It was wonderful to see so many of you at IMV's annual potluck picnic yesterday even if we did have some rain. We had a great crowd, including several people at their first ever IMV event! Our elected guests included Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon and Utica School Board member James Paul with an update on the new Superintendent who started last week (see how our efforts to elect James in 2022 paid off!?), as well as candidates Adrienne Martini (122nd Assembly), James Meyers (State Senate-53rd), and Paula Collins who is challenging Elise Stefanik in NY21 in a district that covers more than 15,000 miles and 15 counties. Candidates meet with us because we do the work to help them win!

If you're FIRED UP about Kamala Harris for President! please join IMV at our:

Honk for Harris Rally

TODAY (Friday, Aug. 2) at 4-5:30 pm
Oneida Square, Utica

Please park on the street (Genesee, or surrounding streets)--not at Dunkin Donuts

Indivisible has asked for groups to hold celebratory events supporting Harris for President. IMV will host a Honk for Harris rally on Friday, August 2nd from 4-5:30pm at Oneida Square in Utica. Bring signs in support of Kamala Harris. We always provide extras, so join us. Click in to register, and share with your friends. Help get the word out to people excited for Kamala Harris to come to our rally.

Not inspired enough? Check out the first official Harris for President ad and share it by email and on social media. Then register for our Honk for Harris Aug. 2 rally!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our July IMV meeting! We exchanged a lot of information and ideas for direct voter contact, community building, and messaging in the coming months. And we missed you if you were unable to attend.

Once again, if you've been paying attention to the news, you might have had a rough week, and might even be succumbing to news-related despair syndrome.

We have an antidote for that.
And here it is:

July 2024 IMV Meeting

It's been a rough couple of weeks in the news Between local tragedy, the Presidential debate, and cascades of terrible SCOTUS rulings, you may be feeling worn out and even a bit hopeless. We recommend taking a break from the news if you can, for at least a couple days, this holiday weekend. Enjoy weather, connect with family and friends. get out in the garden, spend some time at the pool or lake, or attend a parade.

Then, show up to connect with your political activism community. We're gathering!

Thank you to every one of you who helped in any way with the Democratic primary election!

No matter how you helped support a candidate or encouraged people to vote, know that we appreciate you!

Now, with the primary behind us and Senator John Mannion the winner, it's time to move forward in unity, and commit wholeheartedly to:

1) Defeating Brandon Williams and flipping NY22

2) Spreading positive messages about President Biden and what Democrats have been doing and will do to help Central New Yorkers and all Americans if we have a Democratic Congress and White House and Democrats representing us in Albany.

3) Building a strong political activism community in coalition with other groups like Democratic committees, labor unions, and progressive parties, groups, and issue advocates that share our values.

June 24th marks two years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and federal constitutional protections for abortion. Let's be honest. Dobbs was a huge loss of freedom and rights.

On Sunday, June 23rd we are shining a light on Trump and MAGA Rep. Williams and showing the power of the movement fighting back against them to protect our personal freedoms and reproductive rights. We're doing it Utica, where we had hundreds march when we learned Roe was being overturned in 2022. Let's see another huge crowd!

June 24th marks two years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and federal constitutional protections for abortion. Let's be honest. Dobbs was a huge loss of freedom and rights.

On Sunday, June 23rd we are shining a light on MAGA extremism and the power of the movement fighting back against it to protect our personal freedoms and reproductive rights. We're doing it Utica, where we had hundreds march at the time of Dobbs in 2022. Let's see another huge crowd!

June 24th marks two years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and federal constitutional protections for abortion. Let's be honest. Dobbs was a huge loss of freedom and rights. And across the country, people have been struggling and suffering as a result. We MUST make sure that the right of every woman to make her own health care decisions--and every doctor to provide a full range of health care services--is top of mind for voters in November. Most voters support reproductive freedom. They just need to understand that MAGA Republicans like Brandon Williams want to ELIMINATE that freedom.

