IC-SS News: Sept. 16, 2024
TONIGHT: Rally2Win – Sept. 16th, 6pm
Head up to the North Side tonight for this special event.
From citywide Indivisible Chicago Alliance: Indivisible Chicago Alliance, Operation Swing State, Swing Left, and QForce invite you to join us tonight, Monday, September 16, at the Vic Theatre for a very special evening. At the Rally2Win event, we’ll officially launch our final push to election day. RSVP here
TONIGHT Monday, September 16th, join us for our Rally2Win event at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., from 6:00-8:30 pm. Starting at6:00, mix and mingle with fellow volunteers and check out the volunteer opportunities over drinks (cash bar). Our show starts at 7:00pm.
Indivisible Chicago’s Rally2Win will host:
- The Honorable Juliana Stratton, Lt. Governor of Illinois
- Lavora Barnes, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party
- Blues greats Sheryl Youngblood, Corky Siegel, Dave Specter
- Comedy from Chicago improv performers
We’ll have information tables with plenty of ways to sign up for the campaign activities that will make the best use of your time and talent. With partners Indivisible Chicago, Operation Swing State, Swing Left, and Q-Force, we’ll offer plenty of ways to spend your time in these final weeks. Volunteer-hesitant? No worries: we provide training and support every step of the way.
Come and bring those friends you’ve been encouraging to volunteer–it’s free, but please make sure you all RSVP. Let’s pack the room, then get to work. RSVP RIGHT HERE.
Trump’s Neo-Nazi Lies: Fight Back
At last Tuesday’s debate, we heard Donald Trump utter vicious lies on national television about the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio. In weeks prior to the debate, a neo-Nazi group had spread these lies–and now Trump and running mate JD Vance are continuing to promulgate the neo-Nazi stories based in xenophobia, racism, and hate.
As a result, Haitian immigrants and the city of Springfield, OH at large have become repeated targets of bomb threats. To date, the Republican party has not demanded that their nominees retract the lies and apologize.
Jamelle Bouie says Trump is using blood libel – watch here
Trump has always posed a danger to immigrants and to Black and Brown communities. But, close to the election, he has become bolder in his words and actions. As NY Times columnist Jamelle Bouie says, Trump and Vance are using blood libel–inciting others to commit violence out of fear and hatred.
In response, we must redouble our own efforts to keep Trump and Republicans out of office. In the remaining weeks before the election, we must all step up!
September & October: Get Busy NOW
The remaining weeks before the election are critical for getting out the vote in key states and districts. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are generating lots of enthusiasm–but they and down-ballot candidates will win ONLY if we get out the vote where it counts.
We reach voters best with direct contact: through canvassing (knocking doors) and phone banking.
HUGE THANKS to Indivisible Chicago-South Side friends who’ve already been canvassing or phoning voters this election season, whether with Indivisible Chicago or other organizations like the Working Families Party: Alexis Cain, Betsy Rubin, Kathleen Atlass, Lisa Oppenheim, Mary Naftzger, Ruth O’Brien, Steven Dornbusch, Teri Watkins, and, of course, Sarah Lincoln, who organizes phone banks as well as canvasses with Indivisible Chicago Alliance.
Did we leave off your name? Email us and tell us about your canvassing, phonebanking, or textbanking work so we can give you a shout-out next time!
Canvass for Rep Lauren Underwood – Sept 21
Rep. Lauren Underwood is an essential voice in Congress, and we need to help her finish strong and keep up her work. Sign up to canvass on Sat.Sept. 21.
SIGN UP: On Saturday, September 21st, 10:30 am-2:00 pm, join Indivisible Chicago to canvass for Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14). We’ll be joining Team Underwood to knock on doors in Aurora. We’ll talk to voters to make sure they know Congresswoman Underwood and are ready to vote in November. Sign up!
Note: Indivisible Chicago will provide all the info and prep you’ll need and will have carpools for anyone needing a ride.
Weekly Opportunities with Indivisible Chicago
Connect with the citywide Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA) for training, support, and opportunities.
