Your action is needed Now!
Our goal is to push our stories on social media and put pressure calling for the next ten days.
Step one, air war.
Contact the Senate leadership and all Senators to put pressure in order to bring the WA State Dream Act for a vote. Don't forget to post on Facebook, email and call.Start with Senate Republicans' Facebook and Twitter
Then, move to calling the Senate leadership:
Tom, Rodney (D) (360) 786-7694
Bailey, Barbara (R) (360) 786-7618
Mark, Schoesler (R) (360) 786-7620
Joe, Fain (R) (360) 786-7692
Full list of senators, HERE
Step two, organize!
The push is not over and we must mobilize our communities. Create a group with friends, student clubs, church organizations, etc. Find a action network to help you push for the WA State Dream Act.Step three, take action!
Own the fact that you are a fierce/strong person. Whether you are documented or not, you have a voice and a story, make sure you use both. The time is now.Some action ideas
Call-a-thons: set up a time where all your action network can meet and sit down and call* the Higher Education Committee and the rest of the Senate. (make it fun, play some music and let the calling begin)
Email Senators: personalize your letter, write why this bill matters to you.
You can start the email like your phone call.
*Hello my name is _____________. I am calling in support of the WA State Dream Act, HB 1817, which passed the house with a large bipartisan support of 77-20.
I personally am impacted by this bill because....[write something short on why this bill matters to you] I urge Senator [Senator's name] to bring the WA State Dream Act to a Senate vote and vote Yes. We must provide and equal opportunity for all Washington Students and we must secure Washington's Economic Prosperity.
Thank you for your time.
So, what exactly happened?
Why is it important?
But, all thought Washington was ready for the Dream Act, the communities where ready for the Dream Act, our Senate leadership seemed to not fully understand the importance of the bill not only for our state but for our communities. This bill did not just only extended the eligibility for state-need grant for Undocumented & Unafraid Aspiring Citizens, it went further than that. It showed that Washington State was ready to take on as a State leader to push for Immigration Reform and even further than that, it showed that we were united as a state. It meant that any child that work hard for their education, would have a equal chance to obtaining it.What the Senate did
On April 2nd, the Senate Higher Education Committee was schedule to meet before the dead line for the state Dream Act to come out into the floor. Senator Barbara Bailey, choose to not only cancel the meeting, but to not move forward with the State Dream Act. In every single event in regards to the Dream Act, hundreds of community members showed their support for the bill. So the concern is not with Washington or the community, but instead is with the fact that we must hold our Senate leadership accountable.Sen. Bailey's choice of not moving forward with the Dream Act means that dozens of students will loose hope because all though it seems the being a Dreamer is like the new cool thing to be around the block, our lives are full with daily struggles, and barriers. Our families go through economic, physical and mental health obstacles due to the intense pressure set on us by society.
What we must do
We must continue to push for the WA Dream Act. We know that the Senate has the power to bring it to a floor vote!Our dream is close. We must continue fighting and being these strong people we have always been. We must be the agents of the change we wish to see.
UNAFRAID, UNASHAMED & UNITED!