Support Young Climate Activists
From Bill McKibben, author, educator, environmentalist, and co-founder of 350.org: "[This is] An easy chance to help support young activists from the global south getting ready for the UN climate talks in Chile. There are so many Gretas, all of them great!"
Click here to support Ayni Climatico. The Ayni Climatico will gather 70 leaders, activists, land and earth defenders to strengthen our ties and work together on the road towards COP25 - the UN climate negotiations - and beyond. We need your support to make it happen!
The Camp will take place between the 16-20th October near Santiago, Chile. We want to create a space to deepen our knowledge, organizing, and strategy of social movements for environmental, climate and intersectional justice in Latin America.
Submitted by Denise Falbo, Indivisible Canton
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Tell Senator Warren to SAVE the Right Whales
Ten North Atlantic right whales have died this summer alone. For a species that has fewer than 400 individuals in existence, this is an alarming trend. The North Atlantic right whale could be extinct within our lifetime.
But this problem does have a solution. New technologies in the fishing industry could make the ocean safer for the right whale and other ocean animals.
The SAVE Right Whales Act would support research to develop these technologies and save this species that is so important to Massachusetts.
Ask Senator Warren to join Senator Markey and co-sponsor S. 2453 today! Click here to send her a letter urging her to support the bill.
Together we can SAVE the whales!
Submitted by Alanna Kelly
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Speak Up About Impeachment
Trump took to Twitter to liken the impeachment efforts against him to treason and to quote a pastor who said that civil war will result (among many other hideous sentiments).
- Let’s call the White House daily to ask for Trump’s resignation: 202-456-1111. As a reminder, these are volunteers at the comment line. Let’s thank them and be brief. We need not say our name and can just note that we are calling for the president’s resignation.
- Stay in regular contact with our member of Congress to say that we expect impeachment to proceed as the details worsen and that we are concerned that the president is both breaking down and inciting violence.
- Contact the Department of Justice to say that we expect Attorney General William Barr to resign due to his engagement in corrupt and potentially treasonous actions:
- Consider attending or organizing a pro-impeachment rally in our own community to build visibility for the issue.
H/T Rogan's List
Submitted by Kristan Smith-Park, Indivisible Acton
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Encourage Rep. Adam Schiff
Counter the negative calls to Rep. Adam Schiff's office. Apparently Adam Schiff is receiving a LOT of abusive, awful phone calls. Apparently 95 percent of them are negative. Let's call and say thanks to team Schiff, or just tell them to hang in there. Here are the numbers. Let's do this.
- (818) 450-2900
- (323) 315-5555
- (202) 225-4176
H/T Chop Wood Carry Water
Submitted by Kristan Smith-Park, Indivisible Acton
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Demand Sensible Gun Control Despite NRA Deal with Trump
Last Friday, Trump met with the NRA to ask for financial support in defending against his impeachment. The NRA promised to come to his defense, but in return asked him to back off any gun control legislation. Now more than ever, we need to push our legislators to act despite this new leverage from the NRA and call attention to how Trump is willing to put his own political interests ahead of the right of people to be safe in schools and churches.
H/T Rogan's List
Submitted by Kristan Smith-Park, Indivisible Acton
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Be an Environmental Voter
We went on strike for the climate. Now, let’s vote for those who will protect it. Let’s sign up for election reminders so that we never miss another election.
Submitted by Kristan Smith-Park, Indivisible Acton
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Two Ways to Support Immigrants
- Call or email your Senator and ask them to co-sponsor and support the Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement (GRACE) Act (S. 1088), which would prevent a president from setting a refugee admissions at a level below 95,000 in a given fiscal year.
- Together & Free and the Lynn Rapid Response Network are collecting winter clothing for immigrant families. Items are needed by Oct 11. Let’s take a look at this to see what is needed and how to drop off. Let’s share and contribute if we can!
Submitted by Kristan Smith-Park, Indivisible Acton
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Cape and Island Indivisibles Close Out a Season of Fundraising to #DitchMitch2020
On a picture-perfect September afternoon, Indivisible Martha’s Vineyard threw a fundraising party that raised $6,000 to help Indivisible Kentucky #DitchMitch2020.
The idea was born this past spring, when Cape & Islands Indivisible members got together via Zoom with members of Indivisible KY. How could we help Kentucky rid the country of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell?
Four Indivisible groups – Lower Cape, Outer Cape, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard – decided to hold a series of fundraisers to support Indivisible KY’s effort to fund Ditch Mitch billboards, digital ads, and grassroots ground support. The Vineyard house party on September 21 was the last of six events that took place across the Cape & Islands this summer. All together, these events raised almost $21,000 to #DitchMitch2020!
