Hi, all, and happy Monday.
It’s actually not a super happy one for me, as our beloved dog of 16 years had to be put down yesterday. As if that’s not bad enough, we also had deeply frustrating and infuriating news out of West Virginia, as Joe Manchin basically put the final nail in S1’s coffin. Tough stuff.
It would be easy, on a day like this, to decide to pull the covers over my head. But I won’t. And here’s why. Like lots of you, I have a kid. I also have nieces, nephews, and lots of other young friends of whom I’m deeply fond.
They are counting on me never to give up. If I throw my hands up it is their future that suffers.
So I won’t. And neither should you. We will find another way. We have to.
There’s already talk of trying to put some provisions from S1 into the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Maybe that will work. Maybe we will find a different workaround. What I do know is that we MUST find a way to save our democracy. So we will.
Speaking of which, if you live in Virginia or New Jersey you have primary elections tomorrow. If you’re on the fence about voting please read this, and share it with others in your state.
We are down today, but we are not out. And we won’t be, as long as you stay in this fight with me.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is [name].
I’m very frustrated and upset that S1 doesn’t have the votes to pass, as I am deeply, deeply worried about the state of our democracy and the assaults on our voting rights happening across the country. I want the Senator to make passing S. 51 to grant statehood to Washington, DC a top priority, and I also want the Senate to reintroduce and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill that strengthens and updates the Voting Rights Act. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is [name].
I’m very frustrated and upset that S1 doesn’t have the votes to pass, as I am deeply, deeply worried about the state of our democracy and the assaults on our voting rights happening across the country. I want the House to reintroduce and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill that strengthens and updates the Voting Rights Act. Thanks.
Extra Credit
I’ve said many times that SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) is my favorite racial justice organization—if you’re not already a member I urge you to join—especially if you’re white.
This week on Thursday, June 10 at 12 PT/3 ET SURJ has their monthly “action zap,” and I hope everyone’ll sign up. Volunteers all meet for an hour on Zoom and take action together. Moderators walk you through everything and are there to answer questions. It’s so fun and easy, and makes a HUGE difference. Last month our calls helped stop the building of 3 new private prisons in Alabama! Go here to sign up.
Let’s Win Races!
Tomorrow is Election Day in Virginia, and the Grass Roots Dems are texting 250,000 voters in a text banking session TODAY at 12 pm PT/3 pm ET. They need more volunteers!
Please join them today and remind voters to cast their ballots! This matters!!!
Resistbot Text (New to Resistbot? Go here).
To President Biden and all 3 DEMOCRATIC reps
I am watching negotiations on the infrastructure bill with a growing sense of dread. WHY are Democrats allowing the GOP to pare everything good out of this package—especially climate-related provisions that are absolutely critical to out meeting our goals and saving the planet? We know they are negotiating in bad faith. We know they will force Democrats to water the package down to bare bones and then vote against it anyway.
We know they are Lucy with the football. But this is no comic; this is our survival. WHY are you still negotiating with them?
We did not work so hard to elect majorities in both chambers and a Democratic President to watch you then squander your chance to save us.
We need you to pass a bold, big infrastructure package, one that takes on the climate emergency with the urgency it deserves. Stop negotiating with traitors. Stop pretending that biparitsanship is possible. It isn’t. The Republican party is no more, and the fascists that have taken it over will never, ever work with you. Act before it’s too late. Our future is on your hands. Thanks.