Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/4
Hi, all, and happy Friday,
My heart is both heavy and light.
Heavy, because the atrocities in Ukraine continue. And not only there. Someone sent me a picture this morning of a group of Russian kids only a little younger than my own who’d brought a “No To War” banner to the Ukrainian embassy in Russia. They had been arrested by Putin’s forces; you could see the drying tears on their faces.
It broke my heart.
But the morning wasn’t all sad. Because this morning I also attended a meeting of a group called Markers For Democracy. It’s a gathering of regular folks on the east coast who’ve been getting together twice a week since 2016 to write postcards and listen to speakers. Their email list contains 850 people! Their work, since Trump was elected, hasn’t stopped once. It hasn’t diminished. It hasn’t faltered. If anything they are still learning, still trying new things, and still gaining momentum. To say it was heartening to be with these wonderful folks is an understatement.
In every moment there is dark and light. In this moment there are, perhaps, more emphatic depths to those shades. We can’t turn away from the dark, but we can choose to view it from the side of light. For by so doing, and by working every day to help grow and amplify that light, we diminish the darkness without inadvertently becoming part of it.
That’s what the folks at Markers for Democracy are doing. That’s what those endlessly brave kids in Russia are doing. That’s what all of YOU are doing.
I am so grateful to get to do it next to you…every day.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I hear that Pat Toomey is trying to water down the Postal Service Reform Act (S. 1720) by taking out the provision about postal banking. This is unacceptable. Postal banking is critical in a country where millions of citizens live in banking deserts. Please ask the Senator to vote yes on the bill as written, and keep postal banking in!
Second, we need to pass the climate investments in the Build Back Better Act immediately. It should be Congress’s number one legislative priority. Doing this will lower electricity costs, address climate change, and weaken the power of dictators like Putin. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m glad the US is offering Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to the 75,100 Ukrainian people currently living here. We should also follow the EU’s lead and allow Ukranians to bypass the usual asylum process to make this terrible time as easy as possible on them. Also, we need to support the Ukrainian military with funding now. Next week will be too late. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Florida has passed a 15-week abortion ban. Please help Planned Parenthood by tweeting/posting one or all of the below.
We can’t be complacent and rely on the courts to protect our rights. We have to rely on ourselves. Join us now: fal.cn/3lEdF #BansOffOurBodies.
We know the truth: the true goal of the politicians pushing 15-week bans like the one in FL is to ban abortion outright. That has always been their endgame. With Roe v. Wade hanging on by a thread, it’s time to come together in one powerful voice to say #BansOffOurBodies.
Florida’s 15-week abortion ban will disproportionally hurt Black and Latino Floridians because of the state’s long legacy of white supremacist policies. Say it with us: abortion bans are just another one of the many oppressive tactics used to reinforce white supremacy.
Extra Extra Credit ✅
Please sign this petition demanding that the USPS build EV trucks, not gas-powered, and build them union!!
Get Smart! 📚
If you haven’t yet had a chance to hear Melissa Walker from the States Project speak, and you’re available the evening of March 9th, you are in for a TREAT! She’ll tell you all you need to know about why state level elections matter and what you can do to help win them. You’ll leave with an entirely new take on everything.
The webinar is hosted by Northridge Indivisible. It’s on March 9th from 7:30-9 PST. Register here. You won’t regret it.
Win The Messaging War! 📣
Red Wine and Blue, the awesome group of moms from across the country fighting book bans and other extremist nonsense, is building a special team who can hop on social media at a moment’s notice and help them amplify critical messages they need to get out there to suburban women.
How does it work? Easy…join their Hype Squad and they’ll send alerts via email or text with access to the content they need you to share on social.
Are you ready? Click HERE to sign up. (They’re having an optional zoom meeting for the Hype Squad, too, on March 14th. Register here.)
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[To your Senators] [quick send text SIGN PNQRUO to 50409]
I am asking that you pass the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act (S 3494) right away.
As members of Congress, you have access to confidential information. At the same time, you and your colleagues are determining our federal policies. It is a clear conflict of interest to make personal decisions in the stock market with confidential information that is not public knowledge.
The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act will ensure that as members of Congress you are making decisions that serve the people.
Again, I urge you to pass the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess