"We were made for this moment."
Join us Sunday for Our December Meeting!
Friends, we have a super important meeting on Sunday. At our December 2024 meeting we are going to envision our plans for the beginning of 2025, from the broad strategic approaches we are taking and how we organize ourselves for the work ahead, to specific tactical questions like whether we should hold a Utica Women's March and how we should celebrate Anthony's Brindisi's confirmation to the federal bench. It's going to be an active set of conversations led by the IMV Steering Committee; we need your input and engagement.
We all bring a wealth of experience and camaraderie to this meeting. We've been defending democracy against MAGA Trump madness for eight years already, and the hardest times are yet to come. But we are steeled and ready. We know how to take care of ourselves and each other. We are willing to put in the work. And if we divvy it up and share the load, we have the capacity and numbers to be effective using the New Indivisible Guide right here in our own community.
Please sign up now to attend and then join us:
IMV December 2024 Meeting
Sunday, Dec. 8th, 1-3 pm
New Hartford Public Library
2 Library Lane, New Hartford (Downstairs room--park behind the building and come in the back door)
Rally for Climate Next Week
Calling all Climate Activists! There are three days next week where we can take action for climate here in NY State.
For three days next week (12/10, 12/11 & 12/12), Third Act (350.org) will hold a teach-in, sit-in, die-in and rally in Albany. Pick one day or all three. Renewable Heat Now and Third Act will rally together on 12/12.
You can register here or email Maggie Reilly (margaret_reilly@mac.com) if you have any questions.
In Case You Missed It: Indivisible National Message to Blue State Indivisible Groups
(Yes, that is us, in spite of the fact that most of our local state reps are Republicans, and half of us will still have a Republican Congressional Rep in 2025. Remember that our two Senators are Democrats, and one will lead the Minority. We still have a Dem Governor, a good line of communication to the Dem Lt. Gov., and a Dem trifecta in Albany.)***
"Trump isn’t hiding his intentions. He and the architects of Project 2025 are laying the groundwork for a second term that rolls back decades of hard-won protections, dismantles vital government institutions and agencies, and threatens the very fabric of our communities.
With just 47 days until Trump returns to the White House, Democratic governors including JB Pritzker (IL), Gavin Newsom (CA), and Kathy Hochul (NY) have begun taking steps to defend against federal overreach and safeguard the health, rights, and freedoms of their citizens.
In blue states across the country, there’s more that can be done. And Democratic governors and legislatures need to act fast -- even if that means working around the clock in special legislative sessions.
We created the “Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint for Blue States to Prepare for Trump 2.0” toolkit to help blue state residents like you demand action from your leaders and support good work being done. By pressuring your state lawmakers to act quickly -- and standing in solidarity with them when they do -- we can make our states refuges against autocratic MAGA policies and lifelines for targeted communities in red states.
What can state lawmakers (and you) do in this moment? Blue state leaders have numerous tools to resist Trump’s agenda and defend their constituents. Here are a few of the most powerful strategies governors and legislatures can use to fight back:
Utilize Economic Leverage: States with significant economic power can use their influence to counter Trump’s agenda by setting procurement and contracting standards that prioritize civil rights, environmental responsibility, and fair labor practices.
Implement Sanctuary Policies for Out-of-State Visitors: Blue states can enact laws that protect individuals traveling from red states to access services restricted under Trump’s policies.
Establish State-Funded Legal Defense Funds: Blue states can establish funds to defend against Trump-era policies that infringe on state sovereignty or individual rights. This might include legal action to safeguard protections in areas like reproductive healthcare, climate action, or voting rights from federal interference.
Elected officials often only hear from constituents when they’re upset. It might sound small, but a “thank you” or a word of encouragement can go a long way. Cheer them on, and be ready to stand by them when the going gets tough. You can find even more tips and strategies in the “Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint for Blue States” toolkit. This toolkit is designed to be your guide, but it’s your voice, your action, and your commitment that will turn these plans into reality."
***Across the country new Indivisible groups are forming everywhere. We are in the excellent position of having one of the strongest, most stable, and most active Indivisible groups in any community in any state. Indivisible Mohawk Valley is ready to resist.
A Message to Inspire You
Recently Rachel Maddow appeared as the first guest on a new podcast called "The World." She was being interviewed post-election for her analysis, but mostly for her assessment of the road ahead. This was how she ended her statement about how important it was that people not let fear make them "leave the public space and retreat only to their private lives." She said:
"We need to keep telling the truth. We need to not be afraid. I don't feel afraid.
I feel energized. I feel like I was made for this moment. And I think a lot of Americans feel that same way.
And this is a time when there's real clarity of purpose, to standing up for the structure of American government, for the democracy that we've got, standing against autocracy. It's a really clear to do list. We're all going to be really busy.
And I've never felt more clarity about what I need to do.”
Now image that instead of the "I" of Rachel Maddow, broadcast journalist, there is the "We" of Indivisible Mohawk Valley.
WE WERE MADE FOR THIS MOMENT.
Indivisible Mohawk Valley has adopted and uses many slogans:
"Democracy is not a spectator sport."
"We make political activism local, bite-size, and fun."
"Breathe, then PUSH."
Let's add this one, which became the solidarity rallying cry for pro-democracy activists in Brazil following the election of authoritarian fascist president Jair Bolsonaro:
"No one let go of anyone's hand."
Let's come together and hold on tight to each other and especially the people who will be the targets in the months ahead, those they will try to scapegoat, strip of jobs and rights, demonize, and de-humanize. No one let go of anyone's hand. We'll start figuring out how we're going to do that together on Sunday. See you then.
Follow us on Bliuesky: @indivisiblemv.bsky.social, Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