- Find opportunities: ICA Action Calendar
- Knock doors in Wisconsin & Michigan (and even Aurora, IL): ICA Canvassing
- Phone voters with ICA:
- Michigan Mondays, 3-5 pm
- Wisconsin Wednesdays, 6-8 pm
- Michigan Thursdays, 3-5 pm
- Wisconsin Fridays, 4-6 pm
Whether virtually or in person, Indivisible Chicago gives you ALL the training
Help Rust Belt Rising with Voter Registration
Indivisible Chicago is also doing voter registration phone banks in partnership with the extraordinary organizers at Rust Belt Rising.
Rust Belt Rising focuses on likely Democratic voters who are not registered at their current (usually new) address. These people receive registration packets in the mail and we call to follow up. These are easy calls, because the voters are usually grateful for our help.
➔ Sign up here for voter registration phone banks to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania
Write Letters with Us Tomorrow 9/17
Together, we can help get out the vote in critical states and districts. We’re meeting tomorrow evening Tuesday, September 17, to write Vote Forward letters to voters RSVP by 11:00 am, Sept 17.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!
SIGN UP: You can still sign up to write letters on Tuesday, September 17th — but please RSVP by Tuesday at 11:00 am. We’ll enjoy pizza and write letters to voters from 6:00-8:00 pm at a private venue in Hyde Park (get the address when you register). IC-SS will provide the pizza plus soft drinks. Feel free to bring along wine or beer, a side dish, or a sweet treat to share.
At each party, letter leader Steve Kagan brings letter printouts, envelopes, and pens for you. If you can, bring stamps to donate. If you’re writing letters from home, you are welcome to bring along your own letters to work on.
Mark your calendars: Our next letter party will be Thursday, October 10th. Registration will open next week — details to come in next week’s newsletter.
Having trouble with the automatic RSVP? Instead, you can just send an email to Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com, saying that you’ll attend the letter party on Sept. 17. Please provide your full name and cell number.
Write at Home, Now through October
We encourage you to sign up with Vote Forward, so you can print, write, and mail your own letters from home. Create a free account with Vote Forward, choose a state or states, and then print and write the number of letters that fit in your schedule this summer and early fall.
IMPORTANT: If you are writing letters at home, remember to hold onto the envelopes until October. Mail Vote Forward letters in October.
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and actions from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
Support Community Control of Police: This Wed
From CAARPR: THIS WEDNESDAY, September 18th, 9:00 am: Join CAARPR at City Hall, 121 N. La Salle, to pack the public comments in support of the Referendum for Community Power over Policing! We fought hard to win the most democratic system of police accountability in the country, but it’s not enough.
We must keep fighting to win real power over CPD to stop the police tyranny plaguing oppressed communities in Chicago. The Referendum ordinance for Community Power Over Policing (CPOP) will give the people of Chicago the choice to make the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability directly elected and give it the power to:
1. Negotiate the police contract.
2. Set the CPD budget.
3. Hire and fire the police superintendent.
Donate to Haitian Immigrants in Springfield OH
From the Haitian Community Help & Support Center: The Haitian Community Help & Support Center is a non-profit organization, founded in Springfield, Ohio/Clark County in December 2023.
The Center’s goal is to guide and assist refugees and immigrants, especially Haitian nationals residing in Clark County and surroundings in the following areas: housing, interpreting, job search, welfare assistance, and other services. See the Center mentioned in this ABC News report.
ACT:
- Read more about the Haitian Community Help & Support Center.
- Donate to the Haitian Community Help & Support Center via PayPal.com; the organization’s email is haitianhelpcenterspringfield@gmail.com.
Tell Congress: Ceasefire & Fund UNRWA
UNRWA USA “lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life.”
UNRWA-USA is an “independent 501c3 nonprofit that supports the work of UNRWA [the non-political humanitarian UN agency] through fundraising, education, and advocacy in the United States.” (See FAQ page.)
Per updated information from Human Rights Watch, the United States is the sole government still continuing the cutoff in aid to UNRWA. In Illinois, US RepresentativesDanny Davis, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Delia Ramirez, and Jan Schakowsky have joined in advocating for a restoration of funding.
ACT: Use your voice to advocate for a restoration of funding to UNRWA and to demand a ceasefire. Take these actions from UNRWA-USA.
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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