For Democracy: Ways to Act
How will YOU help assure voting rights? You can help pass democracy legislation by writing, phoning, and using your social media to reach voters and lawmakers. Take your pick:
Starting Tomorrow (Tues 3/23): Democracy Action Webinars
From national Indivisible: Join Midwestern Indivisibles as we fight for our democracy reform agenda! We’ll be discussing why these federal policies are beneficial to the Midwest and strategize about messaging. Hear from guest speakers and musicians, and then write Letters to the Editor together.
This first event (tomorrow, Tues, March 23, 5:00 pm) will cover S1/HR1, the For the People Act, with guest Rep Jan Schakowsky of IL-09. Register for the March 23rd event.
The online democracy series will include the following topics over five events:
- S1 (For the People Act) – Tues, March 23, 5:00 CT (Register)
- HR4 (John Lewis Voting Rights Act) – Thur, April 15, 4:00 CT (Register)
- HR51 (D.C. Statehood) – Sat, May 8, 11:00 am CT (Register)
- Ending the filibuster – TBA
- Court reform – TBA
ICA Phonebanks Are BACK, Baby!
From Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA):There’s a big progressive agenda we need to push through the Senate, starting with the all-important For the People democracy bill, HR1/S1. So we’ve teamed up with Common Cause to expand support for the bill by phoning and asking progressive voters in key states like ME, PA, AZ, and GA, to call their senators with this simple message: Pass this bill, whatever it takes.
As always with ICA, these new Wednesday phonebanks will feature nationally recognized format that emphasizes training and preparation; real-time support from experienced leaders; and a hospitable Zoom environment where you can ask questions, swap stories, and encourage each other.
First two dates: Wed, March 24, 3:00 pm and Wed, March 31, 6:00 pm. SIGN UP HERE.
NEW: Get Active with DemCast to Pass S1, For the People
From DemCast and the Democratic Coalition: Republicans are working hard to make sure they’ll never lose again: the GOP has proposed hundreds of voter suppression bills in state legislatures across the US, with an aim of disenfranchising enough blue voters that they can rule from the minority for years.
The For The People Act is a must-win because it would nullify their suppression efforts. The American public needs to get behind this bill, but awareness is critically low. Here are easy ways to help from home.
ACT: Join a team of people using their social media accounts and email to spread the truth about the desperate need for Democracy Reform. Go to the newly launched For the People Act: Action Center.
Sign Petition: Restore Voting Rights, Whatever It Takes
From Indivisible Chicago Alliance: Help keep the pressure on Senators Durbin and Duckworth to pass the most sweeping voter protection package since the 1960s. S.1 (“For the People”) protects the right of every American to cast their vote, starting with the critical 2022 election. Read and sign the petition here.
Write for Democracy: Letters and Postcards
Info and updates on writing to voters to encourage them to contact their reps — and to keep voting:
Vote Forward: If you have a printer, paper, and envelopes and you can buy postage stamps, then you can promote voting by writing letters to people in key states.
For these Vote Forward campaigns, you’ll be writing letters to first-time and infrequent voters who cast ballots in the 2020 general election, and encourage them to vote again. View new campaigns here.
Blue Wave Postcard Movement: Blue Wave Postcard Movement’s Arizona campaign postcards are all sold out. Sign up here to receive Blue Wave announcements about future campaigns.
Postcards to Swing States: Watch for news about April postcard campaigns organized by Postcards to Swing States.
Democracy Resources – NEW ONES!
Read listen and watch: Newly shared articles, podcasts, postings, and videos on democracy, voting rights, and the filibuster. These are NEW additions to our newsletter.
For the People Act (S1)
- Read: Brennan Center on how the Senate can stop voter suppression by passing the For the People Act (S1) – with state-by-state breakdown
- Watch: DemCast & Democratic Coalition webinar on For the People Act – view all 53 mins or tune in at ~min #12:20 for a clear description of this vital bill
Ending the Filibuster Rule
- Read: Sen Durbin & President Biden have begun to voice concerns about the filibuster: ‘Weapon of Mass Obstruction’: Durbin Blasts Filibuster on Senate Floor + Durbin’s press release on filibuster + Biden’s plan for a “talking filibuster,” briefly explained
- Read: Will Democrats Nix (or Weaken) the Filibuster?
