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Here's a brief look at what you can do to advocate at different points during the legislative process.

Joined by a number of local and national organizations, the sex worker advocacy group COYOTE-RI today blasted Providence city officials for their arrest last week of three sex workers on charges of soliciting for prostitution at the Foxy Lady adult entertainment establishment. In a statement issued today, the groups called for the charges against the women to be dropped and an end to “the ongoing harassment of sex workers.”

Citing concerns about the potentially devastating impact on veterans wishing to participate in Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program, six state and national advocacy organizations have expressed strong opposition to a Department of Human Services proposal to ban the use of “narcotics prohibited by federal law” – including medical marijuana – at the Veterans’ Home in Bristol. 

Today, a dozen organizations that work closely with children and families who are poor, minority, non-English speaking, or who have disabilities or other barriers to learning, expressed their strong support for state legislation that would eliminate the drive to implement “high stakes testing” in Rhode Island. “High stake testing” refers to the use of state assessments to determine whether or not a student may graduate, and is currently scheduled to go into effect in 2014 under regulations adopted by the state Department of Education.

Thirteen local community organizations and agencies, including the RI ACLU, have today urged the Providence City Council to delay adoption of a lobbying registration ordinance that the groups claim will “chill and deter local advocacy efforts.” In a letter to City Council members, the groups raise concerns about the breadth of the ordinance – which defines lobbying as contact with any city official to influence a municipal decision – and the significant record-keeping burdens and fees it imposes on small community organizations who engage in any such activities. The letter also notes the potentially significant penalties that can be imposed for violations of any of the ordinance’s myriad requirements.