WEEKLY ACTIONS
Beachcomber Insert – What Can We DO?
It’s likely many of you saw the surprising insert tucked into last week’s Beachcomber. For those who didn’t, let’s catch you up: The insert is a Stars and Stripes publication geared toward veterans. It includes a full-page advertisement featuring an image of Uncle Sam and the words “DEFEND THE HOMELAND, AMERICA NEEDS YOU” and “JOIN.ICE.GOV.”
Let us be clear: The Beachcomber editorial staff had no warning that the insert was to be included. Modern corporate ownership of small newspapers means that big advertising decisions stay several levels removed from local editorial staff. One reaction we heard was “I’m cancelling my subscription to the Beachcomber!” Please, please don’t do this. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we SUPPORT and PROTECT our local journalists.
Here’s the thing: The Beachcomber is published by Sound Publishing, which is a subsidiary of Black Press Media, a company based in Surrey, B.C. that owns small community newspapers in Western Canada, WA, and HI. In 2024, Black Press Media was acquired by Carpenter Media, a Tuscaloosa-based media corporation that has a practice of installing conservative top-down coverage in the papers it acquires. Remember Sinclair’s decades-long buyup of local television news stations and their conservative infiltration into news programming? This is the print media version of that. Carpenter now owns more than 250 small local papers across the country. We are in the middle of a wholesale consolidation of all forms of media. The manipulation is insidious, it’s intentional, and it’s one of the key authoritarian strategies: taking control of the narrative.
So where does that leave us? What do we… do? There was MUCH debate about this among Indivisible Vashon (IV) team members last week. Would calls to the involved corporate players make a difference? Would a public-facing protest effort cause unwarranted blowback to our invaluable local paper, or further endanger vulnerable communities? How do we take action in a way that is smart and strategic, not impulsive and irrational? We had to remind ourselves that throughout history, it’s always many actions on many fronts that make a difference in fighting authoritarian regimes. There’s no silver bullet, and we won’t know ahead of time exactly what will make a difference and what won’t. One wise member reminded us to “Do what’s right, even when you don’t see immediate results.”
Of course, we also won’t all agree on what’s right — in this specific case, or across the wider chessboard. This incident is a microcosm, an illustration of the larger fight. What we do know is that, in both the micro and the macro, we can’t let uncertainty have a freezing effect. We must carry on. We must each individually keep doing what’s right, so that collectively we can keep moving forward.
Below, we have some carefully curated options for you. (We’ve done a lot of due diligence to do no harm here.) We’ll inevitably have more suggestions as this unfolds. Reflect, decide what’s right, and take action. And if you have ideas about how to protect local journalism, share them with us — we’re all in this together, and we’d love to hear from you.
Read on for your local Activist Actions and a year-end recap of what we’ve accomplished this year, together.
~ IV Editorial Team
- Write a letter to the Beachcomber. Express your support. Let the staff know that we stand with local journalists, and that their work is more important than ever. Email: Editor@vashonbeachcomber.com
- Attend an Anti-ICE Protest. We will be attending the ICE Deportation Flights protest at Boeing Field on January 15. See below.
- Donate to the fight. Indivisible Vashon Protest Team can use funds to support their visual activism against ICE and the regime overreach. See Fundraising below and put “Protest” in the memo line.
- Help Vashon community members with legal fees while they navigate the immigration system. See Actions below.
- Buy an ad in the Beachcomber highlighting your love and support for our island community and every islander. Contact
- Write to Stars and Stripes. Tell them that our veterans deserve real respect and support, not insulting ICE recruitment ads. Contact online.
Educate yourself and inform others. Become aware of who owns all the media you consume, and spread the word. On the larger news scale, become familiar with alternate media sources. (Scroll towards the bottom of this page for a list of trusted media sources.) Throughout history, whenever authoritarian attempts have been thwarted or reversed it’s been in part because of dissident media. Seek out and support this type of media, on whatever platforms you use. Fact check the corporate media you consume against independent journalists.
Join us to kick off the new year! We will be planning our activism on multiple fronts:
- WA State Legislative Session in January 2026
- Primary Elections
- Upcoming Special Elections in 2026
- Fall 2026 Midterm Elections
When: Wednesday, January 14, 7:00 to 8:30 pm (doors open at 6:30)
Where: Vashon Methodist Church, 17928 Vashon Highway
Upcoming Member Meetings: second Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 to 8:30 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
- Wednesday, February 11
- Wednesday, March 11
- Wednesday, April 8
Submit Questions: Please email your questions for the Indivisible Vashon Leadership in advance to info@indivisiblevashon.org.