- Must-Read: National Indivisible continues to argue for fully ending the filibuster: Why Reforming the Filibuster Doesn’t Go Far Enough
Democracy Legislation – Multiple Bills
- Listen: National Indivisible’s Meagan Hatcher-Mays on Two Broads Talking Politics podcast with host Kelly Pollock (and IC-SS member!). They discuss DC Statehood, the For the People Act, and why we need to abolish the filibuster to save democracy.
- Watch: Suppressed 2021: The War On Democracy: 5-minute mini-video from Brave New Films. (See full 40-min documentary here.)
- Find more resources listed in our newsletters from Feb 15, Feb 22, March 1, March 8, March 15.
ECPS: New Proposal for Police Accountability
Hyde Park alders Ald Sophia King (4th ward) and Ald Leslie Hairston (5th ward) helped two groups come together to create a new proposal for a police accountability ordinance.
On March 19th, supporters of the Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) and the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) held a joint press conference to introduce the ordinance, Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS). They called on the City Council to pass the ordinance and Mayor Lightfoot to sign it into law.
Frank Chapman, a leader with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) and one of the chief creators of both CPAC and the new ECPS, said, ” I didn’t think I’d live to see this moment. This is the defining moment of who we are as a nation.”
Watch the recorded livestream here, organized by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) and GAPA. For a quick summary, read IC-South Side’s Twitter thread.
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and action announcements from other organizations on issues important in our state, city, and communities.
Rally Against Hate in Chinatown Sat 3/27, 2:00 pm
Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) invites IC-South Side members and others to join in a rally against anti-Asian violence, discrimination, and hate crimes.
Date/Time: Saturday, March 27, 2:00 pmLocation: Chinatown Square, 2100 S. Archer Ave
See full flyer
Stop General Iron/Deny the Permit: Update + Action
From Susan (Sue) Avila, RN MPH, of Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County (and a member of IC-South Side):
Indivisible South Side joined with over 70 organizations and 500 individual public health and social activists from across the city to sign on to a letter to Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Public Commissioner (CDPH) Dr. Allison Arwady demanding that they deny the permit to relocate the General Iron/Reserve Management Group (RMG) scrap metal recycling facility to the Southeast Side of Chicago from Lincoln Park. Read the letter here.
The letter, organized by the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group and Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County, was an expression of solidarity with the Southeast Side organizers and those who waged a 30-day hunger strike demanding environmental justice.
On March 15th, the actions of the hunger strikers and community won an unusual delay in the permit process. The Chicago Department of Public Health is now seeking additional information on the cumulative impact of pollution from General Iron/RMG.
ACT:
- Email Mayor Lightfoot. You can adjust the wording and add your signature and address and/or zip code.
- Stay tuned for further actions by following these handles and hashtags on Twitter: @ChiHungerStrike @SEYouthAlliance @CHECookCounty #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron
Learn about Black Women Organizing for Power (BWOP)
Black Women Organizing for Power (BWOP‘s March 8 virtual rally on the State of Black Women and Girls in Illinois raised awareness around specific concerns for Black women and girls in the state of Illinois. Last week the IC-SS newsletter focused on speaker Jacky Grimshaw of the Center for Neighborhood Technology (beginning at ~18:50).
This week, we shine a light on Kina Collins (~30:17), who speaks about her run for Congress in IL-07 — the youngest Black woman to run for Congress in Illinois history. She discussed some of the rewards as well as obstacles, including the DCCC’s “blacklist” (which has only just been rescinded).
Ms. Collins says,”If Black women are the backbone of the political system, imagine how much more we can do – not just our voting power, but our governing power.”
Dr. Claudia Fegan, Chief Medical Officer of Cook County Health (~1:13:30), explains why Black women will care about single payer health care, or an improved Medicare for All.
Find the BWOP virtual rally – recording, Info Sheet-IL Rally for Black Women and Girls 2021, and BWOP Black Women and Girls Policy 1-Pager.
Indivisible Chicago-South Side
Email: Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com
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Co-Leaders: Sarah Lincoln, Esther Peters,
Betsy Rubin, Teri Watkins
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