WEEKLY ACTIONS

Next Member Meeting:

Watch this space for details on the Potluck FUN event being planned for July!

WHEN:  Tenative Date – Thurs, July 24th

WHERE: TBD

TIME:  TBD

Bring a friend or neighbor and your questions – we are stronger in community!

“Every authoritarian who successfully destroyed judicial independence did so because civil society failed to unite in time,” Bonica writes. “The key difference? Whether people mobilized.”  ~ Heather Cox Richardson

Friday, May 30, marked the one year anniversary of our current president’s conviction as a felon.

We should amplify this fact, along with all the other myriad facts that people genuinely dislike about the man and his actions.

The Indivisible Vashon protest team, now grown in size and creative energy, is working overtime to raise awareness of the horrors of the administration.  This is important – and important to continue to expand – because one of the historically true facts is when enough of us are actively engaged against tyranny, the tyrant can be defeated. 

Check out the many ways listed here on the Take Action Page for ways you can get involved.

Fortunately, the courts are still creating headaches for the President.  His administration has lost 96% of their court cases! See the Inspiration section below.

Meanwhile, more quietly, the immigrant / refugee , building a progressive majority and legislative action groups continue their work to make our communities safer.

You can help continuing throwing roadblocks in front of the administration by helping elect the right candidates!  See the latest get out the vote actions, supporting candidates running for office this year, below.

To hear how all these efforts weave together, join epic mythologist and storyteller Michael Meade at our next Indivisible Vashon meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, June 4th.  

Let’s go!

                                                       

We NEED you!

We are looking for volunteers to help out in the following area:

  • Action Alerts – we could use help curating the weekly Actions that are sent out to Membership. Email Action.Alerts@IndivisibleVashon.org to sign up.
  • Social Media – we are looking for volunteers to amplify our messages put out on the Indivisible Vashon Facebook and BlueSky pages.  Easy to do!  Email Action.Alerts@IndivisibleVashon.org to sign up.
  • Join one of our groups to take ACTION and become a Protector of our Democracy! Scroll down to the “Get Involved” graphic.

 

                                                             

No Kings! was a HUGE Success!

On Saturday, millions of us came together to tell Donald Trump and his regime: No Kings! If you missed the mass call on Monday, listen to what we accomplished and how we leverage this moment to build a stronger, more unified resistance movement for the long-haul.  (Spoiler alert:  Sen Pramilia Jayapal is a speaker!)

 Listen HERE

So, what is the plan now?? 

Big protest–end of story?  NO!   As Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, said on the Monday after No Kings, “As we move forward, the only effective response to this chaos and hatred is broad-based, ideologically diverse, geographically dispersed, peaceful protest. No Kings Day was historic. No Kings Day was not the end. There is more to come this week. As Arndrea King, MLK III, and I wrote in an op-ed over the weekend, Authoritarian moments can feel permanent. But they never are… Trump is counting on our fear. We’re betting on our courage. Trump wants a crown, but we won’t bow. We will rise.  We rose this weekend, and we’re not bowing anytime soon.”

Read more HERE

                                           

Tell Congress The Wild Olympics Are NOT For Sale!

 

The Republican Budget bill includes plans to sell off nearly half a million acres of public lands. 

A bipartisan group of House members has formed a “public lands caucus” to try to strip public land sales out of the final budget package before it’s passed at the end of the month. 

Republican leaders within that caucus are now publicly threatening to vote against the final budget if those public land sale provisions stay in.

Please contact Representative Jayapal ASAP to demand she oppose any and all public land sales and environmental rollbacks in the Final House Budget Reconciliation bill. (Call 202-225-3106 or 206-674-0040 or email her HERE)

                                   

Call Senators – Oppose The Reconciliation Bill

The House passed the Reconciliation Bill by just ONE vote. Now it’s in the Senate. This Republican bill will extend huge tax breaks for billionaires by cutting Medicaid, food stamps, and ultimately even Medicare. It also has LOTS of “poison pills” hidden within it’s pages that have nothing to do with the budget. The Republicans have added a provision that would stop judges from issuing any restraining orders or temporary injunctions against the federal government if there isn’t a bond in place. 

Email your senators today to demand that they speak out loudly against ANY attempts to use reconciliation to weaken our courts. Whether it’s the No Contempt Clause or this new threat — they must VOTE NO to handing Trump king-like powers! 

 Bottom Line:  Senate Republicans want to let Trump keep pursuing his flagrantly unconstitutional agenda without checks and balances from the courts.  We need to put overwhelming pressure on rank-and-file senators to ensure this attack on the courts never makes it to Trump’s desk.

Click HERE for more information.

Call Senators Murray and Cantwell and ask them to do EVERYTHING they can to stop this from sailing through the Senate!

Contact Senator Patty Murray HERE

Contact Senator Maria Cantwell HERE

Vashon Climate Action Group helped get results this session!

The WA State Legislature took another great leap toward a cleaner and greener world. They passed an updated Clean Fuel Standards bill (HB 1409) that reduces the carbon intensity of transportation fuels well beyond our previous bill. 

Please thank our 34th District Legislators for this accomplishment. Rep Fitzgibbon was the primary sponsor of the bill, and both Sen Alvarado and Rep Thomas voted in favor of it. Follow this link to learn more and to send your appreciation: https://climatesolutions.quorum.us/campaign/122931/.

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.

Contact AG Nick Brown HERE

In-Person “Lunch with Leah & Ezra”!

WHEN:  THURSDAY, June 26th (and EVERY Thursday thereafter) 

WHERE:  EMAIL for address 

TIME:  11:45 am to 2:00 pm

DETAILS: Watch the Zoom call “What’s the Plan?” with Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin (12 – 1:00ish); write postcards, review actions, socialize, and strategize – BRING BROWN BAG LUNCH, BEVERAGE & donation for the Havurah for sharing their space (if able). Cannot attend this week? WE WILL MEET EVERY WEEK, SAME TIME, SAME PLACE!

