IC-SS News: May 27, 2024
Clean Up the Court: Call Your Reps
Supreme Court judge Sam Alito displayed an insurrectionist symbol – the upside-down American flag – at his home in January 2021. In more recent times, the Alitos displayed a Christian nationalist flag, another insurrectionist symbol – the “Appeal to Heaven” flag – at their summer home.
FLAGrant: Sam Alito displayed an insurrectionist symbol at his home
The matter goes further than insurrectionist flags flapping in the wind. Ginni Thomas, wife of Judge Clarence Thomas, helped lead the “Stop the Steal” campaign to overturn the 2020 election and even attended the Jan. 6, 2021 rally near the White House. In spite of these flagrant conflicts of interest, neither Alito nor Thomas has recused himself in cases related to Trump.
Meanwhile, over many years, MAGA justices have accepted extravagant gifts from billionaires to rule in their interests. We need Congress to do more!
Pressure Congress to Do More
It’s time for us to raise our voices with our members of Congress and demand that they take bold action.
1. CONTACT SENATOR DURBIN: It’s true that Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin has taken some action on the matter of Supreme Court ethics. In 2023, he co-sponsored the SCERT ethics act (“skirt”) in the Senate. Last week, he called for Justice Alito to recuse and has requested to meet with Chief Justice Roberts.
However, to date, Senator Durbin refuses to hold public hearings or conduct an inquiry. WE NEED LOUDER, BOLDER ACTION.
Action 1A: Call or message Senator Durbin and ask him to do more. Suggested script – modify to fit your own voice:
Hello, my name is __________ and I’m a constituent in zip code ______. I thank Senator Durbin for sponsoring the SCERT [“skirt”] Act requesting a meeting with Justice Roberts, and calling on Sam Alito to recuse. But, to protect our democracy, he must do more!
We need Senator Durbin to use his power as Senate Judiciary Chair to hold public hearings; subpoena Justices Alito, Thomas, and Roberts; and demand that all justices adhere to a strict ethics policy or be removed. Our democracy depends on it!
Here is contact information for Senator Durbin. Call his district offices — try Springfield or Rock Island if you can’t get through to Chicago.
Action 1B: Want a 2-minute action? Use national Indivisible’s automatic email form to send a flash email to Senator Durbin.
2. CONTACT YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: From national Indivisible: Tell your U.S. representative in the House to hold the corrupt Supreme Court accountable. Congress must pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act [SCERT, pronounced “skirt”].
The SCERT bill would impose ethical rules on all Supreme Court justices to ensure that the highest court in the land is not held to the lowest ethical standards.
Check to see if your representative is a co-sponsor of SCERT. If they’re not a co-sponsor yet, call and tell them and urge them to sign on. While SCERT won’t solve all of the problems brewing at the Supreme Court, it’s a critical step in the right direction.
ACT: Get more information and get connected to your rep here.
Keep Writing to Voters
Reach voters in key states with paper and pen. We encourage you to sign up with Vote Forward, so you can print, write, and mail your own letters from home.
Sign up for a free account with Vote Forward, choose a state or states, and then opt to print 20 letters, 200 letters, 2000 letters… whatever works for your schedule between now and the mail date in October.
Write with Us: May 28 & June 13
Join us TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 28th, and again on Thursday, June 13th to write letters with us.
1. TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 28th, 6:00-8:00 pm: We’ll meetat the community room of a private residence in Hyde Park (address provided when youRSVP). At this special location, we’ll serve pizza and soft drinks. Feel free to bring wine, beer, a salad, or a dessert to share if you wish. RSVP here
2. NEXT MONTH, Thursday, June 13th, 6:00-8:00 pm: We’ll be back at the Nile, 1162 E. 55th St. We order a few appetizers for the table, and you order and pay for your own meal to support the Nile. If the weather is nice, we’ll sit on the Nile’s outdoor patio. RSVP here
Thanks to all our writers & stamp donors – RSVP
FOR BOTH EVENTS: Our generous letter leader, Steve Kagan, will bring pens, envelopes, and pre-printed Vote Forward letters for you to personalize to help get out the vote in key states and districts. We encourage you to donate first-class stamps. You are welcome to bring wine or beer to share. But the most important thing is to be there!
RSVP here or email us at Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com, letting us know you can attend on Tuesday, May 28 and/or Thursday, June 13 and providing your full name and cell number).
Action Calendar: Indivisible Chicago Alliance
May is almost over, and we’re well into 2024. What are your plans to help prevent a Trump/GOP power grab of the White House, Congress, and the states?
To find specific actions to sign up for, check ALL the May 2024 options on the Indivisible Chicago Alliance action calendar.
The calendar is a project of the citywide Indivisible Chicago Alliance and is curated by Wendy Posner.
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and actions from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
Shame of Chicago: Watch at Home
From Shame of Chicago website: Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation is a four-part documentary series that lays bare the story of how Chicago devised the nation’s most sweeping system of racially segregated housing—and how it diminished the lives of generations of Black families, creating the vast racial wealth gap that persists to this day.
FREE: Watch the four-part Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation series at the documentary’s website.
Sat., June 22: CBA Summit for South Shore
From STOP Chicago: To protect neighborhood residents (whether renters or homeowners), South Shore needs a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) now, and Woodlawn needs more protection from gentrification.
On Saturday, June 22nd, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, attend the 2024 CBA Summit; South Shore location to be announced. Join STOP Chicago, the Coalition for an Obama CBA, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Alderman Desmon Yancy (5th ward) to get the new CBA ordinance passed! Register here.
On Saturday, June 22nd, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, attend the 2024 CBA Summit; South Shore location to be announced. Join STOP Chicago, the Coalition for an Obama CBA, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Alderman Desmon Yancy (5th ward) to get the new CBA ordinance passed! Register here.
Indivisible Chicago-South Side
Email: Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com
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Co-Leaders: Esther Peters,Betsy Rubin, Teri Watkins, Sarah Lincoln
About: Group & Co-Leader Statements
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