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Havdalah #56: Chicago, Solar Power, and Senator McCaffrey

Havdalah #56: Chicago, Solar Power, and Senator McCaffrey

20 Tishrei, 5785 / October 11, 2025

White Rose RI
October 11, 2025

White text on black backgound that says "We are your bad conscience. We will not leave you peace."

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Hey ya’ll,

Autumn is here! The leaves are turning warm colors, and the chill of fall mornings finally set in this week. I broke the sweaters out of my closet last weekend, and I am ready to curl up with some hot pumpkin cappuccinos.

We have a shorter newsletter today, but please check it out, including some new calls to action from The Womxn Project.

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu…

Jackie (she/her)

PS: We’d like to hear from you! Let us know how we’re doing!

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Workers and Renters: Providence General Assembly

When: Saturday, October 18, 12:00pm and every other Saturday
Where: 134 Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903
From their Instagram:
- Worried about Trump?
- Want to defend our communities?
- Want a world that works for everyone?
- Come to the Providence General Assembly!
Spanish, ASL interpretation and childcare available upon email request
Masking requested and masks will be provided
Direct questions to [email protected]
Providence General Assembly
Workers and Renters Website

The Womxn Project Call to Actions

Not quite an event, but the Womxn Project has provided a couple of actions to do to respond to the health and food crisis in Rhode Island:
Call to Action #1: Help Your Neighbor! Let’s build food security for our community into our daily actions!
- With the expanding food crisis, The Womxn Project, in partnership with the RI Food Bank, RI Food Policy Council, RI State Council of Churches, and Youth Pride, is issuing a statewide call to action, STAT!
- Every nonprofit organization or for-profit business—from sports teams and scouting troops to art collectives and faith communities—is being asked to include a food collection at every one of their events.
- In a recent interview with Rhode Island Public Radio, RI Food Bank Executive Director Melissa Cherney reported that nearly 40% of Rhode Islanders are experiencing food insecurity. “RI has many committed non-profit organizations. That means we have the reach and the power to make an enormous difference if we act together. This is how we show what community care really looks like.” Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of The Womxn Project.
- As the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island can prove it’s also the biggest in heart. This initiative—called “Big Table Rhode Island!”—urges organizations to normalize giving by encouraging attendees to bring canned or nonperishable goods to every meeting, practice, or event, creating a culture of consistent, everyday support for local pantries. Read more
- Read the 3 Ways to Get Involved
- Sign the pledge and start today!
Call to Action #2: Voting Transparency: The Bodily Freedom Forever Index Questionnaires are out!
- This past week, the Womxn Project sent the Bodily Freedom Forever Index questionnaire to every elected official in our state, from town and city school committee or town counselors, to state reps and senators on up.
- Through civic engagement, policy advancement, and artivism, TWP takes action to secure reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and government transparency in Rhode Island. The BFFI is an ongoing initiative to record and report the stance of each elected official in RI on these issues to promote transparency in our elections.
- TWP defines "bodily freedom" as sole decision-making power over one's body, so long as those decisions do not infringe on another’s bodily autonomy. When evaluating an official's stance on bodily freedom, TWP considers two (of many) issues: support for reproductive rights and support for LGBTQ+ equality.
- HELP TWP get a response from your local elected officials -- have them fill out the BFFI survey sent to their emails!
Call to Action #3: Our Rhode Island "Kavanaugh" Problem: An Anti-Democratic Nominee for Judge
- Earlier this summer the chair of the RI Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) stated TWP broke precedent for the amount of emails and oral testimony shared against one candidate seeking a district judge position. Summary video.
- Why? Michael McCaffrey is an anti-abortion, anti-marriage equality candidate with the separation of church and state being of no concern. After the JNC voted on him and others, they passed the recommendations on to the Governor who "taps" a few candidates, to then go to the RI Senate for a final vote.
- Since the vote, 3 new district judges have retired making it so there are FOUR positions to fill. All the calls and attention to this from the summer is not lost.
- We need to call our Senators and say NO to a representative that is not aligned to the majority of RI's values. Remember, there are FIVE names that were passed onto the Governor. Join us in saying no to McCaffrey-"Kavanaugh." Say yes to the four others!

ACLU Rights Explainers

When: Up now
Where: Online
The ACLU just released two updated versions of their explainers about your rights when interacting with immigration agents (ICE) or the police. They have them available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Haitian Creole, French, Swahili, Dari, Pashto, and Khmer.
Read and save this material – regardless of your own immigration status – and send to friends and family! Click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page to download PDFs that you can print, plus the ACLU posted on all their social media platforms (@riaclu) if you want to save and share online.
If you have a specific way to distribute larger numbers of the paper copies, please email the RI ACLU at [email protected] or call them at 401-831-7171. They have a limited supply printed, but will provide as many as they are able.
ACLU Rights Explainers

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Book Talk with Authors for “In Light and Shadow: Photographic from Indigenous America”

When: Wednesday, October 15, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Peace Dale Neighborhood Guild - Room 12, 325 Columbia Street, South Kingstown, 02879
Discover the vital role of Indigenous American photographers in shaping the history of photography and the Americas.
In Light and Shadow: Photographic from Indigenous America features over 80 photographers, including South Kingstown’s Kenneth “Ken” T. Mars, Jr. Join South County History Center and Tomaquag Museum for a free author talk.
Learn more at
- SouthCountyHistoryCenter.org/events.
- TomaquagMuseum.org/events.

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AMOR Community Fund for ICE Detainees

The Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance (AMOR) is a grassroots, community-led organization in Rhode Island working to counter state-sponsored and interpersonal violence against marginalized folks.

The AMOR Community Fund for ICE Detainees is looking to support all people experiencing detention in RI, especially those detained by ICE at the Wyatt Detention Center.

Here are some examples of what your donation to the AMOR Community Fund for ICE Detainees can do!

$10 — A ten minute phone call from detention
$25 — The first meal after release from detention
$45 — Clothes after release from detention
$100 — Grocery shopping after release
$300 — Flight back to home state after release
$450 — Filing Fees with USCIS
$500 — Consultation with a lawyer
$1,500 to $7,000 to post bond for an individual and see them released from detention

One element of AMOR's work is support for immigrants in our communities, particularly in the legal realm. As the federal government continues to enforce immigration policies that attack immigrant families, AMOR has fiercely resisted these unjust policies, including connecting clients with legal services, organizing rallies and fundraisers in support of individuals with whom we work, putting on know-your-rights training, accompanying individuals to court dates and ICE check-ins, and more.

However, there are still countless immigrant Rhode Islanders who are seeking assistance, and AMOR hopes to be able to continue to support them tirelessly in the year to come. Please contribute anything you can to their community fund — all money donated will go directly to supporting our community, specifically to pay for legal expenses and bond.

Any donation is much appreciated!

You can find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as:

@amornetwork

or at https://amorri.org/

Donation Link for AMOR Community Fund