Postcard Grab ‘n Go bundles will be available to write at our chat or take home. We will be featuring the WA Senate Special Election in LD 26 (our neighbors across Colvos) where there is a CLOSE race to retain Democratic control!

If you want the recording of the zoom and after-meeting info, or cannot attend in person, REGISTER HERE

Scroll down to “What’s the Plan?” and click RSVP.

Action Alerts with Vashon2Voters:

Contact us to receive weekly emails with timely Alerts so you can take Action!

Email Kathy

Email Debby

RESIST…RENEW…RECLAIM

“Blue Box” at the Postcard Depot!

Since Nov 2024, we have written over 4,700 postcards!  We are well on our way of crushing our record last year of writing over 10,000 postcards! Way to go writers!

Postcard Grab-N-Go bundles with postcards/addresses/scripts are always available in the “Blue Box” at our Postcard Depot. Contact Kathy or Debby for more info or directions to the Postcard Depot.  We are currently writing postcards to: 

  1. Critical NJ race for Governor
  2. NEW!!! WA Senate Special Election for LD 26 – anticipated to be close race to retain Democratic control for our neighbors just across Colvos
  3. Ongoing “Send Love / Tough Love” campaign: Think SEND LOVE to Senator Patty Murray and Governor Bob Ferguson for speaking out about the overreach by the Trump administration.
  4. Our Reps need to hear from us when we are angry – but also when we are pleased with what they have done and to keep fighting! Think the Carrot and Stick method.  Feel free to send these often and to others not on our list!!

Phone Bank to Fight the Big Bad Budget Bill!

Call folks in target states to connect them with GOP senators and disrupt the Republican Tax Scam.

As the Senate rewrites the reconciliation bill, we’re making sure key senators hear from their angry constituents — by calling folks to connect them directly to senators’ offices! Phonebanks take place weekly, and anyone can join with just a phone and a computer – organized by Indivisible National and Mobilize

Sign Up HERE

                                                                 

Help support Public Radio!

On June 12, the House passed a bill, through a process known as rescission, to take back $1.1 billion in funding for public broadcasting that was approved earlier this year. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will face another vote before it can become law.  Learn details, make a donation, or reach out to the offices of your representatives or senators:

More Info HERE

Contact Senator Murray HERE

Contact Senator Cantwell HERE

Contact Rep. Jayapal HERE

Rolling Boycotts – Have Your Spending Align With Your Political Beliefs!

The boycotts are WORKING! Tesla’s sales are down over 70%, Target’s profits and foot traffic have fallen dramitically since they caved to the Admin’s demands to cancel DEI, and Costco has seen a big increase since they have wholeheartedly endorsed DEI!  Keep it up!

  • 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.
  • June 24-30 – Boycott McDonalds
  • Boycott Chipolte – Tesla is adding Chipolte executive Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors and Audit Committee

COMPANIES TO SUPPORT!

  • COSTCO
  • 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!)

Impactivize 

Shop How You Vote 

Goods Unite Us

Email Senators Cantwell and Murray!

Email Congressional Senators Cantwell and Murray to follow Senator Cory Booker’s example of using the filibuster to halt all business in the Senate and demand that the administration follow the rule of law!  Feel free to modify this suggested script from Seattle Indivisible. 

You can also THANK THEM for working for the release of fellow Washingtonian who is being illegally held in Venezuala!

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 focus groups are where our work gets done.  Email the focus group 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

COMMUNITY BUILDING: Sustaining and supporting the Vashon-Maury Island community — email James

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

SAVE THE DATE!

                   

Our showing up makes a difference!!

 

Michele Hornish’s Small Deeds Done newsletter is always wonderful, but this issue’s opening essay is really beautiful and important – check it out HERE

Some GOOD things that happened this past week (to counter all the overreach coming from Trump’s Administration):                       

(Source:  Jessica Craven’s Chop Wood, Carry Water Substack Newsletter)

– President Trump’s private golf club in Bedminster, N.J. was hit with a remarkable 18 health code violations, nine of them considered “critical.”

– Democrats commissioned a taco truck to hand out free lunch in front of the RNC headquarters.

– A Guatemalan man who was wrongly deported to Mexico was permitted to reenter the United States, marking the first known instance of the Trump administration returning a deportee in response to a judicial order.

– Ticket sales and subscription revenue at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have fallen sharply since Trump made himself chairman.

– Democrat Keishan Scott defeated his Republican rival in a landslide win for a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Scott, who is 24, secured over 70% of the votes cast in Tuesday’s special election.

– Democrats had a strong night in Mississippi last Tuesday, flipping several seats from red to blue. They even defeated a few incumbent Republican mayors.

– Two prominent former Republicans—Joe Walsh and David Jolly— have joined the Democratic party. Jolly is running for Florida governor, too!

– Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Under Secretary of the Air Force under Joe Biden, won the mayoral race in San Antonio, TX. She beat Republican Rolando Pablos, a former secretary of state who ran with (lots of) support from Governor Greg Abbott.

– Defying an order from Ron DeSantis, Florida Pride organizers lit up the Acosta Bridge in Jacksonville with rainbow colors using handheld lights.

– The NJ turnpike authority is switching away from Tesla charging stations at all rest stops. They will immediately transition to Universal Open Access EV chargers.

– Pamela Hemphill, a former Trump supporter who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, formally rejected Trump’s pardon, saying what she did that day was “not OK.”

Sign up for Jessica Craven’s Chop Wood, Carry Water Substack Newsletter for daily actions and the Good News article HERE

 

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