#issues2020

How’s your 2020 going, Tumblr? In a perfect world, your year is going great; Your skin is clear, you’re getting a full eight hours of sleep, you’re not at risk of feeling the effects of voter suppression, climate change is nothing to worry about, and your reproductive rights are never challenged. 

But this isn’t a perfect world. Over the past 12 months, people with power have carefully interpreted laws to throw citizens off of voting rolls, we've become more aware of how desperately we need to save our planet, and reproductive rights are a constant battle around the world. This year, we’re committed to bringing important discussions on issues like these to your dashboard. 

We’re calling it #Issues2020. 

It’s not too late to make a change. That’s the crux of #Issues2020. The power is in your hands. Whether you’re gearing up for the U.S. presidential election, in the UK organizing in your community, engaging with the French Senate elections, following the South Korea legislative elections, or participating in any of the many, many elections happening around the globe this year, it’s never too late for civic engagement in your community. At the local, national, and global levels, there are ways to make a difference. You can call your political leaders to support or oppose an issue, endorse a candidate, organize a rally, lead a respectful discussion with your friends, volunteer to phone bank, and so much more. 

We want to give you a space to learn from others while teaching them, too. You can be a valuable resource. To help that along, we’re partnering with six powerful organizations to hold Q&A sessions here on Tumblr.

They’re called Issue Times, and they’ll be held throughout the year:

February - Voting rights with Black Girls Vote (@blackgirlsvote)

April - Mass incarceration and immigration with 18 Million Rising (@18MR)

June - Reproductive rights with Planned Parenthood Action Fund (@ppaction)

July - Gun reform with March For Our Lives

August - Climate change with NRDC Action Fund

October - LGBTQ+ Youth activism with It Gets Better (@itgetsbetterproject)

In addition to our upcoming Issue Times, we’re partnering with other organizations that keep people informed on things that matter. When We All Vote (@whenweallvote) will provide you with resources on registering to vote right on your dashboard if you go follow ‘em.

These organizations are here to help foster discussion, teach all of us how to be better citizens and neighbors, and outline what we’re up against. To make sure you get a chance to ask them your question, follow their Tumblrs as well us here on @action.

This isn’t a perfect world, but we can make improvements. It’s up to all of us. If you’re allowed a voice to safely use, use it. If you can vote, vote. Do it for yourself, for your loved ones, and for the people around you who may not be able to vote themselves.

Now before I start, i want everyone to know that what i say comes from the heart, it is not meant to be directed toward any of your opinions or beliefs, and I'm sorry if some of it doesn't make complete sense, i just feel like i need to say this.

Now if you haven't seen the news about the recent killing of the Iranian leader, it has started this rumor that there is the possibility of another world war... and I'll be honest, I'm genuinely scared right now. The thought of having to go to war and to experience all the bloodshed and death of so many innocent people makes me wanna burst into tears. I don't know if its some fake trash our government is plotting, or if its the fake trash that the Iranian government is plotting... I DON'T KNOW! All of this is just to convenient to make any kind of intelligent judgment.

I don't know what kind of religion you have or what your beliefs are, but please i am asking for the other 7.5 billion other people to find peace among one another. If you think about it, this entire world is practically a family, but it seems that we only focus on the things we hate about each other. We lash out at our siblings in other countries with guns, knives, bombs, and media. All the negativity and the hatred that surrounds our homes and our government makes me sick. I don't care what you believe in! I don't care what your sexual relationship is! I don't care what your skin color is! I don't care about where you come from!

I STILL LOVE YOU!

You are still my brother.

You are still my sister.

You are still my friend...

Harry Dunn/Anne Sacoolas - Petition

A 42 year old American woman named Anne Sacoolas hit 19 year old Harry Dunn with her car by driving on the wrong side of the road, when he was riding his motorbike down the B4031 on August 27th, 2019. Harry Dunn had died due to the injuries sustained.

Anne Sacoolas hasn't faced any charges yet as she was secretly flown out of the country back to America and despite agreeing to being questioned, she had made a false claim of diplomatic immunity and still hasn't responded or attended any interviews.

The British government has requested to have Anne Sacoolas sent back to England to face charges, but has been denied by the American government.

I've never made a post like this, however I feel I have to due to my doubts about American news stations covering the horrible and unjust ignorance being acted out by the US government and Anne Sacoolas, herself.

More details can be found here; http://chng.it/W4gJPGSk2m

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--[82] That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

It’s essential to understand your voting rights and what to do if you are a first-time voter. Part of this is being aware of how voter suppression is currently affecting thousands of citizens who have the right to vote. The history of voter suppression in the United States is as old as the United States. 

To help spread understanding and prompt discussion, we paired with  Black Girls Vote (@blackgirlsvote) to help answer your questions. @blackgirlsvote is a nonprofit, grassroots organization focused on engaging, educating and empowering women of color to leverage their voting power to transform the democratic process. Their posts will be going live today, from 12 p.m. EST to 1 p.m. EST.

Check out all their answers right over here!

Nykidra “Nyki” Robinson is the founder and CEO of Black Girls Vote. Nyki’s life and work experience, combined with her interest in politics, was birthing ground for the delivery of her biggest project yet, Black Girls Vote, Inc. As the CEO, Nyki manages fundraising, numerous community and government initiatives, and events. Nyki graduated with a degree in business administration and a minor in leadership studies. 

Natasha Murphy is the Chief of Staff of Black Girls Vote. She assists the Founder and CEO with the organization's strategic operations. Natasha earned her Master of Science in Public Health, a Health Policy degree at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, magna cum laude from Howard University. 

Lauren Wyatt serves as Advocacy Lead for Black Girls Vote, Inc. By day, she is a corporate paralegal with a background in political science, legislative affairs, and compliance. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Art in Political Science from Delaware State University and is currently obtaining a dual Masters of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Management and Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore. 

It’s Time To Register To Vote

That’s right! If you live in the U.S and are eligible to vote, you might be thinking that voting deadlines aren’t til closer to the general elections on November 3rd. Though that may be correct for some states, you might want to check your state’s voter registration deadline in time for the primaries. 

For those who don’t know what the primaries are, the primary election is a process in which you select your preferred candidate for the party’s nomination by voting through a secret ballot. Before you head out to register, it’s important to understand the difference between an open and closed primary so that you know what kind of process you’re signing up for:

An open primary means you can vote for a preferred candidate no matter which party you are affiliated with. For example, if you are an Independent, you can vote for either a Republican or Democratic primary, regardless of party membership.

A closed primary means you can only vote for a preferred candidate within the party you are affiliated with. For example, if you are registered as a Democrat, you can only vote in the Democratic primary.

If you want to make your mark in the primaries, you need to know your state’s type of primary and its and registration dates. Each state has a different deadline for already registered voters and new voters. These can range from days to weeks or months. You can double-check your state’s deadlines here and register to vote in the new registration portal that our partner When We All Vote, @WWAV created for us. If you are already registered to vote, make sure you update your address and party affiliation. 

Getting involved in your local and state races can be incredibly impactful. It allows you to make changes that will affect you directly. Whether you are a registered voter or non-eligible, know that you can make a difference, no matter how small. If you have any questions or you’re not sure about something, please check out this nifty resource @WWAV has put together.