The September 21 party was held at the home of one of the host committee members, a professional chef, who volunteered her services. In addition to the donated food, beverages and party supplies, local artists donated to a silent auction. And our signature cocktail, the “Moscow Mitch Mule” was a big hit!
The undisputed highlight of the party was an appearance by comedian, social activist, and former candidate for Lt. Governor Jimmy Tingle. Jimmy’s authenticity and honesty, mixed with a healthy dose of humor, was truly inspiring, and our event would not have been such a success without him.
Jimmy Tingle is a big fan of Indivisible and seeking ways to support other Indivisible groups in MA and surrounding swing states. If you want to get in touch with him for an event or fundraiser, his email is JimmyTingle@gmail.com.
Submitted by Carla Cooper, Indivisible Martha’s Vineyard
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Knock Doors to Turn Virginia Blue Next Month
Swing Left Greater Boston is teaming up with Commit to Canvass for a trip to Richmond, Virginia. To find out more, register to join us online Sunday, October 6 at 8:00 PM and learn why many voters in this recently redistricted area will welcome our assistance.
Virginians go to the polls in less than two months to elect a new state legislature. All 140 seats in the House and Senate are on the ballot, and Democrats need to net gain just two seats in each chamber to take majorities in both.
Virginia is one of the hardest states in which to vote, second only to Mississippi. Virginia’s strict voter ID law and restrictions on early voting disproportionately affect low-income and African American communities. And that’s exactly how Republicans want it. On top of that, Virginia Republicans have purged hundreds of thousands of people from electoral rolls, many of whom are eligible to vote.
If you can’t be there to knock on doors, write letters to Democratic-leaning voters in Virginia! Check the events on the Indivisible MA website to find a letter-writing party near you.
Want to learn more about Virginia and specific races? Download the Swing Left Virginia Primer.
Submitted by Susan Labandibar, Swing Left Greater Boston
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VT Activists Working to Re-register Voters of Color in VA
Lean Left Vermont, a grassroots organization based in Montpelier, is working with Reclaim Our Vote to contact voters of color in Virginia, asking them to re-register and vote in the upcoming state legislative elections. These citizens have been removed from voter rolls simply because they haven't voted recently or through other techniques designed to suppress the vote of legitimate voters. Community of color voters are being placed on “Inactive” or “Unregistered” lists at a rate 16 percent higher than whites.
Lean Lefter Dana Goss is training new volunteers on phone banking with Reclaim Our Vote (ROV). She writes: “Phone banking with ROV is super easy. Most people I’ve trained were not phone bankers (most only wrote postcards), but when presented as a 'Register Voters by Phone' action, they were all-in.”
To get started now, go to Lean Left Vermont’s website. After October 15 (the voter registration deadline in Virginia), phone bankers will begin letting registered voters know what to bring with them to vote, where their polling location is, and where and when they can take advantage of early voting.
Dana is available if you have any questions. Contact her at: leanleftcvt@gmail.com.
Submitted by Susan Labandibar, Swing Left Greater Boston
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Canvass with Swing Left Greater Boston in Virginia
Learn about canvassing with Swing Left to flip the House of Delegates and the State Senate on November 5, 2019. This could be our best and last chance to turn Virginia blue and set up a decade of progressive victories that will impact the entire country.
Our Candidate: We are supporting Sheila Bynum-Coleman, who is running against the incumbent Republican Speaker of the VA House of Delegates.
Location: We will canvass in the most northern part of HD-66 in three majority-minority precincts where four out of five registered voters would cast their ballot for our candidate — if they decide to vote! Improving voter turnout here in the outskirts of Richmond is considered critical for Sheila Bynum Coleman’s campaign.
Effectiveness of Canvassing: HIGH. HD-66 was recently redistricted after the US District Court ruled that it had been racially gerrymandered. Many voters are unaware of which districts they are part of, who their delegates are, and who the candidates are in their upcoming elections.
RSVP here.
Day Sunday, October 6
Time 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Submitted by Susan Labandibar, Swing Left Greater Boston
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Farm Social in Winchester with Boston Chefs for Gun Safety
The Table at Season to Taste is proud to host second annual Boston Chefs for Gun Safety farm social at Wright Locke Farm in Winchester, MA. Please join Chefs Carl Dooley and Mary Edinger from The Table with guest chefs from some of Boston's best restaurants for an evening of food, drinks, and music. The evening features guests speakers from Moms Demand Action Massachusetts and the Survivors Network.