Help Needed: Please let us know if you can help with setup, cleanup, greeting/welcoming; or would be interested in joining the Meeting Planning committee to help coordinate future Indivisible events. (Founding members get to come up with a fun name for the committee!) Email kathy@indivisiblevashon.org
Found
A jacket was found after the No Kings protest on October 18. Please Contact Us and identify the jacket to claim.
Vashon Families Still Need Our Help
Thank you for improving food security for our community during these challenging times. Please continue to support island families hurt by SNAP cuts or federal furloughs by donating food, supplies, or funds.
Vashon Maury Community Food Bank: Did you know that your $1.00 donation can buy $1.80 in food?
DONATE Mail checks to: Vashon Maury Community Food Bank, P.O. Box 1205, Vashon, WA 98070
Vashon Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness: A special fund has been set up to supply food gift cards to our two island grocery stores. (Type “Food” in “Add special instructions to the seller.”)
DONATE Mail checks to: IFCH, P.O. Box 330, Vashon, WA 98070 (Write FOOD in the memo).
Qualified Charitable Distribution: If you’re 70½ or older, or you are required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from an inherited IRA, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly to charitable organizations, like the Vashon-Maury Community Food Bank, and reduce your taxable income — even if you don’t itemize deductions. QCDs count toward your Required Minimum Distribution and are one of the easiest and most impactful ways to give. See the Qualified Charitable Distribution instructions HERE.
Support Immigrants & Refugees by Donating Locally Today
The Immigrant/Refugee Rights Group fundraising team is hard at work to secure a fiscal sponsor for immigration legal fees for specific community members’ cases in 2026. Thank you for your patience as they do their due diligence.
In the meantime, there’s another important legal case you can contribute to right now! There are two islanders who are eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. (SIJS is a path toward citizenship.) Funds are being raised for their continuing legal cases, with a goal of $12,000 by May 2026. The Vashon United Methodist Church will manage the funds and are taking this on as “Vashon Island Mission” project. All donations are tax deductible.
To donate:
- Pay electronically via Vashon Methodist Church website. This link goes to “Vashon Island Missions.” You can even set up a monthly recurring payment (e.g., December 2025-May 2026).
- Mail a check to: Vashon United Methodist Church
Attn: Vashon Island Missions
PO Box 330, Vashon, WA 98070
Please write “Vashon Island Missions” (or “VIM”) on the memo line. - If you are interested in donating from a Donor’s Advised Fund, grants can be made to:
GENERAL COUNCIL ON FINANCE & ADMINS OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
VASHON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Tax ID: 91-1227676
Want more information? Contact Jenna@indivisiblevashon.org
We ALL Need Affordable Healthcare
Call or email Senators Cantwell and Murray and Representative Jayapal.
Script: Hello, I’m ______ from [ZIP], asking you to preserve access to affordable healthcare, which is essential to more than 22 million Americans and has vital implications for racial and reproductive justice. Please take urgent action to extend the premium tax credits that make coverage possible under the ACA, and reject the expansion of reliance on health savings accounts that overwhelmingly benefit wealthy people.
Contact our Senators HERE
Contact our Representative HERE
Building a Progressive Majority
Progress is Possible – in Washington State
Policy progress can start in many places. One of the most powerful – Blue State Trifectas, like ours.
Want to help advance progressive policy but not sure how to start? Join one of the 2026 Introduction to the Take ACTION Network (TAN) trainings (just in time for the 2026 legislative session)!
Your first steps:
- Review a short video demo of TAN – on page 2 of the document HERE
- Sign up for TAN training:
Email Evan at lockejaw1704@gmail.com to get set up in your own home or
Register for online training with Kevin Leja - Want to get started on your own? Join TAN as an Indivisible Vashon member.
Use TAN to take action on issues such as: demasking ICE, stopping federal surveillance using traffic cameras, addressing the climate and affordable housing crises, including DEI in school curricula and many more – all right here in Washington State!
Want to get involved now? Email Kevin@indivisiblevashon.org
Let’s look forward to a great new electoral year!
Happy Holidays!
Let’s Celebrate the Good Things that YOU helped
Indivisible Vashon Accomplish!