On Sunday, June 23rd we are shining a light on MAGA extremism and the power of the movement fighting back against it to protect our personal freedoms and reproductive rights. We're doing it in Utica, where we had hundreds march at the time of Dobbs in 2022, and want to see another huge crowd.

Pride month starts tomorrow. Please stop by Utica Pride tomorrow (10-4pm) and celebrate the freedom to be who you are and love who you love. LGBTQ people and allies, Democrats, and progressives have fought long and hard to make social change and win legal rights. The fight is not over, and there is immense MAGA Republican backlash that threatens the lives and wellbeing of many especially trans people. As we celebrate this month, we know that in November, the freedom to be ourselves is on the line: to access the care we need, to love who we love, and to thrive. Please be sure that every person in your life understands what is stake.

Memorial Day in central New York is the kickoff of summer parade and festival season. We encourage IMVers to walk in local parades with the candidates they support.

Read on for details, and more about this week’s climate actions.

Many Democratic voters don't know there is a primary and they don't know the candidates. They will appreciate the information we share!  Plus Sarah Klee Hood will be there to get us started, give us her talking points and turfs in nearby neighborhoods. Show up with a friend or we will connect you with a canvassing partner upon arrival.  First timers welcome!  If you use the Minivan app, please bring your phone.  There will also be an option to use paper walk lists. 

We are coming up on a very busy six weeks ahead of the NY22 Primary Election. Below you'll see a request to volunteer for an IMV member running for school board, and our annual request for volunteers to table at June events in Utica as part of our overall effort to register voters and encourage them to plug in and vote. And yes, we need help to assemble lawn signs too.

Thank you to everyone who attended our IMV NY22 Congressional Candidate Forum on Sunday! This event was a huge success, with more than 100 electoral volunteers assembled to hear from our two Democratic primary candidates. We hope that every person in the room is now energized to volunteer for one of these candidates in the next two months, and for the primary winner as we head into the general election campaign (June 26-Nov. 5). We appreciate these candidates--Sen. John Mannion and Councilor Sarah Klee Hood-- for spending time with us. We want them to seek our practical support and recognize our progressive people power in the months ahead.

Join IMV for our NY22 Candidate Forum Sunday

But first...see our report on Brandon Williams' Sham Town Hall...

Please join us for a peaceful, quiet demonstration outside his town hall. We will demonstrate for about 45 minutes then enter the town hall.  

Rep Williams' Town Hall at VVS Thursday, April 25th VVS High School ( 5275 State Route 31, Verona)

Take Action, Show Up

In 2024, we face our biggest challenge yet.  We must convince voters that their votes matter, and that voting for Democrats is necessary in 2024-- to save democracy and protect our freedoms-- as well to continue the Biden administration's tentative but important steps toward building a more equitable and green economy. 

That's why we each one of us needs to work on two fronts: Weakening Brandon Williams (and Elise Stefanik!) in the eyes of voters. And, supporting our local Democratic candidates for Congress in NY22 (the three contenders shown in the photo) and NY21. 

Are You Registered For Our NY22 Candidate Forum?

Why:

• Because the NY22 election is among the two or three the most contested congressional races in the country, and we must have the best possible Democratic candidate to face Brandon Williams on the ballot.

• We want to generate enthusiasm for volunteering and for voting in the primary election in June.

• Your credibility when talking to voters will be higher when you can say you personally met the candidate and have heard them talk about the things that matter to that voter.

Pre-registration required.

Register now for the NY22 candidate event.

What: Interviews plus meet & greet with NY22 Candidates. We will hear from each of the three candidates in separate 25 minute interviews. Senator John Mannion, Councilwoman Sarah Klee Hood, and Professor Clemmie Harris have all confirmed their attendance.

When: Sunday, April 28th, 3-5 pm
Where: Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida Street, Utica
Pre-registration is required.