Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/27

Hi, all, and happy Monday.

First, a quick welcome to my new subscribers. I wish there were no reason for you to be here, but, since there is, I’m delighted to welcome you to a place where we don’t just agonize—we organize. You will find, as so many of us have, that taking simple, easy actions will help you feel less anxious.

It’ll also help save the country.

Me, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. Part of that is because my family and I attended a protest on Saturday where we ended up marching for six miles! But also? The emotional impact this court’s decision has had on all of us is profound. We are exhausted and depleted. This is a really, really hard time. So before I say anything else I will say this: please be gentle with yourself and others. Everyone is struggling. Everyone is scared. Everyone is furious.

The good news is that even in that condition we can do a lot. Sitting at a laptop doesn’t require much energy. Neither does writing letters, making calls, or sending postcards. This weekend I’ll be gathering up my strength and canvassing in CA-27, because we CAN WIN IN NOVEMBER — but not if we don’t knock on doors. I’m tired, but this is not a time to succumb to fatigue. It’s a time to caffeinate up and FIGHT.

The truth is, if we want to save ourselves we are going to have to invest some sweat equity. If we do that we will win. So make your calls, for sure, and then please, please, look for a way to help us win elections in November. If you want to work in a specific state, go here and adopt one of ten key states! You’ll get an occasional email from me with action opportunities, but more importantly you’ll receive a link to a Master Doc full of ways to help in that state right now! These opportunities include postcarding, letter writing, phonebanking and SMART donating.

I’ll close with this: Do NOT listen to those telling you voting won’t help, or that we can’t win in November. They are lying. Flat out. It is really, really important that we know that and act accordingly. Not only can we win in November—we absolutely must.

So let’s get busy making victory the only possibility.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

I’m sickened and disgusted by how politicized the Supreme Court has become. Their recent rulings chip away at our rights, restrict our freedoms, and diminish the separation between church and state. They desperately need to be reformed. Is the Senator yet co-sponsoring S. 1141 the Judiciary Act? [If yes thank. If no add:] I want them to today. The Supreme Court is supposed to be independent and non politicized. It is abundantly clear that this isn’t the case. When Americans lose faith in them—and we have—our democracy is in real trouble.

[If Democrat or Collins or Murkowski] Also, I want the Senate to pass the Womens Health Protection Act right now, and I want the Senator to express support for carving out the filibuster to do it. This is life or death for millions of Americans.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I’m sickened and disgusted by how politicized the Supreme Court has become. Their recent rulings chip away at our rights, restrict our freedoms, and diminish the separation between church and state. They desperately need to be reformed. Is the Congressmember yet co-sponsoring HR 2584 the Judiciary Act? [If yes thank. If no add:] I want them to today. The Supreme Court is supposed to be independent and non politicized. It is abundantly clear that this isn’t the case. When Americans lose faith in them—and we have—our democracy is in real trouble.

Extra Credit

In a few clicks, tweet at lawmakers urging them to pass the Judiciary Act.

Extra *Extra* Credit ✅✅

White People For Black Lives received a call to action from a SURJ organizer in Alabama asking for our support TODAY in stopping the construction of two, new huge prisons. 

The ask, from Communities Not Prisons, Montgomery, AL, is to submit an online letter. This VIRTUAL ACTION takes less than 15 seconds.

Click this link to sign.

Get Smart! 📚

Tonight at 8PM ET Red, Wine and Blue—an ass-kicking group of anti-extremist moms-become-organizers— is holding a rapid response gathering to share needed information and take action in light of the Supreme Court decision on Roe.

Their #TheMoreYouRoe Emergency Troublemaker Training will be co-hosted by special guest Busy Philipps.

The most impactful thing anyone can do this election cycle is turn out family and friends to vote. This is called relational organizing and data shows it is the MOST effective way to get the votes we need. Red Wine and Blue is running a huge and innovative relational organizing program this cycle called The Great Troublemaker Turnout. They will discuss it at the training – please join them and keep spreading the word about this program to friends who want to do more than vote this November.

Register here.

Give 💰!

Flip the Vote is a volunteer-driven organization that educates people on the most impactful way to invest in democracy so their campaign donations don't go to more political ads and glossy flyers. They raise money for BIPOC-led grassroots organizations working to GOTV in seven swing states that were critical to Biden's victory in 2020. Grassroots organizations have TREMENDOUS success rates at turning out their neighbors. The seven groups recommended by Flip the Vote are vetted by Movement Voter Project and have proven track records at registering new voters and activating low-propensity ones in their districts.

Want to learn more and maybe donate? Please consider attending Flip the Vote's Zoom open house party tomorrow, Tuesday, from 6-7 PM PDT.

Click on the link to RSVP: https://www.flipthevote.org/events

Help Voters Vote! 🗳

Want to help voters in swing states overcome burdensome voter ID laws?

On Wednesday, June 29th at 9:30am ET, Vote Riders will hold a special 45-minute training session for Big Tent to learn how to download, write, and send out VoteRider letters. And these letters will be mailed immediately! 

Their focus will be on Arizona and Florida —you will write Voter ID information letters to state residents to make sure they understand their state’s voter ID requirements. 

There is no need to create your own account. Letter-writers will be able to request and receive batches of letters directly from BigTent! Request letters through the event registration or using the link below.

Register here.

Learn more about Vote Riders here.

See sample letters here.

Request letters to AZ or FL in advance of the training here.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess