Take Action: Biden's American Rescue Plan

If you were on the Indivisible NYS call with Majority Leader Schumer on Tuesday then you know just how amazing the American Rescue Plan is for the American people. Please make the following calls today:

1) Majority Leader Schumer: (315) 423-5471 "Thank you for the APR, and please push on with S1, minimum wage, and DC statehood, and end the filibuster to do it."
2) Sen. Gillibrand: (315) 448-0470 "Thank you for the APR, and please push on with S1, minimum wage, and DC statehood, and end the filibuster to do it."
3) Rep. Tenney: (315) 732-0713 "I am calling to share my outrage that the Congresswoman voted against the American Rescue Plan. The COVID pandemic is an emergency, and it’s unbelievable that she would oppose needed relief. I am glad the American Rescue Plan passed, despite her “no” vote. I urge the Congresswoman to stop playing politics with people’s lives and livelihoods, and finally put her constituents first."

Next, and this is very important, please write a letter to the editor to your local newspapers thanking Sen. Schumer for his leadership on the ARP and talk about its positive impacts. We heard from Sen. Schumer that he needs us to amplify what a great bill this is for the American people, for our communities, for schools and colleges, for indigenous people, for unemployed people, for parents and children, for small businesses and for public health. Sarah Reeske has created some templates for how to write a really good letter in support of the American Rescue Plan. Need details about all the great benefits for New Yorkers in the ARP? Check out this summary. Please take a look, and then write! If you need help with your letter, please email indivisibleMV@gmail.com.

Statement on Violence Against Asian Americans   

Please note that IMV put out this statement on social media earlier this week:

"The murders in Cherokee County and Atlanta are part of a disturbing, violent trend of racially motivated attacks on Asian Americans.

We stand with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta in declaring, "We are heartbroken by these acts of violence [and] while the details of the shootings are still emerging, the broader context cannot be ignored. The shootings happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.”

We encourage people to talk with their neighbors, friends and family about the rise of violence against Asian Americans. Regardless of any debate about the motives of these murders we have to take a stand against racism and misogyny.

We do not have to look far for examples of this injustice. There are recent instances in our own communities of this kind of hate, including slurs and open harassment of Asian Americans simply going about their day. It starts with jokes, then bullying, then violence.

Last month a local business used racist language to refer to the Covid-19 pandemic on a Facebook post. They made an attempt at apology, but we know the truth about racism. If you aren't actively working against it, you are supporting it. #StopAsianHate."

What did you volunteer for?  

Last Sunday at our March IMV meeting, our members raised their hands again and again as Sarah Reeske and Dawn Laguerre presented brief descriptions of critical new and ongoing volunteer roles within IMV--see the "Help Wanted" slide deck yourself here.   If you want to raise your hand, just send an email to IndivisibleMV@gmail.com, 

Those who volunteered to work on framing and messaging immediately got their chance, when they were asked to prepare a statement on anti-AAPI violence and the Trumpian rhetoric that is behind it.  Thanks to Katy Timpano and other "Framers" who stepped up immediately to do the work. 

IONY Status Update: One House Budget

We need one more big push directed at the Assembly and Senate leaders, and that means phone banking their constituents.  Will you sign up to give just two hours of your time this week to calling?  

Since December, the Invest in Our New York Coalition has dialed over 200,000 New Yorkers' phone numbers. We've patched thousands of people through to their legislators to let them know that regular people across this state want—and need—bold taxes on the rich to fund our state. Not just this year, but every year.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie released their respective draft budgets. They include some gains—$7 billion in new revenue—but nothing close to the $50 billion we and thousands of New Yorkers have been demanding. We have only until April 1st to make our voices heard, and gather the forces of thousands more people in their districts to bring them into the campaign.

Join a MASS PHONE BANK on Sunday, March 21st 1-4 pm, to drive calls into New York State Leadership's districts.   We will talk to New Yorkers about taxing the rich, and patch them through to their legislators' offices so they can tell them to stop protecting the rich and start representing regular New Yorkers.   Can't call Sunday?  The regular Monday (3/22) and Thursday (3/25) evening phonebanks are happening this week as well. Sign up here.  
 

Issue Group Meetings 

 You will find no shortage of issue meetings in the calendar below.  There's an IMV book discussion group on March 25th related to democracy and the importance of participating in local politics.  There are IMV workgroup meetings coming up related to the Climate Crisis and Health Care.   A dozen or more IMVers continue to meet on Friday mornings for CAFE Fridays, sustaining an ongoing conversation about progressive political activism, sprinkled with coffee and actual activism such as phone calling and letter writing.  Small groups and issue working groups are the fuel that keeps IMV going. Please join any of these meetings where so much of our activity takes place.  
 

Are you reading what our members are writing?

Have you been reading what IMVers have been writing? Sarah Reeske's piece about anti-racist parenting was published here.

In the Mohawk Valley's new online magazine Ardent Vox, Kelli Samson advocates for the New York Climate Act (CLCPA), and for the end of the Senate Filibuster, two critical agenda items for IMV. IMV member Branwen Drew is also writing for the publication. Ardent Vox was started just a few months ago by Karo Procopio, former candidate for the New Hartford Town Board, and an advocate on women's issues as well as climate and the environment.

What have we missed? Please write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper on a political and policy issue that matters to you and we will link to it here and share on social media.

Thank you for all you do to "move beyond political hobbyism, take action and make real change." Happy Women's History Month!