WEEKLY ACTIONS
Contact Rep. Jayapal TODAY – the “Big, B.S. Bill” is HORRIBLE
The “Big B.S. Bill” (Budget Reconciliation Bill) passed the Senate with VP Vance having to cast the tie-breaking vote. It now goes back to the House where they need to vote on the changes made by the Senate. Reinforce with Rep. Jayapal that she needs to do everything in her power to DELAY and MITIGATE THE HARM of this historically bad bill. While you are on a roll, do you have friends or family that live in these states listed below that could contact their Reps? TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AS TRUMP IS DEMANDING THAT THIS PASS BY JULY 4TH!!
Contact Rep. Jayapal HERE
WHEN: TODAY
Email Our Members of Congress – Support War Powers Resolution
Donald Trump unilaterally and unlawfully launched a military strike on Iran that could ignite a full-scale regional war, jeopardizing American lives and freedom. He did it without congressional approval, without a plan, and without the support of the American people. Congress must assert its authority to stop another forever war.
Click HERE to email Senators Murray & Cantwell and Rep. Jayapal.
WHEN: TODAY (and weekly after that!)
Don’t Let the Iran Bombings Distract You!
Just a friendly reminder:
“If we now focus all of our protest efforts on the bombings in Iran, the “Big Beautiful Bill” will pass with merely a whisper and the indiscriminate deportations will become even more brazen. Beware of the calculated distractions.”
We need to be multi-pronged in our efforts right now – call/email repeatedly (with ONE topic per call or email so it gets recorded) on ALL the issues swirling around:
*No war with Iran
*Reconciliation Bill in the Senate
*ICE’s overreach and illegal use of no Due Process
Click HERE
Message from IV Leadership
Last week we all had whiplash; this week it is feeling sick to our stomachs. The boasting of the Republican Senators after their “yes” votes on the “Big B.S. Bill”, combined with the display of cruelty and ridicule by Trump, et al in front of the cages at “Alligator Alcatraz”, was enough to literally turn my stomach and deny me sleep. You too? Solutions? Enjoy the gift of beautiful weather and get outside on our amazing island! Make some noise with the Indivisible Vashon Bucket Brigade at our “Free America” gathering! Take some action, be in community and try to concentrate on the good that IS happening and the good we can do together. Let’s dig in! – Kathy
We’re in this together. And together, we’ve got this!
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
Postcarders – ALERT!!! Stickers Need to be Added to Deb Krishnadasan Postcards Before Mailing ON July 18th
We have been informed that we need to add a disclaimer sticker to the upper left corner of the postcards that we have been writing for Deb Krisnadasan. This can be added on the upper left corner of the blank side of the postcard if you have not already written them. For those who have already completed writing, please attach on the upper left corner of the side with the graphic and address. Stickers can be found in the Blue Box at the Postcard Depot. MANY THANKS and remember to HOLD and MAIL ON JULY 18TH!!
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/.
Contact Our Senators – Thank Them for Their Effort on the “Big B.S. Bill”
Both Senator Murray and Cantwell were instrumental in getting items removed from the “Big B.S. Bill” (Budget Reconciliation Bill) such as the sell-off of public lands, excise tax on wind and solar projects, hobbling the courts from holding Trump accountable, and much more. They also demanded, along with their fellow Democrats, that the ENTIRE bill be read aloud on the floor of the Senate and added amendment after amendment during the “Voter-a-rama”. The reality of losing all three branches of elected government is that they were not able to completely stop the bill, but, they were able to slow it down, strip out as much as possible, and raise the word about how this is “the single largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in the history of our country” (Sen. Murray). Please let them both know that we see the effort they gave and appreciate them!!
Contact Senator Patty Murray HERE
Contact Senator Maria Cantwell HERE
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
In-Person “Lunch with Leah & Ezra”!
The “Lunch with Leah & Ezra” gathering to watch “What’s the Plan?” is on vacation and will NOT be meeting at the Havurah this Thursday. You can sign up to watch on your own and get the links/recording emailed to you. Click HERE
The Postcard Depot is OPEN! We have written over 5,200 postcards since the Nov 2024 election!
Need directions? Email Kathy or Debby!
