Happy New Year and what a year it's shaping up to be! As if we weren't already busy enough with impeachment, elections and important issues, now the possibility of a war also needs our attention and efforts.
This Muster is chock full of actions and events, but so much is happening (and so quickly) that you should check our website homepage and calendar for updates and additional events sponsored by our fellow Indivisible groups and allies that we weren't able to include in this newsletter.
Hope that you had a chance to rest and recharge over the holidays and are ready to dive back in to help us protect our democracy, advocate for social justice, and restore sanity to our government.
MEET WITH US IN JANUARY
2020 promises to be our busiest year yet and we need all hands on deck to succeed! Join us at our Activism Evening next Monday January 13 to learn about ways to get involved or connect with us at one of the other events we're sponsoring this month.
Monthly Activism Evening
Monday January 13, 7-9:00pm
First Parish Church, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington Join us at this month's Activism Evening to make plans for 2020! We'll write postcards to encourage FL voters to sign up for Vote by Mail, take action on key state legislative issues, and get tips for using Slack and social media for our 2020 priorities. It would be helpful to bring a laptop (or tablet) and pens, highlighters and stamps (and/or a small contribution for postage).
MI Book Club Meeting
Wednesday January 22, 7:15-8:45pm
Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Rd.,Lexington The presidential primaries are just around the corner, so we'll be kicking off 2020 with a roundtable discussion of books written by some of the Democratic presidential candidates. If you'd like to join us, use this form to indicate which book(s) you'd like to read. Members have already signed up to discuss books by Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Andrew Yang, but we're hoping to discuss other candidates too!
Lexington Fundraiser for Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA07)
Saturday January 25, 1:30-3:00pm
Save the Date! Meet Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA07) who is running in what will be one of the most competitive House races in 2020. In 2018 Carolyn came within 433 votes of upsetting a Republican incumbent in a district with a long history of Republican representation. The incumbent is retiring and Carolyn, who is the clear favorite in the Democratic primary, has been endorsed by Emily's List, Andrew Young, Civil Rights hero Rep. John Lewis, and Senate candidate (and former House candidate) Jon Ossoff. We'll be sharing more details soon!
Weekday Warriors Meeting
Friday January 31, 10-11:30am
Roasted Granola Cafe, 1346 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington Join us to drink coffee and socialize as we write postcards or letters to our legislators or fellow voters. Bring pens, highlighters and stamps (and/or a small contribution for postage). Please RSVP here to ensure we have enough seating and supplies or use this link to sign up for our Google group to get more info about future meetings.
TELL CONGRESS NO WAR IN IRAN
Last week, the Trump administration assassinated Major General Qassim Suleimani, the second most powerful figure in Iran. We're in a situation where things are escalating quickly and could turn into a full blown war with Iran. Indivisible has prepared this resource document on preventing a war and their policy team will work to keep it up to date as things develop. Here are a few things we can do right now.
Join a Call on January 8 at 8pm- Indivisible is partnering with MoveOn and Win Without War to hold a mass call to update people and discuss plans for a National Day of Action this Thursday January 9. RSVP here.
Participate in the National Day of Action on January 9 - Grab your “No War” signs and banners, hang them over bridges and intersections or rally in public squares to make sure that Congress knows that Americans are against war with Iran. Click here to see if there are any events being planned nearby and check our website or closed Facebook page for any late-breaking updates on actions our members might plan.
DEMAND A FAIR IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN THE SENATE
Last month, we joined fellow Indivisibles across the country to show support for the articles of impeachment that were voted on by the House of Representatives. Now we need to insist on a fair trial in the Senate. Please take a moment to thank our MA Senators for supporting a process that includes hearing from witnesses and getting relevant documents and urge anyone you know in states with Republican Senators to call their Senators to insist on a fair trial.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS MONTH
Action is heating up at the State House as an early February deadline for reporting many bills out of committee is fast approaching. We're making plans to join fellow Indivisibles and allies at lobby days for key environmental and voting rights legislation on Tuesday January 14 and 28 and at a crucial state hearing on Friday January 24. We hope you can join us in Boston or take a few minutes to contact your state legislators about these important bills even if you've called or emailed about them before.
Want to learn more about the Massachusetts State House, and what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s needed to fix it? Attend this free forum with state legislators at First Parish in Concord on Tuesday January 14 at 7pm (h/t Concord Indivisible).
CALL FOR CLIMATE ACTION
Crunch time is coming for climate bills in the Mass Legislature. Our allies expect the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy to take action on an omnibus climate bill in January and we need to maximize pressure on our legislators to assure that bill is as strong as possible and that it is passed by the House and Senate. Our MI Climate Change champion will be at our January 13 Activism Evening to provide more information about these bills.
Join us and the Mass Power Forward Coalition for a Climate Advocacy Day at the State House on Tuesday January 14. See this link for more details and RSVP here. Can't make it to the State House? Please call your legislators (click here for a suggested script)instead and be a climate activist in January!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14
CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM
We're proud to be supporting this free public forum on Climate Change sponsored by the Arlington Democratic Town Committee at the Robbins Library in Arlington at 7pm. State Representatives Sean Garballey and Dave Rogers, who have been climate legislation leaders, will speak along with Cabell Eames from Mass Power Forward (she is also Policy Director for 350MA.org) about what we can to support and ensure the success of important environmental legislation. See this link for more details.
PACK THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE SAFE COMMUNITIES ACT
As the Trump administration continues to pursue its inhumane immigration policies, we need to stand up and protect our immigrant neighbors here in MA. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us at the State House on Friday, January 24 for a hearing in Gardner Auditorium on the Safe Communities Act.
RSVP here to join us! We need hundreds of advocates at the State House to send a strong message that the Safe Communities Act has overwhelming support across our Commonwealth. The day kicks off with a rally at 10am, then we want to keep Gardner Auditorium full all day – which means we’ll need advocates to come in shifts - you decide what you can do! Most people mobilizing that day won’t be testifying, just showing their support - the key is to be there. If you'd like to connect with other MI members who plan to attend, let us know here.
Want to help, but can't make it to the State House on Jan. 24?Please call your legislators and tell them to support a floor vote (and ask everyone in your networks to do the same). Written testimony is a powerful way for committees to see that there is constituent support of a bill. Use this form letter created for indivisible members (or write your own) and email it to the chairs and members of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. This Phone2Actiontool makes it easy to email both the Committee (Co-Chairs and members individually) and your own legislators.
Opponents of the Safe Communities Act are flooding the Public Safety Committee with written testimony and letters.Please keep contacting your legislators to build the momentum needed to pass the SCA this session.
SUPPORT ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION
Every election, Massachusetts disenfranchises thousands of its own citizens by denying eligible voters the ability to register or update their information on election day. Two out of three people who were prevented from casting a ballot are actually registered but are rendered ineligible because their registration contains simple and fixable errors. Election Day Registration (EDR) will help fix that.
Join us and our allies in the Election Modernization Coalition at the State House on Tuesday January 28 from 10am-noon for an EDR Lobby Day. Get more details here and use this link to RSVP.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22
MYSTIC VALLEY ACTION FOR CHOICE MONTHLY MEETING
Join us in Arlington from 6:30-8:30pm to talk about actions we can take in support of the ROE Act including developing a strategy for the coming year. Light refreshments will be available. RSVP here for address.
Send postcards to legislators asking them to support the ROE Act using this link.
HELP TURN MAINE BLUE
Last fall, our elections team selected the Maine Senate race as a key one to focus on to help flip the Senate. In 2020, we'll be coordinating with our friends at Swing Left Greater Boston who've been working in Maine since last year.
Help Register Maine Voters
In the past six months, Swing Left has registered over 1000 voters in Maine and they have several voter registration trips scheduled in January. Get more details and sign up here. You can also learn more about registering Maine Voters by signing up for this training calltonight, January 7, at 7pm.
See Swing Left Greater Boston's 2020 Maine webpage for additional resources and more ways you can help turn Maine blue.
BUILD BLUE WAVES IN BATTLEGROUND STATES
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16
ORGANIZING CORPS 2020 FUNDRAISER
Organizing Corps 2020 is recruiting and training 1,000 people in key battleground states to work on the 2020 general election and help democrats win up and down the ballot. OC2020 founder Meg Ansara will be speaking at this fundraiser in Concord from 7-9pm. RSVP here or donate to OC2020 here.
Sign Up to Work on Races in Battleground States
Over the next 10 months, Massachusetts activists will play a critical role supporting Democratic candidates in Maine, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, and other states. Indivisible MA and Swing Left will be organizing travel to those states in addition to remote activities such as phone banking and texting. The earlier we start coordinating our efforts, the more effective we will be. Please complete this formif you're interested in taking part in this massive undertaking to protect our democracy.
