Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
I’m reading a biography of organizer, pacifist, and civil rights icon Bayard Rustin right now; I can’t recommend it highly enough. What an inspiration! Rustin helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Freedom Rides, among many other things. His life and work were truly awe-inspiring.
Nothing serves to motivate me more than the real-life example of remarkable activists like him. Of course, Rustin’s struggles were entirely different than most of ours—he was Black, gay, and born in 1912—but his work towards betterment and change can inspire any of us to work harder. Not to be like him—because we can’t—but to access a more heroic version of ourselves.
Because each of us contains such a thing. The only question is: will we bring it out?
I say we should.
After all, it’s easier now than it’s ever been. Our nonviolent tools? The phone, our laptops, our cameras, our feet.
Speaking of feet, let’s use ours once again, remembering always the giants who walked before us.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, on this one-year anniversary of the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, I am calling to ask the Senator to support S. 1141, the Judiciary Act of 2021, which would expand the Supreme Court by four seats. We know that this court is hopelessly compromised, and we know it will continue to push a right-wing agenda until we re-balance it.
[If Democrat add:] Second, it is unconscionable that there is any risk to paid leave in the Build Back Better package. We are in a pandemic, as well as a jobs and care crisis. I want Paid Leave kept in the package on behalf of caregivers, COVID survivors, small businesses, women, military families, and every working family in America. You can pay for it by passing the Billionaires Tax, which I also support.
Finally, I support the Freedom to Vote Act and want the Senator to as well. It’s must-pass legislation, and if the Senator believes in free and fair elections they should treat it as such. [If Democrat add:] Please abolish the filibuster and get it done! Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, on this one-year anniversary of the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, I am calling to ask the Congressmember to support HR 2584, the Judiciary Act of 2021, which would expand the Supreme Court by four seats. We know the court is hopelessly compromised, and we know it will continue to push a right-wing agenda until we re-balance it.
[If Democrat add:] Second, it is unconscionable that there is any risk to paid leave in the Build Back Better package. We are in a pandemic, as well as a jobs and care crisis. I want Paid Leave kept in the package on behalf of caregivers, COVID survivors, small businesses, women, military families, and every working family in America. You can pay for it by passing the Billionaires Tax, which I also support. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Y’all we are fighting VERY hard to keep paid family leave in the BBB plan. It is on the chopping block, and we need to make it clear that that’s unacceptable. Please, if you’re on twitter, post this:
Paid family and medical leave is a policy in #BuildBackBetter that can help any worker, household, and small business at any time, across age, region, and community, in the happiest or hardest times. @POTUS @SenSchumer @Sen_JoeManchin must approve #PaidLeaveCantWait #CareCantWait
]You can download graphic here]
Get on the Phones! ☎️
Why show up to call for Virginia?
The most recent polls show a dead tie. If the Dems don’t win, we will be in a heap of trouble for the midterm elections: VA is a bellwether state; historically what happens there is a significant indicator of how the Midterm elections will play out.
You can help by making calls from 3-6PM EDT today. Joan’s Democracy Cafe offers a variety of calling opportunities, from GOTV to ballot curing, and some of the best training around. Sign up here, and bring a friend!
🪨 Did you know there are also important judicial elections in PA on November 2nd? Go to Turn PA Blue to learn more, and consider signing up to phonebank for these races on Saturday! Ballot chasing is sooooo fun! And judges are…important.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your House rep] [H/T]
The nation is in the midst of a national reckoning on community safety.
The current approach to public safety is not working — for children, for families, and particularly for Black and brown communities that have been devastated by mental health crises, substance use health crises, and criminalization. We must dismantle our public safety system’s instinct to criminalize and replace it with an instinct to provide care.
I write to you today to ask you to co-sponsor the HR 4194, People’s Response Act, which emphasizes an inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach to public safety. Communities and experts agree that public safety is a matter of public health. It adopts a new approach to public safety that will save lives, and build systems of care that are rooted in improving the well-being of all communities.
Please stand with communities across the country in demanding a people’s response to public safety. Co-sponsor the People’s Response Act! Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess