NO THRONES, NO CROWNS, NO KINGS
Happy Friday, Activists!
Well, it's here. The election is 53 days away and it's time to take the next step. We built our community of resistance and now we move it from gathering in marches and rallies to election protection and turning out a big, big vote. The last No Kings on the Ben Franklin Parkway was 40,000 of us strong. That's a strong team! So let's gather again and get this done!
But first, we all know it's the 25th anniversary of that terrible day in 2001. Here's a nice way to mark the time when the country came together, if only for a somewhat brief time. The nonprofit Unite For Good promotes doing a small act of kindness to mark the day. Suggestions are like "helping beautify your community, learning CPR, bringing cold water to people working outdoors, thanking someone whose work often goes unnoticed, or buying a first responder a cup of coffee." Nothing major, such a small act of kindness toward another person. Even in these times it can help us remember that we are more alike than we are different, even if we disagree strongly in our politics. You can see more ideas and add what you've done at their website here.
You can see more details of what we have for election protection and other actions you can take in last week's newsletter at this link.
Finally, we're hearing folks worried about the USPS creating problems with mailing out our mail-in ballots. Please read this WHYY piece with the message from Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt. He emphasizes that NOTHING HAS CHANGED with the mail-in ballots - yet. The current lawsuit currently sits waiting for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Meanwhile, we are told that our mail-in ballots will be sent out in a few days - early next week. We'll have all the mail-in ballot info for you then. Please sign up to vote by mail at this link. And you won't have to mail it back because we have many drop boxes all over the city and you can drop your ballot in one of those early and feel secure that your vote will be counted!
And now, on to our No Kings 4 plans and how we will secure the vote! See it all below. |
This No Kings is not about marching and rallying to protest. This time it's about securing the vote. How do we do that? We do it two ways: 1) Election Protection efforts that you can see in our last newsletter at this link and 2) "Banking" the votes early - where we encourage voters to sign up for a mail-in ballot and to drop their voted ballot off in a drop box or at a Satellite Election Office early. That's Pennsylvania's idea of voting early.
Here's how we help voters bank their votes early. This time we will have our No Kings events at the Philadelphia Satellite Election Offices (SEOs). You can see the list of all those offices at this link. We'll promote this early so voters know it's happening have a festive atmosphere with balloons, signs, maybe some food and music (if you'd like to provide some music reply to this newsletter and let me know!).
We'll have more details for all of the events as we move along, but importantly, we all need to show up so voters know that voting in our state is safe and secure! The more we show up with bigger numbers at the events, the more comfortable folks will be to be part of the vote. It'll be fun!
After you check out the map of the SEOs, please tell us which office you want to go to at this link.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2 shifts 10:00 - 12:30 & 12:30 - 3:00 Where: Again, see the locations of the SEO offices at this link and then tell us which office you want to go to at this link. Sign up for a shift at this link.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR POSTCARDS
This is to let you know that in a week, on September 18, we are closing our signup form for this round of postcards. So if you want to order some, do it now! Everything you need ti know is below. And thank you for writing the cards with us!
We'll have a GOTV postcard campaign coming soon after this one! Now onto the information for our current campaign.
These are voter registration postcards, to people who have moved to or within the city and have not updated the registration. You can encourage them to make sure they register. Please complete the Order Form with all requested information. NOTE: it is very important to provide an e-mail that you check regularly so we can communicate with you. Order as many postcards as you think you’ll be able to complete and mail by September 25, 2026 - in 50-count increments - 50, 100, 150, etc.
Click here to order your postcards (after reading all the instructions below).
Click here to order stamps from USPS or purchase them from your local post office.
You will receive an email confirming your Postcard order. If you don’t see it, please check your spam folder.
Around the time you receive your postcards, you will receive an e-mail with instructions and addresses so you can write your cards.
Please donate $7.00 for each set of 50 postcards, if you can, to help support this campaign. (The donate link goes to our regular Act Blue account for our donations. We will know it’s for your order!). If you can donate more, please do. It will help cover the cost for those who are unable to contribute.
We love our out-of-town writers! If you live out of state or in areas far outside Philadelphia (see below for the delivery information), we will mail the cards to you. We ask that you please donate an extra $10.00 for postage for shipping. Click here to order your postcards.
VOTER REGISTRATION
You have responded to our Voter Registration signups magnificently! We do need more help for one of them, which is listed below. The festival will be a fun event so don't miss it!
We'll provide all the materials you need and a quick training at the beginning. Registering voters will boost turnout in this November's election.
IF YOU FIND YOU CANNOT MAKE IT, PLEASE EMAIL US AT THIS LINK That way someone else can go off the wait list and take your spot.
Feria del Barrio Register voters at this festive block party! When: Sunday, September 13, Noon-2:00pm, 2:00 - 4:00 pm Where: Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 N 5th St, Philadelphia
SAVE THE DATE HEAR FROM SUFFS CREATOR AND STAR SHAINA TAUB!
This is exciting news! Shaina Taub, the brilliant creator and star of the musical SUFFS, which describes the women's suffrage movement, will join us on zoom to answer our questions about her and her show. And it is quite a story! The show is exhilarating and inspiring and parallels much of what we are going through now - and shows what our activism has brought and can bring again this year.
This is an in-person meeting and we'll meet at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia. We will watch Shaina on zoom together and you'll be able to submit questions. You won't want to miss this! We are making this a fundraiser too for our work for the elections. We'll have some hors d'oeuvres and adult and kids beverages, plus some of the music from the show and some video clips too. More details soon!
To get you started, you can watch the recording of the Broadway show on PBS Great Performances (on Passport) if you support PBS. Enjoy!
When: October 28, 5:00 pm Where: The Ethical Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia Signup to be provided very soon!
MORE PROTESTS YOU CAN JOIN
1. Springfield protest - Every Saturday, 1:00 - 2:00 at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and PA Route 320. Bring your signs on your favorite topic!
2. Tesla Takedown Protest - Every Saturday - 11:00 - Noon Tesla Takedown Devon - At the Tesla showroom, 470 Lancaster Ave, Devon, PA
3. Every Friday -- 11:15 am - Join Fridays@Fetterman's for the weekly Friday vigil for peace in Gaza/Palestine outside of Senator John Fetterman's office at 200 Chestnut Street from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm.
4. Fitz Friday - 5:00 - 6:00 pm -- Protest at Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick's office at One Summit Square, Langhorne, PA. Bring signs about whatever you want. There's a lot to complain about!
5. Every Wednesday 4:00 - 5:00 pm -- Join this resistance group at #WeThePeopleWednesdays for Singing for Sanity at High Point Cafe at Allens Lane.
6. Every Thursday, 4:30 - 6:00 pm. Join your Northern Liberties neighbors in peaceful protest at the corner of 2nd and Spring Garden Streets. Bring signs or borrow ours!
7. Every Wednesday at noon - Outside the Philadelphia ICE Office, 114 N. 8th Street. Sponsored by New Sanctuary Movement. This is a 40-week series of Interfaith Prayer Vigils.
8. Every Monday at Noon - Monday at McCormick's -- Join Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW for Monday's at McCormick's in front of Senator McCormick's office at 20th and Market Streets.
9 - 11. Vigils outside the ICE office at 114 North 8th Street: Every Monday at 11:00 AM - Sponsored by State Senator Art Haywood and led by local clergy. Every Wednesday at noon - Sponsored by New Sanctuary Movement. This is a 40-week series of Interfaith Prayer Vigils. Every Friday at 3:00 - Join this vigil
And A Few More Things:
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