We Will Rise Up: #BansOffOurBodies

You're reeling.  You're gutted. You're horrified.  We know.  Indivisible Mohawk Valley is rooted in the mass women's march movement as well as the fight for democracy and social justice, and we are all devastated by the news of the draft SCOTUS decision decimating Roe v Wade and taking us back 50 years in women's freedom and equality and basic human rights.

But we are the kind of people who don't just cry and post angry memes on social media.  We show up to resist tyranny and injustice together, take effective action, and make change.  

On Tuesday afternoon about 20 people gathered for an impromptu rally at the federal courthouse in Utica on Broad Street---some were at their very first political rally, so we know that there are more people who yearn to be part of our movement in the Mohawk Valley and just haven't connected yet.   

Please save the date of May 14th for our next #BansOffOurBodies reproductive freedom march in Utica. IMV is working with our coalition partners to determine time and location.  There will be hundreds of us on the streets of Utica.  You'll hear details from us soon.  
 

IMV Meeting Last Sunday

If you missed our meeting on Sunday at the JCC in Utica, then we also missed YOU!. We had cake to celebrate the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, got updates on the Let's Go Joe (Biden) asks and New York redistricting for Congress and State Senate, and then stuffed more than 500 letters to mail out for James Paul's Utica School Board Campaign.  Some of us even did some door knocking for James in South Utica at the end of the meeting.  We make political activism local, bite sized, and fun!
 

Rally in support of Ukraine Today

Please join the Kirkland Town Democratic Committee for a rally in support of Ukraine today from 4-5 pm on the Clinton Village Green.  Bring signs and wave Ukrainian flags!  Over the past two years, this is a regular demonstration location to rally for Black Lives Matter and for responding to the climate crisis.  This week--stand for democracy, peace, and human rights against Russian attack.  
 

Climate Crisis Workgroup Update 

IMV Climate Crisis Working Group members were one of the largest groups at the NYS climate hearing in Syracuse testifying on behalf of climate justice and public health. If you would like to attend the Tupper Lake Climate Action Council hearing on Tuesday, May 10th, email indivisiblemv@gmail.com.

School Board Election Recommendations

Please vote in your local school board election/budget referendum on May 17th!  IMV recommends the following if you live in the districts where we have active members running for office and/or volunteering for campaigns.  Especially when the radical right is attempting to take over school boards across America on the basis of manufactured issues and attacks, we must elect people who share our values.

Clinton Central School District:  Please vote for Lisa Magnarelli and Erica Shaw.  Then write in a name for the third candidate, or don't vote for a third.  There are MAGA candidates on the ballot, so this is critical. Share your planned vote with everyone you know in Clinton so they don't make a mistake at the polls.

Utica City School District: Bullet vote for IMV activist James Paul.  "Bullet voting" means that you vote for only one candidate, and it's James Paul.  This maximizes the chances that James will win.   

Holland Patent School District: Vote for IMV member Colt Brumm.  Do you know people who live in the HP district? Share your recommendation of Colt, and encourage everyone you know to vote for him. 
 

IMV Needs Your Help to Elect James Paul

Please volunteer phone banking or door knocking opportunities for James Paul for Utica School Board.  Here's the request from Sarah Reeske, James' campaign manager:

Saturday, May 7th
South Utica, 12-2pm
Adirondack bank parking lot, 2817 Genesee Street
 OR
East Utica, 3-5pm
Columbus Elementary school parking lot, 934 Armory Dr.

"I’m also looking for people with day time availability who can call absentee voters to make sure they got their ballot and know how to make their vote count. I can send you a list and script to print.
I’m looking for 12 people on Monday, May 16th at 5-8pm to put our door hangers as well as Tuesday the 17th at 9am to put out more. This would get our 1000 door hangers covered."

Remember, lawn signs don't vote.  The candidate who talks to the most voters wins.
 

Save the Date for our Next IMV Meeting:
Tuesday, June 7th, 6:30-8:00 pm

By then we will know our district lines for Congress and State Senate. We will know the official dates of primaries (June, August, or both). And we will work to build progressive power in the Mohawk Valley and WIN.

Democracy is not a Spectator Sport!

We also publish our calendar on our website: IndivisibleMV.org
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.