Dear Friends,
. . . and I do think of you as friends even though some of you I may not have met, and some of you I’ve met but I don’t remember your names.
Well, GOOD NEWS, the Senate has passed the American Rescue Plan. It goes back to the House to pass any differences. It doesn’t include a $15 minimum wage, as we will need to fight for that in the future. But we do know that it will include a $1400 direct stimulus payment to many Americans (based on income level), increased extra unemployment benefits of $300 a week until this September 6, and much more. Know that it is a “rescue plan” and we will be hearing in the future about a “recovery plan.”
Thank our Senators to for passing the American Recovery Act
Senator Duckworth | DC: 202-224-2854 | Chicago 312-886-3506 | Email Sen. Duckworth Senator Durbin | DC: 202-224-2152 | Chicago 312-353-4952 | Email Sen. Durbin
Script: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m calling from [ZIP CODE] with Western Front Indivisible. I’m calling to thank Senator [NAME] for passing the American Recovery Act. I want to see the Senator continue to fight for the middle class by working to enact a $15 minimum wage and reduce economic inequality. Thank you.
MAKE A CALL
Demand Your Senators Support and Move Swiftly on S.1 and S. 51
Donald Trump’s presidency and attempts to steal the 2020 election have put into focus the cracks in our democratic system. That’s why one of Senate Democrats’ first orders of business was introducing S. 1, the For the People Act, and S. 51, the D.C. Statehood bill, signaling that structural democracy reform is their number one priority. With our democracy in crisis, we need robust reforms that targets voter suppression, gerrymandering, money in politics, corruption, and more.
Without a functional democracy in which everyone is included and represented, we can’t achieve any of our other progressive goals. All the issues we care about deeply: health care, immigration, ending wars, racial justice, climate change—fixing these things requires a democracy that is responsive to the people, not the powerful and wealthy.
We have the opportunity to fundamentally change our democracy for the better. Call your Senators and demand they support S. 1 and S. 51, work swiftly to mark both bills up, and send them to the floor for a vote. Additionally, S. 1 and S. 51 must be passed quickly -- Democratic Senators cannot let the filibuster get in the way.
Send a Message: Tell Your U.S. Representative to Support Background Checks on All Gun Sales Our U.S. Representatives must act immediately to cosponsor H.R. 8 and support background checks on all gun sales. We deserve more than thoughts and prayers from our elected officials—we deserve action. We need our reps to pass H.R. 8, lifesaving legislation that requires background checks on all gun sales. To ensure the House takes up this critical legislation soon, we urgently need 218 reps (a majority of the House) to cosponsor H.R. 8. As of right now, Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7) has not signed on. Give his office a call and demand that he do so.
For a number of other calls to make to legislators, please go to our blogpage CALLS TO MAKE.
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK
MON. MAR 8
1 PM Protest for a $15 minimum wage
Join up for a day of dance, music and action highlighting the need for a $15 minimum wage, One Fair Wage and the end of gender based violence at work.
WHERE: Senator Tammy Duckworth's office; 230 S Dearborn Street; Chicago, IL 60604.
Can't attend? Click here to participate in a digital rally on Monday with One Fair Wage.
7 PM Climate Change Committee
Are you frustrated by the lack of urgency so many of our representatives have regarding the climate crisis?Join with Indivisible Western Springs to learn about what things are happening in the local area. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZEpfuGrrz4vG9NNf1..
TUES, MAR 9
10 AM Western Front Coffee Klatch
Well, it’s a laid back morning chat with coffee, but we plan what actions we are going to be taking. This week we will be talking about the Congressional recess at the end of March. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86940129982 Meeting ID: 869 4012 9982
5-7 PM
RSVP for Midwest Democracy Reform Series - D.C. Statehood
If you want to learn more and understand what we can do to make sure DV becomes a state, please join this meeting. Understand why it is critical we get our lawmakers to vote for this.
WED., MAR 10
So much to do this evening. Can you make any of these?
5:30 PM Indivisible National Truth Brigade. Register here. DISINFORMATION IN 2021: What we can expect this year, and what we can DO about it. Join us for this special call, and encourage your group members to attend, too! Our partners and national disinfo experts GQR and Dewey Digital will be presenting.
