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🚨NC House (Unmasking Mobs...) Bill 237 Rapid Response Info Sheet - UPDATE
This discussion thread is pinned.
Direct Action Document for distribution, paragraph rule inapplicable
Table of Contents
Update + Call to Action > Quick Facts > Action Step 1: Emails > Action Step 2: Calls > Alternate Talking Points for Calls + Emails
Update + Call to Action!
HB 237 (more details below) will be voted on in the NC House, to concur or not concur on the removal of masking exemptions that passed in the NC Senate. If they concur, the bill becomes law. If they don’t concur, the changes will be reworked (in a closed conference committee meeting with a mix of both Senate and House members.)
Our goal is to contact legislators and advocate for the inclusion of a health exemption ASAP! Our deadline is Tuesday, May 21st.
The House has not yet announced when the HB 237 vote will be but the next possible opportunity is Tuesday, May 21st at 11a. This bill has been rushed along so far therefore it’s quite possible the vote will occur ASAP.
CALL + EMAIL NORTH CAROLINA REPRESENTATIVES TO TELL THEM NO ON HB 237! Scripts, talking points, and contacts can all be found below the Quick Facts.
Quick Facts
What is HB 237? What’s Happening now?
HB 237, Also known as the “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals Bill”, is a law that makes face coverings in public illegal. There are several exemptions, including an exemption for “health & safety reasons” that was passed in March 2023 to account for the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Currently, NC lawmakers are attempting to remove the health & safety exemption to retaliate against students holding Palestinian solidarity protests. The removal of this necessary exemption would further isolate disabled/immunocompromised people and create even more consequences for protesters who are arrested. More information here...
https://www.wral.com/story/protesters-who-wear-masks-or-block-traffic-should-face-harsher-penalties-nc-lawmakers/21418835/
If you’d like to tap in with Covid safety organizers, follow and/or DM Triangle Mask Bloc here ...
https://www.instagram.com/trianglemaskbloc/
What is a phone or email zap?
Phone and email "zaps" are an easy and direct way of letting public officials and others know what you want them to do or to stop doing. It may involve voting on a particular bill, or actually implementing plans they have proposed but haven't acted upon. People in positions of power take such actions seriously. Politicians usually keep track of their pro and con calls on controversial issues. Phone and email zaps are particularly useful when you need to respond to something quickly. (ACT UP)
Link...
https://actupny.org/documents/PZ.html
Step 1:
Copy/Paste the email below and the grouped contacts for the NC House and Senate to contact your reps (the House are split into two chunks so that it won’t max out your recipients.)
You can also use ncmegaphone.com to send these emails automatically!
Example Email/Letter
Hello Senator/Representative [Last name],
I am emailing today to express my opposition to the amendment to HB 237, also called the Unmasking Mobs and Criminals Bill, that was proposed on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024. I am a constituent of District [Number], living in [Town Name], North Carolina.
The proposed removal of the health and safety exemption ignores the ongoing pandemic, impinges on federal rights, and would have larger material consequences on the economy and our communities’ collective wellbeing.
As we speak, new COVID variants have emerged and are predicted to cause a wave of infections, disabilities, and death this summer. Thousands of people continue to be hospitalized, disabled, or killed by COVID-19 every day in this country and around the world. Health and safety professionals identify masking or the use of high-quality respirators as the best protection against airborne viruses and disease. To remove the medical exemption in the midst of an ongoing risk to public health is irresponsible and endangering your constituents.
Earlier this year, Congress held its first hearing on Long COVID and the need for research and resources on this complex and often-times confusing illness. From the advocacy and testimony of doctors, frontline workers, and Long COVID patients themselves, there has been an international push to recognize Long COVID as a disability. Disabled Americans are protected under the American Disabilities Act to have access to accommodations necessarily for thriving and survival. High-quality masks and respirators are medically necessary for those disabled by or at risk of being disabled by COVID-19 and other airborne viruses. To remove the health and safety exemption would be a violation of the federal rights of disabled and immunocompromised citizens.
The larger material consequences of this amendment to the bill on the state of North Carolina cannot be understated. Hospitals, schools, social services, and even restaurants and recreation spots are massively understaffed, underfunded, and overworked. This amendment to remove the health and safety exemption, essentially increasing the potential spread of sickness and disease, would put these already overextended aspects of our society and our economy into further disarray and strain.
I strongly urge you to consider these material consequences, but more importantly, your disabled and immunocompromised constituents by voting against any amendments to House Bill 237 that would further restrict masking as a necessary precaution.
NOTE: ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT.