Write Postcards to GOTV in North Carolina
Join Sister District volunteers at Arlington's Caffè Nero from 7-9pm for the next several Tuesday evenings starting tonight January 7 to write postcards to get infrequent Democratic voters out to the polls as part of their special project focusing on primary elections in North Carolina. Get more details and RSVP at Sister District MA-RI's Event page or see entries for each week's meeting on our website calendar.
Support Down Ballot Races
In 2020, most of the attention will be focused on the presidential campaign and Congressional races, but as this post from Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something points out, it's vital to also support the down ballot races that can help build the blue wave and elect officials who play a critical role in protecting our democracy.
Carolyn Bourdeaux, the GA-07 congressional candidate whose race MI is focusing on, is asking her supporters to help a down ballot candidate in Gwinnett County, which is partially located in GA-07: Keybo Taylor for Sheriff. Gwinnett is a 287(g) county, which means that the sheriff's deputies are authorized to act as active extensions of ICE. Supporting Keybo is something you can do to help build a blue wave in Georgia and fight ICE - donate here.
PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24
SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE
Suppressed: The Fight to Vote, a film by documentarian Robert Greenwald, weaves together personal stories to paint an undeniable picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election and the threat it poses in 2020. Join our Steering Committee member Jean at the Wayland Public Library at 10am to watch a 9-minute excerpt from the film and engage in a brief, facilitated discussion. Attendees will also have an optional opportunity to fill out postcards encouraging eligible voters who have been purged to re-enroll and vote! Get more detailshere.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
CONSTITUTION IN CRISIS:
HOW THE POWER OF PEOPLE CAN SAVE OUR REPUBLIC
Lexington Community Education is sponsoring this talk on the Constitution at the Lexington Depot at 7pm by local resident Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Get more details and purchase tickets ($10) here.
Help at the Polls on Election Day
Many communities, including Lexington, are looking for people to work at the polls for both the primary election this spring and the general election in November. Learn more here, then contact your local election officials for more information on how you can help.
HELP NEW CITIZENS REGISTER TO VOTE
For the past several years. MI members have volunteered at events sponsored by MIRA to register new citizens immediately after their naturalization ceremony. It's an easy and inspiring way to spend an hour! No prior experience necessary and MIRA provides training and all materials—clipboards, forms, and pins. Most of the ceremonies happen on Thursday afternoons at Faneuil Hall, but a few happen at the JFK Library in Boston. Get details and sign up for events in January and February here.
GET READY TO PASS RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN 2020
In December, the MA Secretary of State office certified more than 110,000 signatures for the ranked choice voting ballot question, well over the approximately 80,000 that were needed. The Legislature now has until early May to take action on RCV. If they don't, we'll need to collect about 20,000 more signatures in May and June from people who didn't sign the ballot petition this fall.
Thank you to the many MI members who signed the ballot petition, helped collect signatures, and volunteered to help sort petitions at the RCV field offices. We look forward to working with you in 2020 to get RCV passed here in MA!
CONNECT WITH US AND OTHER ACTIVISTS ON SLACK
Why would Minuteman Indivisible, Indivisible MA, and Swing Left Greater Boston want you - a busy activist who's already inundated with emails -- to join YET ANOTHER communication platform?
To answer that question, here's what an activist who just joined the Indivisible MA and Swing Left Slacks had to say: “Thank you! Slack is an email-inbox saver. I'm a huge fan.”
As activists, we’re working together and sharing information - A LOT. The weight of all that information can be overkill for anyone’s inbox. By moving your activist conversations to Slack, you not only save your inbox, but also the inboxes of your compatriots, colleagues and co-organizers.
Want to unseat Trump, hold the House or flip the Senate, take back key state legislatures, work for democracy reform, protect immigrants, save our planet, or fight for other important causes? Join us and other local activists on Slack!
Keep checking the MI Calendar and our homepage for the most current line-up of events and actions.
Join our Slack to stay in the loop! Your input is welcome!
Support Minuteman Indivisible's work Our expenses are modest, but we do need funds for events, supplies, and communications, including our website and newsletter. You can donate here to help Minuteman Indivisible continue to work for you and for Liberty and Justice for All!
