Hello Indivisibles,
“ELECTION PROTECTION” – Our next Member/Public Meeting with featured speaker, Vermont Secretary of State, Sarah Coleland Hanzas
When/Where: Sunday, June 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 at the North Hero Community Hall
What: The Secretary will speak about the integrity of Vermont Elections, threats to Elections, and the shifting political actions being taken to threaten the right to vote. Find out about the attempts to have the US Post Office decide who will get an absentee ballot based on a list provided by the current Administration, and the efforts to make every voter prove their citizenship (harder than it sounds), even if they have been registered to vote for decades. And many other timely issues. There will be ample time for your questions.
We also anticipate having a video message from US Representative Becca Baliant.
We will have information and sign-ups available for you to join in the movement to PROTECT our elections and our right to vote. Also, ways for you to “get out the vote” at the MIdterms.
Please don’t miss this important meeting.
Can you help??
– The costs for this event have risen unexpectedly, primarily due to the cost of the event insurance doubling over what we have paid in the past (now $365, just for this one event). Plus the cost to rent the hall ($300 +/-) and to advertise, and the event will end up costing $600 – $800. This leaves us with minimal funds for the July 4th parades and other expenses. If you can help out, we will have donation jars at the event and you can always donate to us by going to our website, IndivisibleCI.com and donating there through ActBlue (note, this is the ONLY place you can donate online to our ActBlue portal). Avoid checks if possible.
CALLING OUR ***STAR*** BAKERS!!! We would like to serve some snacks and sweets at the June 14 event. If you can volunteer to bring some Cookies, Brownies, or other treats to share at the event, please let me know: WHAT you will bring, and HOW MANY, so we can make sure we have enough, but not too much. Just ‘Reply’ to this email.
HATS/TEE SHIRTS/SIGNS: We will have these items with our Indivisible Champlain Islands logo on them available at the June 14 event, if you want them for summer – especially if you plan to be in or at the July 4th Parades. Minimum donations required for this merch.
AND THANK YOU!!!
SCAMS – With election season heating up, you are probably getting texts, emails and calls asking you to donate to candidates, causes, and sign petitions. Be careful about responding to them, even if you support the candidate or cause. It is much better to use that as a prompt to go directly to the candidate’s official campaign website and donate there. Many of these messages may actually give some of your money to the candidate, but not all. Outfits like Mothership Strategies (famous for the all caps, and things like “Obama just dropped a bombshell …” type messages) use slimy tactics, scam PACs, etc to collect $$ on behalf of candidates and organizations, then pocket the vast majority of the money. Your financial support is, indeed, a powerful tool you can use against the regime, but use it wisely.
“RISE UP, SING OUT”:
On Sunday, June 14, the Committee for the First Amendment is hosting a live concert to celebrate the First Amendment—and we want folks around the country to gather together in person, sing along, and celebrate with us as we all commit to taking action to protect our rights and freedoms.INDIVISIBLE National is joining with a coalition of partners to promote this event to celebrate our 250 Years of Democracy. It will kick off at 7:30 pm and be live-streamed. It is not-coincidentally timed to drown out the bloody slugfest that Trump is putting on for his birthday on the White House lawn. They are encouraging all Indivisibles to find or host a watch party for this joyous event and support each other as we move into the next phase of this struggle.
Indivisible Champlain Islands Leadership Team is not able to manage a second event on the same day as our Election Protection event. But if you would like to organize a watch party for other members locally, we can offer suggestions and help you get the word out. Just let me know. You can also watch this event at home, but it will be better shared with others.
For more info and artist line-up: https://riseupsingout.com/?emci=2dda1602-d45a-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=2de3ff5f-e15a-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=1609599
DELANEY DETENTION FACILITY in NJ: Ongoing. The protests escalated last night and the abhorrent conditions continue. The Governor and other elected officials have attempted to inspect the facility but have been denied. The Governor has sent State Police to keep ICE away from the protesters and is trying to calm the situation.
VERMONT DATA CENTER MORATORIUM BILL: This bill was passed by the VT Senate with only 3 Republican ‘nay’ votes; easily passed by the VT House on a voice vote. Governor Scott was lobbied by the right-wing, Koch Brothers-funded group, Americans For Prosperity (the Koch brothers build data centers) to veto it and he vetoed the bill, despite strong bipartisan support in the Legislature for this bill. A veto override was attempted but failed. Our two GI/West Milton Representatives, Morgan and Morgan voted against the veto override.
Ironically, I asked Google which 3 Senators voted ‘nay’ on this bill and was told that one of them was Senator Richard Mazza (D-Colchester). Which seems unlikely as, sadly, Dick Mazza died two years ago. So, by all means, Gov. Scott, let’s not stand in the way of Billionaires making boat loads of money building immense data centers which destroy farmland and the environment so they can power AI to spit out garbage like this and call it facts. Sigh.
VERMONT INDIVISIBLE DIGEST – Attached below. Several very interesting entries this week (and gotten to you more timely, this time).
There has been quite a bit of good news this week: several of Trump’s pet projects have been blocked and some strong candidates against the regime have won primaries. Let’s take a minute to cheer about that. Enjoy your Sunday.
Marilyn Lagrow
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