ATLANTA ACTION

Troy Davis Press Conference: Reps. Lewis & Johnson

2009-05-28T21:05:00.001-04:00

From Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:

We just learned that we will be permitted to hold the press conference just inside the prison grounds, the location where we hold our vigils. Please see below for updated information and we hope to see you tomorrow!

Friends,

We have some exciting news to share with you: tomorrow, Friday, Troy Davis will be visited by Congressmen John Lewis and Hank Johnson as well as the Ben Jealous, the president of the NAACP. It is very significant that these folks would take time out of their extremely busy schedules to trek to Georgia's death row to meet Troy, and I am confident this action will help to focus even more national attention on the injustices abound in Troy's case.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!! This delegation will be holding a press conference immediately after leaving the prison and have asked that Georgians who support Troy be present for it.

Please join us for a press conference at Georgia's Death Row - the Georgia Diagnostics & Classifications Prison (directions below) on Friday May 29 at 12:45pm to stand with the Congressmen and with Troy!

We hope to see you there. With hope,

Sara

Directions from Atlanta:
On I-75, take exit 201 and turn east off of the exit ramp (left if you're heading south)
Go one light down and turn left - the entrance is very close to the prison and right off the main road.
There are two truck stops on the opposite side from the prison just off the interstate.

BRING IDENTIFICATION

2009-04-21T16:30:00.003-04:00

Troy Davis' Petition Denied by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

2009-04-16T23:07:00.004-04:00

Friends,

By now most of you have heard that Troy Davis' petition to file a second or successive federal habeas petition has been denied by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. We are deeply troubled and saddened by the court's 2-1 decision but our resolve is not lessened. The court has mandated a 30 day stay of execution so that Troy may take his appeal to the Supreme Court.

This 30 day stay of execution should serve as a ticking clock reminding us of how little time we have to act to save the life of an innocent man. The court may have found that legal procedure outweighs a human life, but we will not tolerate this principle.

The question is now what do we do next. Amnesty International and Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty have been, and will continue to be, leaders in the movement seeking justice for Troy Davis. No formal plans for action have yet been announced, but we ask that you please pay close attention to Atlanta Action, Amnesty, and GFADP's websites where we will announce the next action. Time is not on our side. The State of Georgia is anxious to bring this case and Troy's life to a quick conclusion, and it is our job to fight with all of our energy to stop this execution.

I implore each one of you to commit to attend at least ONE action in the next 30 days on Troy's behalf. This man, who has been on death row for half of his life, deserves our support. Without great public action and attention the state will execute an innocent man. On behalf of justice and Troy Davis, please check back often to find out how you can get involved.

Dial for Darfur- Script

2009-02-25T13:32:00.006-05:00

Here are the instructions showing you how you can DIAL FOR DARFUR! Please use this script to help you when calling your Georgia state senator. Do not be embarrassed to call; these people serve to represent our voice, and absent hearing from their constituents they won't act on SB 170 & SB 171

Find your senator at votesmart.org

Call 404.656.5040 and ask to be connected to your senator.
Read the following script. Remember, the aide may ask you for your information, so don’t feel obligated to stick word-for-word to the script. Use it as you need it because you may find it helps to have something to guide your own words.

- Hello, my name is __________ and I am a constituent of Senator __________.

- I am very concerned about the ongoing genocide in Darfur. I feel we must take direct and immediate action to address the crisis.

- Senate Bills 170 and 171 have been introduced by Senator Adelman with bipartisan support. These bills will ensure that Georgia’s pension funds don’t continue to support the ongoing genocide and that the Georgia state government won’t enter into contracts with offending companies.

- My community needs Senator ____________ to act right now – this session - to protect the people of Darfur. A failure to act would allow Georgia dollars to continue funding the murder and displacement of millions of innocent people.

- Thank you for your attention, please convey this message to Senator _______.

Easy, right? That’s all it takes to make a big difference in the genocide in Darfur. Remember to stay involved at http://gadarfur.org.

Dial for Darfur

2009-02-19T12:55:00.001-05:00

February 18, 2009

DIAL FOR DARFUR DAY
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT ON MARCH 4TH
IN GEORGIA
TO SUPPORT 2 STATE BILLS BEFORE OUR GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
CAN WE COUNT ON YOU?

