Hello fellow advocates,
It’s sunny and warmer, trees and flowers are blossoming. And many of us are fully vaccinated. We’re all feeling spring!
THE NEWS
Some of what’s been happening has been good. The
American Rescue Plan is a huge deal. It’s $1.9 trillion of REALLY. GOOD.
STUFF. The not so good thing is that although the House has passed the
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT (HR 1), the Senate still hasn’t passed this (It’s called S.1
in the Senate) and it’s already April. This comprehensive bill that deals with
voting rights, and money and politics, and ethics and more--this bill should
have passed by now. And we should be on our way to getting the John Lewis
Voting Rights Act (H.R. 4), and Statehood for the District of Columbia.
These reform bills are critical to Reforming our Democracy. But these
haven’t happened yet, and Democratic Senators have not yet banded
together to eliminate the Filibuster so we can get these bills passed.
The bad news is found in the headlines--placed like Georgia, where laws have been signed that severely restrict access to voting. That’s not the only state rushing to put aggressive voter suppression laws in place.
“The horizon is grim. If we don’t take action, state Republicans are on a path to gerrymander and voter-suppress themselves into a congressional majority in 2022. If we lose the House majority, that’s the end of any legislative progress. If we lose the governorships of key swing states, we’re in an even grimmer place heading into 2024.” (This is from Ezra and Leah, co-founders of Indivisible.)
So what do we do? First, take the time to understand what all these bits of legislation are. Here’s an overview of the Democracy Reform plan.
AND THEN THERE’S THE THRIVE AGENDA!
That’s an acronym for a bill to Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy. This groundbreaking resolution proposes a recovery focused on Climate, Jobs and Justice. It’s pretty much like the Green New Deal that was proposed last legislative session. But now more than ever it must be passed.
FINDING IT HARD TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION?
We have a solution to that. It’s a Google sheet that has the names and numbers of proposed legislation and what is happening with the legislation. Thanks to Ruth Rest for creating this. Here’s the link.
PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW!
Did I get your attention? Good. This is important and time is of the essence. If you missed our Recovery Recess Action Party and Happy Hour, then you need to know the phone calls to make to our Senators and your Representative, and info to put on a postcard to drop in the mail. Everything you need--scripts for the calls and messages for the postcards are here. We are urging them to make sure S.1 is passed, the Filibuster is eliminated, DC becomes a state, and the THRIVE AGENDA is passed.
Are you interested in helping drop off a 51-star flag at Senator Durbin’s office this week--and a message that we must add the District of Columbia as a state? Are you interested in visiting Representative Danny Davis’ office and dropping off a letter with our reasons why he should become a co-sponsor of the Thrive Resolution? (He has not as yet done so). If you are interested in either or both of these actions, please email us at westernfrontindivisible@gmail.com
AND THEN, please commit to:
- Calling our Members of Congress
- Emailing our Members of Congress
- Sending postcards to our Members of Congress
Here are phone numbers and addresses you will need. And here are some messages that you may want to use (or adapt as you wish).
So, this is the question that has been posed to us, from the leaders of Indivisible National. What are you doing in the next month to help save our democracy? You can answer that question here.
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK
MON. APRIL 5
Indivisible Healthcare Working Group will kick
off next week with this meeting! Register for the call to hear from our healthcare policy expert Julia on what’s moving
at the federal level (think Medicare for All and prescription drug pricing!)
and from your fellow Indivisibles about organizing being done to expand
Medicaid in non-expansion states. ⚡Join this call if you care about Medicare for All and/or want to expand Medicaid
in your state under a Biden administration!
TUES, APRIL 6
NO COFFEE KLATCH this week.
WED. APRIL 7
6-8 PM Phonebank to Arizona and Maine -- For The People Act
We're calling voters in target states such as Arizona and Maine, asking them to call their senators to support this legislation. We'll give you all the tools and training you need to engage people and connect them directly with their senators' offices. This is sponsored by Indivisible Chicago and Common Cause. Why not try it? Because it could make a difference. Sign up here.
7 PM
Demand Democracy Online Event
The most pressing issue we are facing at this moment is defending our freedom to vote. Everything we're working for--all of the policies that will improve the lives of women and their families--flows from our ability to elect the government we want. However, 43 states across the country have introduced legislation intended to strip that freedom from Black and brown voters. Join Indivisible Chicago Alliance on Wednesday for an informative and galvanizing discussion around S1, the For the People Act, a sweeping pro-democracy bill that will create an even playing field where ALL Americans are free to vote, as well as the filibuster and how that plays into getting this landmark legislation across the finish line. You will learn about this bill as well as what you can do to help us turn this bill into law. Speakers will include Dan Weiner, deputy director of the Brennan Center's Election Reform Program, activists on the ground in key states where voting freedom is being challenged, and more. Sign up for the online event on Wednesday, April 7 at 7 pm.
THURS, APRIL 8
5:30 PM Rally to Demand Democracy: Fighting for the Freedom to Vote
If you are ready for an in person event, here is one: Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL Join Indivisible Chicago to Demand Democracy. For all of our safety and the safety of our communities, masks must be worn and we ask everyone to maintain social distancing. More details here. .
7 PM The April Economic Justice call is also on Thursday. If you live in a right to work state and/or want to pressure your MoC on co-sponsoring the PRO Act, register for the call to hear what congressional members are dragging their feet!
FRI, MARCH 9 4:30 PM
What a better way to end the week than HAPPY HOUR with Western Front Indivisible. We’ll have a report on the Recovery Recess Activities, and discuss what issues are most important as we move forward. Come chat with us and hear how you can become an advocate for critical issues. Here’s the link: The Meeting ID is 890 0988 2529 or by phone at 312-626-6799. (This link is good through May 21st.)
FUTURE THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR
SUN, APRIL 18 3:30 PM
Western Front Indivisible Monthly Meeting
Save the date, and here’s the link to register for this hour-long meeting that will be filled with important information for how we can advocate for the things we care about. Here’s the link to register for the meeting.
SAT, APRIL 24, 9 AM to 1 PM
Building An Anti-Racist Community Together: Action for All Ages
This is a Zoom anti-racism conference with multiple virtual and in-person workshops for all ages: adults, teens, kids, caregivers, parents and families together! Sponsored by the CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange, Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ, and The LeaderShop.
ORDER YOUR POSTCARDS
Yes, we’re going to be able to pick up postcards to write in the next few days, so we need to know how many of you want postcards to write. Here’s the order form (for pickup in Forest Park), and we’ll soon have postcards coming your way. The order form contains details about where these postcards are going and when they must be sent. Please order yours today. Here’s the link again. These are from the people who did the last election campaign to swing states, and also the postcards to Georgia for the special elections in January. Please place your order by this Wednesday.
Maybe you don’t have the time to do postcards, but you’d still like to help out. Well, you can. We’re raising money right now to help pay for postage stamps for these campaigns. And for regular expenses for Western Front Indivisible (such as the Zoom account, office supplies, etc,) and WE NEED YOUR HELP. We’ve mounted a fundraising campaign through Act Blue and the great thing is that money raised this month is matched by Indivisible (up to $500) so if we raise $500, we’ll have $1,000 to spend. Will you make a donation today? Here’s the link.
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. (Or if you wish to unsubscribe from this weekly mailing.)
Until Next Week,
Etta
For Western Front Indivisible
No comments:
Post a Comment