Moms for Liberty group masquerading as bipartisan

Targeting educators they deem “Woke”

Round button for 'Moms for Liberty' with text "STOP WOKE INDOCTRINATION"

Although they claim to be a bi-partisan group of parents concerned about their children’s education, Moms for Liberty is following the same tired tactics as Republicans: manufacturing outrage and raising funds by promoting conspiracy theories and disinformation. At one Moms for Liberty event about CRT in public schools, this group claimed that “globalists, utopians, socialists, totalitarians and the UN are using public schools to undermine freedom and Christianity.”

Members have gone so far as to call for disbanding public schools and compare teachers they deem “woke” to Hitler, falsely claiming that our educators are indoctrinating children. Moms for Liberty has a reported 80,000 members.

The rise of this and other far right groups correlates with a spike in school board and educator harassment. In an article by Olivia Little on mediamatters.org, she wrote: “An administrator of the Facebook group for the Livingston County, Michigan, chapter posted a threatening message directed to anyone backing Biden’s review of school board threats and violence: “Not a single person on the right side of the aisle better be backing this, if they are they better be prepared to be REMOVED 1776 style.” (The “1776” reference is about the American Revolution; in far-right circles, “1776” often implies the threat of political violence.)”

The following member comments were found on one, single Facebook post:

"…we're gonna take our country back from the left-wing nuts."
“Disney, Hollywood and leftests [sic] belong to the secret society and must be stopped”
“GOD BLESS all in this Wonderful Organization for standing up against the Tyrannical Leftist Bureaucrats and their Marxist agendas”
“PROTECT OUR CHILDREN... REMOVE THE TRAITORS...”

In addition, there's another Michigan group that has started to attend Ann Arbor Public School Board meetings, demanding the board lift the district’s mask mandate. Many of these protesters do not have children attending AAPS. They are calling school board reps names and being disruptive.

WCDP is calling on all who believe in our public education system, and in our unions, to rise up against this attack! We do not need to engage with these alt-right protestors. We can fight back with positivity.

Please attend Washtenaw area school board meetings to share stories during the public comment section that highlight the incredible work our educators have done – whether it’s a story about a teacher or principal, about the curriculum, or about their Herculean efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic - we must counter this negativity with positivity.

Please join us in lifting our educators up and share this message with anyone you know to be a public school advocate!

Promote the Vote 2022 needs you

This 2022 ballot proposal, endorsed by WCDP, will held break down the barriers Michiganders face by expanding voting rights. Key points include increasing access to the ballot, and enhanced election security to eliminate election subversion.

Dexter resident, Steven Friday, supports the ballot initiative after experiencing a barrier to casting his vote in 2016. According to a story posted on promotethevotemi.com, “After moving to a new home, Friday did what he thought was necessary to make sure he’d be able to cast a ballot on Election Day. However, despite having gone online at the Secretary of State’s website to update his driver’s license and change his address for voting purposes, Friday was prohibited from voting where he actually lives. He’d just like to see a system in place that makes more sense.” WCDP agrees, Steven!

Learn more about the proposal or volunteer!

Petition Signing Near You

This Saturday, May 14 @ your Farmers Market

Table of lettuce, spring onions, and other greens at the farmers market

The League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County will be at local farmers markets with Promote The Vote petitions for a Day of Action!

Look for signature collectors (they'll have clipboards) at the

Ypsilanti,
Saline,
Chelsea, and
Ann Arbor Farmers Markets

n the morning and the UM Diag from 2-4pm in the afternoon at the Bans Off Our Bodies rally.

Rally This Saturday, 2-4PM @ U-M

Bans Off Our Bodies Poster, shows powerful women using their voices to demand their rights

Together, Michigan voters can protect reproductive freedom – for ourselves, our families, and our future, no matter what happens in Washington, D.C. The Reproductive Freedom For All ballot initiative is how we're gonna do it.

We are not out of options, not by a long shot. Come to the rally, sign the petiation. Let's get this amendment on the ballot and on the books!

Find Other Times and Places to Sign ✍️

Support Tribal Law Expert Judge Maldonado

The Anishinaabek Caucus is asking all Democrats to please contact Senators Stabenow and Peters to support Honorable Judge Allie Maldonado to fill the Federal Judge of the Eastern District vacancy in Michigan. Chief Judge Maldonado has an extensive background in law including Tribal law and sovereignty, which is sorely lacking on the Federal bench.

Judge Maldonado is a registered citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, one of Michigan's 12 Federally Recognized tribes. A graduate from the University of Michigan Law School, she was named 2017 Michiganian of the Year. Following graduation, Judge Maldonado was selected to become a litigator in the Indian Resources Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Judge Maldonado is well-known in and outside of Michigan for her work on the bench and as a nationally-recognized expert on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA). In the 2020 election, Judge Maldonado worked with the Caucus in advising our efforts to protect the Native Vote, organizing several Native American Attorneys to volunteer on a Native American Voter Protection Hotline. In addition, Judge Maldonado has an extraordinary record as a tribal judge committed to improving access to fair and efficient judicial processes throughout the state of Michigan.

Judge Maldonado would add much-needed diversity to the federal bench as federal law profoundly affects the daily lives of Native Americans. While there are 890 authorized federal judgeships, only two Native Americans currently sitting on the federal bench. The federal bench will benefit greatly from her unique perspective and experience.

WCDP Candidate Forum Video

Missed it? No worries. Catch up with the Democratic candidates for the newly-drawn Michigan House Districts 32 and 47 on our YouTube channel.

Video title card for the WCDP Candidate Forum for Michigan House Districts 32 and 47

Be a Paid Election Inspector

May 15 is coming up fast!

We need Democratic election inspectors (paid poll workers) to assist the municipal clerks in our county for the 2022 election cycle. Election officials ensure that election laws are followed and that our voters are not intimidated. The Big Lie is still very much alive in Michigan, and Republicans are doing everything they can to suppress votes and create chaos in voting and vote counting. But you can help.

Get the skinny on what election inspectors do, then email chair@washtenawdems.org to volunteer. Time is short since we need to inform twonship and village/city clerks by May 15. Now is the time!

Click to Protect Democracy!

Join the WCDP team!

You can #FlipLansingBlue in November. Fairer districts mean everything is in play, and every vote will count! Key needs include:

Voter Guide Indesign Team: Our voter guide reaches tens of thousands of people and is a key part of voter mobilization. And it's a big job. Looking for folks with Adobe Creative Cloud installed, print production experience, and experience iwth inDesign & Photoshop. Is that you? Let us know.

Communication Team: We are in need of volunteers who can give 2-3 hours each week now through the election and have graphic design, newsletter creation and/or social media management skills.

Not your thing? Hit the big blue button ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ anyway & tell us what you can do!

Volunteer and Join Our Team!

Yard Signs Available

Yardsign: Re-elect Whitmer Gilchrist Nessel Benson

Yardsign: Re-elect Whitmer Gilchrist For Michigan

Whitmer Gilchrist Nessel Benson: $15
Black Lives Matter: $5
Whitmer Gilchrist on white: $10

Sales support the WCDP. We can only accept check (preferred) or cash. Pick up at the WCDP Ypsilanti office on Wednesdays, 5 to 7, Saturdays, 11 to 3; and Sundays, 1 to 3. Please call ahead to check on stock: 734-879-0556.

ActionHub connects you to 100+ local groups who share our Democratic values. We are better together. Take action today.

Bridge Michigan continues to do the reporting a democracy needs with their detailed ballot proposal tracker, explaining what each would do, major funders, & more. Confused? Find out what you need to know.

Calendar page and pen, getting ready to save some dates

Local Events

Jimmie Wilson, Jr for State Representative, 32rd District
2022 Campaign Fundraiser @ Elks Lodge, 220 Sunset Rd., Ann Arbor
Saturday, May 14 from 2-3:30pm
More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/317814136956820

Jason Morgan for State Representative, 23rd District
2022 Campaign Kickoff @ Witch's Hat Brewery, South Lyon
Sunday, May 15 from 3-4:30pm
More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/317814136956820

Your elected representatives

Find your county commissioner here.

State Senator Jeff Irwin has a regular Virtual Coffee Hour -- To receive the Zoom access code and the next date, please fill out this form:

https://senatedems.com/irwin/coffee-hour-sign-up/

State Rep. Yousef Rabhi, 53rd House district: yousefrabhi@house.mi.gov, Phone: (517) 373-2577. https://housedems.com/yousef-rabhi/. Currently virtual coffee hours with Yousef are at 10 am on the 4th Saturday of the month.

State Rep. Ronnie Peterson, 54th House district: ronniepeterson@house.mi.gov Phone: (517) 373-1771 | Toll-Free: (855) 347-8054, https://housedems.com/ronnie-peterson/

State Rep. Donna Lasinski, 52nd House district: donnalasinski@house.mi.gov, Phone: (517) 373-0828 | Toll-Free: (855) 627-5052, https://housedems.com/donna-lasinski/ (sign up for emails here).

State Rep. Felicia Brabec, 55th House district: FeliciaBrabec@house.mi.gov, Phone: (517) 373-1792, https://housedems.com/felicia-brabec/.

The Final Word

Editorial cartoon showing Obama at lectern talking to kids while man shouts 'INDOCTRINATION!'. Obama tells kids calmly, gesturing to shouter, 'And this is why it's so important to get a good education.'

Copyright John Cole, used with permission