TO DIAL FOR DARFUR
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO ON MARCH 4TH
IS MAKE AT LEAST ONE PHONE CALL

1. Thank each bill sponsor and co-sponsor for supporting this important piece of legislation in Georgia.
*both bills are sponsored by the same senators

2. Read the description of the bills below and briefly tell them why you are urging their support.

Sponsor
Senator David Adelman (42nd district) 404-463-1376
Co-Sponsors
Senator David Shafer (48th) 404-656-0048
Senator Eric Johnson (1st) 404-656-5109
Senator Chip Rogers (21st) 404-463-1378
Senator Kasim Reed (35th) 404-463-1379
Senator Robert Brown (26th) 404-656-5035

3. It is very important for you to find out who your own state senator is and urge him or her to support these bills. You can find out who they are by clicking this link and type in your zip code.

4. Senator Johnny Isakson (770)661-0768
is a ranking member of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa. He is also running for reelection in 2010. You can make a huge impact at the federal and state levels by calling him. Thank him for his support on Darfur in the past. Tell him to call Governor Perdue and encourage him to support the proposed state bills SB171 and SB170. Ask the senator to make sure a high level envoy is appointed to Sudan ASAP. Ask him to support all efforts to protect civilians, promote peace, and implement punitive measures to members of the government of Sudan who are accountable.

DEAR COALITION MEMBER AND SUPPORTER,
Today, State Senator David Adelman introduced two very important bills into the 2009 Georgia Legislative session. Senate Bill 171 (SB171) is a targeted divestment from Sudan bill and Senate Bill 170 (SB170) is a contract prohibition bill.

Last year's effort towards targeted divestment for the state of Georgia from the most egregious companies doing business in Sudan who are essentially funding the Darfur genocide did not make it out of committee. This year with your help we can PASS this important piece of legislation. Please go to the Sudan Divestment Task Force for a more detailed overview of what SB171 means and why 27 states have passed this bill.

SB170 is a Targeted Sudan Contract Prohibition bill which would prohibit a state agency from entering into a contract with companies that have certain problematic business operations in Sudan. Contracts with state agencies will not be provided to any company that cannot certify that it does not have certain problematic business operations in Sudan. In other words, the worst offending companies doing business in Sudan will not be able to enter into a contract with the state of GA, and indirectly fund the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

SB 171 Targeted Divestment From Sudan

Since 2003, the government of Sudan has pursued a genocidal campaign against the civilian population of Darfur. Although obstruction by the government of Sudan has prevented the international community from determining concrete mortality statistics, between 200,000-400, 000 have died and over 2.7 million have been displaced as a result of the conflict. The U.S. government first labeled the Darfur conflict as genocide in July 2004, marking the first time the U.S. has declared a situation to be genocide while atrocities are ongoing.

Sudan has a well-documented history of responsiveness to economic pressure. Possessing neither the capital nor the expertise to fully exploit its own oil resources, the government of Sudan is highly reliant on foreign direct investment to fund its military and facilitate conflict in Darfur; up to 70% of Sudan's oil revenues go towards its military expenditures. Furthermore, events in Sudan and the prospect of continued international sanctions have led investors to question not only the social ramifications, but also the financial prudence of investing in problematic companies operating in the country. Do you want to rid all of Georgia's pension investments from companies fueling the Darfur Genocide? MAKE THE CALL ON MARCH 4TH

SB 170 State Contract Prohibition

The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 - which was signed into law at the end of last year
- provides a powerful new tool to pressure companies that support the Sudanese government by
authorizing state contract prohibition. State governments sign public contracts with companies that
operate in Sudan and through this legislation now have the power to prohibit contracts with certain
companies. SADA provides criteria for identifying problematic companies that operate in Sudan's oil,
power, mineral and military sectors - sectors that provide revenue primarily for the Sudanese government
and at the expense of marginalized populations.

Sudan's oil sector accounts for nearly 90 percent of the country's total export revenue. Up to 70 percent
of this oil revenue is used to finance the country's military - which arms, trains and provides military
support to the Janjaweed militia that continues to conduct a campaign of murder, destruction, torture, and
rape in Darfur. Sudan's oil sector is dependent on these foreign companies for capital, technology and
personnel.

Therefore, these companies must use their unique leverage with the Sudanese government to hasten the
end of violence and destruction in Darfur. If the Sudanese government continues to be unresponsive to
this pressure, companies should cease operations and/or sever economic ties with the regime in
Khartoum. Do you want to prevent Georgia state agencies from contracting with the worst offending companies doing business in Sudan? MAKE THE CALL ON MARCH 4TH

THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE. EVERY ONE OF YOUR CALLS WILL BE LOGGED AND COUNTED IN EACH SENATOR'S OFFICE ON MARCH 4TH. LOOK FOR A BRIEF REMINDER WITH SCRIPT SOME TIME NEXT WEEK.