We all showed that we can build contagious courage through action in community. Working together as a team we can accomplish amazing things, even in the face of the current regime.
- Decisive victories across the electoral board in November 2025 – from Mikie Sherril in New Jersey to Abigail Spanberger in Virginia to Prop 50 in California to right across Colvos Passage where Deb Krishnadasan kept the Senate Seat BLUE – so many of you helped with canvassing, phone calls, and many, many postcards.
- At our member meetings, we heard from engaging islanders like Michael Meade and former State Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson to help guide our opposition work.
- Vashon2Voters kicked off in-person gatherings at the Havurah to join Ezra and Leah with “What’s the Plan?” — and wrote over 7,800 postcards!
- Policy Action Team added many Island-relevant actions to the King County Climate Action plan approved in October.
- Legislative Action Team researched candidates for the Battleground States Matrix, which is actively being used by Indivisibles across the state and is now being circulated to Indivisible Chapter leaders across the country.
- Communications Team formed to better the ways we get our information out to you: added Protest and Action pages to the website, started a BlueSky page, revitalized the Facebook Group page, revamped the newsletter for greater readability, and put up posters around the island for upcoming events.
- Protest Team formed and attended/hosted multiple protests both on Vashon and around the area to increase visibility of resistance.
- Bucket Brigade Drum Corps formed to provide excitement and noise to protests/marches. They have received multiple requests to attend area events and have initiated a “Way of the Drum” outreach training program with other groups.
- Free Range Freedom Choir formed and is adding music and singing to events and protests.
- Immigration and Refugee Rights Team has been BUSY in many ways to support our Vashon families: Rapid Response, Accompaniment, and Court Watch teams in addition to trainings, tech support, community aid, fundraising, and support for community events, local businesses, and the Vashon Island School District.
In all these accomplishments, it’s the Indivisible Vashon members — aka YOU! — who made things happen. Our membership grew exponentially in 2025 and a whole lot of you got involved and created the above successes. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We look forward to seeing what we all can accomplish in this coming year.
Want to get more involved, or have questions about how to join any of these Teams?
Contact us at info@indivisiblevashon.org
Indivisible Truth and Share
Get Informed About the
“Trump Tax”
Donald Trump promised he would lower costs on Day One. Instead, his first six months in office were spent pushing a budget bill into law that takes money out of working people’s pockets to give handouts to the rich. Look up by state to find out how the Big Betrayal Bill is affecting the residents of that state. Please share this info far and wide!
GET INFO
What’s The Plan?
The onslaught of news, the chaos coming out of the White House – it’s all meant to overwhelm us. The antidote: coming together in community to process what’s happening. This is the last “What’s the Plan?” for 2025!
Questions? Contact Kathy at Kathy@indivisiblevashon.org
When: Thursday, January 8, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Postcards – 11:00 am
What’s the Plan – 12:00 pm
Where: The Vashon Havurah, 15401 Westside Hwy
NO ZOOM CALL on Dec 25 (Christmas) or Jan 1 (New Years)
Can’t make it? Want to watch later on your own? Sign Up
Vashon2Voters
Postcards are back!
We’re writing News Boosting postcards to help combat disinformation and help voters in swing states Iowa and Michigan to understand how harmful the Trump/GOP agenda is for them. The Blue Box at the Postcard Depot is OPEN and postcards are always available there – please be considerate and only pick up during daylight hours. In addition, we’ll be bringing the postcards to the Havurah for in-person writing.
When: Thursday, December 18, 11:00 am
Contact Debby at Vashon2Voters@indivisiblevashon.org or Kathy at Kathy@indivisiblevashon.org for more information.
Call or email WA state AG Nick Brown:
Urge him to fight hard against ICE overreach in our state.
Donald Trump has doubled down on his calls for ICE to get even more aggressive and unlawful — targeting blue states and big cities, in particular. State Attorneys General have real power to fight back and we need to put the pressure on them to use every tool at their disposal to hold ICE in check.
ALSO, thank him for joining up with other Democratic AG’s to stand up for the Constitution – over 30 lawsuits later, they are just getting started, and “none of them are tired”!
WHEN: This week (and weekly after that!)
Contact AG Nick Brown HERE
Donate to Indivisible Vashon
Indivisible Vashon is all-volunteer and people-powered. Help us cover expenses like meeting location insurance, outreach materials, postcards and stamps, protest supplies and more.
