Call Sen. Schumer: Confirm Anthony Brindisi Now
Call Sen. Schumer Now: "Confirm the Judges ASAP" (Including Anthony Brindisi!)
Contact Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand and tell them to confirm Biden’s judicial nominees -- There are at least 29 pro-democracy judges waiting to be confirmed ahead of the new administration, folks who have been handpicked by Biden for their diversity, ethics, and commitment to justice. If the Senate doesn’t confirm them all before Trump takes power, he’ll be able to stack the judiciary with MAGA sycophants. We cannot let that happen. Especially because we know one of these nominees--Anthony Brindisi--who appeared before the judiciary committee in September and has been waiting ever since.
There is no more time to waste. Make your calls right now and keep calling every day. Sen. Majority Leader Schumer wants to put the pedal to metal on this, and it helps him when he can point to a heavy volume of constituent calls. And it helps us build movement power when we can get a lot of people to make those calls.
Call now. Right now. Let us know you called by tagging us on social media, and message your friends to call too!
IMV December Meeting: Join Us, Bring a Friend!
We're excited for our December 2024 meeting! We're gearing up to Resist Trump 2.0 and MAGA, Defend democracy and the rule of law, and Build a movement to protect our rights, build climate and community resilience, and power up a movement and a message for 2025.
IMV Dec. 2024 Meeting
Sunday, Dec. 8, 1-3 pm
New Hartford Public Library, 2 Library Lane, New Hartford
Have ideas about what we should be planning for action in January and the new year? Do some reading (below) if you want to organize your thoughts, and come ready to share and engage. We are not grieving for long. We're Fired up. And Ready to GO!
Read Ahead: Indivisible Guide for Trump 2.0
No one loves homework, but sometimes it prepares us to read ahead and come prepared. That's the case in our current political world. We encourage everyone to read the new Indivisible Guide. It's not reading about what is going on. It's reading how to TAKE ACTION TOGETHER to resist the worst, build power, and make change.
Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink
Sequels suck, and Trump 2.0 will be no exception. But we’re not just going to sit back and let this horror show play out. Are you ready to channel that inner outrage into something fierce and formidable? Ready to turn dismay into determination? Then get ready for Trump 2.0 by reading our new Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink.
The new Indivisible guide is an update on the original Practical Guide to Defeating Trump’s Agenda, and it’s full of information, tips, and strategies designed to help us harness our power, organize effectively, and push back as Trump seeks to undermine our democracy and impose Project 2025.
Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint for Blue States
In response to the potential impacts of a second Trump administration, Democratic governors across the country have moved swiftly to protect their states’ progressive policies. Governors like Gavin Newsom (CA), JB Pritzker (IL), and Kathy Hochul (NY) have jumped into action to strengthen protections for reproductive healthcare, the environment, and civil liberties for the residents of their states. (We’ll be pushing them to go farther, don’t worry!)
Since we live in one of the 17 states with a Democratic trifecta, check out our new toolkit, Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint For Blue States to Prepare for Trump 2.0 – it will help lead IMV through talking to our elected officials about protecting New Yorkers against federal policies that would undermine our health, safety, and freedoms.
As you can see, we will be working at many levels in the coming months. Here's the To Do list:
1) Start thinking about joining your local Democratic committee if you haven't already.
2) Ask yourself: who do I know who can run for a local office in 2025--and is it ME?
3) Get ready to keep the spotlight on local town, city, and county boards and leaders to make sure they are serving people, not MAGA lies.
4) Prepare yourself with skills to schedule meetings and advocate with your state legislators.
5) Gear up to hold new NY22 Democratic Rep. John Mannion accountable in fighting MAGA in Washington, and to working as hard as we can to win in the NY21 Special Election(to replace Elise Stefanik.
Not sure how to do all those things? That's why....the homework!
We're on Bluesky!
Twitter (X) is evil. Like Elon Musk evil. Please follow the IMV Bluesky account at: @indivisiblemv.bsky.social. Or to spell it out in more detail::
https://bsky.app/profile/indivisiblemv.bsky.social
Thanks to Alan Cole for setting up the account. We are now looking for a volunteer to "drive" the account. That means posting regularly by featuring IMV actions and reposting (with comment if possible) Indivisible oriented posts and messaging. If that might be you, please email us at IndivisibleMV@gmail.com.
Note: Bluesky has dedicated apps for both iPhone and Android, or you can use it from any web browser. Here's a tutorial about using this new social media platform that functions like Twitter (X) but is not led by an evil megalomaniac and is not overflowing with MAGA trolls:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-bluesky-social-everything-to-know-about-the-popular-x-alternative/
If you create your own account on Bluesky, we recommend using your real name so people can find you more easily, and if you want to know who to follow right off the bat, we have a cool "starter pack" so you can follow who we're currently following: It's at https://go.bsky.app/42TXcBT.
Mohawk Valley Mutual Aid Society Update
A mutual aid society is a community-based network that connects people in need with resources. Individuals volunteer and act cooperatively and in solidarity with each other. There was a convening meeting on Tuesday for a new group called the Mohawk Valley Mutual Aid Society. There will be another soon to continue the discussion of how to self -organize to support one another in practical ways during difficult times ahead.
For further info, contact John Furman at CNYConnect@gmail.com or Beth Brotherton at Silverwing8181920@gmail.com.
Whitney's Legacy Yoga Fundraiser
As we heard at our last in person meeting, a local foundation, Whitney's Legacy, recently made a major contribution to the Center for Reproductive Rights. Now, Whitney's Legacy just announced a yoga fundraiser and we're sharing that event here for those who wish to support the effort and/or need some deep breathing and/or are ready to start stretching their muscles again...(we're going to need some serious strength in the months to come!)
"Join us on Sunday, December 8th for a magical yoga class at the Rome Art and Community Center, featuring enchanting live Christmas music by Altano Music! This special event honors the memory of Whitney Grogan-Vega and supports Whitney's Legacy.
This donation-based class welcomes all levels of yogis, with a minimum registration donation of $20. 100% of proceeds go directly to Whitney's Legacy, a foundation dedicated to funding charities, spreading awareness, and advocating for underserved communities in need of essential care such as reproductive healthcare, housing, and food security. Enjoy a gentle yoga practice by the warm glow of the fireplace and Christmas lights. After the session, enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and delightful Christmas cookies as we celebrate the season together."
Extremely limited space is available and registration is required.
Whitney's Legacy merchandise will be available for purchase at the event. Cash, venmo and paypal are accepted.
Please bring a yoga mat to practice! No experience is required—beginners are warmly welcome!
*If you do participate, be sure to bring your post-yoga warm glow to the IMV meeting in New Hartford starting at 1 pm, where we turn our inner light into collective people power!
Wrap Up and Reminders
Please note that there is no weekly IMV email on Friday, Nov. 29th because of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. However, CAFE Friday will still happen that day. Stop in and connect with IMV friends as usual using the link in the calendar below.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our next IMV meeting: Sunday, Dec. 8th, 1-3 pm at the New Hartford Public Library.
Note from the Editor:
This Thanksgiving, I am simply, exceedingly grateful for all of you. Because you show up...we are, every single one of us, not alone. The whole IMV Steering Committee feels the same way. We saw at our November Fall Fiesta that many people are volunteering in quiet, behind the scenes ways and in many roles. Many of you reach our and take care of each other, and have been doing so since the beginning--the aftermath of the 2016 election. Many others have joined our political action community along the way.
Together we have engaged in political action: marched, picketed, lobbied, allied with groups sharing the same values, registered voters, done electoral work, and resisted the worst MAGA in our local community and at every level of government. Together we have imagined a different, better world where every person is treated with dignity and where everyone has access to resources and a safe and healthy future for themselves and their families.
Together.
And that's why I am grateful for all of YOU.
Happy Thanksgiving.
If I cannot air this pain and alter it, I will surely die of it. That’s the beginning of social protest. -Audre Lorde
There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives. -Audre Lorde
You are the one that you are looking for. -Audre Lorde
Without community, there is no liberation. -Audre Lorde
Follow us on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on Bluesky: @IndivisbleMV, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.