America is finally waking up to Project 2025
Hi, everybody! The public is finally starting to wake up to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, the GOP’s step-by-step recipe book to turn us into an authoritarian, Christian Nationalist fake-democracy, similar to that of Victor Orban’s Hungary. But it won’t stop there.
The program’s executive branch takeover of independent agencies, along with the Supreme Court’s granting of immunity for “Official Acts”, sets the stage for Trump and his toxic Agenda 47, a set of revenge-and-hate-fueled promises to his cult members and lots of money-making opportunities for himself, to step into the role of dictator as he promised…just not for one day.
As the public gradually learns about these plans, polls show that the majority of voters are horrified. Just small-scale Christian Nationalism, like putting the 10 Commandments in Louisiana’s public schools, has created more negative backlash than they expected. This has caused Trump and his handlers to start gaslighting us – softening the promises/threats he’s made so far, (comprehensive list of them here) and even disavowing knowledge of the Heritage Foundation. This involves pretending that his last administration wasn’t stocked to the rafters with their people, that his administration didn’t accomplish about 68% of their 2017 “Mandate for Leadership”, and that he won’t depend on these same fascists and fascist policies in any future administration. It’s inconvenient that the Heritage Foundation is sponsoring next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and that the main Trump Super PAC “Make America Great Again Inc.” (or “MAGA Inc.”), is running online ads promoting a website called “Trump Project 2025.”
His followers gaslight us too, telling us that we just don’t understand his jokes, but the promises of Project 2025 and Agenda 47 are written down for all the world to see. “Rule #1: Believe the autocrat. He means what he says. Whenever you find yourself thinking, or hear others claiming, that he is exaggerating, that is our innate tendency to reach for a rationalization. This will happen often: Humans seem to have evolved to practice denial when confronted publicly with the unacceptable.” —Masha Gessen (New York Times Review of Books, Nov 26, 2016)
More importantly, the oligarchs and corporate giants behind Project 2025 haven’t spent decades and millions of dollars corrupting our justice system to finally get the extremist Supreme Court of their dreams, to allow Trump to back down now, even if he wanted to. Their plan to destroy democracy will be complete 180 days after Trump, or any other conservative president takes office.
ACTIONS
Task #1 – Democracy isn’t going to save itself.
We can’t just depend on the Democrats to educate people on Project 2025 – they’ve got their hands full promoting specific candidates. We all need to become trusted messengers spreading the word about the wider threat of Project 2025 to friends, relatives, and our wider social circles. Talk to Republicans too. For those who still see themselves as “fiscal conservatives,” this may not be what they signed up for.
- Our facebook page is stuffed with great memes and discussions to share:
https://www.facebook.com/IndivisibleVentura/ - We are constantly adding to our collection of videos and articles to share here: https://indivisibleventura.org/2024/01/20/join-in-were-translating-project-2025-the-gops-plan-to-destroy-democracy/
- TLDR? (“Too Long, Didn’t Read“) We’ve reduced Project 2025’s +900 pages to 4, along with great short videos! Spanish translation at bottom. (tinyurl.com/Project-2025-TLDR)
- TLDR? We’ve reduced Trump’s equally alarming Agenda 47 here. Note! Project 2025 is a prerequisite for Trump to be able to effectively institute his terrifying and corrupt schemes.
- You think this is all fearmongering nonsense? GOP-controlled states are already test-driving Project 2025 agenda.
Task #2 – Talk about voting.
A lot of people will be harmed by a Christo-fascist regime – our immigrant and LGBTQ communities, our schools, teachers and librarians, those vulnerable to pollution and climate change, girls and women no longer in control of their reproductive lives, religious and racial minorities, elderly, children and disabled folks who depend on social safety nets, those living in public housing, workers, union members, etc… Even if each group banded together, there are not enough of them to defend themselves from the danger to come.
Meanwhile, a lot of people on our side are grumbling that they aren’t going to vote or that they will vote 3rd party to “send a statement” – that both candidates are too old, or weird, or that they want “to hold them accountable” for having disappointed them in some way. It took Germans generations to admit to supporting a man who promised to make Germany great again. Imagine trying to explain to our own future kids and grandchildren why we didn’t do all that we could to defend democracy when we had the chance.
Task #3 – Vote for love!
Instead of letting anger or ego drive one’s vote, vote for democracy. Vote for the future. Vote for the opportunity to vote again. And, as corny as this may sound, vote for love. Visualize the faces of those you love who will be harmed under a Christo-fascist regime, and then TELL THEM you are dedicating your vote to protecting them. They know they are vulnerable. Let them know you have their back.