We’ve made it easier for you to donate! We now have a Venmo account. Just scan the QR code above with your phone camera. You can also search in Venmo.com for @Indivisible-Vashon. Don’t Venmo? We still happily accept checks (made out to “Kevin Jones for Indivisible Vashon”) or cash!
Thank you so much for your support and if you have questions about how donations are used, please contact us.
Jayapal’s Resistance Lab Trainings
Congresswoman Jayapal is continuing her Resistance Lab Training. She knew we needed a way to turn our anger, fear, and frustration into action and progress. That’s exactly why she launched these in-depth, organizing trainings to build our movement and give us the tools we need at this moment. She’s even added specialized training on Immigration.
When: January 25, 2026 – Resistenance Lab
Sign Up & More Info: Website
Gear Up For Protesting, Show Your Indivisible Pride
& Help Grow the Movement
INDIVISIBLE VASHON MERCH – NEW ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADDED!
Our amazing in-house designer Jenna has created a Zazzle shop where we can order t-shirts, tote bags, car flags, hats, and more with designs unique to us! Let us know what else you’d like to see. Think: “Use Your Outside Voice”, “Hate Has No Place Here”, etc. We all have ordered tee shirts and sweatshirts and they seem to run true to size, are good quality, medium-weight fabric, and the printing is high quality. Check out the shop and let us know what you think.
Order NOW for upcoming protests and just to spread the word about Indivisible Activism! Order Soon!
Indivisible Vashon Zazzle SHOP
Come Join Us!
- Actions Tracker: Read a Substack Newsletter or follow a trusted news source? Help us turn what you learn into Action Alerts to help fellow Indivisible members know what actions to take to fight the Regime.
- Social Media: Do you have a Facebook, BlueSky or other Social Media page? Help us amplify the posts that Indivisible Vashon puts out and also help post on our pages.
- Video/Multimedia: Have experience with making videos (even just on your iPhone!) or editing, production? We would love for you to help film segments that could then be shared via YouTube, on our Website, or Social Media platforms.
- Poster Crew: Join our group who helps hang posters around town to advertise our upcoming events.
- Marketing Background: Do you have a background in Marketing and would like to help our Communications Strategy Team?
- Elected Official Liaison: Create a connection with one of our elected Representative’s teams — so that we know up to date information from them and vice versa.
- Climate Action Plan Team: Help us to move forward the King County Climate Action Plan.
- Washington Indivisilbe Legislative Action: Help track legislation and provide actions for members to take to support legislation in the 2026 WA State Legislative Session.
Email Action.Alerts@IndivisibleVashon.org to sign up or get more information.
Rolling Boycotts – Have Your Spending Align With Your Political Beliefs!
The boycotts are WORKING! Tesla’s sales are down over 70% and Target’s profits and foot traffic have fallen dramitically since they caved to the Admin’s demands to cancel DEI. Keep it up!
- Home Depot – They are allowing ICE to pick up day workers from their parking lots.
- Boycott goods from El Salvador – many knit clothing items are made in El Salvador including Hanes tee shirts and underwear, and Patagonia clothing – please check labels or on website before purchasing clothing.
- Boycott Chipolte – Tesla is adding Chipolte executive Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors and Audit Committee
- Boycott Tesla, Amazon, Whole Foods, Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Target, Wells Fargo.
COMPANIES TO SUPPORT!
- LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES
- COSTCO (see above)
- KROGER
- DOLLAR TREE
- GIANT
- LEVI’S
- ULTRA
- TJX (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods)
- BEN & JERRY’S
- GO TO FOODS (Moe’s SW Grill, McAlister’s Deli, Schlotzky’s, Auntie Annie’s, Jamba Juice, Carvel, Cinnabon)
Let your purchases reflect your convictions! Visit the following sites to find the best companies to visit (and the ones to avoid!)
Great Reading on Effective Organizing!
Check out legendary community activist Saul Alinsky’ classic organizing book, Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals (free pdf version) where he presents 13 rules and loads of sage advice and stories on how to organize effectively. In a nutshell – “Have fun, don’t let your tactics get stale, and keep the pressure on. The grassroots would add, build community with everything you do.”
Get Active – Get Involved – Get Focused!
Indivisible Vashon Teams are where our work gets done. Email the Team leaders listed below – they will be thrilled to hear from you!
