Another horrific week, but activists don't give up

Stop this Gun Violence

What a terrible few weeks.  First it was the assault on reproductive freedom, then the white supremacist massacre at the Tops in Buffalo.  Now we have the slaughter of 19 children and two adults at a school in Uvalde, Texas.  If you are still reeling from the events of recent weeks, and also weary because we've been marching, holding vigils, and writing letters for so many years already, to try to convince our lawmakers to pass common sense gun safety reforms, take a deep breath. 

First the bad news: Indivisible sees no current pathway to legislative success on gun reform given the filibuster, and President Biden has done all he can on the issue through executive action.  So what can be done?  Check out this interview Kara Swisher did with two people who've thought a lot about what is possible given the political realities.  The point is that, given the intransigence of conservatives on this issue after years of de facto brainwashing by the NRA, Fox News, and right wing extremists, even the smallest reforms are a possible starting point.  How we talk about gun violence and gun law reform matters, especially with the practical goal of saving some of the 45,000 lives lost every year to gun violence.  Talk about gun safety and reform, not gun control or bans.  But talk to friends and neighbors and try to find common ground on common sense measures.  

Here are some practical actions you can take today: 

1) Join Jill Farnham-Us and IMV at a stand against gun violence today at 4:00-5:30 pm in front of Rep. Tenney's Utica office, 430 Court Street, Utica. Bring a sign, be with others rather than just stewing alone.

2) Mark your calendars for June 11. March for Our Lives, the group that brought us the mass marches and rallies in 2018 after Parkland, has announced a second march on Washington along with sibling activations around the country.  We are always committed to holding local events in support of national actions for our progressive causes. 

3) Donate to organizations that work to stop gun violence. Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country and the home of Moms Demand Action, the nation's largest grassroots volunteer network working to end gun violence. There's also March for Our Lives,  the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Sandy Hook Promise, the Brady Campaign, Newtown Action Alliance, Violence Policy Center, and States United to Prevent Gun Violence. 

Last night as Indivisible group leaders from around the country gathered on a Zoom for our monthly meeting, Sarah Reeske, the evening's moderator, reminded us that Wednesday was the two year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.  Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, shared the words of Vaclav Havel who (paraphrased) made a distinction between optimism (the belief that things will work out) from hope, which is the faith that what we do matters and has value, regardless of how it turns out.  We may not have a lot of optimism in this moment, but we do have hope. The work we are doing makes a difference. 

One other message we heard last night was this quote: "It can be overwhelming to witness/experience/take in all the injustices of the moment; the good news is that 'they’re all connected.' So if your little corner of work involves pulling at one of the threads, you’re helping to unravel the whole damn cloth." -- Ursala Wolfe-Rocca

To work our corners... keep reading.
 

Register Now for Zoom Call with Sen. Schumer on Tuesday

Together with fellow Indivisible groups from across New York, we have pushed Senator Schumer to #BeBoldChuck by eliminating the filibuster, protecting the freedom to vote, making Build Back Better as big as possible, and more like a quick confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

We all know where things are in the Senate right now with 50 Republicans blocking everything we deserve, which is why we are having a conversation with Sen. Schumer on Tuesday, May 31st at 8pm on Zoom (Register Here) about what his vision is if he’s re-elected in NY and continues his Majority Leader position. Have a question on your mind to ask Sen. Schumer? Submit it here.
 

Two Easy Action Items for today from the Climate Crisis Working Group

1. Please continue to take one minute to send the weekly one click pre-written comments on New York’s draft scoping plan, the blueprint for how our state plans to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

For this week, please submit a comment on NY Renews' top-line recommendations for the scoping plan, including a process to ensure the CLCPA’s investment mandate—which specifies that 40% of the benefits of energy and related programs go to disadvantaged communities—is met and for the state to fund a transition to a renewable energy economy.
It takes less than a minute to do this action. 

