105 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION – 105 DAYS TO GET OUT THE VOTE
This week seems about a month long already! We know there has been a lot to process and react to. It's good to be alarmed or shocked by our new reality, but then we need to keep our heads down, do the work, and then do more work. We know what actions lead to change. And we know we can do it, because we’ve done it before.
Start with coming to our meeting tonight to learn how to re-imagine policing and criminal justice. And check out our Calls To Action to do all week, plus our ongoing voter actions.
Let's honor the late John Lewis's life and get to it!
TONIGHT AT 7:00 – CRIMINAL JUSTICE DISCUSSION
Tonight we’ll hear a criminal justice expert describe how we can re-imagine policing, what real reform looks like, and how we can tell whether our elected officials are actually making the changes we want. We've talked a lot about reforming policing so it’s time to hear from an expert about what went wrong, how the system hasn’t made us safer, and what we need to make it the system all our communities deserve.
John Roman, PhD, of NORC at the University of Chicago will speak to these issues and answer your questions. John’s research focuses on innovative crime control policies and justice programs, including in juvenile and adult justice systems focusing also on prisoner reentry, diversion, and alternative sentencing.
Then, you’ll meet our new Indivisible PA/DE Coordinator, Becca Litt. Fresh off the Elizabeth Warren campaign, Becca will tell us about Indivisible’s plans for winning in November.
When: TONIGHT at 7:00 PM
Where: on Zoom
99 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION – TIME FOR A DAY OF ACTION – TUESDAY, JULY 28
Here’s a thought experiment – Remember what you felt like on November 9, 2016? I do and I still have the PTSD to show for it. Now think about how you want to feel on November 4, 2020. It's probably an easy choice. Even if the worst happens, don’t you want to know you did all you could to achieve a big blue wave?!?
Here’s how to help get to the joyful feeling. Call voters and ask them to get out to vote for Joe Biden!
Our day of action will be a phone bank for Joe Biden!
We’ll be on Zoom having a good time together, and once you sign up we’ll send you all the information for it.
When: Tuesday, July 28, 6:00 PM
CALLS TO ACTION – A TRIFECTA FOR THE WEEK
Sen. Toomey – Phila office 215-241-1090; D.C. office 202-224-4254; email link
Sen. Casey – Phila office 215-405-9660; D.C. office 202-224-6324; email link
Rep. Evans – D.C. office 202-225-4001; Phila. office (215) 276-0340; email link
Rep. Boyle – D.C. office (202) 225-6111; Phila office (215) 335-3355; email link
1. Call today and tomorrow to demand no funding for secret police in our cities
We know many of you are concerned (maybe outraged?) by the recent events in Portland. In response to protests, federal agents have taken to terrorizing Americans on the streets there. Trump calls the protesters “anarchists and agitators” and federal agents deployed by the Department of Homeland Security have responded with uninvited military force – using tear gas, pepper spray and even abducting protesters in unmarked vehicles. Customs and Border Patrol is doing what they usually do – except this time it’s not just at the border. This kind of behavior is more than just troubling, it’s edging us closer to a fascist state.
Trump wants to see this kind of violent suppression at protests across the country, apparently including in Philadelphia.
Congress is now considering the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA authorizes our massive defense budget and it will be up to the Senate TOMORROW to decide how to proceed. Even though the House voted on NDAA yesterday, we still have time to catch the Senate.
Call our Senators NOW and ask them to oppose the NDAA unless the Merkley-Wyden Portland amendment is adopted. It literally only takes a minute.
Call our Representatives and tell them we want this to stop. Let them know how upset you are.
2. Call our Senators – pass the Heroes Act with $3.6 billion in election funding
We are running out of time to implement safe, secure elections this fall. Call our Senators every day this week if you can and demand they pass the Heroes Act with $3.6 billion in election funding. Our democracy depends on it. For more information check out Indivisible’s explainerbreaking down the package and how it will support vulnerable families during these times.
3. Worried that Trump might refuse to leave office if he loses? Here’s what you can do now.
Trump meant what he said last year,he won’t commit to accepting the result if he loses the 2020 presidential election.During a recent interview with Fox News’s Chris Wallace, Trump stated, “I’m not a good loser. I don’t like to lose." We can’t and won’t allow Trump to follow through with his threats to ignore the will of the people.
Here’s the plan -–> In partnership with Stand Up America Indivisible launched Protect the Results. We’re building the infrastructure needed to mobilize millions of Americans should Donald Trump take steps to undermine the outcome of the election.Sign the pledge to take action if Trump refuses to accept the results.
POSTCARDS
We have two pieces of exciting news for our Vote By Mail project.
#1. Yesterday marked an incredible milestone.
Our original goal was to send 50,000 postcards to Philadelphia voters to encourage them to sign up for Vote By Mail. esterday we blew past 50,000 addresses sent to our fantastic volunteer postcard writers!! And we are not even at the halfway point of this project! So much more to come!
#2. We have brought onboard a postcard group in Ithaca, New York. This is a group of artists who create postcards that volunteers buy and send to voters. They decided they want to write cards to Philadelphia voters and are now part of our program. So far they have taken 50,000 addresses for their volunteers!
So that’s 100,000 Philadelphia voters - and counting - who will hear from us! Woo-hoo!!
Click this link and join our awesome team!
Read all about our beautiful artist-created postcards here.
Here are the project details:
We are targeting inconsistent voters in typically underserved communities. We believe these are areas we can have the most impact.
Here’s how it works:
1. We will supply you with our fabulous original art postcards for free. You will need to only purchase 35-cent postcard stamps at this link.
2. The script includes a pre-printed label and we will deliver those to you with the postcards.
3. We will email you the instructions for writing the postcards, the script, and the addresses.
4. You’ll write the postcards and mail them as they are completed.
5. Join a Zoom postcard party or write cards at home on your own. It all helps!
Click this link to sign up.
Virtual Postcard Events
Every Wednesday Virtual Cards & Coffee – See you tomorrow!
Sign up for any Wednesday – Pick the date you want when you sign up, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (stay for as long as you want). Sign up here.
Every Thursday Virtual Cards & Cocktails
Sign up for any Thursday – Pick the date you want when you sign up. 6-8 pm (stay for as long as you want). Sign up here.
Every Sunday Brunch Office Hours – Sundays Noon to 2:00 Sign up here.
Every Sunday at noon we’ll meet on Zoom to chat at our “Office Hours. You can drop in just to say hi, you can write postcards, ask some questions, shoot the breeze, or have brunch with us, whatever. And if you haven’t signed up yet you can stop by and ask what it’s all about. We’ll be there!
COMING NEXT WEEK – NEW FUNDRAISING MATCH PROGRAM
Starting next Monday, July 27, Indivisible is starting another matching fundraising program! All of your donations made to our group will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $350.00. More details next week!