IC-SS Weekly News: December 18, 2023
Join the Jan 6 Social Media Storm
From Indivisible Illinois: Never let them forget January 6th. On Saturday morning, January 6th, join a social media storm on Zoom along with Indivisible Illinois, Indivisible Evanston, NWSOFA, and other partners. We’ll create and share messaging on social media to raise awareness of the 3rd anniversary of the insurrection. Please join in.
It’s easy! Create a message, share a message we’ve created or just “like” and repost our messages on any social media platform (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Tik Tok etc.). Saturday, January 6th, 10:00 am to Noon – come and go as you are able. Sign up for the Zoom link here
2024 – Almost Here – Stay Ready!
We stay aware of the dangers that Trump and his allies pose in 2024. At the same time, we must stay strong, hopeful, and ready to fight for a better future.
Incisive words from NYU professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat:
“Some have wondered why the Trump campaign is being so open about the repressive policies they intend to implement. This ‘transparency’ is in line with authoritarian history: Autocrats often tell you who they are and what they intend to do to you before they take office. They do this as a challenge to norms, and they do this as a threat. …
“If Trump returns to the White House, we cannot say we were not warned. [Trump] is telling us clearly that he will finish the job he started in his first term: wrecking U.S. democracy.” ~ Ruth Ben-Ghiat, “Lock Them Up”: Trump’s Authoritarian Plans for 2025
“Authoritarians do their best to get us to feel that it is hopeless to resist, that we should just submit to their aggressions and self-censor. That’s because authoritarians live in fear of those they govern and know how powerful mass nonviolent opposition in all its forms can be. So we should never give up hope that things can change, that our actions can bear fruit, and that we can bring another future into being.” ~ Ruth Ben-Ghiat, The Big Q&A With Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Get Active
2024 is right around the corner. Whether you have a lot of time or a little, you can help protect our democracy and prevent autocracy. Some options:
- Get involved with Indivisible Chicago-South Side – find events and actions in our weekly newsletter (this!) and follow us on Facebook
- Indivisible Chicago-South Side is a local chapter of the Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA). Learn more at the Indivisible Chicago Alliance website & sign up for ICA Daily Actions (M-F each week) and other alerts
- Follow national Indivisible at the Indivisible website
- Follow Swing Left at the Swing Left website
- Follow Sister District at the Sister District website
We’re on Threads
Indivisible Chicago-South Side has long been on social media, with a focus on Facebook and Twitter. Now, we’re de-emphasizing Twitter, but … we’re staying active on Facebook, we’ve revived our Instagram and we’ve joined Threads! Please follow us.
TONIGHT: Panel on Migrant Crisis
From Indivisible Illinois: Join Indivisible Illinois tonight, Monday, December 18th at 6:30pm, on Zoom for a discussion panel on the Migrant Crisis: Causes, Challenges, and Solutions.
By understanding the causes, challenges, and potential solutions, we hope to foster empathy, cooperation, and informed decision-making in addressing this global issue.
The panelists are Rep. Delia Ramirez – U.S. Congresswoman, IL03; Fred Tsao – Senior Policy Counsel, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugee Rights; and Dr. Janice Jayes – Professor of History specializing in Human Movement in a World of Nation-States, Illinois State University.
To attend the Migrant Crisis: Causes, Challenges, and Solutions webinar on Zoom, Mon Dec. 18th, 6:30 pm, register here.
Tell Senators: No to Trump Immigration Policies
From national Indivisible: For months, Senators have been negotiating over what’s called the “supplemental” funding package — additional money the Biden administration requested from Congress to respond to crises around the world. Republicans are playing brazen, dangerous hardball in order to force Trump-era immigration policies in exchange for support for Ukraine, and Democrats are considering caving to their demands.
They haven’t reached a deal yet, but the policies on the table are nothing short of breath-taking: an end to asylum for everyone except the small number of folks who can afford to buy a flight into the U.S., mass deportation — nationwide — without a hearing, and a dramatic increase in the incarceration of asylum-seekers, including families, and a restart to Trump’s signature Title 42 policy.
These policies would be dangerous and harmful enough on their own. But we’re heading into a tough election year with Trump and Trump-acolytes threatening to take back power, so we cannot hand them even more tools to inflict their cruel agenda on vulnerable people.
