Care, Not Cuts - Action Alert July 21, 2025

beachesactivistmov
Jul 20
3 min read

Protecting Our Neighbors

On Saturday, July 26th, a coalition of labor and social justice groups is coming together

for Families First: a nationwide effort involving public events, marches, and a vigil at the U.S. Capitol in response to cruel budget cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and other programs that families in communities across the country depend on. The message: our families come first, and we will protect each other. BAM is supporting this effort by encouraging members to donate to local organizations that are helping families impacted by the cuts included in the recently adopted Big, Ugly Budget Bill. Here's how you can get involved:

Donate to BEAM: The Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM) provides more than 925,000 meals to area families annually. Donate financially or drop off non-perishable food items at the program donation center located behind the 7 North Thrift Store at 318 7th Avenue North between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. M-F, and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday. Their most needed items: canned fruit, canned vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, and shampoo.
Support Refugee Assistance at LSS: Lutheran Social Services (LSS) maintains an Amazon wishlist for items needed by families in its refugee assistance program. You can ship your donation to the gift registry address for LSS of NEFL Refugees Department.
Hold Congress Accountable: Let U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, and Rep. John Rutherford --- who all supported gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act by more than one trillion dollars, in favor of tax cuts for billionaires --- that you won't forget by signing this letter.
Support the Fight for Immigrant Rights: Last weekend's successful Stop Camp Blanding protest was organized by the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), a grassroots organization working to protect immigrants impacted by Trump's cruel and inhumane mass deportation program. Help support the work of the organization by donating through its cash app $unidosjax or Venmo @unidosjaxJIRA.

Rescission Bill Passes: Save NPR/PBS

Despite the valiant efforts of advocates for foreign aid and public broadcasting, HR4 - the Rescission Package nixing $9.4 billion in funding previously approved - passed the Senate last week. The measure eliminates $1.1 billion in funding from public broadcasting, $8.3 billion from foreign aid, and significantly undercuts future bipartisan budget negotiations, which were originally required to approve these figures. The only bright spot in this otherwise dismal news is the salvaging of funding for PEPFAR, the U.S. global HIV/AIDS program. And for all who tried to save PBS & NPR, if you are wondering what we can do now, this NYT op-ed is a terrific overview of the huge bipartisan public needs served by both, and these links make it easy to donate directly to our local NPR and PBS stations.

Good Trouble Lives On in Jacksonville -

John Lewis Day of Action

Nearly 350 people came together last Thursday at the A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park for an evening of inspiring speakers, entertainment, and community honoring the life and legacy of the late Congressman and voting rights activist John R. Lewis. Black historian and Jacksonville Civil Rights activist Rodney Hurst keynoted the gathering, which featured performances by Mama Blue, CagedBird, and Firepit. Speakers warned of threats posed by voter suppression legislation like the SAVE ACT, and advocated for passage of voting rights protection at the state and federal levels. Good Trouble Lives On in Jacksonville was one of more than 1,600 observances held nationally. Local organizers included BAM, Indivisible Mandarin, Indivisible Jax Riverside, Florida Rising, 50501 NEFL, the Northside Coalition of Jax, Harriet Tubman Freedom Fighters, Jax NOW, the League of Women Voters First Coast, and Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church.

NO Internment Camps! Join SWIFT call

on Tuesday, July 22

Join the Statewide Indivisible Florida Taskforce (SWIFT) Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30 p.m. for its monthly collaboration call. No Internment Camps -- Not Now, Not Here, Not Anywhere, Not Ever! will focus on how we can mobilize to stop immigrant internments and protect our communities. Panelist include: Thomas Kennedy, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC); Maria Garcia, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA), and Anna Eskamani, FL State Representative & People Power of Florida. Register for the Zoom link here.