Huge thanks to those who have contributed to our current fundraising campaign. Your support and commitment to the work we are doing together is greatly appreciated! It is also one of the ongoing sources of hope for us. We are seven plus years into this endeavor, and our community is ever growing and solidly committed.
If you have not yet had a chance to donate, there is still time! The matching campaign continues to the end of May. Go here to donate!
As always, there is no lack of issues to devote our energies to—the MAGA Default and challenges to reproductive freedom currently loom large. That is against a backdrop of ongoing challenges to the bedrock of our democracy. Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western Mass is committed to action, advocacy, education.
Hope is an action! And we promise to keep the actions coming!
Marta Lev for the
Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western Mass Steering Committee
Donate here today and Indivisible National will double your donation!!
Please consider making a contribution today!
MEETINGS & EVENTS
For the safety of our community, we are conducting our meetings online until conditions permit us to resume assembling in person.
Monday May 15th 7-8 PM Victory in 2024!
The Races and Tactics to Win with Swing Blue Alliance's Susan Labandibar!
Voting has already begun in special elections and primaries across the country as we careen into (yet another) all important election season.
Which races should we, especially those of us in safe blue states, focus on? Which states are flippable, or need our help to hold? Which state level races have impacts that will reverberate well beyond those states' borders? And which tactics (calling, writing, canvassing) will take us over the finish line?
Join IN-SLWM Monday, May 15th, 7-8pmET
to hear Susan Labandibar, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Swing Blue Alliance the largest all-volunteer, Democratic grassroots organization headquartered in Massachusetts
Susan will discuss SBA's research-based strategies
on where and how activists can have the most impact over the coming months to win more democracy for us all!
Let's Show up in the Streets &
EXPOSE FAKE ABORTION CLINICS Saturday, May 13th
at various fake clinics across MA
(yes Mother's Day weekend, because we are - or are not -Mothers by Choice, Not Coercion!)
There are more than 3 times as many fake clinics (also known as crisis pregnancy clinics) in MA, as there are actual, medical clinics! They are often located next to real centers, with deceptive names (eg. Problem Pregnancy, or PP) and practices.
We will STAND OUT in order to STAND UP for reproductive justice and abortion rights.
Bring your friends, your signs, and your voices!
These 'Anti-Abortion Centers' (AACs) are Designed to Deceive pregnant women and prevent them from getting abortions and learning about their reproductive options. These fake clinics outnumber actual medical clinics 3 to 1 MA!.
Join IN-SLWM as we STAND OUT at either:
at the Clearway Clinic
11 AM - NOON
1259 E Columbus Ave. Springfield MA
We will be holding signs on the public sidewalk in front of the Clinic.
Parking: we recommend arriving early to find a parking spot or carpooling as there is also a large Pancake breakfast event happening in downtown Springfield that morning so it will be busy, plan to park a few blocks away at a meter, or in the MGM parking garage (which is always free) or in the Burger King parking lot.
OR
Greenfield Town Common
10 AM
(meet next to Farmers Market and group will march to Alternatives Pregnancy Center in Greenfield MA)
MAGA extremists are trying to play ‘chicken’ with President Biden and the American people - threatening to either default on our loans & tank the economy, OR make draconian slashes to education, veterans’ progs, clean energy, programs to address hunger and more. So far, the Dems have our back and are holding strong.
Let them know we have their back, too by writing to Biden, and your Democratic Senator(s):
Copy and paste this into your word processor or directly into the email form on the White House website (https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/) and customize/personalize it to your liking.
Dear President Biden:
I urge you to show the same steadfast leadership that has saved our economy, by acting decisively to end the madness created by MAGA Republicans who are threatening to send the country into default. This situation demands that you use every means at your disposal, including invoking Section 4 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, if necessary, to prevent default. That section reads, in part, “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law... shall not be questioned.”
