IC-SS Weekly Update: October 25, 2021
Keep the Fire Burning
Thanks to all 16 folks who gathered last week to roast hot dogs and marshmallows at the Point. It was good to be together in person. Let’s keep the fire burning by contacting our elected officials; writing, phoning, and texting voters; and attending outdoor rallies.
Soundtrack: Keep the Fire Burning
SAVE THE DATE: Our next IC-SS Social will be the evening of Tuesday, November 9th. More info in next newsletter!
Send a Message to Build Back Better
Who’s your representative in the U.S. House — Rep Bobby Rush (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Marie Newman (IL-03), or someone else? If you’re not sure, find out here.
 Here in Chicagoland, our representatives have joined with the 96% of Congressional Democrats in supporting Biden’s agenda. However, we want to ensure they all hold strong. Let’s insist there be no bipartisan infrastructure vote without a vote for Build Back Better.
ACT: This week (!) contact your US Representative in Congress using the script below as your basis. Find your representative
Suggested script: Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m calling to urge [your rep] to support the Build Back Better bill. I ask that they NOT vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill until Build Back Better has been passed. Pass both together!
INFO: Build Back Better + Bipartisan Infrastructure
The Build Back Better Act will invest in climate action, lower drug prices, broaden Medicare, create a pathway to citizenship for millions, expand childcare, and more. It is different from the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
With a new deadline of October 31st, negotiations are underway to secure the final votes needed to pass Build Back Better and end the obstruction of a few conservative Democrats (and ALL Republicans). We call on our Democratic representatives to unify their votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and Build Back Better – pass both together!
For more info, see Action #1 of Friday’s Indivisible Chicago’s Daily Action.
Reject Rahm Emanuel
Last week, Indivisible Chicago-South Side co-leaders and members attended a press conference and then a demonstration urging our senators to vote NO in the upcoming floor vote on Rahm Emanuel’s confirmation as ambassador to Japan.
Emanuel’s nomination to be ambassador to Japan is a slap in the face to the nation’s Black communities and to all of Chicago.
Â
Emanuel tried to prevent the release of the tape showing the murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, closed schools and mental health clinics on the South and West Sides, and diverted TIF money to the wealthy instead of low-income communities.
ACT: Contact Senators Durbin and Duckworth, and ask them to reconsider their support for Rahm Emanuel. Tell them to reject Rahm Emanuel for any role in the Biden administration.
- Senator Durbin – Contact info
- Senator Duckworth – Contact info
NOTES:
- If you are unable to reach either a staff member or voice mail at a senator’s DC or Chicago offices, you can phone one of their other district offices (e.g. Springfield).
- In addition to directly contacting Senators Durbin and Duckworth, you may wish to sign this petition, created by Kina Collins.
THIS WEEK: Phone Voters!
This may be the last week to support the Freedom to Vote Act by phoning voters in key states and patching them through to their senators. Connect to day-of training and constant friendly support via Zoom. All you need is your laptop and a phone.Â
Tuesday, Oct 26:Phonebankto West Virginia voters – Joe Manchin territory – in support of the new bill, the Freedom to Vote Act. Tuesday, October 26th, 3:00 pm. Via Indivisible Chicago, in partnership with Common Cause. Learn more/Sign up
Wednesday, Oct 27:Phonebank to voters in other states – in support of the Freedom to Vote Act. October 27th, 5:00 pm. Via Indivisible Chicago, in partnership with Common Cause. Learn more/Sign up
Choose your day: If you can’t make the above phonebanks, choose a Common Cause phonebank on another day! Learn more/Sign up.
Nov 13: Indivisible Illinois Convening
From Indivisible Illinois: Attention Progressives in Illinois, and Our Coalition Allies! Indivisible Illinois‘ coalition of leaders and progressive groups will be hosting a free Convening on Saturday, November 13 from 1-5 pm.
A convening is an exhilarating get-together of progressive activists! Via Zoom, we’ll hear from dynamic speakers, talk about issues that concern us, and get revitalized to work for the 2022 election to get out those voters for progressive candidates.
 This Convening will be even more powerful with nationally renowned speakers, including: REVEREND WILLIAM BARBER, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, and EZRA LEVIN and LEAH GREENBERG, Founders and Chairs of Indivisible National. It also includes HEATHER BOOTH, A Civil Rights Activist and a leading strategist for progressive issues.
 We at Indivisible Illinois are ‘fired up and ready to go’. We hope you are too. Please join us on Zoom. Get info/sign up
 Letters, Postcards Get Out the Vote
Thanks to all our members handwriting and mailing postcards and letters this month! Research shows this work is effective in getting out the vote (GOTV) among the voters we want to encourage.
Have you been writing and sending? Email us to tell about your experience – share photos too!
Just a few of the letters recently sent by Vote Forward champion Steve Kagan
ACT: Write to voters in one or all of these ways: Vote Forward + Postcards to Swing States + Postcards for Climate. (NOTE: You can get on the mailing list for alerts to upcoming campaigns.)
Register Voters!
ILVOTEÂ invites Indivisible Chicago-South Side members to volunteer – find many opportunities to register, inform, and motivate voters!
Stay Informed on Voting Rights
Stay informed on the urgent need to strengthen and defend our democracy – including voting rights, fair elections, and counteracting the filibuster loophole as an obstacle. Check the IC-SS Democracy Doc – new resources weekly: websites, articles, podcasts, videos, and more.
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and action announcements from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
Community Control of Police: Join the Fight!
This summer, the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance (ECPS) was passed in the Chicago City Council. This legislation gives Chicago residents some of the most comprehensive accountability over city police in the nation. The struggle for police accountability, however, is not done.
Now we need the City Council to put a referendum on the ballot, so Chicago residents can vote for even further control.
If there is a referendum, Chicagoans can vote to give civilians the power to directly elect a commission of community members who will have powers over the police superintendent, members of the police board, COPA Chief, and police union contracts. This will mean further safety from police violence for Chicagoans.
The first step: convincing the City Council. This means reaching voters in key wards and urging them to pressure their alders to agree to a referendum. We can help by working with CAARPR.
ACT: You can help encourage community members to notify their alders that Chicago needs the referendum. Please sign up to phonebank, drop literature, or table. Contact the CAARPR organization or IC-SS Co-LeaderTeri Watkins.Â
Book Talk Webinar, Oct 26: The End of Policing
From Jahmal Cole: Join me and Professor Alex Vitale in conversation about his book The End of Policing and police reform more broadly. The talk is scheduled for Tuesday, October 26, at 12pm CT and will take place over Zoom. Please note that a link will be sent prior to the event. Bring your questions!
Event: Author event on the End of Policing by Alex Vitale
Host: Jahmal Cole, Democrat for Congress in IL-01
When: Tuesday, Oct. 26th, 12:00 noon, CT
Where:Â Zoom – link sent before event
RSVP:Â Fill in this quick form
(Re)Imagine South Shore: Monthly Oct-Dec
From South Shore Works (to people who live and/or work in South Shore): The South Shore Chamber of Commerce, along with the Neighborhood Network Alliance and South Shore Works, looks forward to moving South Shore forward, as we push through changing times. We have looked at our assets and opportunities, vision, and will be talking through barriers, strategies, and actual actions to take next.
Â
You can RSVP for all the upcoming [virtual/online] sessions, or just one or two of them – they will all build on one another, so it will always be a different focus for each meeting: Saturdays Oct 30, Nov 13, Dec 11. (One session was already held earlier this month.) Get info/Sign up.