CONTACT ADVOCACY DIRECTOR: atlaxn@gmail.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ACTION

MELANIE NELKIN, CHAIR
Melanie@gadarfur.org
Darfur Urgent Action Coalition of Georgia

Darfur Legislation

2009-02-18T12:28:00.003-05:00

Big thanks to Senator David Adelman (D-42) for introducing SB 170 & SB 171. These are two essential pieces of legislation that will keep Georgia tax-payer dollars from contributing to the ongoing genocide in Darfur. We will be lobbying these bills very heavily, so please check back soon for details about Dial for Darfur on Wednesday, March 4.

In the meantime, please call your state senator and encourage him or her to support these two pieces of legislation. To find your state senator, please visit votesmart.org.

New Video- Troy Davis

2009-02-09T17:44:00.002-05:00

Darfur Updates

2009-02-03T21:03:00.003-05:00

We are currently lobbying for two pieces of legislation at the state level with the Darfur Urgent Action Coalition of Georgia. Both bills will be introduced in the coming days by Senator David Adelman. The first is a bill to divest Georgia state pension funds from companies that contribute to the ongoing genocide in Darfur. Most of these companies are foreign based businesses that many state pension funds are invested in. This legislation is an important step because currently Georgia tax-payer dollars are helping the government of Sudan to carry out their slaughter of innocent men, women and children. There are several roadblocks that we must work through. After last year’s legislation (SB 370) failed to make it out of the Retirement Committee, the state legislature created new stipulations for divestment legislation. We are trying to meet the new demands, but it is a time consuming process.

The second piece of legislation is a contract prohibition bill that prohibits state agencies from establishing contracts with offending companies. Here in Georgia this will not have an enormous financial impact; however, it will send a message to the world that shows increasing international support for the victims of this genocide. This legislation will be carried out under the federal Sudan Divestment and Accountability Act that was signed into law by President Bush at the end of 2007.

On Monday we met with several Republican state senators, many of whom are on the Retirement Committee. The common opposition to both bills was based on misinformation pushed by Senator Bill Heath last year in the hearings. He argued two things. First, he said that any and all divestment legislation is a ploy by financial advisory services to increase their income. There is no truth to this argument because the Sudan Divestment Task Force (of the Genocide Intervention Network) evaluates companies and pension funds free of charge. His second argument is that the goal of a pension fund should be to make the most money. This is problematic for two reasons. Evidence shows that peer companies outperform the offending companies at double digit rates on an annual basis. Also, we don’t think that pension funds should put making money ahead of fighting genocide.

Senator Heath has had an impact on many members of his committee. However, upon hearing the facts Senators Chance and Murphy were open to considering the legislation.

ACT NOW

Now is our time to act. Please contact your state senator and ask him or her to support the people of Darfur by co-sponsoring these important pieces of legislation. Remember, these men and women represent us because they were elected. Accordingly, they care very deeply what their constituents think. YOUR VOICE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Please check back soon for more specific details. Until then, CALL, CALL, and CALL AGAIN!

Two New Updates

2009-01-22T13:04:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone, hope all of you are well, and if returning from DC like me, finally warmed up.

I wanted to let you know about two things. First, and least importantly, Atlanta Action will soon be relocating to a permanent home at http://www.atlantaaction.org. I'm currently designing the site, but the domain is registered. SO, if anyone has any web design experience they'd like to donate for, oh I don't know, the cost of lunch and the publicity the page will bring, please email atlaxn@gmail.com with "web design" in the subject.

Second, this Sunday is the 4th Annual Rally for Darfur. Please visit http://gadarfur.startlogic.com/media/Rall2009.pdf for the rally flyer, and please remember to make your way to CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at 201 Washington St., SW Atlanta, GA 30303 at 3:00 PM on SUNDAY, JANUARY 25th.

We expect a big crowd, so please come early and bring a friend- people are still less aware of the problem than you might expect. I look forward to seeing you there.

See you Sunday!

David Poythress and John Lewis

2009-01-14T14:01:00.007-05:00

Big things have been happening for Atlanta Action and the progressive community in Atlanta.

