Brandon Williams Participates in Anti-LGBT Bible Museum Event
Brandon Williams Participates in Christian Nationalist "Circus"
According to a piece by the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), a First Amendment protection organization, NY22's Representative, Brandon Williams, recently participated in a Christian nationalist event at The Bible Museum in DC. FFRF reported on the event last week, calling it a "regressive circus."
Lawmakers who attended the event knew what to expect, since it was held last year with many of the same Members of Congress in attendance. Rep. Williams attended anyway, joining his Christian nationalist pal, Speaker Mike Johnson. Here is what FFRF reported about the event:
Evangelical preacher Lou Engle, who reportedly helped plant the seeds for Uganda’s law punishing homosexuality with death, screamed for a “baptism of fire” that would cause “a hundred thousand LGBT to be saved and transformed.” Jon Hamill, another extremist preacher, called for God to “cleanse” the U.S. government so that it has “no king but Jesus,” claiming a betrayal of the country due to “idolatry, witchcraft, false religions and secret orders, secret societies.”
Members of Congress in attendance joined in the Christian nationalist fever dream, such as Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (Fla.), who proclaimed that the assembled group had “tied the hands of Satan and all his demons,” and declared that “each person, regardless of their race, nationality, [or] language” will serve and praise God, which she claimed formed the United States. Rep. Greg Steube (Fla.) similarly promised that “people everywhere shall repent of immorality . . . and their rejection of God.”
Other lawmakers turned to politics, with Rep. Chris Smith (N.J.) calling abortion a “weapon of mass destruction” and complaining about the government funding Planned Parenthood, and Rep. Randy Weber (Texas) lamenting that we have legalized same-sex marriage and claiming that we had kicked God out of schools and replaced it with “drug-sniffing dogs, metal detectors, and armed police officers.”
Just as a reminder, Brandon Williams is a Christian nationalist who recently paused Q&A at a Genesis Group legislative forum at Hart's Hill Inn in Whitesboro in order to instruct high school students in attendance, in his official elected role, that "Rights are not given by the government; they are given by God," The myth that America was founded as a Christian nation and should continue to be one --and that there should be no separation between church and state but that the state should be governed by the church--is often articulated by Christian Nationalists, most famously by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert at a speech she delivered in 2022.
If you have listened to the Confronting Christian Nationalism podcast series, you know what Boebert, Brandon Williams, and other Christian Nationalists believe:
1) America was founded as a Christian nation and (their brand of) Christianity should be reclaimed as the established religion.
2) When the Constitution says 'the people," it really means "the church" because "the church is a people."
3) The United States is the New Israel, the "bigger younger brother" of the nation of Israel. They believe that only two nations were created from the vision of God, and those two nations are designated to fulfill God's purposes (unchecked and unaccountable to the human world).
4) There is/should be a "Holy War" waged against "powers and principalities." (You can hear echoes of that in the event that Williams attended: anyone rejecting (their view of ) God must be destroyed at all costs.
5) It may look like leaders are elected by voters, but really, God puts leaders into their roles. This is part of the "Seven Mountains Mandate," For Christian Nationalists right now, this means they believe that even though Donald Trump is "obviously not a choir boy," God has "anointed and appointed him" to lead "for such a time as this." All the better that God has chosen someone as vile as Trump to accomplish divine purposes; he won't play by the rules, so he will surely get the job done. One of the reasons that Christian Nationalists still believe Trump must have won in 2020 in spite of ALL the facts, is that they believe God appointed him to be President, and therefore... he must have won the election.
We have a lot of work to do to make sure that voters are not persuaded by these ideas. These ideas are increasingly popular, and they are mobilizing people to action. Christian Nationalists like Brandon Williams don't always put their "execute people who are LGBT," "eliminate public schools," or "put women back in the home" beliefs out in public, but they don't hesitate to dehumanize asylum seekers by calling them "illegals" or to call subsidizing housing, health care, or child care, "socialism." Just this week we saw exactly that locally when MAGA Republicans publicized their Trump 2024 rally in Utica under the banner that Democrats are responsible for a security crisis at the southern border.
We know that in reality Democrats in Congress are trying to solve the border situation, while Republicans are cynically using it for political wins at the behest of Donald Trump. But our community will only know that if we talk to friends, co-workers, and neighbors, and keep writing Letters to the Editor about how terrible Brandon Williams and the MAGA Republicans are (Good letter, Carole Gehrig!)
Let's make sure NY22 knows that Brandon Williams decided to spend his time as our elected representative paid by tax dollars, attending a Christian Nationalist, anti-LGTB, Bible Museum regressive circus in DC. The religious values that Williams chooses to live by in his personal life are his business. But we should not have to live by Brandon Williams's religious rules.
Next Week Join the Indivisible National Call
It's not too late to sign up for the Indivisible National 2024 Kickoff call on Thursday, Feb. 15th, from 8-9 pm. It's a good way to get an overview of the strategy we will be implementing across the country to win 2024 elections--especially in key districts like NY22.
"Come get a preview of our 2024 strategy alongside Indivisibles from across the country. We’ll take some time to learn about the tools, tactics, and messaging that are going to make sure we win in November. And, if we’re lucky, we might just be joined by a special guest. Register HERE.
Climate Crisis Working Group Updates
February 27th Packing Reduction Act and Bigger Better Bottle Bill Advocacy Opportunity in Albany: Beyond Plastics is hosting a lobbying day on February 27 Advocacy Day in Albany for the Packing Reduction Act and Bigger Better Bottle Bill. Lobbying now matters because it is much easier to get bills passed before the budget. Beyond Plastics is making appointments with every legislator in the majority, which will include Assemblymember Buttenschon. Deadline to RSVP is Wed, Feb. 21. Email Maggie margaret_reilly@mac.com or Jennifer jgeiger777@gmail.com for transportation information.
March 13th NY Heat Rally and Lobby Day in Albany: Renewable Heat Now is hosting a lobbying day on March 13th NY HEAT Act Mobilization to get the bill included in the State Budget. Lobbying now matters because it is much easier to get bills passed before the budget. Email Maggie margaret_reilly@mac.com or Jennifer jgeiger777@gmail.com for transportation information.
March 20th NY Renews Mass Mobilization in Albany: NY Renews is planning our largest mobilization of the year, right before the end of the budget on March 20th in Albany. NY Renews is excited to push Governor Hochul and the state legislature to pass the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package. Email Maggie margaret_reilly@mac.com or Jennifer jgeiger777@gmail.com for transportation information.
Climate Crisis Working Group Meeting: Please save the date and join the CCWG for their meeting on March 11th. Time and place to be announced. Zoom may be available.
School Funding at Risk: Call Governor Hochul
IMV joins the League of Women Voters of New York State (LWVNYS) in strong opposition to Governor Hochul's recent decision to alter the formula that is used to distribute aid to our State’s school districts. In an unexpected move, the Governor stepped back from a commitment called "Hold Harmless" that had been made to fully fund Foundation Aid, as it had been calculated in prior years. Not only is it a problem for school districts and school children to put funding stability at risk at this time, it's not good politics. Democrats in NY must stay strong on public education, one of the issues that unites most New Yorkers.
Call Gov. Hochul and ask her to restore all funding for Foundation Aid for our school children: 518-474-8390 (M-F 9:00 am-5 pm).
Here's a sample script for your call: “I strongly oppose Governor Hochul's recent decision to alter the formula that is used to distribute aid to our State’s school districts. The changes made in her proposed budget will significantly reduce foundation aid to nearly half of all school districts in the state. I implore the Governor to amend her proposal and reinstate full funding to our schools.”
Kirkland Town Dem Committee Interviews Dem Candidates
The Kirkland Democratic Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 6:30. Congressional District 22 candidate Clemmie Harris and Assembly District 122 candidate Adrienne Martini will be attending the meeting to introduce themselves and to answer a few questions. The meeting will be at the Kirkland Town Library, Clinton; if you would prefer to attend on Zoom, please RSVP with your name to kirklanddemocrats@gmail.com for the Zoom link. The committee met with NY 22 Democratic candidates John Mannion and Sarah Klee Hood last month.
Breaking News About Out Steering Committee Members
Indivisible National highlighted our very own IMV Steering Committee member and frequent spokeswoman, Dawn Laguerre on its Facebook page yesterday, part of a series to recognize Indivisible's Black leaders across the movement in honor of Black History month. Check out this post, and leave your heart, like, or comment. Last night, IMV Steering Committee member Jen DeWeerth was named as this year's YWCA Mohawk Valley Salute to Outstanding Women honoree in the Social Justice category, the same category in which Dawn Laguerre was honored in 2020-21.
If you are reading this email, you believe in social, racial, economic, and climate justice and you participate in progressive political action that is local, bite-size, and fun. Thank you for being part of this political action community because...
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
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