Hello Ventura Indivisians!
“According to Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah is a tzaddik, a righteous person. Let that console us as we mourn for the loss of Justice Ginsburg. But let it also be a clarion call for us to step up and be tzaddikim ourselves. This is the time to act.”
Merav Ben-David, Democrat running for the Senate in Wyoming
We mourn the loss of the indomitable and couragous RBG. At the end of her life, when she could no longer fight for justice, she did the only thing within her reach by stating, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
Let us fight like RBG to grant her final wish.
After your calls to action – events and resources!
Your Calls to Action:
What can you do to help RBG get her last wish? Send “Postcards to Hypocrites!”(more info and updated list)
A collection of quotes from various GOP legislators that were used in 2016 to deny Merrick Garland a Supreme Court seat. Now, you can put them on postcards, with the addresses she’s gathered. It also helps the USPS, so it’s a two-fer! (Feel free to mix it up on the non-quoted sections of the message!)
Click here and start writing! Pass it on
WE ALL HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN GOP-controlled states! Ask them to hammer their senators’ offices with calls using the scripts here (1-844-846-8344).
Urgent! “NO” to confirming acting DHS Sec. Chad Wolf, future “crimes against humanity” defendant (more info)
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Senate will take up the confirming of Chad Wolf to become the official secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, a ill-deserved promotion for one of Trump’s army of conveniently disposable “acting” heads. Wolf, a man with zero legal or law enforcement training, has already committed two violations of federal law – taking office illegally and overstaying the 210-day term limit for acting officials. 28 days past his own term’s expiration, he chose to ignore Supreme Court and federal court rulings related to DACA recipients.
Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to vote “NO” on the confirmation of unqualified Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. Beyond being improperly installed in a position that allows him to indulge his taste for violence, racism and xenophobia, he has ignored court rulings and has already violated the Vacancies Act’s 210-day limit, acting without any legal authority for the last 104 days. Basic regard for law and life should be minimum requirements for the head of DHS.
Call Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
Send the script to red state friends and family! Look up their senators here: https://whoismyrepresentative.com
When did pushing through judges become more important than helping hungry constituents? Pass COVID relief NOW! (more info)
“The Senate has confirmed six of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees in the past 30 hours,” tweeted Vanita Gupta, of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “These are lifetime appointments that McConnell’s pushing through instead of the HEROES Act & other crucial legislation.”
Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to remind [her/his] fellow legislators to get their priorities straight and pass H.R. 6800 – HEROES Act already! Americans are suffering. Americans are going hungry. Americans are becoming homeless. WHAT IS GOING ON?!? (or use black2thefuture’s terrific script here. Or do both!)
Call Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
Send the script to red state friends and family! Look up their senators here: https://whoismyrepresentative.com
Not sure what the Heroes Act is? Here’s a nice explainer here. (The House passed their version on May 15th)
Ask all levels of government to pass a declaration that racism is a public health crisis. (more info)
(Of the 121 deaths of children from COVID-19 between Feb. 12th and July 31 of this year, 78% were children of color. 45% were Hispanic, 29% were Black and 4% were non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native.)
On Sept. 3, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) introduced H.R. 8178 – Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, a bill that would formally identify systemic racism as a public health crisis in the United States. Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced the matching Senate bill S.4533. The bill would create a National Center for Anti-Racism within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop anti-racist federal health policies and programs within the CDC’s Center for Injury Prevention and Control focused on preventing violence by law enforcement.
- Rep. cosponsors here. (Brownley and Carbajal have NOT signed yet.)
- Sen. cosponsors here. (Harris and Feinstein have NOT signed yet.)
Minimal script for Rep./Sen.: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen. to cosponsor and promote (Rep. H.R. 8178)/(Sen. S.4533) – Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2020.
Call Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
Then call your state legislators, your governor, your county officials, and your city officials (Vta, Ojai, Ox, Simi, Cam, TO, Moorpark, PH, SP) and ask them to make declarations using these bills as a starting point – “to provide for public health research and investment into understanding and eliminating structural racism and police violence.”
Help Wanted: (see more)
Spanish speakers to text Florida VotersVolunteers to help blind persons vote
Donations and share info for former Florida prisoners trying to vote
Tell your legislators you support the “I am Vanessa Guillén Act” (more info)
On Wednesday, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) introduced legislation named in honor of Army Spec. Vanessa Guillén, that would change the way the military deals with sexual assault and harassment allegations. The bill (text here) would create a chief prosecutor offices within the military branches that would investigate these kinds of accusations and make recommendations for prosecution. It would also create a confidential reporting system for harassment and categorize sexual harassment as a distinct crime under military law. Service members would be allowed to file for damages if their case was negligently handled or an assault led to injury or death.
(List of legislator supporters here. (Brownley is in -thank her, can’t find Carbajal)
Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen. to cosponsor and promote the “I am Vanessa Guillén” Act.
Call Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
End “Qualified Immunity”
Tell your representative you expect to see their names on the cosponsor list for H.R.7085, the Ending Qualified Immunity Act. Under qualified immunity, government officials, including police officers, can only be sued if they “knowingly violate the law”. This much lower standard prevents many police officers from being held accountable in court.
- Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to cosponsor H.R. 7085– the Ending Qualified Immunity Act (Check here for your rep. – Brownley and Carbajal have NOT cosponsored this bill yet.)
Call Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Events
EVENTS ARE HAPPENING CRAZY FAST!!! – Our most up-to-date “calendar” of antiracist actions has temporarily been moved to HERE.
POSTCARDS–Even though we can’t meet in person, you can still write postcards to voters – instructions here!
Sept 22– Online: League of Women Voters Online Forums
- REGISTER 5:00 – 6:00 PM Ventura City Council District 2
- REGISTER 6:30 – 7:30 PM Ventura City Council District 3
- REGISTER 8:00 – 9:00 PM Ventura City Council District 7
Sept 22– Online: Oxnard “Yes on Measure E” Presentation
Sept 22– Tuesdays with Simi Valley Indivisible! Christy Smith for Congress!
Sept 23– Online: League of Women Voters Online Forums
- REGISTER 6:00 – 7:15 PM Simi Valley City Council (both districts 1 & 3)
- REGISTER 7:30 – 9:00 PM Simi Valley Mayor
Sept 24– Online: Re-imagining Community Care and Safety
Sept 24– Online: Abolish ICE and Forced Sterilization
Sept 24– Online: League of Women Voters Online Forums
Sept 25– Online: Black Culture Series
Sept 25– Online: Public Trust – The Fight for America’s Public Lands
Sept 25– Online: League of Women Voters Online Forums
- REGISTER 6:30 – 8:00 PM Port Hueneme City Council
Sept 26– Vanessa Guillen Memorial Dedication
Sept 26– Online: Oxnard Get out the Vote Phonebank
Sept 26– “Free them all” Solidarity Protest” VC Gov Center, 12-2pm. Come out with signs and noisemakers to show solidarity and support to the people suffering with Covid in Jail. Masks required
Sept 27 – 2020 Census Costume Caravan – Don’t be scared to be counted!
Sept 27 – Online: Elect Biden-Harris & Flip the Senate
Sept 30 – Online: Santa Paula Education Candidate Forum
Sept 30 – Drive-up FREE Flu Vaccine Event
Sadly, Sept, Oct, Nov canceled due to Covid concerns. See you (hopefully) on Dec. 27 – Free IMMIGRATION LEGAL AID Fair – Volunteers Needed! Every last Sunday of the month we assist residents, alongside immigration lawyers, in filling out paperwork for citizenship, DACA (click here for up-to-date DACA info) and green card renewals. Can’t make it? Help fund this eventOct 4 – Online: Ventura City Council Candidate Forum on Housing and Homelessness hosted by Ventura Social Services Task Force
Oct 4 – Online: Elect Biden-Harris & Flip the Senate
Oct 7 – Online: Vice Presidential Debate
Oct 7 – Online: Justice is on the ballot. A Town Hall on CA Ballot Propositions
Oct 11– Online: Elect Biden-Harris & Flip the Senate
Oct 18 – Online: Elect Biden-Harris & Flip the Senate
Oct 25 – Online: Elect Biden-Harris & Flip the Senate
Nov 1 – Online: Elect Biden-Harris & Flip the Senate
EVENTS ARE HAPPENING CRAZY FAST!!! – Our most up-to-date “calendar” of antiracist actions has temporarily been moved to HERE.
You can now DONATE to the cause!
Indivisible Ventura is completely volunteer run and your donation will support the direct costs of organizing in Ventura — things like meeting room rental, posters, art supplies, stamps, transportation, and more! Every part of our country is under threat by this President and Congress. The only way to win is by standing together, indivisible. Indivisible Ventura is one of 6,000 grassroots Indivisible groups across the country.
Contribute today to Indivisible Ventura. Together, we will win.
DONATE NOW by clicking here!Resources:
Indivisible Ventura: Tips for Calling Congress For People who hate to Call Anybody, Let Alone Congress, or If You’re New to This Calling Thing…
Indivisible Ventura: How to make your calls faster
Indivisible Ventura: Why do I need to call? My representatives are all Democrats
Archdioceses of Los Angeles: Preparing your Family for Immigration Enforcement (bilingual)
Indivisible Ventura: Are You a Policy Wonk? Here’s How to Track a Bill
Floor Procedure In The U.S. House Of Representatives
What Good Does it do to Write Letters to the Editor?: With contact information, podcast tutorial, and guidelines
Indivisible Ventura: Ten Things to Respectfully Ask a Conservative about Healthcare