All proceeds go to Everytown for Gun Safety.
RSVP here.
Day Monday, October 7
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place Wright Locke Farm, 78 Ridge Street, Winchester
Submitted by Rina Schneur, Everytown for Gun Safety
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The Tech Guru is In for an Online Session to Answer Questions
Need tech help with organizing, attending or contributing to events?
Swing Left Greater Boston is hosting a tech-support call-in and live stream! Tech guru Jesse Woelhof will give a brief training presentation on using Google Calendar and Google Drive. Then he’ll be available to take any and all technical questions.
Here’s what Jesse says about the session:
"Not sure about Slack? Slack is really fun and pretty easy!
Silly questions about email? I hope to get SwingLeft Volunteers feeling like total email pros."
Join us by signing up here.
Why technology? Swing Left is based on the incredible hard work of caring volunteers, and one of the best tools Swing Left has to offer is technology to empower those efforts.
As we ramp up for 2020, we'd like to give you every possible help for using the tech tools available. Anything that empowers our volunteers and organizers makes our movement stronger.
Day Wednesday, October 9
Time 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Submitted by Susan Labandibar, Swing Left Greater Boston
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Force Multiplier Fundraiser in Chestnut Hill
Help defeat Susan Collins and flip the Senate! Maine is one of our best opportunities to gain the seats we need to flip the Senate.
Come to a reception to help the Maine Democratic Party hire organizers to lay the groundwork for a challenge to Susan Collins in 2020. Hear from Kathleen Marra, Chair and Lisa Roberts, Executive Director of the Maine Democratic Party.
Day Thursday, October 10
Time 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Place Home of Rep. Ruth Balser, Chestnut Hill, RSVP for address
Submitted by Tom Hallock, Force Multiplier
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Let's Can Collins Fundraiser in Provincetown
Indivisible Outer Cape has joined with Women's Week organizers and Provincetown Brewing Co. to help our fellow Indivisible members at Mainers for Accountable Leadership to build grassroots capacity and to inform Mainers about the bad policy decisions of Senator Susan Collins.
Enjoy your first round of beer, snacks, and mingle with local dignitaries and celebs, all for your minimum $25 donation to Mainers for Accountable Leadership!
RSVP here and donate here.
Day Friday, October 18
Time 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Place Provincetown Brewing Company, 141 Bradford St., Provincetown
Submitted by Laurie Veninger, Indivisible Outer Cape
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Join Indivisible in Andover to Plan 2020 Actions
The 2020 elections are just months away. No need to panic. Let’s make a plan!
This month’s agenda is designed to help you come up with a personal strategy for the the 2020 elections –- how to choose the candidates you want to support and how to choose the actions you want to take to support them.
Our guest speaker, Michelle Olsen, is founder of elect535.org, a website you can use to build a portfolio of the candidates you want to support for federal House and Senate seats, based on up-to-date profiles of the candidates and their districts.
How to turn that strategy into action? We’ve got some ideas! The second half of the meeting will be a quick briefing on ways you can step up to join us including:
- Writing postcards
- Texting
- Fundraising
- Lobbying
- Canvassing
- Phone banking
- Voter registration: partnering with outreach groups in key swing districts both in MA and out of state
No need to wait until 2020 to help flip it blue. These actions are underway and we already are having a positive impact!
Doors open at 6:30 PM for signing in and socializing, and the meeting will begin promptly at 6:45 PM. Your beverage, snack, or dessert contributions are always appreciated!
Please join us. All are welcome!
RSVP here.
Day Tuesday, October 22
Time 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Place Parish Hall, Christ Church, 25 Central Street, Andover
Submitted by David Kronman, Indivisible Andover
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Online Training for Person-to-Person Fundraising
Raising money for progressive candidates is the most effective thing you can do to flip the Senate (and hang onto the House) in 2020. Learn how to make a personal “pitch” to a friend or colleague. Learn from the pros at 31st Street Swing Left!
About the Trainers and Training
This training will be conducted by Lynn Fletcher, Mary Pence and Lisa Herrick, who head up the fundraising component of 31st Street Swing Left, a chapter based in the DC/MD/VA area.
31st Street Swing Left raised over $1,024,000 for Congressional and Senate races in 2018. As of October 1, they have raised more than $242,000 for the 2019 Virginia legislative races.
The training will take you from where you are (“I hate to ask for money”) to where you need to go (“Using a data-driven approach, I developed my own thought-out dialogue for making a personal ask” – an actual comment from a training participant.)
RSVP here for the call-in details and to preview the 31st Street Swing Left fundraising toolkit.
