IC-SS Weekly Update: March 29, 2021
Demand Democracy Events: April 7 & 8It is clearer than ever that the most pressing issue we are facing at this moment is defending our freedom to vote.~ICA
During the April recess, Indivisible Chicago Alliance‘s theme is Demand Democracy: Fighting for the Freedom to Vote. Join IC-South Siders and Indivisible groups from across Chicagoland!
1. Demand Democracy Online Session: Wed. April 7th, 7:00 pm:
Sign up for ICA’s online session focusing on the For the People Act (S1), a sweeping pro-democracy bill to create an even playing field where ALL Americans are free to vote. The discussion will also address how the filibuster rule affects the strategy for getting the landmark S1 legislation across the finish line. Come learn about this bill and what you can do to help turn it into law. Speakers will include Dan Weiner, deputy director of the Brennan Center’s Election Reform Program; activists on the ground in key states where voting freedom is being challenged; and more. Sign up for the online session here.
2.Rally at Federal Plaza: Thurs. April 8th, 5:30 pm
After four years of resisting, it’s our time to demand that Congress take bold action to solve the climate crisis, address racial and economic injustice, invest in our communities, and ensure permanent protections for immigrants – among others.
But it all starts with our demand for democracy and the fight for the freedom to vote.The House has passed the For the People Act, the largest and boldest democracy bill in modern-day history. If this bill passes the Senate, it will bring about sweeping democracy reform in our nation, including protecting and expanding voting rights, ending partisan gerrymandering, and curbing big money in politics. Its passage will end the racially based attack against voting rights in states across the country.
Join Indivisible Chicago as we gather in Federal Plaza to Demand Democracy. Get info and sign up for the April 8 Federal Plaza rally.
For Democracy: More 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:
Join Phonebanks: Get Guidance, Make an Impact
Our democracy all depends on the people’s right to vote. And, if Democrats want to pass any legislation to meet the needs and demands of voters, they must pass the For the People Act (S1), the single most important bill in the Senate right now. You can help — using your devices from home.
Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA) has teamed up with Common Cause to expand support for S1 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.
ICA phonebanks feature:
- training and preparation;
- real-time support from experienced leaders;
- a friendly Zoom environment where you can ask questions, swap stories, and encourage each other.
Next phonebanks (and more coming): Wed, March 31 and Wed, April 7, 6:00-8:00 pm. SIGN UP HERE.
Questions? Let us know.
Write for Democracy: Letters and Postcards
Vote Forward: Now
- For the new Vote Forward campaigns, write 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.
Postcards: Upcoming
- Sign up here to receive Blue Wave Postcard Movement announcements about future campaigns.
- Watch for news on April postcard campaigns with Postcards to Swing States.
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.
Missed the 3/23 event, the For the People Act webinar with Rep Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)? Catch it all here: full recording + slides.
The online democracy series continues with the following topics over four more events:
- 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
Use Your Social Media & Email to Help Pass S1 Join DemCast, the Democratic Coalition, and a team of everyday people using their social media accounts and email to spread the truth about the urgent need for Democracy Reform. Just head to the For the People Act: Action Center.
Sign Petition: Restore Voting Rights, Whatever It TakesFrom 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.
Democracy Resources – NEW ONES!
Read listen and watch: Newly shared articles, podcasts, postings, and videos on democracy, voting rights, and the filibuster.
Read
- The For the People Act described – Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD)
- The For the People Act Would Stop Voter Suppression in Its Tracks – Brennan Center
- Understanding the For the People Act of 2021 – DemCast
- Why McConnell Gets Away With Filibustering – The Atlantic
Watch or Listen
- The Filibuster – If You Don’t Know, Now You Know – Trevor Noah, The Daily Show
- The case against the filibuster – WA Post Podcast
Use
- To find out about voter suppression or voting rights legislation at the state level, check out the Voting Rights Tracker from Voting Rights Lab
Feb 15, Feb 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22.
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 their final Twitterstorm this 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 the Thursday April 1 Twitterstorm from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Read more about the Indivisible Illinois Twitterstorm for the April 6 elections – and find out about the special April 1st daylong Tweet-o-rama here. (Note: The Tweet-o-rama takes place during the day, before the 6:00 pm Twitterstorm.)
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and action announcements from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
Protect the Rights of Asylum Seekers: Contact Reps
From HIAS: Title 42 is a provision of law that allows borders to be closed in emergency situations to protect the public health. But public health experts have repeatedly stated that Title 42 does nothing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and have called for its reversal. Under the current draconian interpretation of the law, the U.S. government is preventing many people from exercising their legal right to seek asylum.
Asylum seekers are entitled to due process and dignity. Congress must call on the Biden administration to end the misuse of public health laws and restore the right to asylum by ending Title 42.
Tell Congress to protect the rights of asylum seekers and end Title 42 at the border. Send automatic messages – which you can personalize – to your senators and rep in Congress.
Update on Mercy Hospital
In a deal announced by Mercy Hospital earlier this month, Insight Chicago, a non-profit Michigan-based biomedical technology company, now prepares to buy Mercy from Trinity. (See WBEZ + Block Club Chicago.)
From Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO): Our diverse Chicago Health Equity Coalition (CHEC), made up of healthcare professionals, community organizations, labor unions and churches,… is committed to ensuring that Mercy Hospital remains a full-service safety net and teaching hospital for generations to come…
Community stakeholders must have equitable representation on the new board of directors with voting powers and a significant role in how the new owner operates Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville.
Report: 3/27 Rally Against Hate in Chinatown
On Sunday, March 27, civic organizations and community members rallied against Asian hate at Chinatown Square in a demonstration organized by the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC).Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of CBCAC, thanks all who turned out.
Indivisible Chicago-South Side
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Co-Leaders: Sarah Lincoln, Esther Peters,
Betsy Rubin, Teri Watkins
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