Dear Friends,
In today’s media landscape, sensationalism prevails online. The grassroots play a crucial role in countering disinformation, especially amplified by MAGA Republicans. Join the Friday Power Lunch to explore how grassroots efforts are the frontline of messaging.
In addition to our last weeks of legislative CTAs and our featured events below, there are two important actions to take. Please join me.
- Markers for Democracy has launched a postcard challenge. Please send a postcard to President Biden expressing your appreciation for what he has done for our country and that we have his back. Please take action and share widely on social media as we want to flood the mailroom at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500.
- Let’s get our Gun Violence Protection Legislation signed by the Governor! The Virginia General Assembly has passed several sensible gun violence bills. These include limits on assault guns and ammunition, prohibitions on gun transfers and increased gun storage rules – to name a few. Please call 804-786-2211 and press one to leave a message, and/or email by filling out the Governor’s contact form.
Thank you to all for your continued efforts,
Stair
PS Please note the * CTA that were not in Luisa’s last email
CALLS TO ACTION
JUSTICE REFORM
Senator Salim’s SB334 is being heard in the full House of Delegates on Wednesday. This is the last chance to get this legislation to the Governor’s desk. Take action right away to ask House members to Ban Fourth Amendment Plea Bargain Waivers.
CTA:https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb334-full-house/
HUMAN RIGHTS
HB 994 is the Virginia Bill to End Child Marriage
Senate Courts of Justice Committee
CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb-994-full-senate
Testify/Show Support: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 1:30pm (or 30 minutes after the Senate Floor Adjourns). Where: Virginia General Assembly Building (aka “The GAB”), 201 N Ninth Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Room: Senate Room A, Room #305, Third Floor. Lisa has ordered ivory scarfs for everyone to wear in the room as a show of force and solidarity. Folks interested in participating are free to email Lisa: lisa.a.sales@outlook.com
- Repost: Tweet/X Post – https://x.com/VANOWChapter/status/1761467945543160198?s=20 –
- Repost: Instagram Post – https://www.instagram.com/p/C3vk00TOQj0/
EDUCATION
- HB187 Increase Teacher Salaries Full Senate Scheduled for second reading – CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb187-full-senate
- SB104 Raise Teacher Salaries Full House – Scheduled for third reading and vote – CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb104-full-house/
- SB105 Establish At-Risk Program Full House – Scheduled for third reading and vote – CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb105-full-house/
- *New: SB586 Reduce Suspensions and Expulsions Full House – CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb586-full-house/
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
For Black History month, Roanoke City continues on their path of systemic racism by the Roanoke City Council voting 4-3 to approve the Evans Spring “Master Plan” but the slim majority requires a second reading and vote on March 4. Help Environmental Justice activists to flip a vote to defeat this injustice. The consultants the city hired didn’t include crucial information in their report such as climate risk and how the negative consequences of increasing the heat island effect and flooding could harm the surrounding predominantly Black neighborhoods. It also didn’t include Virginia identifying this area as a Conservation Priority and part of the Wildlife Action Plan. Learn more here.
- CTA1 – Use this easy portal to send an email to the members of Roanoke City Council.
- CTA2 – Sign this petition opposing the Evans Spring Master Plan.
- CTA3 – Encourage others to take action to save the Black neighborhoods surrounding Evans Spring by sharing this social media post and attending this Thursday’s virtual press conference where people can learn how they can help prevent injustice.
WORKERS AND FAMILIES
SB373 Family & Medical Leave Full House
CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb373-full-house/
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Our General Assembly has killed, in untransparent ways, every single campaign finance bill this session. Let’s get the one bill still standing across the finish line. On Friday, Sen Boysko’s bill (SB377) restricting personal use of campaign funds was passed out of P&E unanimously but then sent to appropriations, where like Del Simon’s companion bill, it will die WITHOUT A VOTE!
CTA – Click here to say “Heck No, this bill needs a vote on the floor”. Or call Speaker Don Scott (804-698-1088) and Delegate Torian (804-698-1024) and tell them this bill needs a vote. Questions: nancy.ruth.morgan@gmail.com
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
HB939 Prohibit firearms within 100 ft of polling place Full Senate
CTA: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb939-full-senate/
*You can find all of the active CTAs here*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, February 28th, 5:00pm
GO CD2 Meeting (Hampton Roads Grassroots Coalition)
Email Luisa to join: luisaboyarski@gmail.com
Thursday, February 29th, 5:00pm
Legislative Working Group Meeting
Email Luisa to join: luisaboyarski@gmail.com
Friday, March 1st, 12:00pm
Power Lunch: We are the Messengers
RSVP for 2024 Friday Power Lunches
This week on the Friday Power Lunch we will discuss how the grassroots are the frontline of messaging.
- March is Women’s History Month. To kick off our celebration, Elisabeth Griffith, historian, activist, and author of In Her Own Right: The Life Of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Formidable: American Women And The Fight For Equality, will join us to talk about her new Substack newsletter Pink Threads, highlighting snippets about American women.
- Luisa Boyarski, Virginia Grassroots Coalition leader will update us on the General Assembly as we head into the last week of session.
- Antonia Scatton, Democratic Messaging Expert and publisher of Reframing America newsletter, will talk about our critical role as messengers this election.
- Dogwood is a Virginia-based newsroom which focuses on Virginia news and the people and policies affecting our lives. Their reporting is primarily produced for social media platforms and online channels. Kate Bassett, Political Director, will talk about their work in Virginia and their engagement with grassroots groups to cover the stories that matter most.
- Congressman Gerry Connolly just returned from important NATO meetings and will give us an update on NATO and Ukraine.
Sunday, March 3rd, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Fundraiser for Briana Sewell, Candidate for CD7
Briana has spent her career serving her community, including over five years as the district director to Congressman Gerry Connolly, and is currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, where she is highly respected among her colleagues. In 2023, she was named to the Council of State Government’s list of the 20 most effective lawmakers across the nation under 40 years old. Please join host Josh Kaplowitz and Special Guest Delegate Marcus Simon on March 3 to meet Briana and support her race. To RSVP, please click here.
Sunday, March 3rd, 6:00pm
Virginia Grassroots Coalition Meeting
Email Luisa your agenda items, luisaboyarski@gmail.com
Zoom Link: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/98422844279
Tuesday, March 5th, 7:00pm
Winning Pennsylvania Up and Down the Ballot
Join NOPE for their 2024 kickoff meeting and hear from guest speakers Senator Bob Casey and One PA Executive Director Steve Paul. More Info and RSVP Here
Wednesday, March 6th, 7:30pm
Fundraiser for North Carolina Voter Registration (on Zoom)
Keynote speaker former Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick.
President Biden lost North Carolina in 2020 by 1.3%. It was his closest loss. According to Moody’s Analytics North Carolina is one of the 5 states which will be decided by less than 1%. Simon Rosenburg has described NC as: “[T]he most important expansion state in the [2024] battleground, and a place where our work can really make a difference.” NC has a state Supreme Court race and the most important Governor’s race in the country as well as 16 Electoral College votes. Money raised will go to the 501c(3) arm of two Black-led organizations that concentrate on registering BIPOC and young voters. They don’t just register the voters, they follow up with them multiple times. One of the groups, Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE), also works to turn the people they reach into activists.
DONATE TO REGISTER: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/voter-registration-2024?refcode=AC
Be a BADASS and forward this information with a friend who can subscribe here.
Compliments of Network NOVA & the Virginia Grassroots – When We Vote We Win