Learn more about 31st Street Swing Left at www.31ststreet.org.
Day Tuesday, October 29
Time 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Submitted by Lisa Plato, Swing Left Greater Boston
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NEWS FROM the BERKSHIRES to BOSTON
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Links to Local News From Around MA
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Get this free audio version of the whistleblower complaint.
This Land: How Cowboys, Capitalism, and Corruption are Ruining the American West
By Christopher Ketcham
A hard-hitting look at the battle now raging over the fate of the public lands in the American West and a plea for the protection of these last wild places
The Mueller Report
Looking for some light summer reading or listening? Here are ways to read the Mueller Report so that you know exactly what is at stake.
Here are a couple of ways to get a quick overview:
- Read or listen to Mueller's Executive Summaries: the 10-page summary of Volume I, which deals with Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and its interactions with the Trump Campaign, and the 6-page summary of Volume II which focuses on the obstruction of justice portion of the Investigation.
- Watch Mueller's televised statement (<10 minutes) or read it here.
H/T Indivisible Acton Area newsletter
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
by Jane Mayer
One of the New York Times best books of the year.
Who are the immensely wealthy right-wing ideologues shaping the fate of America today? From the bestselling author of The Dark Side, an electrifying work of investigative journalism that uncovers the agenda of this powerful group.
In her new preface, Jane Mayer discusses the results of the most recent election and Donald Trump's victory, and how, despite much discussion to the contrary, this was a huge victory for the billionaires who have been pouring money in the American political system.
Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America
by Nancy MacLean
“[A] vibrant intellectual history of the radical right . . . [MacLean] has dug deep into her material—not just Buchanan’s voluminous, unsorted papers, but other archives, too—and she has made powerful and disturbing use of it all. . . . The behind-the-scenes days and works of Buchanan show how much deliberation and persistence—in the face of formidable opposition—underlie the anti-governing politics ascendant today. What we think of as dysfunction is the result of years of strategic effort.” —The Atlantic
The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore: A Story of American Rage
by Jared Yates Sexton
A first-hand account of the events that shaped the 2016 presidential election and the cultural forces that powered Donald Trump into the White House.
“Sexton grapples with the Trump campaign from the perspective of the crowds reveling in the candidate’s presence and message. It is a useful vantage point given the increasingly blatant bigotry in the months since the election.” —The Washington Post
Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life
by Eric Klinenberg
Eric Klinenberg is a professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. In this book, he focuses on how social infrastructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life. "In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg offers a new perspective on what people and places have to do with each other, by looking at the social side of our physical spaces." —New York Times
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History
by Kurt Andersen
“The single most important explanation, and the fullest explanation, of how Donald Trump became president of the United States . . . nothing less than the most important book that I have read this year.”—Lawrence O’Donnell
How Democracies Die
by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
Both authors are Professors of Government at Harvard University. Based on years of research into the breakdown of democracies in Europe and Latin America, the authors present a deep understanding of how and why democracies die; an alarming analysis of how democracy is being subverted today in the US and beyond; and a guide for maintaining and repairing a threatened democracy, for governments, political parties and individuals.
Fascism: A Warning
by Madeleine Albright
A personal and urgent examination of fascism in the twentieth century and how its legacy shapes today’s world, written by one of America’s most admired public servants, the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state. #1 New York Times Bestseller.
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Running for Office? Let Us Know!
While Indivisible-MA may not do any candidate endorsements this year, we can let other Indivisibles across the state know about your race. Use this form to tell us about your candidacy. Thank you for stepping up!
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Submit Items to the Mass Action Newsletter
Submit any events you would like to place in our online calendar and this newsletter using this event promotion form.
Tell us about your group's activities and successes using this submission form. You may include links to pages with more details.
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Keep in Touch - Join Us on Slack
MA Indivisibles have a place to chat and share events and ideas on Slack. If you're not familiar with Slack, don't worry, it's easy to use. Ask your group leader to send you an invitation.
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Give a Little to Keep Indivisible Growing
Both the national organization and local groups are building tools and infrastructure so that we can coordinate to have a stronger voice here in Massachusetts as well as nationally as we carry this work forward to the 2020 elections. This all takes a bit of cash. Please donate to the national organization or to your local group to help us continue this work.
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Our Mission
The Indivisible mission is to fuel a progressive grassroots network of local groups to resist the Trump Agenda.
Indivisible Massachusetts is a consortium of leaders from more than 250 local Massachusetts Indivisible groups, working together to bring our groups together for events and to leverage our numbers to make our efforts more effective.
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