Get Involved!

Criminal Justice
The Rockefeller Drug Laws
Many different organizations and individuals are currently involved in the repeal of New York's Rockefeller Drug Laws, but many more activists are needed. Here are a few actions to take on your own and larger groups with which to get involved.

1. Educate yourself and others about the reality behind the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Contact ICJP for resources on this.
2. Write letters to your state representatives urging them to support the repeal of these unjust laws immediately.
3. Attend the statewide Lobby Day in Albany for the repeal of the Rockefeller Laws on March 27, 2001. For information contact the Correctional Association of New York at 212.254.5700 or www.corrassoc.org.
4. Any religious groups are urged to join the Interfaith Partnership for Criminal Justice, a project of the Justice Works community by calling 718.499.6704.
   

The Death Penalty
Working to end the death penalty in the U.S. requires both individual action and working in alliance. Here are some actions to take on your own, as well as some local and national organizations to contact.

1. Educate yourself and others on the TRUTHS behind the death penalty. Contact ICJP or some of the organizations listed below for resources on this.
2. Stay informed on upcoming executions and any major events that occur. Utilize the websites listed on our Issues page to keep on top of all the latest death penalty news.
3. Hold discussion and/or prayer groups among your friends, in your church/congregation. Contact ICJP for resources to do this.
4. Sign the Declaration of Life and vow to not contribute to the cycle of violence. Contact ICJP for information on how to receive this document.
5. If you are a member of a religious congregation, support the passage of a corporate stance in your community, and/or take parting a public witness against the death penalty through the For Whom the Bells Toll project. Contact ICJP for information on these projects.
6. To find an organization in your area that is working to end capital punishment, check out the "related Websites" link at the Death Penalty Information Center's "Information Topics" webpage: www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/topics.html

Immigrant Justice
Justicia para los Inmigrantes
For now the best way to stay involved with efforts for Immigrant Justice is to be on-call with the new Congressional Session in January 2001, and support any new initiatives to bring Justice to Immigrants. Stay in touch with ICJP for further information of other ways to get involved as the new Congress starts working on this issue.

Economic Justice
Welfare Reform
Write a letter to your congressperson. Let your congressperson know that you are dissatisfied with the 1996 welfare reform legislation. Remind them that while the nation as a whole is enjoying economic prosperity, 35 million people are living in poverty and this is unacceptable to you. Use the statistics of the 1999 NETWORK National Welfare Reform Watch Project in your letter.

To locate your congressperson go to: www.capweb.net/classic/index.morph
Visit www.networklobby.org.

Labor Justice
Annual NYS Labor Religion Coalition Forty-Hour Fast in Annual Solidarity With Low-Wage Workers: Tuesday, March 27, 8:00pm through Thursday, March 29 Noon-2001.
“Invisible Workers, Hidden Abuses” - Focus on Immigrant Worker Issues. With work-site vigils, interfaith services, worker testimony. For more information on local NYC Fast events call: (212) 406-2156 extension 237 or ICJP at 212-475-6677.

Children's Rights
Child Labor

1. Investigate this website: www.us.ilo.org/ilokidsnew/index.html
2. Write to your congressperson and raise your concern about child labor.
3. Write to your senator and advocate for the U.S. to ratify the Children's Convention.
4. Create health kits and school kits to be delivered to recently rescued child laborers.
5. For further information contact www.freethechildren.org and look under "projects."

Children in War
Visit http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/signers.html