David Poythress, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, held a meet and greet at Manuel's Tavern near Little 5 Points. He spoke about what he views to be the three most pressing issues for Georgians. First, he advocates appropriating adequate funding for education with a focus on classroom technology. I'm with him on this, but I'm hesitant because I don't know much about the quality of Georgia teachers as compared with other states'. Second, Poythress argues that a lack of water will be a forefront issue for the state. Duh. He was less clear about what he intends to do to solve the crisis, but after hearing him speak I believe that he will be able to create innovative ways to interact with our surrounding states to solve the problem. The final pressing issue Poythress spoke about was, unbelievably, TRANSPORTATION!!! I don't remember the last time I heard a Georgia politician speak about the inadequacies of MARTA while advocating new solutions for the "megaregion" Atlanta is becoming. He spoke about the need for a regional rail system connecting Savannah, Macon, Atlanta, and perhaps Chattanooga. Personally, I'm a huge fan of light rail systems and think that they hold a tremendous opportunity for Atlanta. Poythress addressed transportation because, he argues, transportation problems present an enormous obstacle to economic development because businesses are not likely to move to Atlanta until we solve our problem.

In all, I feel David Poythress is a democratic candidate that people will rally behind. What's more, I feel he's willing to address Georgia's age-old issues with new methods, and that's something I can get behind.

Additionally, at 12:30 this afternoon I went to a meeting with John Lewis' staff to offer support for Obama's proposed economic recovery plan. The meeting was sponsored by moveon.org, and there were several hosts present coordinating about 40 participants. One of the most memorable moments was a woman who spoke about her experience as a victim of bad-faith insurance practices. She presented an issue to Lewis' staff that they were previously unaware of, and by all indications seemed interested to take action.

The meeting was scheduled in order to deliver a petition of 750 of Rep. Lewis' constituents stating support for Obama's economic plan. As a host of the event, I was so excited to hear people share their hope for the future, and their hope for John Lewis' support in Congress. For Atlanta Action...day by day we're getting our message out and it's growing stronger.

Well, that's it. The inauguration is coming up and you can expect posts about action (or something) in DC. I can't wait.

-MM

UPDATES

2009-01-12T16:09:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone-

Happy new year, and I hope all of you had a nice holiday.

As I'm sure all of you know, the crisis in Gaza is getting continually worse every day. In response, there have been numerous actions planned. Tomorrow at 5PM a group will gather outside Colony Square at 14th and Peachtree Streets to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The event is being organized by Amnesty International and we expect a strong turnout.

Changes are coming for Atlanta Action. First, we are now the organizers for a Meetup group, and we expect to have our first meeting around the first of February. Additionally, we are in the process of developing a new website to replace the blog, and that should be up and running in the next month.

Be sure to check the calendar below for updates about ongoing actions, and let's all work to end the conflict in Gaza.

In Peace,
MM

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2009-01-03T14:48:00.001-05:00

Gaza bombing protest- Atlanta

2009-01-03T14:46:00.001-05:00

Upon news that Israeli ground forces invaded Gaza hundreds of people gathered in front of the CNN center in downtown Atlanta to protest the bombing of Gaza and the lack of fair media coverage. The protest is expected to continue for some time. More to come...

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2009-01-03T14:41:00.001-05:00

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2009-01-03T14:40:00.001-05:00

Hundreds have turned out to stand in solidarity with the people of gaza

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2009-01-03T14:35:00.001-05:00

Protest against Israeli bombing of gaza

2009-01-03T14:32:00.001-05:00

Atlanta Action Supports HR 1531!

2008-11-24T13:01:00.001-05:00

Here's the text of the House bill sponsored by Rep. Nadler of New York. It calls on Congress to prevent Bush from issuing pardons to senior members of his administration. Click the link to urge your Representatives to support HR 1531!

This is the first resolution urging President Bush not to pardon senior administration officials for crimes the President authorized. It urges Congress to investigate those crimes and any pardons relating to those crimes, and urges the Attorney General (current or future) to appoint an Independent Counsel to prosecute those crimes. Please ask your Rep to co-sponsor!

H.Res. 1531
Introduced on 11/20/08 by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) (Press Release)
Referred to the Judiciary Committee

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President of the United States should not issue pardons to senior members of his administration during the final 90 days of his term of office.

