IC-SS Weekly Update: March 8, 2021
March 15 – Meet Ald. Sophia King Online
Indivisible Printers Row (IPR) has invited Indivisible Chicago-South Side members to join them at a brief online meeting with Ald Sophia King (4th Ward) on Monday, March 15, 7:00-7:15 pm.
IPR says that Ald King will discuss police oversight, local crime, and how to make sure teachers and students remain safe during the pandemic. Although it may not be possible for Ald King to address all topics of interest, we’ve been invited to submit our own questions in advance.
- If you would like to propose a question to be asked of Ald King, please email your question to us by question deadline Wed, March 10, 5:00 pm.
- To register for the Monday, March 15, 7:00-7:15 pm meeting, email IC-SS and we will send you the Zoom link.
For Democracy: Learn & Act
In its new guide for 2021, Indivisible writes, “In order to pass health care, environmental, immigration, economic, and social policies that we want to see, we need a democracy that actually reflects the will of all its people.”
Zoom with IC-SS: Wed, March 10th
Join us on Zoom this Wed, March 10 at 7:30. We’ll check in with one another, talk about issues that fire us up, and share action resources. If you’re doing postcards to West Virginia, please work on them as we chat. And, of course, BYFD (bring your favorite drink). Register here for the Zoom link.
Missed the chance to get in on WV postcards? To stay posted on future opportunities with the Blue Wave Postcard Movement, fill in this form.
Democracy Reform Webinars: Starting March 23
From national Indivisible: Join Midwestern Indivisibles as we fight for our democracy reform agenda! For the next few months, we’ll be discussing why these federal policies are beneficial to the Midwest and strategize about messaging. We’ll hear from guest speakers, musicians, and then write Letters to the Editor together.
Our online series will include the following topics over five events:
– S1 (For the People Act) – Tues, March 23rd, 5:00 pm CT (Register)
– HR4 (John Lewis Voting Rights Act) – TBA
– HR51 (D.C. Statehood) – TBA
– Ending the filibuster – TBA
– Court reform – TBA
This first event (March 23) will cover S1/HR1, the For the People Act. The guest will be Rep Jan Schakowsky of IL-09. Register for the March 23rd event.
Saturday Democracy Phonebanks to IL-16 Voters
Phonebank with the Indivisible Illinois rural group to residents of Rep Adam Kinzinger’s district, IL-16.
HR 1 is moving to Senate (as S1). Sign up for a Saturday phonebank.
HR1 (the For the People Act) has passed in the House and is moving to the Senate as S1. The bill includes the following: Voter empowerment and access, getting money out of politics, establishing independent redistricting commissions in all states, and other measures to build a strong democracy.
Sign up for a Saturday afternoon shift (4:00-5:30 pm) in March to reach our neighbors in IL’s 16th Congressional District, encouraging them to call our IL senators or Rep Kinzinger about different democracy legislation.
You’ll get the training and info you need plus time to share experiences over Zoom with Indivisible phonebankers from all over Illinois. The focus and script may vary week to week. Sign up here.*
*Note: The phonebanks will happen each Saturday, and the message to voters will change as bills make their way through Congress. If the description in the form ever sounds obsolete, don’t worry – the actual phonebank will be up to date.
Democracy Resources
Recent articles & columns on democracy, voting rights, and the filibuster.
- Brennan Center: For the People Act: Democracy Reform and Annotated Guide to the For the People Act of 2021
- Ronald Brownstein: Democrats’ Only Chance to Stop the GOP Assault on Voting Rights
- Find more resources listed in our Feb 15 newsletter, Feb 22 newsletter, and March 1 newsletter.
Congratulations to Rep Robin Kelly!
Congratulations, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), on being elected chair of the Illinois Democrats! Representative Kelly makes history as the first Black woman to lead the state party.
In accepting, Congresswoman Kelly said, “If we are going to preserve, protect and defend the government of the people, by the people and for the people, we must change. We must fight back. We must take on the big lie, the insurrectionists, the Fox News, the QAnon head on. And with your help, the same Illinois party that elected the first African-American Woman to the United States Senate, sent the first African American President to the White House, and had so many other firsts, will lead the way once again.”
Tweet Out the Vote – IL Consolidated Elections
Do you use Twitter? Would you like to help get out the vote for Illinois’s consolidated elections (being held statewide except in the city of Chicago)?
Statewide Indivisible Illinois, NWSOFA, Ballot Z, and IC-SS member Julia Kline invite you to join them in Twitterstorms every Thursday evening to support of the upcoming April Consolidated Elections in suburban Chicagoland. You’ll receive a Twitter toolkit and join the group on Zoom as you tweet. RSVP for Thursday Twitterstorms from 6pm-8pm
Take Action for Our Community, City, State
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and action announcements on issues important in our state, city, and communities.
TONIGHT – March 8th, 6:00 pm: BWOP’s Virtual Rally
Black Women Organizing for Power (BWOP) announces a virtual rally, the State of Black Women and Girls in Illinois, on Monday, March 8th, 6:00-8:00 pm, to raise awareness around specific concerns for Black women and girls in the state of Illinois, gathering in a space with at least 50 other Black women to hold space for each other and expand our network of collective organizing. Register here to receive the Zoom link for the March 8th virtual rally – TONIGHT.
TONIGHT, March 8th, 6:00 pm: Rally at Federal PlazaChicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) announces a rally at Federal Plaza TONIGHT, Monday, March 8th, 6:00 pm at Federal Plaza as part of a national protest: demanding justice for George Floyd and the conviction of all police involved in his murder.
CAARPR’s demands include:
- Justice for George Floyd and all those killed by police
- Convict Derek Chauvin
- Convict all four cops involved in George Floyd’s murder
- Mass pardons for all survivors of police torture – #FreeThemAll
- Community Control of the Police – #CPACNow for Chicago!
Get all event info and updates at CAARPR’s Facebook event page.
March 18th, 6:00 pm – Phone Check-in with Seniors As the pandemic continues, IL State Senator Robert Peters is seeking volunteers to phone and check on senior citizens in the 13th district on Thursday, March 18th, 6:00-8:00 pm. Get info and register here.
Quick Updates on Community Topics
Thanks to everyone supporting the efforts to save Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville and to deny the permit to General Iron (South Side Iron) on the Southeast Side.
Here are some updates:
“Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville, which is slated to close by May 31, is under a non-binding agreement to be sold… The announcement comes after months of intense opposition to the hospital’s expected closure from lawmakers, community organizers and employees at Mercy, which is the oldest chartered hospital in Chicago.” Read the WBEZ story. The Chicago Health Equity Coalition will continue to advocate for Mercy.
Southeast Side activists who went without food for a month announced Thursday their hunger strike is over — but they’re still fighting to keep Southside Iron (aka General Iron, owned by RMG) from coming to East Side. Read the Block Club Chicago story.
Indivisible Chicago-South Side
Email: Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com
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Co-Leaders: Sarah Lincoln, Esther Peters,
Betsy Rubin, Teri Watkins
About: Group & Co-Leader Statements