PROTEST: Resisting the administration’s actions through public protests — email Nick
VASHON2VOTERS: Postcard writing AND weekly actions — email Kathy
BUILDING A PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY: Electing progressive candidates at all levels of government across the nation — email Kevin
LEGISLATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY: Assuring elected officials pass and support policy which aligns and supports our values — email Kevin
IMMIGRANT / REFUGEE RIGHTS: Policy and direct action to support immigrant and refugee families — email Jenna
Try this Soul Sync zoom!
Try this Soul Sync zoom every morning! To be effective, activists must be able to sleep, be calm inside, and be clear headed. According to Island practitioner, Alix Clarke, “Soul Sync will give people a moment to think of exactly what they want to manifest…so that they can work to the best of their ability to help make this world a better place for all.”
Join Alix and Jim at 7:45 am each morning to take part in this beautiful, powerful guided Oneness meditation.
Zoom ID: 839 1059 8484
Passcode: love
Let’s Keep Up the Pressure!! The GOP and the Current Regime are Showing Cracks and Weakening!!
Trusted News & Information Sources
- Indivisible National
- Washington Indivisible Network
- 1440
- PBS News
- National Public Radio
- Rachel Maddow Show
- Jessica Yellen – News Not Noise
- Talking Points Memo
- Project 2025 Information
- Substack Newsletters – www.substack.com and then search the names below:
- – Heather Cox Richardson
- – Jay Kuo
- – Joyce Vance
- – Andrew Weissman
- – The Contrarian
- – The Grassroots Connector
Recap – Member Meeting on September 2, 2025
Congresswoman Jayapal Staffer – Michael Tanaka
Michael provided an update on Congresswoman Jayapal’s summer – she has been BUSY! He said that he would get back to us on our questions regarding the Budget Process, unmasking of ICE, meetings between Congresswoman Jayapal and the Seattle Police Chief & Governor Ferguson, etc. We will relay those answers to you as soon as we get them. He encouraged all of us to reach out to him with questions and concerns and he would direct them to the appropriate staffer.
Ways to reach Michael –
Email – Michael.Tanaka@mail.house.gov
____________________________________________________________________
Elections Update – Kevin Jones
Visit the Battleground States Matrix on the Indivisible Vashon website for opportunities to get involved. More information regarding additional actions can be found on the Take Action Now: Weekly Actions page. More information about candidates can be found on the Get Out the Vote Resources page.
Website – indivisiblevashon.org
Have questions or want to help?
Contact Kevin – kevin@indivisiblevashon.org
____________________________________________________________________
One Million Rising – James Rickard
Indivisible National introduced One Million Rising to help grow the number of people who are actively engaged in resisting the rise in authoritarianism.
- To learn more about engaging in small acts of noncompliance or help with hosting your own gathering.
Contact James – James@indivisiblevashon.org
- Signs of Solidarity – We are not approaching Vashon businesses to post signs supporting immigrants just yet – IV has printed 8 ½ x 11 and 4 x 4 posters for you to put in your home and car windows.
Contact Kathy – Kathy@indivisiblevashon.org
- Learn how to support Know Your Rights trainings for Vashon business owners.
Contact Evan – evan.justin.indivisible.vashon@proton.me or 206-919-8553
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Free Range Freedom Choir – Leslie Enzian
Join the Freedom Choir to sing songs of protest. Think Flash Mobs and possibly Zoomba dance.
Contact Leslie – 206-240-9289
Next Practice – Monday, Sept 8th at 6:30 pm
____________________________________________________________________
Re-envisioning the Declaration of Independence – Greg Wessel
Greg has written a re-envisioned version of the Declaration of Independence to meet today’s situation. If you would like to be in the video he is creating or to be more involved.
____________________________________________________________________
34th L.D. Democrats – Roxanne Thayer
Roxanne highlighted two issues that will be brought up at the next 34th Dems meeting. Sign up prior to the Zoom meeting so that you can vote.
DNC did not pass a resolution on the genocide in Gaza. The Executive Board of the 34th Dems unanimously voted to condemn this inaction.
34th Dems are asking that Senator Cantwell be censured for her consistent votes to fund Israel and for voting along with Trump over 40% of the time. Their proposed resolution condemns Sen Cantwell and thanks Sen Murray.
When – September 10 – 6:00 pm on Zoom
Sign Up – 34dems.org
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Medicaid – Changes affecting Vashonites – James Rickard
We are looking for volunteers to help people sign up for Medicaid and navigate the system due to changes from the BBB.
Contact James – James@indivisiblevashon.org