. And though 115,000 voters signed on to call for a referendum opposing the facility, between legal nuisances, confusion, and a lack of transparency, the City Council might not accept those signatures.

We’ve seen countless attacks on our right to protest and dissent — but these rights are at the heart of our democracy in Atlanta and nationwide, and we refuse to let police or corporate dollars silence our communities.  It’s time to call these actions what they are: an abuse of power. The right to protest and dissent CANNOT be infringed upon by corporate dollars or over-zealous, over-militarized police. That’s why we need folks like you to join us in protecting these rights. Sign our petition to demand transparency and accountability from the Atlanta City Council on Cop City.

NOTE: By signing this petition, you may receive periodic updates and news alerts from some of our partner groups

📝 Common Cause Rhode Island released a report in partnership with the Prison Policy Initiative on the impact of prison gerrymandering. The report shows that all communities throughout Rhode Island are harmed by mass incarceration, with every city losing a portion of its population to prison.

The report puts data behind a fact that we already know: communities that are the most under-resourced are likely to be the most over-incarcerated.

🎉 Meet our newest Common Cause team member: Ari Franco! Ari is joining the Common Cause team as the new Youth Engagement Organizer, with a background in voter registration, youth mobilization and GOTV programming. Ari will be leading our youth base-building and membership engagement work.

Based in Washington, D.C., Ari grew up and attended college in North Carolina, with his previous work pertaining to statewide campaigns and non-profit programming. He’s most interested in the engagement of young folks who may not have an outlet for civic participation, and providing those folks with the resources necessary to make a difference around them. 

When he’s not working, Ari enjoys reading, cooking, international travel, and studying martial arts.

We're working so hard across the country, we could write you a novel instead of a newsletter. So instead, here are a few more quick headlines we don't want you to miss: 

• Ohio 🎢: This November, reproductive health is on the ballot, as Ohioans vote to include abortion rights in their constitution. If you’re a Buckeye, make sure you make your voice heard.

• National 🦅: From decisions on climate, gun violence and beyond, it is critical to keep up-to-date with the goings-on of the Supreme Court. For information on upcoming hearings, written decisions and more, click here.

• Pennsylvania 🔔: Just next month, Pennsylvania voters will be asked to elect new judges to sit on state Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth Courts. Check out this breakdown of how judges directly affect policies on abortion, education, and more.

• National 🦅: Common Cause released a report scored all 50 states based on their redistricting processes. Find out how your state compares to the other 49 and what reform is necessary.

Friend, there’s no such thing as an “off year.” With several important elections coming up, it’s crucial that you’re registered to vote. Luckily, in DC and 22 states, there are versions of same-day registration which allows you to register and vote on the same day. Regardless, make sure you periodically check if your voter registration is up to date!

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