Your Activism For The Win
- indivisible
- May 5
- 7 min read
Happy Tuesday, Activists!
We hope you had a good weekend. Today, we'll take the win. "What win?" you may ask. Well, Republicans finally caved last week.
After months of keeping the Department of Homeland Security shut down, they finally agreed to pass a bipartisan bill that funds every DHS agency except ICE and Border Patrol. For months, Republicans refused to work with Democrats, hoping Dems would eventually cave as the shutdown became the longest in US history. But Dems didn’t cave.
Thanks to our grassroots pressure, Democrats held the line (when was the last time you remember that happening?) and refused to give ICE and Border Patrol another penny. This is a significant win -- but the fight isn’t over just yet. Republicans are now trying to shovel $140 billion to ICE and Border Patrol anyway. See the CTA below.
CALLS TO ACTION
1. Tell our Members of Congress you don’t want more of your taxpayer dollars going to ICE and Border Patrol. In the Senate, the GOP is working on a reconciliation bill that could give ICE and Border Patrol up to $140 billion more to fund concentration camps and militarized deployments to US cities. Reconciliation allows them to bypass the filibuster and they won't need any Democratic votes. It’s vital they hear from constituents now. Calls are most important, but after hours, you can email too.
We need every Democrat loudly united against this legislation. Tell them - not one more penny for ICE cruelty.
2. Tell our Members of Congress to end the illegal war on Iran. The Trump regime breezed through the 60-day deadline for getting congressional authorization for the attack on Iran, compounding the illegality of this disastrous war. Trump is brazenly defying congressional authority, and it’s time for Congress to take their power back, uphold their constitutional duty, and use the War Powers Resolution to end this war.
Here are the contacts to call and write: Sen. McCormick – Phila office 215-405-9660; D.C. office 202-224-6324; email link Sen. Fetterman – Phila office 215-241-1090; D.C. 202-224-4254; email link For outside PA: Find your senators’ phone numbers and emails at this link Rep. Evans – D.C. 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 Rep. Scanlon -- D.C. office 202-225-2011; Chester office (610) 626-2020; email link Outside Philadelphia? Find your Representative here.
JOIN OUR NEW CAMPAIGN AGANST CITIZENS BANK
Last week we announced our new campaign against Citizens Bank. Not only are we protesting in front of their branches, now, we are directly telling Citizens to stop funding GEO Group and Core Civic, the two biggest private detention camp contractors. Sign up here!
These two private prison companies make millions off our taxpayer dollars while they harm the people in their facilities - by withholding necessary medical care, illegally putting people in solitary confinement, and using other inhumane conditions. Which is why we are protesting Citizens, a major funder of these companies. We've been telling people about what they are doing so they can help De-ICE Citizens. Now we also will be contacting Citizens leadership directly in no uncertain terms! Sign up here!
Election day is two weeks away. Make sure you're ready!
You can check all the details for the election in our recent newsletter here. Below are a few highlights.
The deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot is May 12. But don't wait until then - do it now! You can apply for a mail ballot online, in person at a county election office (or satellite election office if a county has them), or through the mail.
For online applications, the Pennsylvania Department of State has a full list of the approved forms of identification here.
If you have an emergency and miss the deadline, you may still be able to request an emergency application for an absentee ballot.
Your mail-in ballot must be received at the election office by 8:00 pm on election day. Otherwise drop it in one of the many Philadelphia Satellite Election Offices and drop boxes.
Make sure your mail-in ballot is counted! Check instructions in this good explainer with lots of details about mail-in ballots at the PA Department of State website.
You can vote in person by mail ballot before election day! Now that ballots have been distributed, you can apply for a mail-in ballot at your election board office before the deadline. The office will hand you a ballot and you simply vote the ballot and drop it in the voting box there.
You can track your mail-in ballot at this ballot tracker.
Find the Satellite Election Offices here and the locations of all of the drop boxes here.
You can see answers to a lot more questions for college student voting at this link.
YOU CAN HELP MAKE OUR ELECTIONS SAFE
You can be a poll worker. You can sign up to work at a polling place on election day to help make sure the voting runs smoothly. Check out all the details here.
You can be a Poll Observer and work half a day at a polling place. This is a partisan position and you sign up for the Poll Observer program run by the PA Democrats by signing up for a training here: Primary Election Day Poll Observer Training
You can be a Designated Agent. This is one of the most rewarding efforts you can do - you'll actually be helping get out a vote that otherwise wouldn't be counted! Here's more info. You can sign up for a required training to learn more.
PHONE BANK TO PROVIDE VOTING SUPPORT!
Turn Pa Blue and Promote the Vote are calling voters every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm ET to correct misinformation and offer voting support ahead of the May 19th Primary election. Sign up hereThey provide training and support during every Zoom phone bank. Sign up here
CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER ONA JUDGE AND HER COURAGE
When: Thursday, May 21, 3:30 PM Where: President's House Slavery Memorial, 6th and Market Streets
Ona "Oney" Judge was one of Washington's enslaved people and she courageously escaped enslavement. This event honors the anniversary of her courageous escape. Following the Roberts Court's disastrous ruling gutting the Voting Rights Act, there's no better time to show they are on the wrong side of history and we will never stop fighting for everyone's rights.
JOIN OUR LEAFLET PHILLY PROJECT
Join over 450 of your fellow Indivisible Philadelphia activists making a real difference! Just one time every month you’ll hang one hundred eye-catching leaflets on doors in your neighborhood. Sign up here! |
MAKE CALLS TO SHUT DOWN MOSHANNON
Unlike many detention camps, ICE contracts for Moshannon with Clearfield County. ICE pays Clearfield County nearly $3 million a month plus a daily rate per person held. The county has hired GEO Group to run the facility.
We are targeting the Clearfield County Commissioners and demanding they end their contract with ICE. We're making phone calls to folks in Clearfield County and asking them, as constituents, to contact the Commissioners with that message. With your calls you'll be helping shut down Moshannon!
The phone bank will link you to registered Democrats in Clearfield county and a script. Just use this link and follow the prompts. If you run into and problems or questions, just ask in the comments or send Kali a message.
JOIN OUR DETENTION CAMP LABOR PROJECT Write Some Letters!
Join the 800 others who are writing two letters a week in our new Detention Camp Labor program! You can join the team too and write two or three letters a week to the companies we are focusing on. Sign up here and we'll give you all the information you need! Check out the project's background at this link.
JOIN OUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TEAM
Got something on your mind you want to tell others about? Or need a topic to write about? We've got you! Even if you're just not sure if you want to join, you can sign up and find out more to make your decision. Sign up here.
Or just get answers to your questions by emailing us here. |
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. Register here
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. More information is here.
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 our friends at 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:
11. Are you outside the Philadelphia area? You can see all the protests planned by Indivisibles in your area at this link.
And A Few More Things:
We can send you our No Kings t-shirt! For the short sleeve shirt, make a donation of $35 and then sign up for your color choice. Or, for the long sleeve shirt, make a donation of $45 and then sign up for your choice. Your shirt will be mailed directly to you.
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