Join us at The Hideaway Saturday, July 21anytime between 9 am and noon for this month’s League letter writing get together. Our focus is the upcoming decision about the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census. The League has a formal statement opposing the addition of a citizenship question and the public comment period ends August 7th. We’ll provide paper, pens, stamps, background information and sample letters -you just need to show up, have a drink, and write! Drop by whether you can stay for 15 minutes or two hours and bring a friend.
This year, our local League plans to do a series of letter writing events to provide education for members, action opportunities, and a chance to get together with other League members.
Information from the MN League of Women Voters:
Earlier this year, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that he had directed the Census Bureau to add a question about citizenship status to the 2020 Census. The Department of Commerce is accepting public comments until August 7th on the use of a citizenship question in the U.S. Census. We need as many people as possible to respond with comments to oppose this decision. This will demonstrate there is a strong public voice that opposes this decision.
Secretary Ross disregarded the advice and recommendations of Census officials, including six former Census Bureau directors from Republican and Democratic administrations, who stated in aJanuary 26th letter to the Secretary, “We strongly believe that adding an untested question on citizenship status at this late point in the decennial planning process would put the accuracy of the enumeration and success of the census in all communities at grave risk.
For more on the 2020 Census, you can watch our video from the presentation at the High School this spring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvSP1PWjZ9Q
