Hi, all, and happy Monday!
I want to say three things before we get started taking our actions:
First, I’m deeply moved by how many of you upgraded to paid subscriptions yesterday. Thank you. I hate bringing up money in this newsletter—I’m aware that pretty much every Substack author in existence is asking you for it regularly—but with my household financial situation about to change so much it had to be done. Lots of you stepped up to help, and I’m truly grateful for it.
Second, I want to apologize for not starting yesterday’s “Extra! Extra!” with an acknowledgement of the horrific shootings in Jacksonville on Saturday. The reason is simple: I got the newsletter done early and scheduled its publication for the following day; when I wrote it the attack hadn’t yet taken place. It was only after the post went out that I realized I should have gone back in and edited it. Sorry I didn’t. Like all of you, I’m reeling from this latest horror, and, like most of the country, I’m grief-stricken by it. We are all gun violence survivors at this point, and must treat ourselves accordingly.
I’ve devoted a lot of today’s newsletter to taking action on assault weapons—again—but action can’t take away the pain entirely. This suffering is all the worse for being so unneccessary. Please remind friends and family that we don’t have to live this way. This carnage is a policy choice, and when we vote for Republicans—or simply don’t vote at all—we are endorsing that policy. There will be no movement on gun violence until we sweep Republicans out of office everywhere. That is an incontestable fact. Share it widely.
Finally, and to end on a positive note, I want to say how lovely it was to meet a few of you in person at the Danica Roem fundraiser yesterday. What a treat to get to talk to so many of you! It was an event that exceeded my expectations on every front; where before I knew anecdotally that Roem was an amazing legislator, I now know it from direct experience. She is incredible. Her victory, moreover, is imperative, and not just because she’s so qualified. If Republicans take back the VA Senate Glenn Youngkin will feel emboldened to run for president. He’s a deeply frightening politician. It can’t happen.
So don’t forget to check out my “Help us win in Virginia” document. This is going to be a street fight, and it’s one in which we must prevail.
Times are tough, but we’re tougher, my friends. Let’s get to work one more time making sure we—or at least our kids—get the America we dream of.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
[FYI, click to see the Senate Holdouts on the Assault Weapons Ban]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
On Saturday we experienced yet another hate-motivated attack on the Black community—this time in Jacksonville, Florida. The Department of Justice has identified white supremacy and far-right extremism as among the greatest domestic-security threats facing the United States. The continued inaction of this Senate to advance legislation to curb the arming of racist domestic terrorists with weapons of war is inexcusable. Is the Senator yet a co-sponsor of S. 25, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2023?
[If yes add:] Wonderful, thank you. I’d like him/her to push Senator Durbin to advance it in the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has the votes to pass it there and he should, without delay.
[If no add:] That’s unconscionable. We had an assault weapons ban from 1994 until 2004 and we know it works. After it expired, assault weapons started being used in the deadliest mass shooting incidents in the United States. How many more innocent Americans have to die before we resume the ban? How can the Senator live with himself/herself for refusing to save American lives?
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
[FYI click to see House holdouts on the Assault Weapons Ban]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
On Saturday we experienced yet another hate-motivated attack on the Black community—this time in Jacksonville, Florida. The Department of Justice has identified white supremacy and far-right extremism as among the greatest domestic-security threats facing the U.S. The continued inaction of Congress to advance legislation to curb the arming of racist domestic terrorists with weapons of war is inexcusable. Is the Congressmember yet a co-sponsor on H.R. 698, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2023?
[If yes add:] Wonderful, thank you. Please push your colleagues to get on board. This isn’t a partisan issue. This is about saving American lives. Thanks.
[If no add:] That’s unconscionable. We had an assault weapons ban from 1994 until 2004 and we know it works. After it expired, assault weapons started being used in the deadliest mass shooting incidents in the United States. How many more innocent Americans have to die before we resume the ban? How can the Congressmember live with him/herself for refusing to save lives?
Extra Credit ✅
PROTECT THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
According to Earthjustice.org, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is one of the strongest tools communities have to protect their own environments. Under the Trump administration these regulations were severely weakened and now the Biden administration is aiming to strengthen them again. YAY!
We can read more specifically about the new rules here, see a sample comment here, and then submit a public comment on the federal register here. I just did it—it took two minutes!
[H/T
]Get Smart! 📚
Have you always wanted to try phonebanking but feared you wouldn’t know what to do? Help is here! On Thursday from 6-7 ET Blue Future is holding a training for new phonebankers!
From them:
Join the Blue Future team for an introductory training in phonebanking. This training will be for all beginners and first-time phonebankers! We will go over the basics of what phonebanking is, how to do it well, and where to get started.
If you have been thinking about getting involved, but weren’t ready to take the leap – NOW is your chance. Join us on Thursday to learn how to phonebank!
Spread the Word! 📣
President Biden had a beautiful and important Op-Ed published in yesterday’s Washington Post. It’s called “We must keep marching toward Dr. King’s dream.” Please read and share. We are so lucky to have a president who’s working towards progress in the racial justice space. More people need to know what he and his administration have accomplished thus far, and more need to hear his calls for continued efforts, increased awareness, and unity.
Win Races! 🗳
So cool! You can now help register young voters in Ohio by writing letters!
Swing Left Peninsula is partnering with The Civics Center to pilot a nonpartisan program in August and September to encourage young people to register to vote using scannable QR codes.
Here’s how it works: You’ll request a set of addresses, download and print up a commensurate number of pre-written letters, add a short additional handwritten note, then enclosed a handful of QR code voter registration stickers (they’ll be sent to you once you sign up). Then hand-write addresses on your envelopes, stamp and mail! Easy peasy!
Registering young people to vote is ALWAYS important—read this new post from the Civics Center about why it matters so much more than we realize—but doing so now in Ohio, with the abortion referendum coming up in November and a critical Senate seat and the presidency to hold next year, has never been more important.
No Resistbot Letter today—sorry!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Thanks for today’s actions, Jess. Keeping you and your family in mind as the writers strike continues. Activism is not always convenient or easy is it? But I thank you for all that you do.
And thanks for including the holdouts on the assault weapons ban bills. I figured all my CA reps were on board but I was glad to have the facts as reassurance.
You are right, Jess. There is NO PLACE for assault weapons in private hands/homes in the United States. You are also right that we have to vote out every R on every ballot, up and down. Remember, the R's use lower-level elected office (school boards, city councils, county commissions) to "train up" their candidates, in part, because these seats have low barriers to entry.
Too many of us don't think about running for office ourselves. Pretty scary right now, too, because of the violent and volatile voter pool. However, maybe we can each think about it, or talk to our young friends about putting their hats in the ring? Subscribe to the nonprofit Run For Something (RFS) organization dedicated to supporting young candidates to learn more: https://runforsomething.net/