For either of the following two, here is the link.
7:30-8:00p Indivisible Illinois Truth Brigade. Learn how you can counter lies here in Illinois.
8:00-9:00p Regular Statewide Call. There are always special guests, and new information on what is happening in the state politically.
THUR., MAR 11 7:00 PM
Join National's Economic Justice working group! This working group will bring together Indivisibles from across the country to coordinate advocacy efforts COVID relief, tax justice, and much more. Economic Justice Working Group
If you want to go catch up on Call recording from previous meeting (password: p7dK?h8j)
FRI., MAR 12
Each Friday, Indivisibles in New York get fired up on Twitter to draw attention to their ask of Senator Schumer to end the filibuster. New York groups pair it with #BeBoldChuck. We need Senators Duckworth and Durbin to publicly oppose the filibuster. Removing this Jim Crow relic will make it far easier to pass the meaningful, urgent relief we need.
Want to join in? Here’s the Social Media toolkit and information on content to share. If you want to learn more about the importance of eliminating the filibuster, go here.
4:30 PM
Yes it’s HAPPY HOUR. And, surprise, this time it’s a dance party! Come by, have a drink. Get your body moving. It’ll be fun. We’ve been working hard, now it’s time for some fun. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84289730154 Meeting ID: 842 8973 0154 Or join by phone at 312-626-6799.
SAT. MAR 13, 4 PM
PHONEBANK FOR DEMOCRACY
Sign up here to phonebank for H.R. 1 (For the People Act) is one of the cornerstones of the necessary reforms we need to unrig our democracy and make it work for all. H.R. 1 includes the following: Voter empowerment and access, getting money out of politics, establishing independent redistricting commissions in all states, and so much more.
We will be calling our neighbors in Illinois' 16th Congressional District, asking them to contact Rep. Adam Kinzinger to support H.R. 1. Register here for the phonebank.
Planning ahead: Put these on your Calendar
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 • 7:00 PM
Our Vote is Our Voice: An Event with Indivisible Illinois
Register here.
March 18th: Democracy Reform Working Group
March 22nd: Climate Working Group
MAR 21 1:30 PM Western Front Indivisible Monthly Meeting
We are going back to a once a month meeting packed with interesting speakers and interesting discussions--on a weekend so that people who work during our other regular meetings, cna join in. Please mark this on your calendar.
March 24th: State Legislative Advocacy Training Series
MAR 27 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM EARTH Hour Turn off your lights and celebrate the Earth
MAR 30 7 - 9 pm Creating Fair Maps and Redistricting. Join Indivisible Evenston for his great conversation with special speakers. Register here.
THERE ARE WITNESS SLIPS TO SIGN
There are two ways to stay on top of what is happening. If you are on Facebook, you can join the group. Or, if you prefer, go to the page on our blog. I will try and keep this updated so you can be on top of these. And I will note each new update.
It you aren’t familiar with Witness Slips and how to fill them out, here are a couple of tips. https://www.ilfps.org/witnesssliphowto
Instructions for filling out witness slips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SaODB11-AA&feature=youtu.be
WHAT ABOUT POSTCARDS?
You may have missed Reid McCullom at our Happy Hour last week. You can watch/listen to him by going here: https://youtu.be/slx-L_1hIVc
If you want to be part of this new Postcard initiative that starts the beginning of April, let us know. We will be serving as a distribution point for postcards in this general area. Email us at westernfrontindivisible@gmail.com if you want to be part of this and start writing postcards.
ARE YOU READING?
We are, and the book a number of us are reading is The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph. We’d love to talk about it later this month. If you are interested, please order a copy of the book. It can be gotten locally through The Book Table. Or you can try your local library. Grab the book and read it, so we can have a discussion.
We’re not recommending you order this week from Amazon. And this is in support of Amazon employees in Alabama who are attempting to form a union. Let’s do this in solidarity.
That’s it for right now. If you want to hear more late breaking news on things we should be concerned about or acting on, please join our Facebook group or to follow us on Twitter. And email us at westernfrontindivisible@gmail.com if you have questions or concerns.
I hope to see you on a Zoom call this week,
Etta
For Western Front Indivisible
No comments:
Post a Comment