Posted on September 6, 2017
CREDO at Netroots Nation 2017
This year, members of our CREDO Action team were well-represented at one of the nation’s largest progressive conferences, Netroots Nation. The event, which was held this year in Atlanta, brings together progressive leaders, activists, organizers and elected officials (including progressive champion Elizabeth Warren) for five days of panels, trainings, speeches and brainstorming sessions to help grow and expand our movement and work to resist the dangerous and hateful Trump agenda.
From panels featuring how CREDO’s digital organizing played a massive role in the Betsy DeVos confirmation battle to preparing for a major crisis in the Trump era, here’s a quick recap of the panels CREDO Action campaigners helped to lead at Netroots.
How Betsy DeVos Became So Unpopular
Watch CREDO Action Deputy Political Director Josh Nelson at Netroots Nation, talking about our activism against Trump-appointee Betsy DeVos with our allies in the movement.
Posted by CREDO Mobile on Friday, August 11, 2017
Deputy Political Director Josh Nelson joined allies in the labor and progressive communities to talk about how close coordination by digital organizers and dedicated efforts by activists, educators and parents led to outing a relatively unknown Republican donor as the wildly unpopular and unqualified pick for secretary of education.
Posted on September 6, 2017
Back to school: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is a threat to our children
As summer winds down and back-to-school season hits full swing, kids, young adults and people of all ages are heading back to schools, universities and colleges across the country.
However, this fall is very different than years past: Betsy DeVos, the anti-public school billionaire bigot, is the secretary of education – the most influential person overseeing public education policy in the country.
But an expert in public education she is not. DeVos is grossly incompetent, has no relevant experience as an educator and did not attend or send her children to public school. She was appointed because she’s a major Republican donor, not because she knows anything about public education in the United States.
DeVos is a right-wing voucher and charter school activist whose numerous projects include the disastrous effort to spread charters in Detroit, which failed to increase student achievement while allowing charters to operate with little accountability or oversight. She is looking to gut Obama administration guidance on how the DOE should use Title IX, which mandates gender equality in education, to protect survivors of campus sexual assault.
Her comments in front of Congress earlier this year indicating schools should have flexibility to discriminate against LGBTQ students prove she is a clear threat to children, especially transgender students, who face prejudice, harassment and bullying in schools and suffer from higher rates of depression and suicide than non-LGBTQ classmates.
We at CREDO understand that having an anti-public school bigot running the Department of Education not only sends a terrible message to our children, but poses a threat to their education and well-being. That’s why, earlier this year, CREDO, along with our allies in the progressive community, led the resistance to DeVos’s nomination.
In January, we launched a petition demanding that senators “block and resist Betsy DeVos’ confirmation as secretary of education.” The petition went wildly viral, garnering more than 1.5 million signatures. To our knowledge, this was the largest petition in U.S. history in opposition to a cabinet nominee.
Building on the incredible momentum fueled by CREDO activists, we ramped up calls to key Republican senators leading up to the floor vote. Altogether, CREDO members made more than 93,000 calls to key Republicans and another 8,700 calls to Democrats on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
We organized petition deliveries at the local offices of Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski the Monday before the committee vote to help generate local media coverage in Maine and Alaska. Both Collins and Murkowski ultimately voted against confirmation.
In the end, however, Betsy DeVos was confirmed by Mike Pence’s tie-breaking vote in the Senate — but that doesn’t mean our work to hold this billionaire bigot accountable is over.
The incredible activism by CREDO members and our allies across the country exposed DeVos as a unqualified fraud who has absolutely no business overseeing an agency whose primary job is to make sure our children have access to exceptional primary and higher education. It weakened her credibility and ultimately her ability to be as effective and dangerous as she could have been immediately out of her confirmation hearing.
Since her confirmation, we’ve been committed to holding DeVos accountable for her rhetoric and threats to students, teachers and the public education system. We’ve called on CREDO members to demand she protect survivors of sexual assault and released viral videos that have accumulated millions of views and tens of thousands of shares.
