Less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi are already racing to gerrymander Black districts out of existence.
This court keeps showing us exactly who they are: political actors with long-term goals to undermine the progress and protections of the last 50+ years. And with a 6-3 majority, we can assume that they’ll keep going until they’re stopped.
So we need to stop them. Let’s use our outrage as fuel to power our coordinated and strategic actions. Let’s get every oar in the water pulling toward the midterm elections.
We’ve got 6 months and three days until Election Day. Let’s get to work!
Katy To Win Fundraiser
Mark your calendars for FORWRD’s first-ever political fundraiser!
Wednesday, May 20, 6 - 7:30 pm
Location provided after RSVP
You probably know that we’ve “adopted” Katy Padilla Stout in District 23 as the candidate we’re putting our collective effort behind. This will be a great way for us to test and build our political muscles together!
If you can’t make it on the 20th, you can make a contribution to Katy’s campaign here. Gifts of all sizes matter! District 23 is HUGE, and even $20 helps pay for gas to get Katy or a staffer to an event!
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
Saturday 5/2: Perfect Garage Sale Weather 🌞
DID YOU KNOW? There’s a city-wide garage sale this weekend to benefit the Austin Mutual Aid Immigrant Support Fund.
Treasures await! 📸: Simone Pellegrini
If you’re out & about tomorrow between 9 and 11 am, stop by one of these spots:
3801 Bailey Lane, 78756 (near 38th & N. Lamar)
4213 Parkwood Road, 78722 (near Mueller)
1911 Larchmont, 78704 (near S. Lamar & Menchaca)
1215 Kenyon Drive, 78745 (near Stassney/South 1st)
A great Saturday activity & a way to support our immigrant neighbors, all rolled into one. Thanks to the hosts & organizers!
REMINDER: How to Get Involved
School’s almost out! Are you ready to dive into the Katy to Win effort? Right now we’ve got four initiatives, with plans to add more:
We’re building teams and getting to work. Join us!
🗓️ Calendar Highlights
For Friday, May 1st: May Day: Start strong, finish strong 💪🏽
💜= FORWRD member recommended
In Person Events:
💜Friday, May 1st May Day Strong workers, students, and families take action to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping. In Austin there will be a May Day Rally and Labor Fair followed by a May Day March from City Hall to the Capitol.
💜Saturday, May 2nd 9:00-11:00 Citywide Garage Sale Benefitting the AMA Immigrant Support Fund Austin Mutual Aid is hosting 4 garage sales around town to raise money for their Immigrant Support Fund. Please come shop, donate, or just say hi! Unable to make it? You can still donate here to the Immigrant Support Fund!
Sunday, May 3rd 5:00 - 7:00 PM Sing for Our Springs Come join the Austin Singing Resistance to sing healing songs together to honor our waters, wildlife, and our future. We’ll gather in community at Barton Springs to raise our voices— a final collective moment of care and expression before the public comment deadline closes. (Can’t join? Learn more and submit your public comment here.)
💜Saturday, May 9th 3:00 - 5:00 PM Mother’s Day Singing Vigil: End ICE Family Detention We will be singing to Governor Abbott calling for an end to ICE family detention. Bring flowers, electric candles, art by children, paper hearts, etc., to leave at the fence. No singing experience necessary! We will teach simple songs and our voices together are powerful.
💜Saturday, May 9th 3:00 - 6:00 PM Community Concert to support ASN Join us for an afternoon of live music, community, kolaches, and connection — in support of Austin Sanctuary Network and the families they serve. Come out, bring a friend, and show up for your community.
💜💜💜SAVE THE DATE Wednesday, May 20th 6:00-7:30 PM - FORWRD Fundraiser for Katy Padilla Stout, TX-23 Join us for an evening in support of Congressional candidate Katy Padilla Stout as she shares her vision for flipping Texas’s 23rd Congressional District.
Recurring Events:
MONDAYS in April and May:
5-6 PM Moral Mondays: Love Forward Together Inspired by the work of Rev. Dr. William J Barber, Repairers of the Breach have created a local chapter in Austin. They are meeting every Monday at Senator John Cornyn’s office. “We are gathering because our nation is choosing to spend billions on war while people suffer. We stand against policy violence, abandoned communities, and the normalization of destruction. We stand for peace, truth, justice, and the common good.”
5-7 PM Bannering in Cedar Park Help show Cedar Park how many of us work to end GOP fascism and corruption -- ICE OUT! No War! No Kings & No Dictators, End GOP Corruption, Fund the ACA, and more. **NOTE: Starts April 13th
💜💜 5:00-5:30 PM Weekly Protest at the Menchaca Library Join FORWRD members in holding up signs at the Menchaca Library every Monday. Bring your own sign or borrow one of ours!
7-8 PM Austin Resistance Choir Hangout Need a happy way to start your week? Join the Austin Resistance Choir for a pop-in, no-experience-necessary hangout every Monday night at Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches.
TUESDAYS in April:
8:00-9:30 AM West Side Banners Over Austin with the Rosedale Huddle. These are super fun, peaceful, energetic! We will be holding banners and signs over the interstate at peak traffic /visibility times - we wave flags, support our banners and thumbs up to the many honks and waves from cars and trucks below. (Fan favorite? “Stop Truth Decay!”) At Far West and MoPac
WEDNESDAYS in April:
8:00-9:30 AM Banners Over South Austin with the Rosedale Huddle. Come help us fly Flags, Banner, and Signs like ICE OUT and HANDS OFF OUR LIBERTY on this bridge that no-one has noticed ... til NOW! Grab that coffee and meet us at 8AM for a workout waving and flagging to Lots of Honks and Waves from the many many commuters below.
8:00-9:00 AM ICE Out Rally N. Lamar & W. Rundberg Wednesdays 8:00am - 9:00am Bring signs in English and/or Spanish
FRIDAYS in April:
8:00-9:30 AM East Side Banners Over Austin NEW TIME! Join the Indivisible Rosedale Huddle at the 12th St bridge over IH-35 to wave signs and bring attention to current events.
SUNDAYS in April:
12-2 PM ICE Out for Good in Pflugerville Join us on Sundays to protest the presence of ICE in Pflugerville
© Joe Heller, hellertoon.com