NC House Emails - Group 1
Jay.Adams@ncleg.gov,Eric.Ager@ncleg.gov,Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.gov,Vernetta.Alston@ncleg.gov,Dean.Arp@ncleg.gov,John.Autry@ncleg.gov,Amber.Baker@ncleg.gov,Kristin.Baker@ncleg.gov,Jennifer.Balkcom@ncleg.gov,Cynthia.Ball@ncleg.gov,Mary.Belk@ncleg.gov,John.Bell@ncleg.gov,Brian.Biggs@ncleg.gov,Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.gov,John.Bradford@ncleg.gov,Alan.Branson@ncleg.gov,William.Brisson@ncleg.gov,Cecil.Brockman@ncleg.gov,Mark.Brody@ncleg.gov,Gloristine.Brown@ncleg.gov,Kanika.Brown@ncleg.gov,Terry.Brown@ncleg.gov,Allen.Buansi@ncleg.gov,Laura.Budd@ncleg.gov,Deb.Butler@ncleg.gov,Celeste.Cairns@ncleg.gov,Becky.Carney@ncleg.gov,Maria.Cervania@ncleg.gov,Allen.Chesser@ncleg.gov,Mike.Clampitt@ncleg.gov,Ashton.Clemmons@ncleg.gov,George.Cleveland@ncleg.gov,Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.gov,Sarah.Crawford@ncleg.gov,Kevin.Crutchfield@ncleg.gov,Carla.Cunningham@ncleg.gov,Allison.Dahle@ncleg.gov,Ted.Davis@ncleg.gov,Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.gov,Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.gov,Terence.Everitt@ncleg.gov,John.Faircloth@ncleg.gov,Ken.Fontenot@ncleg.gov,Rosa.Gill@ncleg.gov,Karl.Gillespie@ncleg.gov,Edward.Goodwin@ncleg.gov,Dudley.Greene@ncleg.gov,Destin.Hall@ncleg.gov,Kyle.Hall@ncleg.gov,Wesley.Harris@ncleg.gov,Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.gov,Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.gov,Zack.Hawkins@ncleg.gov,Julia.Howard@ncleg.gov,Chris.Humphrey@ncleg.gov,Frank.Iler@ncleg.gov,Frances.Jackson@ncleg.gov,Neal.Jackson@ncleg.gov,Ray.Jeffers@ncleg.gov,Joe.John@ncleg.gov
NC House Emails - Group 2
Jake.Johnson@ncleg.gov,Abe.Jones@ncleg.gov,Brenden.Jones@ncleg.gov,Keith.Kidwell@ncleg.gov,Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.gov,Ya.Liu@ncleg.gov,Donnie.Loftis@ncleg.gov,Brandon.Lofton@ncleg.gov,Carolyn.Logan@ncleg.gov,Tim.Longest@ncleg.gov,Jarrod.Lowery@ncleg.gov,Marvin.Lucas@ncleg.gov,Nasif.Majeed@ncleg.gov,Jeffrey.McNeely@ncleg.gov,Charles.Miller@ncleg.gov,Grey.Mills@ncleg.gov,Tim.Moore@ncleg.gov,Marcia.Morey@ncleg.gov,Ben.Moss@ncleg.gov,Erin.Pare@ncleg.gov,Howard.Penny@ncleg.gov,Ray.Pickett@ncleg.gov,Garland.Pierce@ncleg.gov,Joe.Pike@ncleg.gov,Mark.Pless@ncleg.gov,Larry.Potts@ncleg.gov,Lindsey.Prather@ncleg.gov,Renee.Price@ncleg.gov,Reece.Pyrtle@ncleg.gov,Amos.Quick@ncleg.gov,Timothy.Reeder@ncleg.gov,Robert.Reives@ncleg.gov,Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.gov,James.Roberson@ncleg.gov,Stephen.Ross@ncleg.gov,Caleb.Rudow@ncleg.gov,Jason.Saine@ncleg.gov,Wayne.Sasser@ncleg.gov,John.Sauls@ncleg.gov,Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.gov,Phil.Shepard@ncleg.gov,Carson.Smith@ncleg.gov,Charles.Smith@ncleg.gov,Frank.Sossamon@ncleg.gov,Diamond.Staton-Williams@ncleg.gov,Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.gov,Larry.Strickland@ncleg.gov,John.Torbett@ncleg.gov,Steve.Tyson@ncleg.gov,Julie.vonHaefen@ncleg.gov,Bill.Ward@ncleg.gov,Harry.Warren@ncleg.gov,Sam.Watford@ncleg.gov,Diane.Wheatley@ncleg.gov,Donna.White@ncleg.gov,Shelly.Willingham@ncleg.gov,David.Willis@ncleg.gov,Matthew.Winslow@ncleg.gov,Michael.Wray@ncleg.gov,Jeff.Zenger@ncleg.gov
NC Senate Emails
Gale.Adcock@ncleg.gov,Ted.Alexander@ncleg.gov,Val.Applewhite@ncleg.gov,Lisa.Barnes@ncleg.gov,Sydney.Batch@ncleg.gov,Phil.Berger@ncleg.gov,Dan.Blue@ncleg.gov,MaryWills.Bode@ncleg.gov,Danny.Britt@ncleg.gov,Jim.Burgin@ncleg.gov,Jay.Chaudhuri@ncleg.gov,Kevin.Corbin@ncleg.gov,David.Craven@ncleg.gov,Warren.Daniel@ncleg.gov,Carl.Ford@ncleg.gov,Amy.Galey@ncleg.gov,Michael.Garrett@ncleg.gov,Lisa.Grafstein@ncleg.gov,Bobby.Hanig@ncleg.gov,Ralph.Hise@ncleg.gov,Rachel.Hunt@ncleg.gov,Brent.Jackson@ncleg.gov,Steve.Jarvis@ncleg.gov,Todd.Johnson@ncleg.gov,Joyce.Krawiec@ncleg.gov,Michael.Lazzara@ncleg.gov,Michael.Lee@ncleg.gov,Paul.Lowe@ncleg.gov,Natasha.Marcus@ncleg.gov,Julie.Mayfield@ncleg.gov,Tom.McInnis@ncleg.gov,Graig.Meyer@ncleg.gov,Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.gov,Mujtaba.Mohammed@ncleg.gov,Natalie.Murdock@ncleg.gov,Buck.Newton@ncleg.gov,Paul.Newton@ncleg.gov,Brad.Overcash@ncleg.gov,Jim.Perry@ncleg.gov,Dean.Proctor@ncleg.gov,Bill.Rabon@ncleg.gov,Gladys.Robinson@ncleg.gov,DeAndrea.Salvador@ncleg.gov,Norman.Sanderson@ncleg.gov,Benton.Sawrey@ncleg.gov,Vickie.Sawyer@ncleg.gov,Eddie.Settle@ncleg.gov,Kandie.Smith@ncleg.gov,Joyce.Waddell@ncleg.gov,Mike.Woodard@ncleg.gov
Step 2:
Call Your Reps in the North Carolina General Assembly; you can find all the contact info here.