- Electing Senator Deb Krishnadasan in WA L.D. 26 – HOLD and MAIL ON JULY 18TH.
- N.J. Governor race – mail as you complete.
- Ongoing “Send Love / Tough Love” campaign: Senators Murray and Cantwell, WA AG Nick Brown, Governor Bob Ferguson all deserve some “love” for their efforts on behalf of our state!
There are some free stamps in the envelope in the Blue Box – please feel free to use these if you need. We also are always welcoming donations to help fund stamps and postcards. Stamps can be purchased by contacting Kathy HERE.
Mark Your Calendar for a Special Postcard In-Person Opportunity With Not On Our Island
We are very excited to offer you a special IN-PERSON postcard opportunity in conjunction with our partner, Not On Our Island. We will be writing to members of the US House and Senate Indian Affairs Committees to urge them to uphold and honor treaty rights. Special postcards were ordered from Raven’s Nest! And Stamps included!
WHEN: Saturday, July 26th – 1:00 pm
WHERE: Vashon Havurah – email for address – HERE
Action Alerts with Vashon2Voters:
Contact us to receive weekly emails with timely Alerts so you can take Action!
RESIST…RENEW…RECLAIM
Encourage Gov. Ferguson to Form a “United Democratic Governors Resistance”
Read fellow Indivisible Vashon member Rhondi Lightmark’s Substack letter LightMarks and email Gov. Ferguson if you agree that a “United Democratic Governors Resistance” has potential to rally many thousands of followers and capture media attention. He already is working with other Democratic Governors to push back against the harm coming out of Washington, D.C. and has met with all nine WA State elected officials to discuss how to best protect WA. Tell him to keep it up and be BOLD!
Please share this link widely and help make it happen!
Click HERE to read Rhondi’s letter.
WHEN: This week
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
Gear Up For Protesting & Show Your Indivisible Pride
INDIVISIBLE VASHON MERCH!
Our amazing in-house designer Jenna has created a Zazzle shop where we can order t-shirts, hats, and more with designs unique to us! We currently just have the IV logo and the Bucket Brigade logo in the shop — let us know what else you’d like to see. Think: “Use Your Outside Voice”, “Hate Has No Place Here”, etc. We ordered some test shirts and they seem to run true to size, are good quality, medium-weight fabric, and the printing is high quality. The shop showcases both men’s and women’s shirts but you can add these designs to ANY of the items available from Zazzle, as well as choose from a variety of colors. Check out the shop and let us know what you think.
Order NOW for Strawberry Festival, upcoming protests, and just to spread the word about Indivisible Activism! Order Soon!
Click HERE
From Our Governor
OLYMPIA – Governor Bob Ferguson gave the following statement on a federal court decision ruling President Donald Trump illegally deployed the California National Guard:
“Not surprisingly, a Federal court ruled today that Trump illegally federalized the National Guard in California without the approval of the Governor. Once again, our court system is keeping Trump’s authoritarian overreach in check. Washington will be prepared if Trump attempts a similar unconstitutional stunt in Washington state.”
Elections Corner With Kevin: Spotlight on Elections to be Decided This November
Abigail Spanberger (D) – Virginia Governor – In 2021 Virginians elected a Republican Governor, losing their powerful state Democratic trifecta. Let’s get it back this November! Abigail Spanberger is running to challenge the incumbent Lt Gov and GOP nominee Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger was a CIA operations officer, served on the VA Fair Housing Board, and has served in the US House of Representatives for VA District 7.
This will be another very competitive race! We will be supporting Spanberger with postcards, etc. in the fall – but you can get started NOW to get Virginia back to the BLUE.
Phone / Text events HERE – Donate HERE – campaign website HERE
Senator Deb Krishnadasan (D) for WA L.D. 26 Senator – Krishnadasan was appointed to this seat when Emily Randall was elected to the US House of Representatives. To hold her position, she needs to be elected in a special primary in August and the special election in November 2025. Indivisible Vashon supported both elections of Randall by post carding and canvassing, and we are proud to do the same for Krishnadasan! (Postcard opportunity listed earlier in this email & again later in the summer/early fall)
Canvas HERE
Donate HERE
Campaign website 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!)
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
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