Tell DC Council: Protect Immigrant Rights!
Dear DC Community,
At a time where the rights of vulnerable communities in our city are continually being infringed upon, we urge you to stand for and with us in protecting immigrant communities. Right here in DC, a supposed "Sanctuary City," our elected officials leave us disappointed. For the past 18 months, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson had blocked a proposed Bill that would ensure translation and interpretation be provided at DC social/public service agencies, as required by the Language Access Act of 2004. After several postponements, the Bill will be voted on by the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday 13th November 2018, but not before stripping it down completely.
Would you please help us safeguard the rights of DC's immigrants to receive the services we deserve?
It takes just 2 minutes to call your Council member and remind them that any Bill they pass must include:
—CALL IN NUMBERS:
Chairman Phil Mendelson (202) 724-8032 | [email protected]
At-Large
Elissa Silverman (202) 724-7772 | [email protected]
Anita Bonds (202) 724-8064 | [email protected]
David Grosso (202) 724-8105 | [email protected]
Robert C. White, Jr. (202) 724-8174 | [email protected]
Ward 1 – Brianne K. Nadeau (202) 724-8181 | [email protected]
Ward 2 – Jack Evans (202) 724-8058 | [email protected]
Ward 3 – Mary M. Cheh (202) 724-8062 | [email protected]
Ward 4 – Brandon T. Todd (202) 724-8052 | [email protected]
Ward 5 – Kenyan McDuffie (202) 724-8028 | [email protected]
Ward 6 – Charles Allen (202) 724-8072 | [email protected]
Ward 7 – Vincent C. Gray (202) 724-8068 | [email protected]
Ward 8 – Trayon White, Sr. (202) 724-8045 | [email protected]
—SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [NAME] from [YOUR WARD]. I ask that Councilmember _______________ be a true champion for DC immigrants by 1) voting to amend Council Chairman's Mendelson's markup of Bill 22-75: Language Access Amendment for Education Act of 2018 and 2) ensuring that this legislation is fully funded. Our immigrant communities, especially our immigrant youth, need a strong, funded language access law in order to survive and thrive in the District. This will only happen if Language Access Coordinators are hired in our local schools and if DC agencies have to face a fine for failing to uphold the law. Immigrants deserve a fully funded, truly enforceable protection!
At a time where the rights of vulnerable communities in our city are continually being infringed upon, we urge you to stand for and with us in protecting immigrant communities. Right here in DC, a supposed "Sanctuary City," our elected officials leave us disappointed. For the past 18 months, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson had blocked a proposed Bill that would ensure translation and interpretation be provided at DC social/public service agencies, as required by the Language Access Act of 2004. After several postponements, the Bill will be voted on by the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday 13th November 2018, but not before stripping it down completely.
Would you please help us safeguard the rights of DC's immigrants to receive the services we deserve?
It takes just 2 minutes to call your Council member and remind them that any Bill they pass must include:
- HIRING specialized staff (Language Access Coordinators) and allocating resources at DC schools so that immigrant students and families can access resources in their preferred language leading them to a better path to succeed;
- Providing a true ENFORCEMENT mechanism in the form of a fine levied against agencies that continue to breach language access laws and discriminate against our immigrant families; and
- Dedicated funding to ensure language access.
—CALL IN NUMBERS:
Chairman Phil Mendelson (202) 724-8032 | [email protected]
At-Large
Elissa Silverman (202) 724-7772 | [email protected]
Anita Bonds (202) 724-8064 | [email protected]
David Grosso (202) 724-8105 | [email protected]
Robert C. White, Jr. (202) 724-8174 | [email protected]
Ward 1 – Brianne K. Nadeau (202) 724-8181 | [email protected]
Ward 2 – Jack Evans (202) 724-8058 | [email protected]
Ward 3 – Mary M. Cheh (202) 724-8062 | [email protected]
Ward 4 – Brandon T. Todd (202) 724-8052 | [email protected]
Ward 5 – Kenyan McDuffie (202) 724-8028 | [email protected]
Ward 6 – Charles Allen (202) 724-8072 | [email protected]
Ward 7 – Vincent C. Gray (202) 724-8068 | [email protected]
Ward 8 – Trayon White, Sr. (202) 724-8045 | [email protected]
—SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [NAME] from [YOUR WARD]. I ask that Councilmember _______________ be a true champion for DC immigrants by 1) voting to amend Council Chairman's Mendelson's markup of Bill 22-75: Language Access Amendment for Education Act of 2018 and 2) ensuring that this legislation is fully funded. Our immigrant communities, especially our immigrant youth, need a strong, funded language access law in order to survive and thrive in the District. This will only happen if Language Access Coordinators are hired in our local schools and if DC agencies have to face a fine for failing to uphold the law. Immigrants deserve a fully funded, truly enforceable protection!
In the Spotlight
Press Conference celebrating the introduction of the Language Access Act Amendment of 2015!
Re-live it here:
https://storify.com/WashLawyers/language-access-press-conference
(Thanks to Washington Council of Lawyers for live-tweeting and creating this Storify!)
Re-live it here:
https://storify.com/WashLawyers/language-access-press-conference
(Thanks to Washington Council of Lawyers for live-tweeting and creating this Storify!)
Press Coverage
Univision:
http://www.tvwfdc.com/2015/03/24/nueva-medida-buscar-mejorar-acceso-a-servicios-bilingues-en-el-distrito/
Hola Ciudad!
http://www.holaciudad.com/enmienda-ayuda-inmigrantes-que-no-hablan-ingles-n564887#
Public Support
DC Bar: Courts, Lawyers & the Administration of Justice Section
http://www.dcbar.org/sections/public-statements/
(Scroll down to the 'Courts, Lawyers and the Administration of Justice' section)
Councilmember Grosso:
http://www.davidgrosso.org/grosso-analysis/2015/2/3/grosso-introduces-bill-to-expand-language-access-in-the-district-of-columbia
Washington Council of Lawyers:
https://wclawyers.org/our-work/advocacy/language-access-legislation/
Many Languages One Voice:
http://www.mlovdc.org/blog
Bread for the City:
http://www.breadforthecity.org/2015/02/language-access-amendment/
Washington Council of Lawyers:
https://wclawyers.org/our-work/advocacy/recent-advocacy/letter-supporting-reintroduction-language/
...and many, many more who have testified in front of City Council, signed our petition, written to and met with City Councilmembers, come to our events, and tweeted their support!
Univision:
http://www.tvwfdc.com/2015/03/24/nueva-medida-buscar-mejorar-acceso-a-servicios-bilingues-en-el-distrito/
Hola Ciudad!
http://www.holaciudad.com/enmienda-ayuda-inmigrantes-que-no-hablan-ingles-n564887#
Public Support
DC Bar: Courts, Lawyers & the Administration of Justice Section
http://www.dcbar.org/sections/public-statements/
(Scroll down to the 'Courts, Lawyers and the Administration of Justice' section)
Councilmember Grosso:
http://www.davidgrosso.org/grosso-analysis/2015/2/3/grosso-introduces-bill-to-expand-language-access-in-the-district-of-columbia
Washington Council of Lawyers:
https://wclawyers.org/our-work/advocacy/language-access-legislation/
Many Languages One Voice:
http://www.mlovdc.org/blog
Bread for the City:
http://www.breadforthecity.org/2015/02/language-access-amendment/
Washington Council of Lawyers:
https://wclawyers.org/our-work/advocacy/recent-advocacy/letter-supporting-reintroduction-language/
...and many, many more who have testified in front of City Council, signed our petition, written to and met with City Councilmembers, come to our events, and tweeted their support!
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