Link...
https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/ContactInfo/H
(We also have the info in a table below.)
North Carolina General Assembly Contact List
Link...
https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/ContactInfo/H
Type in your address and find your legislators here.
https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators
HB 237’s sponsor in the General Assembly is Representative John Torbet (R), 704-263-9282, John.Torbett@ncleg.gov.
Phone Zap Script
Hello Senator/Representative [Last name],
I am a constituent of District [Number], living in [Town Name], North Carolina, and I am calling today to ask you to vote against the proposed amendment to House Bill 237 (the Unmasking Mobs and Criminals Bill). Removing the health and safety exemption for masking in public would harm my life and the lives of many other constituents. Thousands of people continue to be hospitalized, disabled, or killed by COVID-19 every day in this country and around the world. Removing masking as a protection would contribute to economic decline through overcrowding and understaffing of schools, hospitals, and businesses.
High-quality masks and respirators are medically necessary for those of us who are disabled and/or immunocompromised. This amendment would be a direct violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act which was created to protect and accommodate disabled citizens. People have the right to protect themselves from airborne contaminants. I strongly urge you to consider these material consequences, but more importantly, your disabled and immunocompromised constituents by voting against any amendments to House Bill 237 that would further restrict masking as a necessary precaution.
NOTE: ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT.
NC General Assembly Contact List
Spreadsheet here...
https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1L5kxltB-DzaP2kSwIQLP2EZ1Y5WsfZIDo5Lmz2Sh8jE/mobilebasic
SNIP...
Additional Talking Points
Masking as ADA accommodations
●Masking as a tool for survival; medically necessary like a wheelchair or other mobility and accessibility aids, glasses, hearing aid
●When we criminalize masking we make it impossible for immunocompromised people to work, support the economy, be part of society
Collective Wellbeing & (What they Care About) The Economy
●Collective impact on hospitals, school and work sick days. Will cause more people to miss work and school; cause delays in receiving crucial healthcare; deplete the labor force and damage the economy
●Disconnecting from COVID, and focussing on masks as necessary for general health & wellness for many elderly and disabled people. (COVID is triggering potentially)
Ban as Impinging on Personal Freedom / Protections of 14th Amendment / Encouraging Profiling
●It is not a functional or rational measure, it is like saying that because people wear shirts in one context then no one can wear shirts in any other setting; it impinges on our freedom
●Mask wearing has been presented as a matter of personal choice and now we suddenly don’t have that choice, the choice is being made for us
●People have different reasons for needing to cover their bodies (religious, physical, psychological) and they should have a right to do so. You cannot determine the reason that someone is covering their body just by looking at them; this ban could impinge on 14th amendment rights
●This will disproportionately impact people who are already discrimination and biased treatment from law enforcement.
●Lawful or unlawful behavior can’t be predicted by mask-wearing, nor can intent. Mask wearing is not inherently bad or harmful. It should remain a neutral choice
●There is no legitimate link between medical mask wearing and the original intent of this law against racist hate groups; this is an outdated and a misguided use of previous legislation.
Ongoing Pandemic/Risks to Public Health and Safety
●As we speak, new COVID variants have emerged and are predicted to cause a wave of infections, disabilities, and death this summer. To remove the medical exemption in the midst of an ongoing risk to public health is irresponsible and endangering your constituents.
Personal Connection
●Having been disabled by COVID-19, I worry for others who could be disabled and also for what would happen if I were to get sick again; I could lose the ability to work and support myself or to participate in social life, be dependent on systems that can’t support me
###
Link to original call to action here on Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1L5kxltB-DzaP2kSwIQLP2EZ1Y5WsfZIDo5Lmz2Sh8jE/mobilebasic
Please consider supporting this cause. Thank you.
~Esse Quam Videri~
❤️pants
GOTV!
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