“The tides of history are shaped by who is willing to show up.”
—Dan Rather, Steady 1/5
Hi, all, and happy Thursday.
We flew back from New York last night and got in late, but this morning I’m drinking tea and powering through, because there’s a lot going on today! We have almost 100 RSVPs to our Arizona voter registration phonebank at 4 PST, and from what I’m hearing from other organizers, every January 6th event is going to be well attended. I have a very, very good feeling about “the Resistance” going into 2022. It is alive, well, aware of the threat, and determined to fight.
It’s also growing every day. That makes me exceedingly happy.
So let’s observe this momentous anniversary—the day democracy won—by strengthening it in every way we can. I put a whole bunch of opportunities below for those of you who want to call, or textbank, or just show up with likeminded folks and light a candle.
The important thing is to do something. To be willing, as Dan Rather said so eloquently yesterday, to simply “show up.”
P.S. If you didn’t hear President Biden’s speech this morning, someone emailed me a copy. It’s phenomenal. Try to find it and read it, or watch it here, or email me back and I’ll forward it to you. It’s superlative.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
To commemorate a day when violent insurrectionists attacked our capitol, I’d like the Senator to actively support and call for an immediate vote on S.2921 - the Protecting Our Democracy Act, as well as the Freedom to Vote Act, The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and S.51 - the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. All of these bills are necessary to protect our democracy, and all of them should have bipartisan support.
[If Democrat add:] But if they don’t, and since Democrats were willing to carve out a filibuster exception for the debt ceiling, I expect them to do the same to protect every Americans’ right to have their vote counted. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’d like the Congressmember to help introduce and pass legislation to reform the antiquated Electoral Count Act of 1887 as soon as possible. Legislation cutting off all pathways to overturning a legitimate election is absolutely essential to protect our democracy. We can’t let what happened a year ago ever happen again. [H/T]
[If Democrat add:] One more thing: I know Republicans are now supporting such a bill, because they’re hoping that if they yield on this we’ll stop pushing to pass the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Acts. No way. An electoral count reform bill should pass without side deals that undermine other crucial voting rights bills! We need them all. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Please consider posting this on your social media today:
The web site "Insurrection Index” has a systematic listing of who was involved in #January6th … by state and status.
It’s a useful and important reference. Please share. #neverforget #DefendDemocracy2022
https://insurrectionindex.org
Get Educated! 📘
Interested in SCOTUS and democracy reform? Next Tuesday, Jan 11th @ 8pm/EST there will be a great webinar with MoveOn featuring one of the newest champions for SCOTUS expansion, Sen. Elizabeth Warren! Hope you can join us! You can RSVP here.
Save Democracy!! 🗳
Our friends at Field Team 6 have a Defend Democracy Text bank from 4-5 PT this evening. It's just an hour and you can do it right in your living room. How easy is that? SIGN UP HERE
They’ve got a bunch of voter registration phonebanks, too:
1p ET Pennsylvania: HERE!
3p ET Georgia: HERE!
6:30p ET North Carolina: HERE!
6p CT Texas: HERE!
Need something more introspective? Find a vigil near you and attend!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [quick send text SIGN PTGDAT to 50409]
I am writing as your constituent to urge you to support the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350/S.964). This bill seeks to address the growing threat of white supremacist groups and other violent domestic extremists in the United States.
Violent extremism and white supremacy have had a major resurgence in recent years. Congress must take action to ensure that the federal government has all possible resources at its disposal to address the rising threat.
The DTPA is a bipartisan measure that would create offices within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and FBI that would be responsible for monitoring, analyzing, investigating, and prosecuting domestic terrorism.
It would also require federal agencies to focus resources on the most significant threats, as determined by the number of domestic terrorism-related incidents outlined in a joint report they must issue.
Additionally, it creates an interagency process to address white supremacists and neo-Nazis infiltrating the military and armed services, and provides for training and resources to effectively address this concern.
I urge you to support the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350/S.964) to address these significant threats facing our nation.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Biden's speech is being alternately panned and praised. I think it was spectacular. And President Carter made the case beautifully, as well.
Did my Resistbot texting this morning. As usual, one of my Senators "auto-replied" - so I know they are going through. So easy and satisfying! I also call their offices each week and rant about Voting Rights. That feels good, too.
And tonight we will be attending the January 6th Vigil - guess where? Not far from where "the shot was heard round the world". I suspect there will be quite a crowd of true patriots despite the cold weather. "Never Again"!
Time for us to "show up".