Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/6

President Biden @POTUS

600 believers put faith into action to march across Edmund Pettus Bridge to claim their fundamental right to vote. Through forces of hate conspired for their demise, they endured. They forced the country to confront hard truths, to act, and to keep the promise of America alive.

Hi, all, and happy Monday!

It’s a new week. Let’s face it squarely.

In so doing, let’s draw inspiration from the many moving stories we’ve heard about President Biden’s trip to Selma and, more importantly, the historical event it commemorated.

You’ve read plenty about “Bloody Sunday” by now, so I won’t rehash the facts, except to say that the courage and fortitude those original marchers showed—especially considering the terrible consequences they faced—reminds us that we stand on the shoulders of giants. While we may feel frightened, then, or exhausted, or even despondent over the historical moment we face, I trust we can all be grateful that it’s not as existentially perilous as the one those brave souls confronted.

In spite of which, they persisted.

Let’s take today’s actions in their honor, then, remembering always that while our road is challenging, theirs was life-threatening. While ours is scary, theirs was terrifying. While ours requires some sacrifice, theirs required laying their lives on the line.

We don’t have to do that. Not yet, anyway.

So let’s march onwards with good cheer, realizing always the great privilege we carry— most of which is either unearned, or purchased with the literal blood, sweat, and tears of folks braver than we can ever dream of being.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I want to make the Senator aware that thousands of U.S. weapons are smuggled across the border into Mexico every year, arming the drug cartels that supply fentanyl to the U.S. There is a direct line between U.S. manufactured assault weapons, Mexico’s human rights crisis and the flow of fentanyl across our border. 

I want the Senator to curb the flow of assault weapons into Mexico and help with our fentanyl crisis by cosponsoring S.25 the Assault Weapons Ban. Will s/he? [H/T and more info]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I want to make the Congressmember aware that thousands of U.S. weapons are smuggled across the border into Mexico every year, arming the drug cartels that supply fentanyl to the U.S. There is a direct line between U.S. manufactured assault weapons, Mexico’s human rights crisis and the flow of fentanyl across our border. 

I want the Congressmember to curb the flow of assault weapons into Mexico and help with our fentanyl crisis by cosponsoring HR 698 the Assault Weapons Ban. Will s/he? [H/T and more info]

Extra Credit ✅

I’m receiving lots of angry emails about Walgreen’s decision to no longer sell abortion pills in any state where the Republican Attorney General has threatened legal action against it for doing so. (If you don’t yet know about this outrage please read Alan Unell’s excellent piece about it, or Judd Legum’s.)

In short, Walgreens has decided to collude with politicians who want to decree what a woman can and can't do with her own care. They want to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. And I’m angry about it, too!

So let’s call the office of the Walgreens CEO to protest the new policy and to inform Walgreens that we will cease shopping in their stores until the policy is repealed.  

You can contact Walgreens corporate offices at 847-315-2500; ask for the operator, and have him/her transfer you to customer relations. Once there, you can leave a message for management.

You can also send an email to the two Walgreen’s executives below. (I’ve made a click-to-send if that’s easier. Access it at tinyurl.com/boowalgreens )

Primary Contact Rick Gates - Senior Vice President, Pharmacy and Healthcare, rick.gates@walgreens.com

Secondary Contact Lisa Badgley, Senior Vice President, Operations, lisa.badgley@walgreens.com

Subject: WALGREENS REFUSAL TO SELL ABORTION MEDICATION

Mr. Gates and Ms. Badgley,

I am appalled that Walgreens has chosen to stop selling abortion medication in 24 states.  Some of those states, like Alaska, Kansas, Iowa and Montana, still have legal abortion. This decision to put your corporation’s benefit  above the health and well-being of your customers is cowardly and appalling. Women will be placed in horrible and even dangerous situations because you choose not to help when you could. 

Until you reverse this shameful decision I will not shop at your stores and I will encourage others to do the same.

<Your Name>

<City, State>

Please personalize, and please make sure you sign it. Ideally you will both send the email and call. Thanks!

(And thanks to David Miller and Alan Unell, both of whom contributed pieces of this action!)

Get Smart! 📚

“What’s the Matter with Primaries?” hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center

Did you know that more than 83% of the U.S. House was decided by just 8% of Americans during the 2022 primaries? This is what we call “the Primary Problem.” To explain it in greater detail, the folks at the Bipartisan Policy Center are hosting a webinar entitled "What's the Matter with Primaries" on Thursday, March 9th.

During this event, election experts and policymakers will examine 2022 primary turnout and lessons learned from new reforms like Alaska’s nonpartisan primary system paired with a ranked choice general election system.

To register for this event, sign up here. 

Spread the Word! 📣

Trump Dropped a Whopping 23+ Lies in his CPAC Speech: 

As Donald Trump delivered his primetime speech at CPAC over the weekend, he spread lies about everything from the outcome of the 2020 election to his extreme record on Social Security and Medicare. Read and uplift fact checks from the DNC War Room and CNN here. 

Win Races! 🗳

Postcards to Voters’ current campaign is for Judge Janet Protasiewicz running to become Wisconsin's next  Supreme Court Justice. You have plenty of time to buy stamps from USPS.com,  postcards from their Etsy shop, or Wisconsin-themed cards from their print partner.

► Then head to Abby the Address Bot for writing instructions and voters' addresses:

• Text HELLO to (484) 275-2229 or

• CLICK HERE for SLACK to message Abby on Slack Messenger or

• CLICK HERE for EMAIL to Request@AbbyAddresses.org

CLICK TO REQUEST 10 ADDRESSES

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PEHIPY to 50409]

I understand that Senator Brian Schatz has introduced a bill called the Child Labor Prevention Act; I’d like the Senator to co-sponsor it immediately. This bill would increase maximum fines for violations and establish new criminal penalties to deter child labor and hold employers accountable. It was introduced Thursday.

Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act imposes weak fines for violations, making it financially easier for companies to skirt child labor laws.

Mr. Schatz’s bill would substantially increase penalties for violating child labor laws to a maximum fine of $132,270 for routine violations and a maximum fine of $601,150 for each violation connected with the death or serious injury of a minor. It would also increase criminal penalties for a repeat or willful violation of child labor laws to a maximum of a year in jail. And it would apply those laws to independent contractors who are currently exempt, an aspect of the law that some employers have exploited by hiring children through staffing agencies.

Since 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor has seen a 69% increase in children being employed illegally. This is due to companies increasingly circumventing child labor laws to fill positions, which is expected to worsen due to the tight labor market.

This must change, and now. Please co-sponsor Schatz’s bill right away. Thanks.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess