AFP Skyline Region Event Calendar

The summer heat is upon us!  And, as summer continues, our pandemic challenge continues as well.  Hope your staying well and cool.

 

Americans for Prosperity continues our online, virtual presentations for July.  You can view online or call into the presentation via phone.  And, we have a summer favorite to announce too!

 

July Events:

 

AFP Online Presentation:  "Public Union Threat to Virginia"

Tuesday, July 14 @ 7:00pm

Learn why collective bargaining is the #1 economic threat to local Virginia municipalities.  In Virginia, the Left focused on Medicaid expansion and guns under Northam.  Now they are ramming unions down to the local level.  Eye opening information and how AFP will be mobilizing soon to stop them.

View online:  https://standtogether.zoom.us/j/91317508415

Phone Call Info:  Dial (646)558-8656 Meeting ID: 91317508415#

 

AFP Online Presentation:  "Going Viral"

Tuesday, July 28 @ 7:00pm

Learn the growing importance of online policy advocacy.  And, learn how to use social media skills to become an effective digital activist.

View online:  https://standtogether.zoom.us/j/96832308732

Phone Call Info:  (312)626-6799  Meeting ID:  96832308732#

 

Big Announcement!

 

Coming in August…

The 6^th Annual AFP Skyline Barbecue for Freedom

Our annual gathering of activists from the Skyline Region. 

Stay tuned for the specific date and location.

 

 

 

 

Flint Engleman

Grassroots Engagement Director

Americans for Prosperity-Virginia | Skyline Region

(540)226-4591 | FEngleman@afphq.org

 

UVA CRs Recent updates

Good morning,

I hope everyone is enjoying their summers, and would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy Fourth of July. We are all lucky to call this nation home and soon we will be celebrating another year of our independence!

Meeting with Delegate Rich Anderson

As many have said before, however, our freedom does not come freely. Part of our obligation as citizens is to participate in the electoral process. A few days ago we learned about this and more from veteran and former member of the House of Delegates, Rich Anderson, who is a candidate for Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. We asked him many questions about his experience, the future of the GOP in Virginia, and what his plan to get Republicans winning statewide again was. We appreciated him coming to spend some time with us and we all learned a thing or two.

 

 

Election Day

UVA CRs were out in force on Election Day, and we can't wait to get to work for our superb Senate candidate, Daniel Gade! Here is a photo of some of our members who did their civic duty last week.

 

 

Well, that is all from us for today. Until later and have a great Independence Day!

CRs plays a vital role in engaging the next generation of conservatives. We rely on supporters like you to advance conservatism on Grounds and beyond. If you would like to help us in that fight, you can do so at this link. A donation of any size helps ensure that there is still a future for the message of life, liberty, and property in this country. Thank you.

 

The 2020-21 Executive Board

Chris Tomlin, President

Cameron Cox, Vice President of Campaigns and Advocacy

Garrett Scocos, Vice President of Operations

Lauren Hale, Treasurer

Jack Forys, Secretary

Libby Klinger, Director of Communications and Recruitment

Kaylee Corvin, Outreach Coordinator

  

llegal Aliens Go for Stimulus Checks—Again

June 30, 2020

IRLI shows why new case should be dismissed

WASHINGTON—Yesterday, on behalf of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) filed a friend-of-the-court brief in federal district court in California in a tax case that has major immigration ramifications. In it, a class of taxpayers is demanding that the Treasury Department provide Covid-relief stimulus checks to their spouses, who lack social security numbers because they are illegal aliens.  

By law, the checks, which are meant to stimulate the American economy, can only go to those who have social security numbers. But the plaintiffs claim that this law discriminates against them on account of their marital status, in violation of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.  

In its brief, IRLI shows that there is no fundamental right to marital recognition that encompasses a right of illegal aliens to receive checks from the United States government. Accordingly, the federal statute in question should be upheld if it has a rational basis. It surely has that—giving public benefits to those in our country unlawfully only encourages others to break our immigration laws.  

"The main thing stimulus checks for illegal aliens would stimulate is more illegal immigration," said Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of IRLI. "Congress knew that, and was absolutely right to reserve the stimulus for American citizens and certain legal aliens. In no way does the Constitution forbid this choice. We hope the district court sees how meritless this money-grab is, and dismisses the case."  

The case is Doe v. Trump, No. 8:20-cv-00858 (C.D. Cal.).

For additional information, contact: Brian Lonergan • 202-232-5590 • blonergan@irli.org

Media Malfeasance

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

By Gary Bauer

I have reviewed more media accounts of the president's speech last week at Mount Rushmore. Next to the vile Charlottesville hoax, this has been one of worst examples of the media blatantly lying about what the president said. 

Not only did virtually every major media outlet, except for Fox News, twist the president's remarks, multiple politicians lied through their teeth without any interviewer factchecking them. 

For example, one progressive senator claimed that the president "spent more time worried about honoring dead Confederates" than anything else. Trump never mentioned Confederate generals in his speech!

Again, if you missed the president's address at Mount Rushmore, I encourage you to watch it here. It was a rousing defense of America, and nothing at all like what the media are describing.

U.S. Supreme Court affirms the rights of religious schools in employment decisions, says Family Rese

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Family Research Council President Tony Perkins applauded the decision handed down today by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, in which a teacher responsible for leading students in prayer and religious preparation sued a Catholic School that desired to discontinue working with her.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"We are pleased that the Supreme Court has decided to uphold First Amendment free exercise of religion in this case. The ability to curate who provides religious instruction is fundamental to the free exercise of any religiously-informed institution.

"Despite the egregious decision in the recently-decided Bostock v. Clayton County case, today's First Amendment decision suggests that religious institutions still have a prayer of preserving and promoting their biblical teachings when it comes to employment decisions. This tiny step is far from sufficient, but it does offer a glimmer of hope that the Supreme Court has not forgotten that religious freedom is the most fundamental right of all," concluded Perkins.

Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council, added: "It is not the government's role to dictate who may teach the faith to the next generation. I'm glad the Supreme Court properly recognized the spheres of authority separating Church and State and protected this school's ability to determine who will teach the faith to the children under their care."

Facebook Pic of the Day

Facebook Pic of the Day

Facebook Pic of the Day

Facebook Pic of the Day

Quote of the Day

"All my life, I've been inspired by the example of the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. . . I cherish the progress that we have made towards a more perfect union for African-Americans throughout our history. . . And as a pro-life American, I also believe that all life matters, born and unborn. 

 

"But what I see in the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement is a political agenda of the radical left that would defund the police that would tear down monuments, that would press a radical left agenda. . .

 

"I really believe that all lives matter, and that's where the heart of the American people lies."

Vice President Pence

EMET Applauds Member of Congress for Support of Israeli Extension of Sovereignty Over Parts of Judea and Samaria

Washington, D.C., June 24, 2020

The Endowment for Middle East Truth applauds Senate and House Republicans for their letter to President Trump supporting Israel's right to extend sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. These letters, signed by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and John Barrasso (R-WY) and 116 members of the House of Representatives, led by Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), recognize the legal right of the Israeli government to apply Israeli law on the over 500,000 Jews living in this disputed territory.

The members of Congress who signed these letters have demonstrated that they are true friends of Israel. They have shown that they are dedicated to supporting the democratically-elected Israeli government as it decides how to best protect its citizens and secure its future. They recognize that this move is necessary for Israel to remain a sovereign nation with defensible borders.

As these members of Congress appreciate, extending sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria signals a much needed paradigm shift in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. After 27 years of trying to negotiate with the Palestinians, Israel has come to the conclusion that the model laid out in the Oslo Accords cannot work if they do not have a partner in peace on the other side of the negotiating table. Instead, under the new model laid out by the Trump peace plan, Israel will start taking concrete action in pursuit of a secure and peaceful future as the homeland of the Jewish people.

EMET expresses its immense gratitude to the members of Congress who signed these letters. They have stated unequivocally that not only international law, but also its friends in the US Congress stand fully behind Israel as it takes key steps to promote stability in the region and peace on its borders. In the face of many of Israel's so-called "friends" failing to stand up and support their ally, EMET is proud to know that these 7 Senators and 116 Representatives continue to advocate for what is best for Israeli and American interests moving forward.

Says EMET Founder and President, Sarah Stern, "Israel has tried, in good faith, for 27 years to reach out to the Palestinians with incredibly generous offers, and each offer has been met with Palestinian rejectionism, intransigence and yet another wave of violence. We do not believe in rewarding bad behavior. We have endorsed the Trump plan, because for the first time, it gives some agency to the Palestinians for their previous conduct. It is about time that the Oslo experiment be recognized for what it was: a failure. We, at EMET, are exceedingly grateful to the 7 Republican Senators and 116 Republicans in the House of Representatives who appreciate that Israel needs defensible borders, so it can defend itself, by itself."

IRLI Press Release: Victory! DC Court Upholds Immigration Ban

June 24, 2020

Agreeing with IRLI, court denies injunction  

WASHINGTON—Yesterday, the federal district court for the District of Columbia refused to grant an injunction against President Trump's ban on green cards issued abroad. Late last week, the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) had filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the court to deny the injunction. 

In his proclamation, the President suspended immigration to reserve jobs for American workers in this time of sky-high unemployment. But the plaintiffs, who had left their children behind to immigrate to this country, argued that the freeze on green cards abroad meant that their children about to turn 21 would find it far more difficult to join their parents in the U.S. than otherwise would have been the case. The court was skeptical of this claim, however, finding that the proclamation left open other avenues of relief for the plaintiffs' children, and declined to issue an injunction. 

"We have defended the President's immigration ban a number of times now, and are pleased to say that so far it remains unhindered by any of the challenges against it," said Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of IRLI. "As a legal matter, his authority in this area of foreign affairs is crystal clear, and his use of it here to protect Americans' livelihoods is exactly what Congress intended. Going forward, it is vital to maintain the President's authority to issue this and other proclamations in the national interest." 

The case is Gomez v. Trump, No. 1:20-cv-01419 (D.D.C.). 

EMET Expresses Its Profound Gratitude To The U.S. Government For Its Breakthrough In The Case Of Ahlam Tamimi

(Washington, D.C., June 16, 2020) The Endowment for Middle East Truth, (EMET) is profoundly grateful to learn that the US government is demanding the extradition of Ahlam Tamimi, a Jordanian national who was responsible for masterminding the Sbarro Pizzeria Massacre on August 9, 2001. This resulted in the murder of 15 civilians, including two American citizens, Malki Roth (15) and Judith Greenbaum (31) who was pregnant at the time. A third American, Chana Nachenberg (31) has been in a permanent vegetative state ever since.

This story broke in this morning's AP Wire service that the United States is considering withholding US aid to Jordan unless Ms. Tamimi is extradited to these shores.

This has been a long awaited breakthrough in the arduous road towards justice. It represents a huge shift in American foreign policy. Up until now, certain Americans, particularly those who have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists, have been treated as the disposable pawns on a foreign policy chessboard; and justice has taken a back seat to foreign policy considerations.

In particular, EMET would like to thank Senator Ted Cruz, (R-Texas) for pressing this issue with US Ambassador to Jordan, Henry Wooster, as part of the Ambassador Wooster's confirmation process.

We would also like to thank Ambassador Henry Wooster for his clarity in his response and for being on the right side of history. According to the Associated Press, Ambassador Wooster wrote "The United States has multiple options and different types of leverage to secure Ahlam Aref Ahmad Al-Tamimi's extradition," Wooster wrote. "We will continue to engage Jordanian officials at all levels not only on this issue, but also on the extradition treaty more broadly. U.S. generosity to Jordan in Foreign Military Financing as well as economic support and other assistance is carefully calibrated to protect and advance the range of U.S. interests in Jordan and in the region." When asked if US aid to Jordan would be used to as leverage in the Tamimi extradition, Ambassador Wooster replied, "If confirmed, I would explore all options to bring Ahlam Aref Ahamad al Tamimi to justice, secure her extradition, and explore the broader issues associated with the extradition treaty."

Ms. Tamimi has claimed she specifically sought out a place frequented by young Jewish families, and picked up the suicide bomber, Izz al din Shuheil al Masri, (Arabic: عز الدين شهيل المصري) where he detonated himself. The blast that ensued was so great it rocked most of Western Jerusalem. Tamimi was arrested by the Israeli authorities, and sentenced to 16 consecutive life terms. However, in 2011, she was among 1,027 Hamas terrorists with blood on their hands, who were been traded for the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

When she flew to Jordan, she was immediately welcomed like a conquering hero and given her own regular spot on a Hamas television show, where she set herself up a role-model for potential female terrorists because of this heinous crime.

Ahlam Tamimi remains the most wanted female terrorist on the FBI's Most Wanted List. There is a $5 million bounty on Ms. Tamimi's head. Jordan signed an extradition treaty with the United States on March 28, 1995. Since then, three other terrorists were extradited to the United States, Eyad Ismoil on August 2, 1995, Mohammad Zaki Amawi in 2006, and Nadar Sadar in 2015.

However, since Ms. Tamimi has received "rock star status" as a consequence of her dastardly crime, the Jordanians now claim that they lack an extradition treaty with the United States.

For many years, EMET has been working in the trenches about this issue. We are also grateful for a letter signed by seven Republican Congressmen who sent a letter to Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar on April 30, 2020 demanding that Ms. Tamimi complies with the American extradition request of M.s Tamimi. These include  Rep. Greg Steube, (R, Florida), Rep. Brian Mast, (R, Florida),  Rep. Paul Gosar, (R, Arizona), Rep. Doug Lamborn, (R, Colorado), Rep. Scott Perry (R, Pennsylvania), Rep. Ted Yaho, (Republican Florida) and Rep. Louie Gohmert, (R, Texas).

EMET has arranged for several Congressional letters on this issue throughout the years, and has successfully called for hearings in the House Oversight Committee on February 2, 2016, and in the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 4, 2015.

Says Sarah Stern, EMET Founder and President, "This is a very long awaited and wonderful breakthrough in the arduous path towards the realization of justice. However, we will not be happy until Ms. Tamimi is extradited to the United States and is forced to stand trial in a US Court of law, and to mete out her punishment in an American prison."

UVA College Republicans: Police Abolition

Good evening, 

We decided to address recent calls to defund or even abolish police departments across America. See our official statement below:

Thank you,

Your 2020-21 Executive Board

Chris Tomlin, President

Cameron Cox, Vice President of Campaigns and Advocacy

Garrett Scocos, Vice President of Operations

Lauren Hale, Treasurer

Jack Forys, Secretary

Libby Klinger, Director of Communications and Recruitment

Kaylee Corvin, Outreach Coordinator