WATCH – “Bad Faith” – Documentary on Christian Nationalism
BAD FAITH exposes Christian Nationalism, the most powerful antidemocratic force in America. Streaming on AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Google Play (in some territories) and there are versions on youtube. Directed, Produced and Written by Stephen Ujlaki Co-Director/Co-Producer: Chris Jones Executive Producers: Peter D. Graves, John Ptak, Todd Stiefel, Mike Steed Co-Producer: Doug Blush
For those rightfully confused…Christianity and Christian Nationalism are very different.
Christianity is a religion whose leader focused on the needs of the poor and the refugee.
Christian nationalism is a movement based on a White-supremacist lie that that our country was intended to be a Christian theocracy, no matter how our founding fathers, who were completely aware of the dangers of intertwining politics with religion, deliberately refused to establish a state religion in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and our Bill of Rights.
They gave us a radical secular agenda that is the definition of liberal democracy – that a man’s rights were not conferred upon him by a god, a monarch or any document, including the Constitution, but by the condition of being human.
We still struggle, as they did, to live up to a concept – that all man is created equal – that was unknown in their own world. But this to our true ‘light unto all nation“ and we must fight against the forces that would drag us backwards into darkness.
THINGS TO DO – POSTCARDING AND PHONEBANKS
JOIN VENTURA COUNTY’S POSTCARD BRIGADE!
Contact Sheila at Runisbliss@aol.com to get started!
Debby will continue to help with delivering and mailing packets to the writers, and for Ventura residents, her front porch will continue to be the pick up location. Contact her at ivpostcards@gmail.com for any questions about this changeover.
Please notify us of any changes! We also want to update our writer roster – some people may have moved, some may be dropping out of postcarding, other people may want to get on the roster.
As we move into the 2024 election season, getting our voters out to the polls is even more important than it was before. Get out your pens and get ready to write!
Roe Roe Roe the Vote – and resist every damn day!
VIRTUAL PHONE BANKS TO TRANSFORM CURRENTLY INACTIVE ENVIRONMENTALISTS INTO CONSISTANT VOTERS.
Saturday – 07/27/2024 – VIRTUAL – Phone Bank – Register Dems in AZ (11:00 am – 1:00 pm)
Join Field Team 6 in calling eligible voters (likely Dems) in the crucial state of Arizona!
You’ll be reaching out to get people registered as Democrats, or signed up to vote from home (vote by mail) if they’re already registered.
Making sure people are registered to vote, and that they can vote safely from home, is a super-effective way to make a difference. In 2024, we can flip this seat back to a Democrat.
But we need your help. Join us as we turn voices into votes! All training provided!
Facebook link: https://www.mobilize.us/ft6/event/576010/
Thursday – 07/17/2024 – DCVV Candidate Endorsements (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm) Topping Room at EP Foster Library
OTHER EVENTS
Meet the candidates! Join DCV for our club Endorsements vote! We’ll hear from Ventura Councilmember Doug Halter (D-2); Ryyn Schumacher (D-3); Alex Mangone (D-7); and VUSD Trustee Sabrena Rodriguez (Area 2). Members in good standing who have attended a meeting this year are eligible to vote.
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/359588053827260/
Saturday – 07/20/2024 – OXNARD – Sleep out Oxnard (10:00 am – 10:00 pm) Oxnard High School, 3400 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard
Welcome to Sleep Out Oxnard! Join us for a night of solidarity and awareness at Oxnard High School. Let’s bring awareness of the unhoused, and the needs in our community. Bring your family and friends together in Solidarity, Unity, and camaraderie with others to make a difference. Let’s show our support for those in need and make a positive impact.
Sign up online to FORM A TEAM! VOLUNTEER! OR SPONORSHIP!!
See you there!
Eventbrite.com: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sleep-out-oxnard-tickets-876809279157
Thursday – 07/25/2024 – VIRTUAL – Brennan Center – Fix the Insurrection Act (12:00 am – 1:00 pm) 
A law last updated 150 years ago gives presidents dangerous authority to use the U.S. military as a domestic police force. The Insurrection Act has virtually no limits on when and how this power can be used, making it a loaded weapon in the hands of any leader, Democrat or Republican, who is tempted to abuse it. Without urgent reforms, the law is a threat to civil liberties — and American democracy.
Join us on Thursday, July 25, at 3 p.m. ET for a live virtual event moderated by Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center Liberty & National Security Program, featuring lawyer and writer Hawa Allan, Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith, and Brennan Center counsel Joseph Nunn. The panel will shed light on a president’s alarming powers under the Insurrection Act and examine possible solutions to prevent the law’s misuse.
Speakers:
- Hawa Allan, Author, Insurrection: Rebellion, Civil Rights, and the Paradoxical State of Black Citizenship
- Jack Goldsmith, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
- Joseph Nunn, Counsel, Brennan Center Liberty & National Security Program
- Moderator: Elizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Brennan Center Liberty & National Security Program
RSVP here: https://brennan.swoogo.com/insurrectionact/begin?ref=landing
Saturday – 07/27/2024 – VENTURA – Electrify Your Home and Business (10:00 am – 2:30) 5654 Ralston Street, Ventura, CA 93003
Sunday – 07/28/2024 – OXNARD – SWAP MEET JUSTICE – SOCIAL JUSTICE FAIR returns to Oxnard College’s Marketplace from 9:00 am – 3:00! We are located near the gym.
