WEEKLY ACTION ITEMS
ACTION 1:
Save our National Monuments. Don’t let the Trump administration strip ownership of these precious monuments away from the American people and open them to private development.
Why It’s So Important
Trump recently signed an executive order to allow national monument designations to be reversed or to be reduced in size as his administration pushes to open these precious federal lands to private exploitation by drilling, ranching, and mining interests.
Interior Secretary Ryan has been directed to consider about 30 national monuments created over the past two decades, and recommend which designations should be rescinded or diminished. At risk are a number of National Monuments in California, including the sites of the Giant Sequoia, San Gabriel Mountains, and Mojave Trails monuments.
We need to let our California Members of Congress know how we feel about about this shameless attempt to let corporate interests appropriate national monuments that rightly belong to the American public. Letting our members of Congress know how strongly we feel on this issue keeps up the pressure and focus while infusing the political climate with a sense of urgency.
What to Do – Action Item 1
Contact Senator Feinstein, Senator Harris, and Congressman Huffman and let them know your opinions on this issue.
Suggested Script:
I want to let Senator/Representative_______ know of my strong opposition to the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind or reduce American’s designated National Monuments. Trump’s ordered review of these designations is a shocking attempt to take away from the American people unique sites that were intended to be theirs in perpetuity. This is another example of corporate favoritism “trumping” the rights of the American public. Our National Monuments honor the beauty and preciousness of special places in the American landscape. We must protect them.
- Sen. Dianne Feinstein: DC (202) 224-3841, SF (415) 393-0707, LA (310) 914-7300, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
- Sen. Kamala Harris: DC (202) 224-3553, Sacramento (916) 448-2787, SF (415) 355-9041, LA (213) 894-5000, SD (619) 239-3884, Fresno (559) 497-5109
- Rep. Jared Huffman DC (202) 225-5161, San Rafael (415) 258-9657
ACTION 2:
Help protect the Bear’s Ears National Monument, which has been specifically attacked by Trump, using an action on the Sierra Club action page.
Why It’s So Important
Trump has indicated that he is particularly eager to change the boundaries of a 1.35-million-acre national monument Obama declared in December 2016 in Utah, known as “Bears Ears”. The Bears Ears monument is vital to tribal communities in the region as the location of sacred and cultural heritage sites, including cliff dwellings, villages, and rock art. Shaun Chapoose, the highest elected officeholder of the Ute Indian Tribe, said in a statement. “Bears Ears National Monument is more than just mere federal land to us—it is a living landscape; it has a pulse.”
Bears Ears was created after a long period of consultation with all of the local stakeholders and is a wonderful addition to our country’s treasured legacy of national monuments. We need to protect Bears Ears from Trump’s predatory actions.
What to Do – Action Item 2
Tell the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to ensure Bears Ears National Monument remains protected.
Use this Link to the Sierra Club Action
ACTION 3: Hugo Mejia, a San Rafael construction worker and father of three, is STILL being held in a general population jail in Elk Grove, CA, and has been since May 2. His lawyer and Congressman Huffman are working relentlessly on his behalf.
Congressman Huffman met with Hugo at the jail and a group of mighty supporters, including a contingent from MVCAN, made our voices heard outside the building. Hugo’s colleague, Rodrigo Núñez, is still being held at a jail in Yuma County. Senator Kamala Harris will start advocating on their behalf as well.
Our message is still the same: That Hugo and his colleague, Rodrigo Núñez, be released immediately from jail and be placed in regular removal proceedings.
What to Do – Action Item 3
Please click here for action to help Hugo Mejia.
Thank you for taking these important actions today!