The student survivors of Wednesday's Parkland, Fla., school shooting are organizing in order to lead the charge against the NRA. This week's newsletter focuses on gun control and how to support young activists.

Monday, Feb. 19, 2018
Watch, Read, and Update Your Calendar - 3 ACTIONS
1. The survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., have made it clear that the epidemic of school shootings must come to an end. Student Emma Gonzalez had a message for Congress: "This is our fight now, because you messed it up so badly that you left it to the kids. Now it’s our job, and you can’t try to take that back from us.”

Watch and read Gonzalez's impassioned speech from Saturday in which she said, "We call BS" on NRA-funded lawmakers to a crowd chanting, "Throw them out."

2. Alec MacGillis of ProPublica points out that -- until now -- defeatism on the left has helped the NRA maintain power that has in reality been on the wane. Not only CAN things change, they already WERE changing, even before Parkland, MacGillis says.

Read MacGillis's story here.

3. Students are planning two separate walkouts to say #NeverAgain to gun violence. Add these dates to your calendar. (The Women's March is also planning an event for March 14.) We will need volunteers to help organize Indivisible UES participation; contact info@indivisible-ues.org to submit your name.

March 24: March for Our Lives. Kids, parents, and other supporters will take to the streets of Washington, D.C., and other cities to call for an end to gun violence and mass shootings.
April 20: National School Walkout. On the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, students plan to attend school and then walk out at 10 a.m. in a peaceful protest. Indivisible members should be ready to join local sit-ins.

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018
The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act: Text RESIST to 50409
Text RESIST to 50409 to use ResistBot to contact New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand about the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This bill-- which passed the House last year and will be taken up by the Senate this year -- would force states to recognize other states’ standards governing the possession of concealed firearms in public. That means people from concealed-carry states would be free to carry their weapons in New York. Schumer and Gillibrand have already condemned this NRA-backed bill, so thank them for their stance then ask them to hold televised town halls in New York City that would feature young people speaking out about gun violence.

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018
Mail a Worthless Check to Marco Rubio
The day after the massacre in his home state, Florida senator and former presidential candidate Marco Rubio claimed gun laws wouldn't have prevented the murder of 17 people. Rubio has also accepted money from the NRA, which gives him an A+ rating. Let's see how Rubio likes getting thoughts and prayers instead of money. Here's how:

Get out your checkbook.
Black out your account and routing info.
Pay to the order of Marco Rubio.
Fill in amount as "Thoughts & Prayers"
Write "campaign contribution" in the memo line.
Write a note that says: "Since you think that this is the solution to mass murder, please accept my contribution."
Mail it to Sen. Marco Rubio, 8669 NW 36th Street, Suite 110, Doral, FL 33166

Do this activity with at least one other person, then send your checks out at the same time to make more of a statement.

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018
Weekly Impeach Protest: How Many More Have to Die?
Trump International Hotel & Tower
One Central Park West
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Rise and Resist's weekly impeachment protest (co-sponsored by Gays Against Guns and Sing Out, Louise) will show solidarity with the Parkland, Fla., students. The protest's Facebook page says, "Elected officials that allow children to die from gun violence without proposing solutions shouldn't be allowed to hold office ... We call out Trump and any elected official that risks all our lives in exchange for NRA campaign money."

Friday, Feb. 23, 2018
Sign Up to Register Voters at Upcoming Marches
The American Women's Party says it will have voter-registration tables out at three anti-gun protests. Millions of young people will be eligible to vote for the first time this November, and their participation is crucial. Sign up to help the voter registration effort via the American Women's Party website or by email.

-- newsletter written by Wendy Brandes, executive committee, Indivisible UES.

Disclaimer: By choosing to attend any events listed herein, I acknowledge the risks involved, and that I agree to participate non-violently and in accordance with the law. During some events, acts of civil disobedience may be initiated by individual participants. I acknowledge and agree that Indivisible Upper East Side is not responsible for any such acts of individual participants which are unlawful, nor is Indivisible Upper East Side soliciting my participation in any such activity. I agree that I am solely responsible for any decision to participate in any acts of civil disobedience and any consequences, legal or otherwise, that may result from that decision.