Indivisible Yolo Newsletter

Final Call to Talk to Voters!

It’s time to close out this election by reaching out (again) to voters – our voters.  Every last one of them! Elections are won on turnout and we know that there are more of us than there are of them. In the Central Valley, in Reno and across the nation in swing states there are voters who, remarkably, are still not sure that they’ll vote. Much less, how, where and when to vote.

Direct voter contact is often the best antidote to the misinformation disinformation in TV/radio ads and social media. And, now that early voting is underway and Election Day nears, it’s more than that. It’s GOTV time where the conversations are shifting from persuasion to action – getting that ballot off the dresser, completing it, and taking it to a drop box or voting center. Some voters need help filling out their ballots –  bluevoterguide.org is a great way to make it easier. Some voters just need to be reminded to vote, or need directions to their polling place, be it a drop box, early voting center or polling location – in California, check out https://linktr.ee/california.voting.info

Indivisible Yolo will be taking the lead as canvassing Stage Managers in Modesto on Saturday, November 2 as the Bay Area Coalition kicks-off the final push with daily canvassing in Modesto, November 2-5 including 2 shifts each day Sunday-Tuesday. There’s also November 1-5 canvassing in Bakersfield where CA-22 has the highest need since it’s a longer drive. $100 daily stipends are available to help with expenses. Meanwhile, SisterDistrict Yolo is continuing their trips to Reno with canvassing Saturday and Sunday. Or Join Indivisible Yolo, Indivisible Sacramento and the Bay Area Coalition to canvass in Lathrop this weekend.

For many of us who can’t canvass or don’t have a whole day to drive, phone banking is a great option – and there’s plenty of opportunity yet this week (Tues-Wed-Thurs) and continuing into a big weekend of phone banks, Saturday through Tuesday. And for those of you who’ve been trained, the platforms operate daily so you can make calls on your own pretty much anytime and then record your efforts on our call tally. Collectively, we’ve already made over 25,000 calls. Thank you!

Finally, the Text Team is also super-active. For the latest details, go to the Text Team calendar on the Text Team LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/textteamyolo.

IY Voter Protection Circle: Now Curing Ballots to Finish Strong

The Indivisible Yolo Voter Protection Circle, created to help the Democrats’ Voter Protection Team fight MAGA voter suppression tactics and ensure every vote is counted, has now shifted to curing ballots in swing states (and will be ready when CA calls). Activists gather together to work on these projects from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. Bring a bag lunch at noon and we’ll start with Zoom training at 12:30 followed by phone calls. Working together, we can learn how to help voters effectively. Bring your laptop and earbuds or headphones. Address for the in-person option is in central Davis and will be provided to you after you sign up.

Beyond ballot curing, several IY folks are stepping up to become poll observers both here in California’s Central Valley and in Reno. Protecting the vote includes ensuring every voter can vote without intimidation or undue hindrance.

Save the Date: Celebrating Our Community – November 17

Yolo activists continue to step-up and make an outsized difference. Thank you!!! We’ve worked hard and many among us deserve to take a bow (and a well-deserved rest). To that end, we’re planning a live post-election celebration with Sister District Yolo at 4PM on November 17 at a local venue. Details to come – put a placeholder in your calendar.

Tell our Members of Congress: Ceasefire now! Withhold arms to Israel

Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, issued the following statement on October 7th:

“In the year since October 7th, the Netanyahu government’s military response has taken an horrendous toll on Gaza’s people, with tens of thousands of civilians killed, overwhelming numbers of families displaced, large-scale risk of starvation, and suffering on an almost unfathomable scale. Again, a ceasefire and step back from the regional escalation currently underway is desperately needed. And we commit ourselves to linking arms with our Muslim and Arab community members to oppose the dangerous rise of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bigotry, both in the US and globally.

“None of this was inevitable. The path to safety and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike depends on a different course.

“The souls lost in the past year deserve a justice that political leadership has not provided. Extremists on both sides of this conflict have put their political agendas ahead of innocent lives. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly undermined efforts to chart a path for peace and security for everyone in the region – instead pursuing a brutal military campaign in Gaza that indiscriminately kills Palestinian civilians, including children, refugees, and hospital patients. While families of Israeli hostages beg him to prioritize the return of their loved ones, he instead puts his own political goals first.

“Netanyahu’s destructive path has unfortunately received continued support and legitimization from the US government, in the form of diplomatic efforts at the UN and through the direct provision and sale of ammunition, bombs, and other military supplies. While humanitarian aid is restricted by Israeli military operations, the weapons continue to flow unabated. This falls short of our human rights obligations, and pushes further into the future the day when everyone in Israel, Palestine and the entire region can live in safety, security, and dignity.

“The October 7th of today is also a day of mourning. A different path has been available and can still be taken. Indivisible continues to urge the Biden administration to use all the tools and leverage at their disposal to put an immediate end to the bloodshed and finally begin working towards peace.”

Contact your Senators and your Representative now.

Contact both Senators, but only your own Representative (for Yolo County, this will be either Rep. Mike Thompson or Rep. Doris Matsui).

Example call/email script (your own words are best!)

I am a constituent and I am calling/writing today to ask you to call for the US to stop sending offensive weapons to the Israeli military, and to finalize President Biden’s ceasefire deal.

We must assertively pursue de-escalation through diplomacy. The past year has shown that greater leverage, including suspending offensive weapons transfers, must be deployed for Netanyahu to change course and prevent the worst outcome. Please insist on using all the tools and leverage at our disposal to put an immediate end to the bloodshed and finally begin working towards peace.

Interested in getting involved in Indivisible Yolo?