SWAP MEET JUSTICE/JUSTICIA TIANGUERA – Volunteer Citizenship Fair (9-3pm) (8:30 am for first time volunteers) Location – near the gym.
MORE INFORMATION:
- Website: swapmeetjustice.org
- sitio web: (español) swapmeetjustice.org/justicia-tianguera-espanol/
- Family Resources/Recursos Familiares: swapmeetjustice.org/family-resource-fair/
- Expungement Clinic/Clínica de Expurgación: swapmeetjustice.org/expungment-fair/
- Location/Mapa de localización: swapmeetjustice.org/location-mapa-de-localizacion/
- Volunteer/Voluntarios: swapmeetjustice.org/volunteer-voluntarios/
- New Volunteer On-site Training – 8:30 am at each fair
- Teens welcome/We need bilingual speakers, but “English-only” welcome & necessary.
- We reserve the right to refuse services from any volunteer. This is a strictly non-partisan activity and no political clothing is allowed./ Nos reservamos el derecho de rechazar los servicios de cualquier voluntario. Esta es una actividad estrictamente no partidista y no se permite vestimenta política.
- Swap Meet Justice is thrilled the Biden Administration has opened a path to ease the path the citizenship for the spouses of U.S. Citizens. While our legal team awaits the specifics on how and when we can apply (expected by August or September), please prepare yourself by gathering:
- Proof of your current marriage to a US Citizen on ir before 6/16/24
- Proof that you have resided in the United States continuously since June 2014 (taxes, insurance, pay stubs, bank statements, etc)
- All criminal records
- USCIS fees: while we do not yet have confirmation, likely the fee for this application will be around $630.
- By securing this new form of Parole, recipients should then be able to Adjust Status to become Lawful Permanent Residents. Please come to Swap Meet Justice, Sunday June 30th for more information. PLEASE BE AWARE OF FRAUD! APPLICATIONS FOR THIS BENEFIT ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. Please only consult with an immigration attorney or an Accredited non profit agency. In Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County these are: El Concilio, MICOP, UFW Foundation, IMPORTA, Immigrant Legal Defense Center, Immigrant Hope
- The MOST IMPORTANT message is that YOU CANNOT FILE YET. Do NOT give ANYONE your money. Just gather your docs and the fees, and be patient.
- Read more on the DHS website here: https://www.dhs.gov/…/fact-sheet-dhs-announces-new… by @swapmeetjustice
- https://www.instagram.com/p/C8XqKxXy-Zo/
FUN THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER!
News from Swap Meet Justice Coalition partner – the Ventura County Library!
“We are trying to encourage everyone to read during the summer. Children 0-17 (or senior year of high school) can register for the summer reading challenge. If they read 500 their name will enter a drawing to possibly win tickets to Disneyland. If they read up to 1000 minutes, their name will go in the raffle one more time. There is an adult version of the program with small prizes. The last day to enter minutes is August 4th.”
“Estamos tratando de alentar a todos a leer durante el verano. Los niños 0-17 (o el año mayor de la escuela secundaria) pueden registrarse para el desafío de lectura de verano. Si leen 500, su nombre ingresará a un sorteo para ganar boletos para Disneyland. Si leen hasta 1000 minutos, su nombre irá al rifa una vez más. Hay una versión para adultos del programa con pequeños premios. El último día para entrar en minutos es el 4 de agosto.”
Please DONATE to the cause! Indivisible Ventura is completely volunteer run and your donation will support the direct costs of organizing in Ventura — things like expenses for Swap Meet Justice, posters, art supplies, stamps, transportation, and more! Although we’ve defeated Trump and taken back the Senate, we have to act urgently to save our democracy and enact other desperately needed reforms. Getting it done depends on all of us. Let’s stand together, indivisible. Indivisible Ventura is one of 6,000 grassroots Indivisible groups across the country. Together, we will win. (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ven383907253)The usual caveats…Keep ahead of us on our calendar scroll here: tinyurl.com/VC-calendarIf we screw up a link, our apologies. You can find the original post here: tinyurl.com/VC-calendarWe’re putting up information on local protests and actions by others we’re finding from informal sources. These listings are not endorsements nor guarantees as to time/place/type of protest or participant safety. Events can and have already been cancelled without notice. Check ahead for future events there as well. We often miss morning event postings and these newsletters are often tardy as hell. If we screw up or miss information about an event, please send an email to indivisibleventura@alkrulick
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