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Weekly Full Policy Report - 8/30

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Allies Don't Whisper While People Burn


We've reflected before that the world is on fire and fueled by the decisions of the past and the intentions of current leaders. We are experiencing the beginnings of life under a dictatorship (remember, we're a mere eight months into this 48-month term). 


So far, we have witnessed this administration target DEI programs and positions inhumanely (and illegally) deport immigrants and citizens, and work overtime to erase transgender and nonbinary people. These are not isolated attacks, as they are part of a broader campaign to consolidate power by weakening collective voices and stripping away the rights of communities that threaten authoritarian control.


That's why solidarity with labor unions and workers is essential right now. Organized labor has always been one of the strongest tools that everyday people have to push back against corporate greed, exploitation, and political regimes that thrive on division (sound familiar?). When workers fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job, they are also fighting for democracy itself.


Unions have historically been on the frontlines of social justice by supporting the civil rights of people of color, immigrants, queer people, and disabled workers. And today, their power to disrupt oppression and demand accountability is more urgent than ever. Authoritarian leaders know this, which is why they so often try to crush unions, weaken protections, and silence collective action.


Standing with workers is not just about paychecks or benefits. It's about defending the idea that we are stronger together than we are alone. It's about protecting our ability to resist, to organize, and to imagine a future beyond fear and scarcity. When billions of dollars are continuously stripped from American workers and communities for the benefit of multi-billion-dollar corporations and their executives, we must organize in solidarity. 


So, as we see attacks multiply: from immigrant families being torn apart, to trans youth being erased from public life, to diversity and inclusion programs being dismantled, we must also remember that the fight for justice and dignity is interconnected. When unions thrive, communities thrive. When workers win, democracy wins.


Now is the time to show up for labor this Labor Day and link arms across movements. Solidarity is our resistance.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Arizona Legislature adjourned sine die (without a specific adjournment date) on June 27, 2025, until January 12, 2026. We look forward to the next phase of reflection and strategizing for what's to come in the upcoming session. 


SCHOOL BOARD ACTION

Hall Monitors are key advocates for understanding local actions and the impacts on students and their families. Hall Monitors will also utilize community supporters to leverage community responses to school board actions. School board meetings are typically held once or twice a month, and Hall Monitors can listen to and watch the meetings in person or on the school district's live stream from the comfort of their own homes. 


Just Schools is working to monitor school boards for both good and bad policy debates. We recognize that everyone is part of a school community, and civic engagement is a key aspect of this, particularly at the school board level, because school boards play a crucial role in democracy. 


We're currently accepting applications for Hall Monitors to assist with monitoring local public school governing boards. We can train you or your organization on how meaningful this work is to stemming the attacks on some of our most vulnerable youth: trans and nonbinary students. 


Take meaningful action in your school community by monitoring Arizona's school boards as a Hall Monitor!


CIVIC LITERACY - DISCRIMINATION & HARASSMENT COMPLAINT FORM

By documenting your ongoing lived experience, government officials can no longer claim their ignorance of the problem. Bullying, harassment, and discrimination disrupt a student's education and threaten their academic attainment and physical and mental health. Don't be silent.


If you have been discriminated against or have experienced harassment at school, consider filing a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General here: (https://www.azag.gov/complaints/civil-rights)

 

Humanity doesn't always send our best. We know that queer students experience discriminatory comments, harassing behavior, and a spectrum of slurs at school from their peers, faculty, and administrators. Discrimination and harassing behavior are not part of growing up and have no place in our classrooms or on our playing fields.


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