ACT: Call your Democratic Senator now and tell them to say no to MAGA immigration policies. Go to Indivisible’s action page to be automatically connected to Senators Durbin and Duckworth.
Dark Money Behind Attacks on Trans Rights
From Indivisible Evanston and Indivisible Naperville: Indivisible Evanston and Indivisible Naperville present a webinar on trans rights, gender affirming care, and the dark money influences behind the attacks on the trans and LGBTQ+ community.
On Tuesday, January 9th, at 7:00 pm, join the Zoom webinar Trans Rights, Gender Affirming Care and Dark Money, presented by Indivisible Evanston and Indivisible Naperville. Register here.
Speakers will include Dane Menkin, Nurse Practitioner and Director of LGBTQ Services; Naiymah Sanchez, Trans Rights Advocate and Educator – ACLU of Pennsylvania; Aisha Davis, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU Illinois. Register!
ICA – Call for a Ceasefire 2023
he citywide Indivisible Chicago Alliance shares this statement and action:
We urge our members of Congress to support an immediate ceasefire, to ensure humanitarian aid to residents of Gaza, to continue to demand the release of all hostages, and to block US military aid to Israel that would cause additional civilian deaths in Gaza.
Please join us by contacting your Representative and Senators Duckworth & Durbin with these same demands. Call them daily—it makes a difference!
- Senator Duckworth | DC: 202-224-2854 | Chicago 312-886-3506 | Email Sen. Duckworth or call another office
- SenatorDurbin | DC: 202-224-2152 | Chicago 312-353-4952 | Email Sen. Durbin or call another office
- Find your representative.
The Newsletter on Holiday
The newsletter will take a winter break, to return on Monday, January 8th, 2024. Meanwhile, follow us on Facebook for continuing updates.
NOTE: We’ll send out a quick announcement for any important event that may arise during that time. And, as always, feel free to write to us at Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com.
Organizations and Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and actions from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
Bring Chicago Home: Learn & Support
What is Bring Chicago Home, and why should Chicago voters support it in the March 2024 referendum?
From the Bring Chicago Homecoalition: Bring Chicago Home (BCH) was born out of the growing need to address our housing and homelessness crisis in a real and meaningful way.
The Bring Chicago Home campaign launched in the fall of 2018 to create a new revenue stream that would be legally dedicated to providing permanent affordable housing with wraparound supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. To date, the campaign has been endorsed by over 100 community, policy, labor and faith-based organizations.
Find the BCH coalition’s slide deck and other resources here
[A BCH ordinance would] restructure the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax on properties when they are sold to create a substantial and legally dedicated revenue stream to provide permanent affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.
[Under a BCH ordinance,] property sold for less than $1 million would see a decrease. Properties sold for more the $1 million would see an increase. Nearly 95% of properties would see a decrease.The new tax is estimated to generate at least $100 million every single year, and be legally dedicated to programs that alleviate homelessness.
Now that the City Council has voted to put the BCH referendum on the ballot, the next step is for Chicago voters to vote on it in March 2024. If Chicago voters approve the referendum, the City Council can then pass an ordinance increasing the real estate transfer tax.
To learn more, see the BCH coalition’s resource page and this WBEZ article.
Toy Drive for Kids at Lake Shore Hotel Shelter
From the Hyde Park Herald: “[A] small group of volunteers is organizing a toy drive for the more than 300 children living at the city-run Lake Shore Hotel migrant shelter [in Hyde Park-Kenwood]. An independent effort organized by a handful of neighbors, toy drive organizers are working to collect enough gifts for each of the children at the shelter.”
“According to Kerry Bradford, who’s leading the initiative, children at the shelter range from newborns to 18-year-olds. … The shelter’s more than 600 residents hail from Central and South America, as well as Haiti.
“They’re allowing families to request two gifts: an essential item as well as a “want.” Spending on the two gifts will be capped at $50 total. Those interested in participating can email migrantfamilytoydrive@gmail.com to be matched with a family and child, or to join in on the planning sessions.”
For more information and ways to give, read the full Hyde Park Herald article.