Whereas Article II, section 2, clause 1, of the Constitution of the United States provides that "[t]he President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment";

Whereas Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist #74, stated, "[a]s the sense of responsibility is always strongest, in proportion as it is undivided, it may be inferred that a single man would be most ready to attend to the force of those motives which might plead for a mitigation of the rigor of the law, and least apt to yield to considerations which were calculated to shelter a fit object of its vengeance";

Whereas the Supreme Court has observed that "[a] pardon reaches both the punishment prescribed for the offence and the guilt of the offender; and when the pardon is full, it releases the punishment and blots out of existence the guilt, so that in the eye of the law the offender is as innocent as if he had never committed the offence. If granted before conviction, it prevents ... the penalties and disabilities consequent upon conviction from attaching; if granted after conviction, it removes the penalties and disabilities, and restores him to all his civil rights; it makes him, as it were, a new man, and gives him a new credit and capacity." Ex Parte Garland, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 333, 380 (1866);

Whereas during the Constitutional convention, George Mason expressed the concern that a president could abuse his pardon power to "pardon crimes which were advised by himself" or, before indictment or conviction, "to stop inquiry and prevent detection";

Whereas James Madison responded to Mason's concerns by stating that "[i]f the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds [to] believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty";

Whereas although not constitutionally binding, the Pardon Attorney's regulations governing the granting of presidential pardons states "[n]o petition for pardon should be filed until the expiration of a waiting period of at least five years after the date of the release of the petitioner from confinement or, in case no prison sentence was imposed, until the expiration of a period of at least five years after the date of the conviction of the petitioner. Generally, no petition should be submitted by a person who is on probation, parole, or supervised release." 28 C.F.R. 1.2 (2000);

Whereas on President George H.W. Bush granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to Elliott Abrams, Duane R. Clarridge, Alan Fiers, Clair George, Robert C. McFarlane, and Caspar W. Weinberger for all offenses charged, prosecuted, or committed in connection with the Iran-Contra Scandal in which he was alleged to have been involved;

Whereas in a press conference on February 22, 2001, President George W. Bush stated, "Should I decide to grant pardons, I will do so in a fair way. I will have the highest of high standards";

Whereas investigations by Congressional committees, and press reports, raise serious concerns that senior officials of the administration of President George W. Bush may have committed crimes involving the mistreatment of detainees, the extraordinary rendition of individuals to countries known to engage in torture, illegal surveillance of United States citizens, unlawful leaks of classified information, obstruction of justice, political interference with the conduct of the Justice Department, and other illegal acts;

Whereas President George W. Bush has been urged to grant preemptive pardons to senior administration officials who might face criminal prosecution for actions taken in the course of their official duties; and

Whereas pardons issued during the lame duck period of a President's term would not be subject to the judgement of the voters;

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That-

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the granting of preemptive pardons by the President to senior officials of his administration for acts they may have taken in the course of their official duties is a dangerous abuse of the pardon power;

(2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should not grant preemptive pardons to senior officials in his administration for acts they may have taken in the course of their official duties;

(3) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that James Madison was correct in his observation that "[i]f the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds [to] believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty";

(4) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that a special investigative commission, or a Select Committee be tasked with investigating possible illegal activities by senior officials of the administration of President George W. Bush, including, if necessary, any abuse of the President's pardon power; and

(5) the next Attorney General of the United States appoint an independent counsel to investigate, and, where appropriate, prosecute illegal acts by senior officials of the administration of President George W. Bush.

Atlanta Action Fights Global Warming! November 18: Climate Leadership Now

2008-11-16T22:55:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday, November 18, Atlanta Action will team up with 1Sky to deliver cards to members of Congress calling on them to make climate an immediate priority in 2009. The cards announce plans for Power Shift 2009 and call on members of Congress to "Join us in asking the President Elect to attend the international climate negotiations in Poland next month." By the end of the day on Tuesday, every member of the 111th Congress will have one of our cards on his or her desk.

Atlanta Action has plans to deliver cards to the following Senators and Representatives:

Rep. Hank Johnson (D, 4th District)
Rep. John Lewis (D, 5th District)
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R)
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, we would love to have cards delivered by different people to these offices throughout the day to show how strong our movement is. Please contact us at atlaxn@gmail.com for further information.

While this covers the Representatives of Metro Atlanta and the Georgia Senators, we would like to reach out to the other parts of Georgia by finding people willing to deliver cards to the other Representatives from our state. We will happily provide you with free cards and addresses for the remaining Representatives. If you are able to help, please email us at atlaxn@gmail.com.

Lastly, Atlanta Action would like to thank 1Sky for putting together such an extraordinary effort, and also for giving us much needed publicity as we get off the ground by adding us as an ally to their effort. From all of us, Thank you!

Atlanta Action Fights Proposition 8!

