Last night I went to bed heartsick with grief and rage. Today I woke up and consulted community leaders I trust on how to channel those feelings into action. As @prisonculture says, “hope is a discipline”. I invite you to join me in doing the following: (1/x)

1. Demand #NYCBudgetJustice : the city has a 9 billion dollar budget gap coming up for FY 2021. De Blasio’s current proposal leaves the NYPD budget basically untouched while robbing from social services, programming and infrastructure.
(2/x)

City council leaders @NYCSpeakerCoJo , @Dromm25 and @Vanessalgibson have written to the mayor demanding equitable cuts of 5-7% across departments. @changethenypd has clear demands for how the NYPD budget needs to be defunded on their website http://changethenypd.org . (3/x)

I’m calling my city council member and writing the mayor ( https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page) to DEMAND that schools, shelters, parks and programming are not sacrificed while the NYPD’s bloated 6 billion dollar budget goes untouched. This has to be resolved by July 1: TIME SENSITIVE. (4/x)

2. I’m calling my state representatives to demand they support the Safer New York Act, a bundle of bills before the state legislature promoting police transparency and accountability. (5/x)

These bills are supported by the great @zellnor4ny and @YourFavoriteASW , both of whom were pepper-sprayed at Barclays on Friday. I’m following their lead because I trust their commitment to justice and reform. (6/x)

3. I’m giving money to @YourFavoriteASW ‘s primary campaign - she’s fighting to protect her seat against Jesse Hamilton, former state senator and member of the hated, anti-progressive IDC. ASW Richardson needs our help. Give what you can. (7/x)

4. I’m continuing to follow the lead/calls to action from the community groups I know to be doing the work: @changethenypd , @MaketheRoadNY , @VOCALNewYork , @RAPPcampaign and the electeds who give me hope: @zellnor4ny , @YourFavoriteASW , @NYCSpeakerCoJo , @bradlander ,(8/x)

@AOC , @RitchieTorres , and others. I’m following the people who help me make sense of what’s happening and who help me put it in context: @prisonculture and @jduffyrice are both favorites. (9/x)

If you don’t usually make calls to your local electeds and you need encouragement or a script, feel free to DM me for suggestions! And if you have other actions you’re taking/supporting this week, please let me know. (10/x)

The mayor said last night that “everyday New Yorkers” don’t support the action in the street. I don’t know who he thinks he represents, but let’s prove him wrong. Let’s show our support for protestors, let’s stand in purposeful solidarity together. Love you all.

Sorry!!! Should have said - @changethenypd has info on the Safer NY act on their website too- go their to learn more about and support their campaigns.