Take Action

The DFT will be participating in the No Kings Day 2.0. We will bring details in the near future.

Here are our current calls to action for national groups:

1 - Act in support of the bill terminating the emergency & get co-sponsors for that bill to terminate the emergency declaration (www.freedcproject.org/termination has the talking points you need).

2- Pressure the Governors of these states to not send armed national guard members to DC leveraging individuals and the largest institutions you can in those states (faith, labor, etc.) WV, OH, SC, MS, LA, AL, TN

3- Get people to fly DC flags and bang pots from 8-8:05 pm nightly so that when people ask why they can share that they are doing it until the hostile takeover of DC ends. THANK YOU!

Note: For those working on Guard communications for both Governors and Senators-- please also note that this deployment to DC will negatively impact readiness for all 54 National guards-- those guards will not be ready, for example, if a hurricane or natural disaster hits, to help.

Stand in solidarity with union members across the country as we come together this Saturday, June 14, for a national day of action and mass mobilization.

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.  We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.

📌📌📌Search here for an event near you: AFT Action: No Kings Events

The MEJC  will be hosting their annual Lobby Day on April 29, from 9am – 4pm with breakfast, lunch and snacks provided.

We will meet at the Central United Methodist Church, located at 215 N Capitol Ave, in Lansing, around 9:00 a.m. to go over the schedule for the day. Everyone will be split up into teams and will be assigned to meet with state representatives and senators or their staff.  We will debrief afterwards and participants should plan to finish at 4:00 p.m.

MEJC and its community partners are asking for the state government to adequately fund our schools and make key investments in 31 at-risk funds, special education, student mental health, school facilities and English Language Learners. Find someone--a parent, caregiver, student, a community member, a fellow educator to go with you--to make the case that our students are worth the investment.

We’ll create teams to attend meetings with elected and committee hearings. Each team will have a team lead – you  can sign up to be a team lead and we will provide training. The focus of the conversations with our elected leaders and their staff will be around the need for increased funding for our schools to ensure that ALL of our kids have what they need and that school staff can best support ALL of our kids!

Register here! Please make sure to note you are an DFT member in the access needs box.

✍️ ✍️ ✍️ Reminder, please use a personal business day if you plan to attend this event.

You are also invited to attend a virtual meeting, Advocacy Day Prep, on Wednesday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m. to learn about why we're going to Lansing, review our budget asks, have any questions you have answered, and get comfortable before joining us in person at the Capitol!

Register here for Advocacy Day Prep.

Here is an opportunity to help the Michigan Education Justice Coalition (MEJC), a community partner with DFT, organize for fully funding public schools and making sure our government - local, state, and federal - works for the people. There is a training, a virtual event, on Thursday, April 17 @ 6:30 p.m. which is particularly important right now - Special Education Funding. The federal Department of Education distributes IDEA Act funds for special education students. What will happen to those students now that the Ed Department may be going away? Register here for Special Education Funding and Updates.

Join 482forward (a DFT community partner) and others for a Virtual Tax Day Teach In, Tuesday, April 15th from 6-7:30 p.m. We'll be in conversation with Dr. Vitti, Economist and MSU Professor Dr. David Arsen, and others discussing how taxes impact school funding!

We will learn more about the tax breaks that funnel money away from our schools and neighborhoods and into the pockets of the rich! We'll also have a chance to have in-depth conversations about specific topics like national funding cuts & implications for DPSCD; school funding; corporate handouts that harm our communities and more!

Register here.

• Sign Up for Red for Ed Walks: the schedule lists the following locations: Auburn Hills, downriver, Hamtramck, Macomb, Belleville, Ann Arbor, Taylor, Detroit, Dearborn. Sign up here: https://aftmichigan.org/red-for-ed-walks/. You can also RSVP through this QR.

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• Phone Banking Dates are in Eastpointe on October 16 12:30-2:30 p.m. at https://www.mobilize.us/aflcio/event/702777/ and October 30 in Taylor and Detroit 5:00-7:00 p.m. at https://www.mobilize.us/aflcio/event/702779/

• Tomorrow @ 8:15 p.m. Virtual Watch Party for Vice President Debate ​
• Join AFT Activist
• ​​Red for Ed Walks in Taylor, Saturdays @ 10 a.m.: October 5, October 19, November 2
• Red for Ed Walks in Hamtramck, Saturdays @ 10 a.m.: October 12, October 26, November 2​
• any day through October 18: Phone Banking Highest Priority​
• Red for Ed Walk in Detroit, Saturdays @ 10 a.m.: October 19, October 26, November 2