People's March Rally TOMORROW!
The People's March (Utica) is Tomorrow!
We look forward to seeing everyone at our Mohawk Valley People's March Rally, Saturday, January 18th, 12pm-1:30pm at Oneida Square Roundabout in Utica. Dress warmly and you might want a hat or coat with a hood if it is snowing/raining.
What is the People's March all about?
This event is about building our local coalition as we face challenging years ahead. Our co-sponsors include Citizen Action, the Oneida County and Kirkland Town Democratic Committees, the Oneida County Democratic Women's Club, the Oneida County Pride Association, Mohawk Valley Latino Association, and the Utica/Oneida County Branch NAACP.
We rally for different reasons but unite for the same cause: to defend our rights and our future from the greedy billionaires about to take the reins of government. Their goal is to divide us and enrich and empower themselves by taking resources, services and protections from our communities, especially the most vulnerable. These unelected billionaires use their wealth to protect themselves, while leaving the rest of us out in the cold. We invite the local community to join us. When the 99% stand together, we can and will protect our freedoms, our families, and our futures from the greed of the 1%.
If you believe that decisions about your body should remain yours, that books belong in libraries, not on bonfires, that healthcare and housing are rights, not a privilege for the wealthy; if you believe in the power of free speech and protest to sustain democracy; or if you want an economy that works for the people who power it—then this march is for you. The People’s March is about one thing: our power.
We may have dark days ahead, but we will always work to protect our freedoms, our families, and our communities. We deserve a brighter future and we will continue to work for it. We are worth fighting for. Our families and futures are worth fighting for. There will be events in DC and around the country. Hashtags are #PeoplesMarch and #KeepMarching.
Make your sign now. Ideas include: "People over Profits." "We are not going backwards. We're going forward" and "People Power" Or: "Billionaire power (crossed out) --People Power" You can use your favorite reproductive freedom message like "Keep your bans off our bodies," or a message about an issue that is important to you, like "Health care is a human right, "Affordable Housing Now," or "There is no Planet B: Act Now."
We can't wait to see everyone at the Mohawk Valley People's March Rally tomorrow!
Horrible, Unconstitutional, No Good Laken-Riley Act: Call Schumer and Gillibrand NOW
On Monday night, the Senate took another procedural step toward passing one of the most dangerous, chaotic, and cruel immigration bills in recent history -- the Laken Riley Act. But this fight is far from over. Democrats can still stop this bill before it becomes law, but we need 41 of them to find their spines and do the right thing. And they’re going to need to hear from you to do that. Here’s everything you need to know and what we need you to do next.
For starters, let’s be honest about this bill: It has nothing to do with Laken Riley. The tragedy it’s named after is being weaponized as a dog whistle to stoke fear, demonize immigrants, and advance MAGA’s cruel, authoritarian agenda. Hard stop. This bill wouldn’t protect anyone. What it would do is create chaos and a constitutional crisis that could impact millions.
Here’s how:
It Imprisons Immigrants Indefinitely Without Due Process -- Accused of a minor offense, like shoplifting? Not convicted -- just accused? You’re detained indefinitely. No bail. No trial. No justice. Even if charges are dropped, or you’re proven innocent, you stay locked up. That’s not safety. That’s state-sanctioned cruelty.
It Targets Dreamers and Legal Immigrants -- Dreamers who grew up here, went to school here, and are part of our communities? Detained. Refugees fleeing violence? Detained. Even legal immigrants caught in bureaucratic limbo are swept up in this nightmare. This bill punishes everyone.
It Hands MAGA Extremists Federal Power -- This bill gives people like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton the ability to hijack federal immigration policy. He could demand federal judges lock up asylum seekers en masse or block visas for doctors, engineers, or students from entire countries. Imagine one MAGA state deciding who can live and work in the United States. That’s what this bill allows.
It Guts Legal Immigration -- By letting courts impose blanket visa bans on entire countries, this bill risks shutting down legal immigration altogether. Skilled workers, students, and even families trying to reunite would be turned away -- not because of anything they’ve done, but because MAGA needs a scapegoat.
This bill isn’t about keeping communities safe -- it’s about stoking fear and division, handing MAGA extremists unchecked power, and dismantling constitutional protections. And Democrats are letting it happen.
Last week, the bill passed the House 264-159. Forty-eight Democrats sided with Republicans (including John Mannion and Josh Riley). Then, last Thursday in the Senate, 33 Democrats joined all Republicans to proceed to the bill in an 84-9 vote. That’s right: 33 Democrats.
Why? Well, here is the take from Leah Greenberg at Indivisible: The Democratic caucus is in a pretty bad place right now. A decent number of Democratic office-holders are consumed with post-loss finger-pointing and scared of their own shadows. They’re so scared to look weak on immigration that they’re on the verge of greenlighting a constitutional nightmare. And Democratic leadership has made no effort to stop this bill. It’s every senator for themselves right now.
That’s where you come in. As of right now, the next vote on this bill is not yet scheduled -- but it will happen soon. Democrats can make sure this bill never becomes law if 41 of them can do the right thing and vote no. Call Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer NOW and tell them to find their spines and get in formation to stop this bill.
Climate Crisis Working Group
1. CLIMATE CHANGE
As we witness the wildfires in California, and remember the recent flooding in North Carolina after the hottest summer on record, we are bracing for a presidential administration that denies the existential threat of Climate Change. As President Biden said in his final address; "Climate Change has never been clearer…we don’t have to choose between protecting the environment and growing the economy.” He also said; “There are powerful forces serving their own interest for power and profit. We must not be bullied in sacrificing the future of our children and grandchildren. There is NO TIME TO WASTE.”
That is why we must continue to push Governor Hochul and the state legislatures to pass bills, such as the NY HEAT Act, that will transition NY off fossil fuels. She must include funding for the NY Power Authority to build 15 GW of renewable energy and reverse her decision to delay the CAP & INVEST program until 2026, making the taxpayers pay for climate change instead of the polluters.
Action:
Call Governor Hochul: 518-474-8390 (Main Number) or 212-681-4580 (NYC number).
Sample script: "Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ____. I'm a (parent/guardian/grandparent/aunt/teacher, etc.) and I am deeply concerned about the climate crisis. New York State is falling dangerously behind in meeting the mandates of our Climate Law. We need Gov. Hochul to put the cap-and-invest program into effect this year to reduce emissions and invest in our communities, and to pass NY HEAT in the budget this year. Hurry Up, Gov. Hochul! Protect kids, not polluters!
Contact Jennifer Geiger jgeiger777@gmail.com or Maggie Reilly margaret_reilly@mac.com if you are interested in going to Albany on any of these dates.
January 22nd: Can you mobilize with us in Albany on January 22nd for our statewide Fund Climate Campaign, and demand Governor Hochul fund and implement our landmark Climate Law?
January 28th: Urge your State Legislators to dramatically reduce single-use plastic packaging by passing the excellent Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill into law this spring. RSVP To Join Us In Albany on 1/28/25
February 4th: Rally/Lobby Day to pass the NY HEAT Act. Our BIG rally and Lobby Day is on Tuesday February 4th in Albany
2. LEAD POISONING in UTICA
There is and has been a serious Lead Poisoning issue in the City of Utica that impacts mainly the residents of the Cornhill area and West Utica. These are the most disadvantaged communities in our City. IMV has been asked to assist in taking action on this issue. The leaders of the Climate Crisis Working Group have taken on this challenge and invite anyone who is interested in joining a “coalition” to contact Maggie Reilly margaret_reilly@mac.com or Mona Perrotti monap414@yahoo.com. This is a critical issue that must be addressed to keep our children and grandchildren from being poisoned.
Final Updates and Inspiration
IMV was a co-sponsor of Citizen Action's Justice for Robert Brooks rally last Saturday. It was a cold but successful event, well covered in local media. (See the photo gallery in the Utica OD). Several formerly incarcerated people spoke powerfully about their own experiences and demands for change. You can also see/listen to the interviews that Phoenix Radio did on the subject of Robert Brooks, including one with Shana Dahlin.
IMV member Carole Gehrig, who may hold record for most LTEs published in a year, started off 2025 right, Her LTE about the importance of facts and fighting for working people was published this week in the Utica Phoenix. What LTE's do you plan to write in the coming months?
It's going to be a challenging day on Monday, as, in a cruel twist of fate, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is desecrated by the inauguration of Donald Trump. Shore up your emotional energy by:
joining IMV's CAFE Friday today
showing up for the People's March Rally on Saturday.
volunteering in the community over the weekend and/or attending local MLK memorial events.
Think now about how you want to resist MAGA --through political action and by building community with people who share your values. Remember to call Sen. Schumer, Sen. Gillibrand, and Governor Hochul. It's a starting point for using your constituent power.
See you Saturday (tomorrow, Jan. 18th!), and at our first IMV monthly meeting of 2025 on Sunday, Jan. 26th. Upcoming events are in the calendar below.
"Democracy is not a spectator sport."
"No one let go of anyone's hand."
Follow us on Bluesky: @Indivisiblemv.bsky.social, on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
