Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/16
Hi, all, and happy Friday,
I’m actually not particularly happy. I just watched the now-viral video of a lawyer from Martha’s Vineyard describing in detail the ordeal 50 human beings just went through so DeSantis could score political points. I’m disgusted. Not just because his actions were more cruel than I realized, but because I know that, at least with many of his supporters, they’ll actually work to boost his popularity.
It’s deeply disheartening to consider how savage some of our fellow Americans have become. Heartless, unChristian, and perverse.
This act was all of those things and more. I don’t use the word despicable often, but I’ll use it now. If you haven’t watched the video, do. You’ll be enraged by the end, but don’t worry—I’ve given you stuff to do about it.
As my kid and I discussed this morning, after all, anger is unhealthy when it simmers and festers. But when used to fuel action—as fertilizer on the roots of justice, as it were—it can be helpful indeed.
Considering how much “fuel” I have in me right now, today promises to be an extra busy day. I hope it is for you folks, too.
These people absolutely cannot, must not, and will not win.
Let’s get to work, remembering, as always, that there are more of us than there are of them. Don’t forget it, and don’t forget to be proud of being on the right side of history. Through your actions YOU are modeling decency, empathy and compassion.
The country needs it. The world needs it. Our kids need it.
I need it. So thanks. 💙
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
[Before you make this call watch this 4 minute video.]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling because I’m furious about Ron DeSantis’s cruelty towards innocent migrants from Venezuela who were rounded up over days— from a state DeSantis isn’t even Governor of—lied to, persuaded with fraudulent information to go to a town that wasn’t prepared for them, and then dropped on the tarmac and left, forcing them to walk miles to the closest community center to find help. DeSantis’s actions are inhuman, sick, and likely illegal. Even worse, DHS seems to have participated in and aided this deception. Asylum seekers do NOT deserve to be treated with inhumanity. Has the Senator made a statement denouncing this act? Will s/he put pressure on the Department of Justice to investigate this act as a crime and charge everyone who participated in it? I’ve had it with the cruelty. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling because I’m furious about Ron DeSantis’s cruelty towards innocent migrants from Venezuela who were rounded up over days— from a state DeSantis isn’t Governor of—lied to, persuaded with fraudulent information to go to a town that wasn’t prepared for them, and then dropped on the tarmac and left, forcing them to walk miles to the closest community center to find help. DeSantis’s actions were inhuman, sick, and likely illegal. Even worse, DHS seems to have participated in and aided this deception. Asylum seekers do NOT deserve to be treated with inhumanity. Has the Congressmember made a statement denouncing this act? Will s/he put pressure on the Department of Justice to investigate this act as a crime and charge everyone who participated in it? I’ve had it with the cruelty. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Post this on your social media:
It’s almost #NationalVoterRegistrationDay! Use this link to check your voter registration—many states purge voters—or to register!
Elections affect kids. Families. Aspiring Americans. Pregnant people. People of color. YOU.
Not voting is not an option. https://turbovote.org
Give Smart! 💰
1) If you didn’t make it to the Movement Voter Project webinar the other night, it was SO GOOD. I came away from it trying to figure out how to give them a huge sum on my activist’s budget. Honestly, I’ve recommended lots of places to give through this newsletter, but if I had to choose ONE? It would be MVP.
If you have the time to watch the recording of this meeting you’ll understand why. Here it is. And if you have any spare cash and you want to contribute? I’ve started a personal fundraising page for MVP. Give here. (Or start your own, or just give through their webpage! It all goes to the same place.)
2) Having said the above, the close runners up for my donation recommendations are Working America, the States Project, and Movement Labs. All of whom are, or have been, recipients of funding from Focus 4 Democracy, a group that first vets orgs to see who’s doing the most data-driven, cost-effective, and successful work turning out voters, and then raises money for them.
If you haven’t yet been to one of F4D’s informational webinars their next one is this Sunday at at 5pm PT/7pm CT/8pm ET. I’m co-hosting, because other than MVP I think the places they highlight are the best recipients of donors’ money. I highly recommend attending. Sign up here.
Get Smart! 📚
24 Hours of Activism??
Y’all, I don’t even know how to describe this event adequately, except to say it’s going to be epic. Markers For Democracy is putting on a “24 Hours of Activism” postcarding party, and the speaker list—which includes both me and Robert Hubbell—has grown extensive and quite impressive! Here’s the Schedule of events and newly added speakers! Spoiler alert: you’ll want to hear many of them!
This event is 9/19-9/20! Make sure you RSVP to get the schedule, latest updates, and Zoom link (just one Zoom link for the entire 24 hours).
If you would like to write postcards during the event and have never written before, MFD can help you get started.
Buy Voter Registration Yard Signs!
New Blue Morale Booster from Grassroots Messaging Works:
We Defend Democracy yard signs, bumper stickers, and postcards are now available for order, both singles and bulk. Folks are loving these solidarity symbols! (Note: Voterizer.org registers voters in all 50 states.)
Win Races! 🗳
Are you a semi-experienced phonebanker? The DNC needs you! I am committing to having at least 20 conversations a day for the next three days. Who can join me?
WHEN: This Friday - Sunday, 12pm - 10pm ET/9am - 7pm PT.
WHAT: We need to make 100,000 calls to voter voters for Candidates like John Fetterman, Rev. Raphael Warnock, and Mark Kelly.
HOW: 1. Log into https://democrats.org/call/ 2. Watch the Training video if you have not used our dialer! 3. Have at least 20 conversations every day. 4. Invite your friends to do the same!
We need to talk to these voters before the weekend is up, to ensure we can win their support before election day.
This cannot wait. Voters are voting! The time to jump back in is now.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PNSRYL to 50409]
As your constituent, I am calling on you to support a reduction in funding for our immigration detention system, which traumatizes and harms immigrants every day. President Biden and Congressional appropriators have rightly proposed a significantly reduced budget for ICE detention capacity – but it does not go far enough. I urge you to support even greater cuts.
ICE detention has long been known for its abuse and cruelty. Use of solitary confinement, patterns of sexual abuse, nonconsensual gynecological procedures, and a failure to protect people from COVID-19 have all been reported from inside its facilities – and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Despite these systemic problems, the number of people held in immigrant detention, especially in private for-profit facilities, has started to swell once again. This system is cruel and unnecessary. Studies show that immigrants who are released from detention can better care for their families, and prepare and appear for their immigration cases.
President Biden and Congressional leaders have proposed budget cuts to reduce ICE detention capacity by 26 percent for FY 2023. Congress must pass these cuts, and bring immigration detention levels down without relying on invasive surveillance programming.
Now is the time to support President Biden's common sense reductions to our immigration detention capacity to reflect our values and ensure all immigrants are treated with dignity. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
I frequently tell friends and "foes" alike, never mistake me for an optimist. I do not tend to look at the world through the proverbial rose-colored glasses. Also, being a Floridian, I've survived the gubernatorial regimes of the worst of the worst...Jeb Bush, Rick Scott, and now the worst of the lot, Ron DeSantis (or as I call him: DeSatan). So, I surprised myself when, while watching multiple videos of RDs disgraceful stunt of using tax dollars to fly two planes to Texas to lie to immigrants that had already risked their lives for an opportunity for a better life, load them up and fly them to Martha's Vineyard, all for the sake of a Fox photo show, what I ended up taking away from the scenes I was seeing was the incredible kindness and the efforts of the people of MV to welcome and care for these people. So, despite my anger and disgust with DeSantis, I found myself buoyed by the amazing love I was seeing. Three words came to my mind, words I have not uttered in some time: THERE IS HOPE! Kudos and gratitude to those people in Martha's Vineyard. You've warmed a jaded old heart. Thank you!
When you are talking about ways to donate, you might want to mention FORCE MULTIPLIER (forcemultiplierus.org) which raises money make the House and Senate BLUE!