Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20, 2018November 21, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Via Enlace Almost 20 years ago today the first Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) brought together transgender (trans), gender nonconforming (gnc) and many other communities together to honor those lost to anti-trans violence as well as celebrate resilience and resistance. Each year communities reflect on the long list of names of those…

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Airbnb Commits to Removing Illegal Rentals of Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

November 19, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Via U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights WASHINGTON, DC, November 19, 2018—Earlier today, AXIOS reported that after years of controversy, Airbnb will remove all home-sharing lists – roughly 200 – in illegal Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank. According to a blog post, Airbnb said they have…

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California Teacher Pension Divests from Prison Industry

November 8, 2018November 21, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Sacramento– Yesterday after months of advocacy from teachers and community organizations, the CalSTRS Board voted to divest from prisons. The vote came after activists pressured CalSTRS to complete a review of their investments during the summer. Last week CalSTRS released their report with findings, that set the stage for Wednesday’s…

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Redefining nonviolent arrestable offenses #FreedomCities

November 2, 2018November 2, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Via The Austin Chronicle | Chase Hoffberger Austin Police Assistant Chief Troy Gay spoke Wed­nesday about the department’s implementation of a few updated policies in accordance with the Freedom Cities resolution that City Council passed in June. Essentially, the changes – effective today, Nov. 1 – curtail the discretion responding officers will have to decide…

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#WeKeepUsSafe 2018: A Week of Action to Reimagine Safety and Justice for Our Communities

October 29, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Since Trump’s election, we have witnessed ongoing attacks on our humanity, targeting the country’s most vulnerable communities–immigrants, women, the poor, queer and trans people, Muslims, and Black people. Around the country, states are consolidating power by attacking public education, increasing police budgets and ICE enforcement, while the federal government repeals…

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Summer 2018 Freedom Cities Newsletter

September 10, 2018October 26, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Here's just one snapshot of what Freedom Cities members have been building together across the country this summer. 1. Night Out For Safety and Liberation Our communities flexed their imaginations during Night out For Safety and Liberation, with over 30 cities demonstrating alternatives to safety that include healing justice, intergenerational…

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NYS Divests from Private Prison Companies

July 14, 2018August 14, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

On July 13 New York State decided to divest its nearly $10 million in pension investments from private prisons corporations, The Geo Group and CoreCivic!! This is a big and necessary step forward from New York State Comptroller DiNapoli, to divest New Yorkers pensions from the inhumane private prison industry.…

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‘Freedom city’? Going beyond ‘sanctuary,’ Austin, Texas, vows to curtail arrests

June 20, 2018August 14, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Ever since the Texas legislature last year passed one of the country’s most aggressive “anti-sanctuary city” laws, some enclaves have fought officials over the extent to which police can ignore federal immigration law. The state regulation known as Senate Bill 4 has been described by opponents as the “show your…

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BREAKING: Austin City Council Votes In Favor Of #FreedomCity Policy!!

June 15, 2018August 14, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Policy will reduce discretionary arrests and increase safety for people of color and immigrants AUSTIN — Austin City Council hearing room erupted in cheers Thursday night when in a unanimous vote, the Council voted to pass a Freedom City Policy, which favors measures to increase the safety of people of color…

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Prisons are NOT Real Estate #RevokeREIT

June 14, 2018August 14, 2018 by Freedom Cities

Freedom Cities

Yesterday Enlace and many other immigrant rights, social justice groups, and community members rallied outside the Midtown Hilton Hotel as CoreCivic, one the two largest for-profit prison industry companies in the U.S., spoke inside at the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) investor Conference. We exposed the gentrification to prison pipeline…

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