As long as Betsy DeVos remains the head of the education department, CREDO and our members will continue to resist in no uncertain terms her bigoted and dangerous actions that would harm the very children she is charged with educating and protecting.
Posted on September 1, 2017
Our August grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three amazing organizations. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can dedicate resources to improve labor practices, support independent media and fight back against Big Oil. Just last month, over 70,000 CREDO members voted to distribute our funds to China Labor Watch, Democracy Now! and Stand Up to Oil.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our August grant recipients thank you.
China Labor Watch
“Thank you for voting for China Labor Watch. Support from CREDO members like you helps us to identify serious labor rights violations in China. The exposure of these violations will help improve millions of Chinese workers’ working conditions.” To learn more, visit chinalaborwatch.org.
Democracy Now!
“Thank you for helping Democracy Now! put a spotlight on corporate and government abuses of power and lift up the voices of ordinary people working to make change in these extraordinary times.” To learn more, visit democracynow.org.
Stand Up to Oil
“Thank you for supporting the Stand Up To Oil campaign! The campaign is working to stop the construction of new oil infrastructure, which could receive more than 1 million barrels of crude oil every day, threatening the safety of communities and waterways across the Northwest.” To learn more, visit standuptooil.org.
Now check out the three causes we are funding in September, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on September 1, 2017
Your chance to vote for three great causes this September
Every month, CREDO members help decide how we donate tens of thousands of dollars to three great nonprofit groups fighting for our progressive values. This month, you can help fund organizations fighting for immigrants, civil rights and peace by voting for America’s Voice, Color Of Change and J Street. Learn more about each of these causes, and then cast your vote for one, two or all three by September 30.
America’s Voice
America’s Voice is a media savvy advocacy group that combines grassroots activism and high-profile media campaigns to fight for immigrant families threatened with deportation and family separation under Trump.
With Donald Trump’s unrelenting attacks on immigrant communities, funding from CREDO members is critically important at this time. A CREDO donation will enable America’s Voice to expand its deportation defense work at the local level, especially in areas without a strong infrastructure of community organizations, and empower local communities to own and direct the desperately needed deportation defense work.
Color Of Change
Color Of Change designs campaigns powerful enough to end practices that unfairly hold Black people back and champions solutions that move us all forward.
Whether fighting back against emboldened white supremacists, the institutions that support them and Trump’s attempts to roll back civil rights or mobilizing to prevent the election of local prosecutors adverse to criminal justice reform, support from CREDO will help Color Of Change continue testing and adapting its tactics and deploy organizing tools in ways that ensure it can remain nimble and responsive to the rapidly changing social, economic and political landscape.
J Street
J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people.
Funding from CREDO members will help J Street fight against the Trump administration’s goal of dismantling the Iran deal, which would have devastating consequences for the United States, Israel and global security. It will also enable J Street fight any attempt by the Trump administration to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, which goes against long-standing UN and American policy.
Your vote this September will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive causes. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by September 30.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on August 29, 2017
How you can help victims of Hurricane Harvey
Here at CREDO, our hearts go out to the tens of thousands of victims of Hurricane Harvey. The massive storm and devastating flooding have left more than a dozen dead, dozens more injured and at least 30,000 in desperate need of food, shelter, medicine and other aid.
Recent reporting confirms that the storm and its aftermath are having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, people of color and immigrant families. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials left 50 immigrant women and children stranded at a closed bus station directly in the path of the storm, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it would continue making arrests during Harvey, so it’s unclear how many immigrants may have chosen not to seek help during or after the storm.
If you and your friends and family are looking for ways to help victims of Harvey, here are some ways you can chip in:
- Volunteer. If you live in Texas or the Gulf region or are willing to travel, many organizations are looking for a helping hand. Volunteer Houston and All Hands Volunteers are coordinating volunteer relief efforts.
- Communities of color. The Texas Organizing Project, a nonprofit that promotes social and economic equality for low to moderate income Texans, has established a Hurricane Harvey Community Relief Fund to ensure marginalized communities get immediate relief and have the tools to rebuild and advocate for themselves in the long run.
- People with disabilities. Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies is coordinating with the local, state and federal government to address urgent requests for evacuation and medical equipment from older people and people with disabilities, including trans people, undocumented immigrants and other extremely vulnerable communities who are disabled.
- Food donations. Food banks across Texas and the region are in need of donations. The Houston Press has compiled a good list here. To make an immediate online gift, Feeding Texas coordinates with food banks across the state.
- Infants and children. The Texas Diaper Bank is accepting donations and emergency diapers for families affected by Harvey. Click here to make a donation and specify your donation is for disaster relief.
- Immigrants. Immigrants in the Gulf region are especially at risk during this crisis. Mijente, a pro-Latinx advocacy organization, was immediately organizing before Harvey hit the Texas coast to protect immigrants from Trump’s out of control Custom and Border Patrol during the hurricane. You can donate to them here.
- Environmental justice. Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (TEJAS) provides community members with the tools necessary to create sustainable, environmentally healthy communities by educating individuals on health concerns and implications arising from environmental pollution. Click here to make a donation.
- Pets and animals. Austin Pets Alive! is working with shelters directly affected by Hurricane Harvey and in need of immediate funding to save animals impacted by the storm.
Posted on August 22, 2017
New video: OUR Walmart’s Andrea Dehlendorf and Tyfani Faulkner visit CREDO headquarters
Co-Director Andrea Dehelendorf and Leader Tyfani Faulkner of OUR Walmart visited CREDO headquarters for a special conversation to discuss the organization’s app, WorkIt, which helps people working in hourly jobs get answers to questions about workplace policies and rights from trusted and trained peer advisors. They also discussed their work around multiracial organizing and women’s economic stability. OUR Walmart is an organization that works to ensure that every Associate, regardless of title, age, race,or sex, is respected at Walmart. CREDO members have voted to donate over $150,000 to OUR Walmart since 2014.
If you missed the live conversation on Facebook, you can watch the full broadcast here:
LIVE NOW: OUR Walmart live at CREDO headquarters
CREDO welcomes OUR Walmart's co-director Andrea Dehlendorf and leader Tyfani Faulkner to discuss their new app, WorkIt, and their work around multiracial organizing and women’s economic stability.
Posted by CREDO Mobile on Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Posted on August 14, 2017
#Charlottesville: CREDO is fighting back against racist white supremacy
Last weekend, Charlottesville, Virginia was the epicenter of white supremacist Nazi hate.
White supremacist protesters marched through the streets of Charlottesville carrying torches and chanting “white lives matter” and “we will not be replaced.” After a day of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ protest, a terrorist slammed his car into a crowd of anti-racist counter protesters, killing at least one person and injuring almost 20 others.
After these terror attacks, Donald Trump pandered to his white supremacist Nazi supporters by blaming “many sides.” His comments have further emboldened these racist terrorists, and Nazi hate groups are praising Trump’s disgusting statement.
Here at CREDO, our hearts go out to all those who are standing up to this hate in the face of violence and death threats. As a company whose core values are to stand up for the civil rights of people of color, women, LGBTQ people and other communities who face discrimination and violence because of systemic oppression and bigotry, we are doing everything we can to fight back.
As soon we received reports of the violent protests in Charlottesville, we instantly called out the white supremacists perpetrating hate. In a video we posted on Facebook that has been viewed almost 1 million times and shared nearly 25,000 times, white supremacist David Duke praises Donald Trump, and Nazis march by chanting “Heil Trump”:
DEPLORABLES: Trump Nazis in Charlottesville
Share or like if you believe LOVE WILL ALWAYS #TRUMPHATE. #Resist
Posted by CREDO Mobile on Saturday, August 12, 2017
After news that brave protesters were injured and Heather Heyer, a 32 year old woman from Charlottesville, was murdered when a white supremacist plowed his car into a group of innocent people, we worked with our progressive allies to organize vigils across the country.
Posted on August 11, 2017
New video: CREDO Action’s Josh Nelson at Netroots Nation
CREDO Action Deputy Political Director Josh Nelson spoke at Netroots Nation to discuss our activism against Trump-appointee Betsy DeVos with our allies in the movement. You can watch the full panel discussion below or on our Facebook page.
Fri 1pm: How Betsy DeVos Became So Unpopular
Featured Panel 3: How Betsy DeVos Became So Unpopular
Posted by Netroots Nation on Friday, August 11, 2017
Posted on August 11, 2017
CREDO is the only mobile phone company fighting for your privacy
At CREDO, we stand for protecting your privacy and have a long history of fighting for it.
From our work to stop internet spying and data collection by the government to our long-standing privacy policies that are at the core of our company’s values, we respect and fight for our customers’ privacy — no matter what.
That’s why, once again, CREDO Mobile is extremely proud to be the only mobile phone company to receive a 5-star rating from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, highlighted in its report, “Who Has Your Back? Government Data Requests 2017.”
In the telecom sector, EFF found that not all companies are created equal. As technology news site Techcrunch points out, there’s a similarity among the companies that received one-star:
In fact, EFF found that these four telecommunications companies are the worst offenders included in the report when it comes to protecting customer privacy, noting:
Unfortunately, even as the industry as a whole has shifted toward transparency and privacy, there are many companies that are falling short. In particular, telecommunications companies like AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, and Verizon are failing to live up to larger tech industry practices. When it comes to adopting policies that prioritize user privacy over facilitating government data demands, the telecom industry for the most part has erred on the side of prioritizing government requests.
But CREDO Mobile is a notable exception:
But telecommunications companies can do better. For example, Credo Mobile has repeatedly proven that telecom companies can adopt policies that earn credit in every category year after year.
CREDO Mobile is one of only nine companies that received recognition in all five categories of EFF’s report:
- CREDO follows industry-wide best practices.Here at CREDO, we publish a quarterly transparency report and law enforcement guidelines and require a subpoena, court order or warrant, in the case of a request for content, before releasing customer information.
- CREDO tells users about government data requests. We promise to provide customers with advance notice of a government demand.
- CREDO promises not to sell out our customers. We do not provide third parties special access to user data for the purpose of surveillance.
- CREDO stands up to National Security Letter gag orders. We are committed to using all available statutory procedures to ensure that each request to CREDO accompanied by an indefinite gag is reviewed by a judge. CREDO has fought for the right to disclose each NSL it has received in the past and will continue to do so. In fact, over the past year, we have won the right to disclose the existence of three NSLs that the government fought for years to keep secret.
- CREDO has pro-user public policies. We are working for full repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act and FISA Amendments Act. We opposed reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act’s Section 215 before the USA Freedom Act was passed (a bill we also opposed) and oppose the reauthorization of FISA Section 702 as it is currently written.
We are proud to stand up for our members’ privacy, and we will always defend our customers’ civil liberties and fight against abuses of power that threaten constitutional rights to privacy.
By leading the way in adopting policies to protect consumers, promote transparency and resist government overreach, we’re living our progressive values in a way that truly matters for our members.
Posted on August 11, 2017
New video: The Electronic Frontier Foundation on user privacy in the digital world
As a mobile phone and internet provider, defending civil liberties in a digital world is near and dear to our hearts here at CREDO. We understand first hand how vital it is to protect our digital freedoms, rights and particularly our customers’ privacy.
That’s why, this July, CREDO was honored to host Rainey Reitman, activism director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), for a discussion about how EFF defends civil liberties and protects user privacy in the digital world through strategic litigation with potential to set key precedents, policy analysis, grassroots activism and technology development.
CREDO members have voted to donate more than $320,000 to EFF, which is a longtime CREDO ally and partner, dating back to our work together in 2003 in opposition to electronic voting machines. Today, CREDO and EFF are closely partnering together to protect net neutrality and defend civil liberties.