2008-11-16T22:23:00.001-05:00

Saturday, November 15 was a day of national action against California's Proposition 8, which states, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The action in Atlanta, where about 1500 protesters showed up, was put on by Georgia Equality, a statewide educational and political advocacy group representing the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

The huge turnout in Atlanta on this chilly Saturday afternoon sent a message that people of all backgrounds support equal rights for the GLBT community. There were numerous speakers from organizations such as Georgia Equality, and the Democratic Party of Georgia, among others. Many were gay, some were not, but all voiced strong opposition for the "separate but equal" system reinforced by Prop 8.

We hope that many supporters from the rally will join with Atlanta Action in the future to strengthen the cause of fighting for equal rights in Atlanta and around the country.

For information on further action against Prop 8 and on behalf of the GLBT community, please contact us at atlaxn@gmail.com.

Announcing Atlanta Action's Participation in the Fight Against Climate Change

2008-11-12T10:25:00.001-05:00

Hello and thank you to everyone that's been able to check out Atlanta Action!

This week we've formally announced our support and participation in the fight against climate change. We are working on becoming sponsors/participating organizations with the 1Sky and Power Shift 2009 campaigns.

1Sky is hosting a direct action on November 18, 2008 called, "Climate Leadership Now." We look forward to participating with this nation-wide movement, and hope that you'll check out their website at http://www.1sky.org, or visit the "Climate Leadership Now" site at http://action.1sky.org/t/1981/signUp.jsp?key=473.

Since November 18 is less than a week away, we will begin a large effort to recruit as many participants as possible to gather at our representatives' local offices to call for their support in fighting climate change. Please, if you're interested in participating in a global campaign to fight climate change please email Michael at atlaxn@gmail.com, or sign up for updates by texting "follow atlaxn" to 32075.

Farther into the future, we also look forward to participating with Power Shift 2009, organized by the Energy Action Coalition and scheduled to take place from February 27-March 1, 2009. This will be a massive gathering of youths from around the country to call on our lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to act to stop climate change.

The next action planned to fight climate change is the Focus the Nation campaign, which some of you may remember got its start this past January. The Focus the Nation action is scheduled to take place on April 18, 2009, so we won't try to get ahead of ourselves by detailing our participation just yet. Be sure to check back to find progress on the action.

SO, where does this leave us? Atlanta Action! is currently involved with 4 movements, and luckily they are all evenly spaced, thus allowing us to appropriately allocate our resources. Our campaigns are...

Jim Martin Election Campaign: Our action will end after Jim Martin is elected to the US Senate in the runoff election to be held on December 2, 2008.
Stop Troy Davis' Execution: Our action will be put on hold after the court (hopefully) grants Troy Davis a new trial. The court's decision is expected NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 24, 2008.
Save Darfur!: Expect to see more about this in the next few weeks, but we are working closely with the Darfur Urgent Action Coalition of Georgia to bring peace to the Darfur region.
Stop Climate Change: Look for Atlanta Action to be assiting 1Sky and the Energy Action Coalition on both the local and national levels to help fight global climate change.

Thanks again for checking in. Again, please email us at ATLAXN@gmail.com or text "follow atlaxn" to 32075 to keep updated.

Jim Martin will work with Barack Obama- Campaign Ad

2008-11-11T12:47:00.000-05:00

Jim Martin- Criminal Defense Attorney for Senate

2008-11-11T11:47:00.001-05:00

The message below is from a Georgia defense attorney (forwarded with his permission). Though it is written to criminal defense lawyers, anyone interested in Troy’s case and the quality of indigent defense in GA will understand how important it is to get a democrat in office, especially a democrat who appreciates the problems with Georgia’s criminal justice system. Please consider lending your financial support to Jim Martin’s campaign. And if you live in GA, don’t forget to vote on December 2^nd!

Deirdre

Dear List Members,

For the very first time in memory, we have a chance to help elect a CRIMINAL
DEFENSE ATTORNEY to the United States Senate. That is so significant that I
cannot ever recall a similar opportunity to be part of such an effort in my
33 years as a practicing attorney. Never have criminal defense attorneys
been in greater need of a strong voice for Justice in Washington than now.

Jim Martin is in a runoff with Saxby Chambliss on December 2nd . Here is
Jim's web site: http://martinforsenate.com/

Jim's election would put a new set of "Constitutional eyes" in the U.S.
Senate that have been completely absent with Saxby Chambliss serving for the
last 6 years. Chambliss also voted to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act and to
extend its wiretapping powers into private citizens' phone lines while
voting against habeas corpus for detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Chambliss
also recently pushed for and voted for the recent $700 BILLION bailout money
for AIG and the other corporate fat cats.