2. This week is also critical to get climate legislation passed this year in the state legislature. Please call your assembly member. A special ask for those of you in Marianne Buttenschon’s district since she is being asked to co-sponsor this bill. Her number is: (315) 732-1055. You can also call Assembly Speaker Heastie at (518) 455-3791. Below is a script for your use:

"Hi, my name is _______________ from Indivisible Mohawk Valley in _____________ (town).  I am calling to urge the Assemblymember to contact the Speaker or his senior staff this week, and request that the Assembly pass the All Electric Building Act, A.8431-B, this session. And to ask that the member join 48 other members in co-sponsoring the bill. 220 national, state and regional groups support this climate priority bill, including the Sierra Club, Citizen Action and NYPIRG. The expert Climate Action Council recommends the bill pass this session, and the UN has called for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – buildings are the biggest contributor. Thank you." 

It takes only 3-4 minutes to complete this action. 
 

Sandy Scofield: Democracy in Action

At their recent Kick-Off Party to mark the start of the 2022 Election season, the Kirkland Democrats named IMV member as the recipient of their 2022 Democracy in Action Award. Sandy has immersed herself in activism within the Clinton and wider community, and in Democratic and activist organizations for many years. She led the two year picket outside Claudia Tenney’s office, was a leader of a bus to the historic Peoples Climate March in NYC, and has recently helped to bring about a Memorial March and dedication of a NYS Historical Marker in Port Jervis (where she once taught in the public schools) in recognition of Robert Lewis, a Black man lynched there in 1892.  She regularly attends and speaks at local town board and other meetings with elected officials on a wide range of issues.  The initiative, determination, and creativity that Sandy has brought to her work on climate and environmental issues, racial justice and voter registration, as well as her community civic engagement, were celebrated.  As the award read: “Democracy is not a spectator sport; by every measure Sandy has always been a fearless leader and a spirited participant, never just a spectator!"
 

NY Must Protect Our Ballots

Prevent Disenfranchisement by Technology! Tell your NYS Assemblymember to pass The Protect Our Ballots Act (A1115C) to protect New York voters by keeping our current paper ballot system.  The bill bans hybrid voting machines that security experts say have the ability to change the vote. Barcodes make it impossible to verify who you voted for; and they are often set up so that everyone votes on the ballot-marking device. That means everyone waits longer. Many communities, including communities of color, disability rights, election security, and the voting rights community have real concerns about this type of machine. Our representatives must pass A1115C immediately. 

America as a nation is struggling to maintain voter confidence in the outcome of our elections. While the machines do produce a paper ballot, humans don’t read barcode so it is impossible to verify that the machine and voter agree on the selected candidates. We need to keep the current system of verifiable paper ballots because it supports voter confidence rather than undermining it.

With the state legs session ending on June 2nd, the number of days for the Assembly to take action is dwindling. Use this tool to email your Assemblymember asking them to co-sponsor A1115C.  It take less than a minute to take action!
 

IMV Meeting Tuesday, June 7th 6:30 pm

We're looking forward to seeing everyone at Sherill Brook (New Hartford) Town Park on Tuesday, June 7th, 6:30-8:00 pm.  We have a packed agenda full of information about the new maps and districts for the upcoming elections for Congress, and state senate and assembly.  These are critical elections, where as in 2018 and 2020, we have the people power to persuade voters through our direct voter contact, and to mobilize voters during our Get Out the Vote activities.   
We also need to prepare on the issues and that means standing against racism and white supremacy and gun violence as well as preparing to activate when SCOTUS releases it's decision on Roe.  There's a lot to do, but it is possible when we do it together. 

At our June meeting we will mark the five year anniversary (with cake!) of the meeting in 2017 when we formalized our intense political activism under the name Indivisible Mohawk Valley, and affiliated with a national grassroots movement that was committed not to a "one and done" march but to: 

• ongoing training and skill-building for political activism 

• constant and effective constituent pressure on Members of Congress and all our elected leaders at the local, state, and federal level.  

• electoral activism to build win at the polls and build power at every level of government 

• growing our local movement around progressive values

Democracy is not a spectator support-- Join us for CAFE Fridays or at the Stand Against Gun Violence today.  Show up to meet with Sen. Schumer on Tuesday, May 31st.  And definitely, don't miss our June IMV on Tuesday June 7th.  
 
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.