IC-SS Weekly News:
Write & Call: Stop the Ohio Outrage
To protect democracy in the United States, we must fight for democracy IN the states. This month, we’re turning our eyes to Ohio. Will you join our letter-writing parties and Indivisible Chicago’s phone banks?
Letter-Writing Parties are BACK, Baby
This July, defend democracy with your pen! Join our Vote Forward leader Steve Kagan and Indivisible Chicago-South Side friends to write letters to Ohio voters about their state’s Issue 1. Scroll to our Background section for more info on what’s at stake in Ohio.
Will you write with us? We’ll meet on Wednesday, July 19 and Wednesday, July 26, 6:00-8:00 pm at the Nile Restaurant outdoor patio (indoors if weather is bad). Sign up here.
We’ll provide a few appetizers for the table and encourage everyone to support the Nile by purchasing their own meals and soft drinks. The Nile is BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite wine or beer. If you’re able, bring along first-class stamps for the letters.
Sign up to write letters with us on Wed. July 19, Wed. July 26, or BOTH. See you soon!
Get on Zoom with Friends to Phone Voters
Phonebank with Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA). From your home, use your laptop and phone to urge Ohio voters to vote NO on Issue 1. You’ll jump on Zoom to get clear training and ongoing support from friendly ICA leaders. Info/Sign-up
Get more info and sign up for one or all the July phonebanks (5:00-7:00 pm on Wed. July 5th, Tues July 11th, Tues July 18th).
Background on Ohio’s Issue 1
Right now, Ohio Republicans are trying to sneak into law an anti-democracy measure that would leave voters with no way to check their lopsided gerrymandered legislature. The vote’s in early August, so we have a short time to act.
“This cynical power-grab is called Issue 1, and it’s the only thing on the ballot in a special election scheduled for August. To protect their right to a voice in their own government, Ohio voters must VOTE NO on this initiative.” ~ Email from Blue Beginning chapter of Indivisible Chicago
Outraged about SCOTUS? Call Your Reps!
Last week was rough. We must act now to unrig our courts before it’s too late.
Adapted from national Indivisible: The Supreme Court, which is stacked with MAGA justices hand-picked by Republicans and dark money groups, is completely out of control. To save our rights, we must to expand the Supreme Court by passing the Judiciary Act of 2023. Every issue we care about is at risk with this conservative MAGA majority in power at the Court.
The Judiciary Act of 2023 provides the most urgent solution to a Supreme Court that has been captured by conservative extremists. This bill would add four additional justices to the bench and undo the decades of conservative court-packing that got us into this mess. The Constitution does not require a set number of Supreme Court justices, and the number has fluctuated over the years.
ACT: Contact Your Members of Congress
To date, Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth haven’t indicated whether they’ll co-sponsor the Senate bill for the Judiciary Act of 2023. For the House bill, four Illinois representatives are co-sponsors: Reps Delia Ramirez, Chuy Garcia, Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky. (If you’re in one of their Congressional districts, call and thank them!)
Two Ways to Contact
1. Reach out directly. Call both of our Illinois Senators and also YOUR House Rep–tell them to co-sponsor the Judiciary Act of 2023:
- Senator Durbin + Senator Duckworth (call a local district office if you can’t get through in D.C.)
- Rep Jonathan Jackson, IL-01 or Rep Robin Kelly, IL-02 (or a different rep if you’re outside districts 1 & 2)
2. Use national Indivisible’s easy automated system to call our senators and your rep here. You’ll hear Indivisible’s brief recorded message summarizing the issue before they connect you to the offices of your members of Congress. Get connected via this handy resource page on Indivisible Chicago’s website.
Helping Asylum Seekers: Learn, Act
Thank you to the 18 people who attended our Donation Social last week. Many of our South Side friends contributed needed items (men’s socks & underwear, small luggage) and others have already helped by volunteering time or donating funds to groups helping Chicago’s asylum seekers sleeping in police stations. A heartfelt thanks to all!
At the Donation Social, we heard from special guests Chiara Galli, UChicago faculty; Brenda Delgado, volunteer 2nd district leader for the Chicago Police Station Task Force; and 2nd-district District Councilors Alexander Perez and Julia Kline.
We deeply appreciate all the speakers, donors, volunteers, and attendees and give special thanks to Lisa Rademacher, who opened her home community to host the event. Thanks also to Sarah Lincoln and Betsy Rubin for driving the carloads of donated items to a donation site.
LEARN & ACT FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
READ: In Chicago, more than 650 asylum seekers are sleeping on police station floors, and nearly 5,000 asylum seekers are staying in city shelters. WBEZ has this update on how the City of Chicago is responding.
DONATE: If you wish to donate funds, you can support the all-volunteer Chicago Police Station Response Team here.
VOLUNTEER: If you’d like to volunteer for the District 2 Chicago Police Station Response team, see the 2nd district volunteer/donations info sheet provided by Brenda Delgado and Tzuming Liao.
Organizations and Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and actions from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
Study on Reception of Asylum Seekers – Participate!
Thanks again to UChicago Assistant Professor Chiara Galli for speaking to us last week about asylum seekers. Professor Galli notes that her research “is situated in the fields of international migration, refugee studies, law & society, gender, children & youth, the life course, and families.” Her new book is Precarious Protections: Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum in the United States.
From Chiara Galli: Are you volunteering or working with newly arrived asylum-seekers in Chicago? Share your perspective and experience for a study on the reception of asylum-seekers in Chicago!
We are conducting a study to learn about the reception of asylum-seekers in Chicago. Our two goals:
1. To understand how local residents, community leaders, organizations, and city officials view and are responding to the arrival of asylum-seekers in Chicago.
2. To understand the experiences of asylum seekers in Chicago.
To find out more and volunteer for the study, read Chiara Galli’s information flyer with details and contact information.
Support the Primo Center for Women & Children
Would you like to support an Englewood nonprofit that assists women and children who are experiencing homelessness? Learn about the Primo Center here.
You can support Primo Center here, by donating funds or purchasing and delivering items from their wish list* (scroll down the Primo donations page).
*Important: Primo Center cannot accept donations of clothing. Please donate only items that are on the wish list.
Webinar July 18: AI & Fighting Media Disinformation
From Truth Brigade Illinois: Will artificial intelligence (AI) make our fight even harder? Can we inoculate people against disinformation? Find out!
On Tuesday, July 18th at 7:00 pm, Truth Brigade Illinois welcomes Dr. Michael Spikes, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism. Dr. Spikes will speak on the topic, AI & Fighting Media Disinformation. Sign up here for this free webinar.
Newsletter Notes
SUBSCRIBE: Did someone forward this newsletter to you? If you’d like to subscribe and get our newsletter every Monday morning, click here to subscribe.
SUGGEST: Got an event or resource to suggest for the newsletter? Email us here.