Jim <http://www.martinforsenate.com/about/jim_martin.html> 's credentials
include a bachelor's degree and two law degrees from The University of
Georgia. He is Georgia's former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of
Human Resources (DHR) and (prior to that) was a State legislator and the
Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in the Georgia General Assembly.

Jim also served in Vietnam <http://martinforsenate.com/home.html> --- as a
SOLDIER. He is happily married (for 38 years) and has remarkable 4
children. Jim's brother, Jack Martin (Jim's former law partner in Martin
Brothers, a top-notch felony criminal law practice firm in Atlanta) often
handles controversial cases including appointed Death Penalty cases. Jack
was just named Friday to GACDL's highest honor, the Rees Smith Lifetime
Achievement Award for more than 20 years of dedicated service to criminal
defense.

I have reached my contribution maximum in each stage of the election. Our
runoff is DECEMBER 2nd, and Jim needs immediate cash for statewide ads.
Throughout this campaign, Chambliss has had access to more than TRIPLE the
money Jim did, due to a Republican cash trove exceeding $5 million. He will
raise another $1 million in the next 2 weeks, guaranteed, because the
Republicans are desperate for him to retain his seat and continue his failed
policies.

I will NEVER ask for you to consider any other candidate for a contribution,
but this is special, and this is a seriously important race of NATIONAL
significance. This is a GOOD MAN and a tribute to our profession.

If you have forgotten who Chambliss is, he is the "slasher" politico who
utilized despicable, vicious and dishonest attack ads on TV against triple
amputee & Vietnam war hero U.S. Senator Max Cleland in the 2002 election.
Max Cleland had also served as Head of the Veteran's Administration.
Despite the fact that Chambliss and Martin were FRATERNITY brothers at UGA,
his same "slasher" approach has been utilized in TV ads for this campaign!
Unbelievable!

Thanks for listening. Please contribute if you agree with me. Here is a
link for credit card payment:

https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/contribution.aspx?X=NqjXO81IXYZntPaqXypreP1LqSo0CHUy

William C. (Bubba) Head

Atlanta, GA

Life Member, NACDL

Life Member, GACDL

Former Regent, NCDD.com

Jim Martin for Senate!

2008-11-10T10:31:00.001-05:00

Take Back Georgia, Inc.
Saxby Shameless Update
- RUNOFF DECEMBER 2 -
EARLY VOTE as soon as NOVEMBER 17
Dear Friends,saxby shameless

We did something BIG on November 4th - we forced a runoff!

This major accomplishment is thanks to the hard-work of Jim Martin and his campaign, as well as all of you and your support, contributions and direct voter outreach! But, we can't let up now - we have Saxby Shameless right where we want him.

Who would have thought just a few months and even a few weeks ago, that a movement in Georgia could be where we are now? Who would have thought a "safe" Republican incumbent in the South with millions and millions of dollars of special interest money could be forced into a runoff?

The working families and middle-class of Georgia sure did. And with your help, we made sure enough voters knew how Shameless Saxby really is.
JimMartinResponse overwhelming for Jim Martin
Since our last email, the response has been overwhelming for Jim Martin from all sides of the aisle.

Here are just a few of the responses and stories that came in and just more reason to spread the word, even to Republicans you know!

Whether it was elected officials, candidates, former statewide elected Democrats, volunteers and activists, Independents and undecided voters, and even a few Republicans, we value every response that we've received and it motivates all of us to keep working for change!

"You were the first to stake out a position, and your tenacity has spawned an uprising against Saxby Shameless. I am very proud of you and all the hard work you put into this effort. I am a former Republican 5th District Congressional candidate and I know what an uphill battle you have fought. Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, or Independents, all Georgians know how Saxby Chambliss has voted for the big corporate interests and has been a lap-dog for George Bush economics, plunging the economy right off the cliff into an abyss. Congratulations again on your major accomplishment of skewering Saxby with his own words and deeds, and taking the message statewide."
- Paul Stabler, former Republican candidate for Congress (GA)

"I find that Saxby is two-faced. He keeps talking about small business and how they need help; well you know, the American family is actually a small business. We have revenue and expenses and we aren't getting the tax breaks that Saxby wants to give to a certain group of small businesses. It took leadership from Martin to stand up. Can't wait to vote for Jim and have encouraged the six voters in my household to do the same. Good luck."
- Adie S., Mother, activist and engaged Georgian

"As I was out canvassing a few days ago, a man was asking me about Jim vs Saxby. He admitted to me that he had voted for Saxby, and then in a conversation about Saxby, realized that Saxby was the one who dissed Max so badly. When he realized that, he told me he had made a mistake and should have voted for Jim. I hope that message will get out to the voters before tomorrow! If there is a runoff, I know this guy will vote for Jim!"
- RuthE Levy, Democratic candidate for state house

We'll be gearing up for the runoff just like the campaign! We will be pushing more public interest and exposing Saxby's shameless ways. As we produce our runoff radio ads and message, here's how you can help right NOW:

1. Make a Contribution to our ActBlue page and help us get our radio ads back on the air now that the campaign continues. We'll be pushing hard in the next few weeks to make sure turnout is there for Jim Martin. Remember, 100% of contributions to Take Back Georgia, Inc. goes directly to defeat Saxby Chambliss, we have no overhead, no salaries and every dollar is spent on our campaign.
ContributeLogo

2. Visit Jim's site and send him your support, your email and your time! Thousands of doors will need to be knocked, even more phone calls will need to be made, and our base needs to be turned out in high numbers to make sure the middle-class has a Senator again!

For a better Georgia and in less than a month a new US Senator,

Michael Cantone & Beth Hand
Your Take Back Georgia Team

P.S. This runoff will come very quickly, we do not have time to spare - get involved today, vote early and forward this email to your friends, neighbors and coworkers!

Paid for by Take Back Georgia, Inc. 2008 Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Disparity in Obama's Wins vs. Jim Martin's Wins, county by county

2008-11-06T19:10:00.005-05:00

County	Obama	Martin	Difference	Buckley
Dekalb	253675	232981	-20694	8635
Fulton	244025	223749	-20276	10905
Douglas	27766	26361	-1405	1811
Clayton	82404	76019	-6385	2101
Rockdale	20421	19433	-988	1082
Newton	20825	20194	-631	1237
Clarke	29513	26154	-3359	1786
Richmond	51948	46647	-5301	1606
Burke	5231	4839	-392	170
Jefferson	4138	3775	-363	104
Warren	1552	1406	-146	60
Hancock	3526	3169	-357	63
Baldwin	8575	8234	-341	411
Bibb	38851	35741	-3110	1170
Twiggs	2400	2468	68	102
Peach	5923	5678	-245	198
Macon	3251	2984	-267	63
Dooly	2118	1972	-146	71
Sumter	6444	5963	-481	223
Muscogee	44036	41226	-2810	1781
Chattahoochee	827	886	59	45
Stewart	1305	1176	-129	32
Quitman	597	565	-32	25
Clay	878	799	-79	18
Randolph	1811	1653	-158	44
Terrell	2497	2298	-199	66
Calhoun	1322	1288	-34	22
Dougherty	26087	23482	-2605	620
Baker	842	831	-11	33

TOTAL	892788	821971	-70817	34484

				BUCKLEY+OBAMA VOTES
				105301

The chart above displays the total number of votes received by Obama and Martin in the election on Tuesday, and all the data is current as of 1:15 PM on 11/5/08. The data is from the counties won by both Barack Obama and Jim Martin in Georgia.

As you can see, many Obama voters either voted for Saxby Chambliss or did not vote at all. In the chart this is represented by the difference column. This of course leaves out the percentage that voted for both Obama and Buckley, but I imagine this to be very small.

What this means to the Jim Martin campaign is that for the runoff the numbers where the difference is highest should be the focus of the campaign. If people were willing to get out to vote for Obama, then they will be more likely to vote for Jim Martin in the event of a runoff. The difference is marked in the chart above in bold, italicized print.

Consequently, I imagine that a great deal of attention should be paid to Fulton and Dekalb counties because it seems that the large African American vote in these places may not have originally supported Jim Martin. In the runoff, Jim Martin needs to do everything he can to get the point across that his position in the Senate is essential to Barack Obama's success as a President.

Atlanta Action Mission Statement- Take 1

2008-11-06T19:07:00.002-05:00

Atlanta Action’s mission is to improve people’s access to progressive movements in Atlanta, Georgia. We understand that Atlanta is a mixing pot of ideas, cultures, and beliefs, and we think we can harness this variety to improve the activist spirit within our city. Atlanta Action was formed after years of toiling on various campaigns without any organized foundation. It is the hope of Atlanta Action that we may create strong support for all types of progressive issues in Atlanta by increasing people’s awareness through improved publicity and direct action.