The House Republicans’ proposed “budget” is extortion, holding the government and public well-being hostage to their extreme demands. We agree with you that presenting such a budget while threatening default is not a negotiation, but an act of war against the American people. Their bill would put more than 10 million low-income Americans at risk of losing their health coverage and make it harder to keep SNAP benefits. It would also slash funding for the Social Security Administration, leading to closed field offices, shorter hours, and longer wait times for people applying for benefits. Their across-the-board cuts would narrow opportunity, deepen inequality, and increase hardship. The bill would also repeal or defund most of the climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, with devastating consequences for the planet.
Mr. President, the choice is yours: Do whatever is necessary to resolve the debt limit crisis, including invoking the 14th Amendment if necessary, and cut short the prolonged agony of a possible debt default with all its calamitous consequences — or see the MAGA extremists impose their inhumane will on the American people for the next decade or more.
Sincerely,
Template letter to Senators
Copy and paste this into your word processor or directly into the email form on your senator’s web page (find your senator here) and customize/personalize it to your liking.
Dear Senator _______:
The time has come for decisive action to end the madness created by MAGA Republicans who are threatening to send the country into default. This situation demands that President Biden use every means at his disposal, including invoking Section 4 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, if necessary, to prevent default. That section reads, in part, “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law... shall not be questioned.” It also demands that Democrats maintain a solid, unified, and unbreakable stand in support of the president.
The House Republicans’ proposed “budget” is extortion, holding the government and public well-being hostage to their extreme demands. Presenting such a budget while threatening default is not a negotiation, but an act of war against the American people. Their bill would put more than 10 million low-income Americans at risk of losing their health coverage and make it harder to keep SNAP benefits. It would also slash funding for the Social Security Administration, leading to closed field offices, shorter hours, and longer wait times for people applying for benefits. Their across-the-board cuts would narrow opportunity, deepen inequality, and increase hardship. The bill would also repeal or defund most of the climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, with devastating consequences for the planet.
The choice is plain: Do whatever is necessary to help President Biden resolve the debt limit crisis, including invoking the 14th Amendment if necessary, and cut short the prolonged agony of a possible debt default with all its calamitous consequences — or see the MAGA extremists impose their inhumane will on the American people for the next decade or more.
Sincerely,
Postcard Update
Stay tuned for a new postcard campaign coming up in a few days!
Beyond Valentines: Five Ways to Write Letters That Can Change the World
As you know, Pennsylvania is very important for future elections, and now is the time to get voters registered to help turn PA Blue!
Pride celebrations are a great place to register new Democratic voters, and also great fun. Swing Blue Alliance is going to Philadelphia's Pride celebration on June 4 to register voters! We're working with Swing Left and other groups to register new voters there. Sign up HERE to let us know you’re interested – no commitment necessary! Details will follow.
People will be driving from Massachusetts, so once we know numbers, we'll arrange places to stay. There are also events earlier in the weekend if you want to come earlier. We need to be sure Pennsylvania is Blue and welcome your help! Thank you.
Sign the petition– “Gas is in the Past” campaign.
Using gas to heat our homes and businesses is bad for our health and our climate. Gas companies (like Eversource) are profiting by expanding unnecessary gas infrastructure at the expense of ratepayers statewide!
We need a rapid transition away from gas to a future of clean heat powered by clean electricity, not millions of dollars in stranded assets. This is urgent for our planet and our communities (like Springfield and Longmeadow) which are right now facing expansion projects.
Join the many people in the Commonwealth who have signed the petition to stop MA gas companies from continuing business-as-usual at the cost of our health, safety, wallets, and climate future. It urges Gov. Healey to halt gas system expansion until the state has a concrete plan for a just transition to clean energy. See how many signatures have been collected in your area.
Call your State Elected Officials to tell them to follow California's lead and cut ties with Walgreens!
to hold Walgreens to account for their shameful decision to stop selling the abortion medication mifepristone in 24 states in cowardly deference to those states' Republican Attorneys General's request.
(thanks to Greylock Together Indivisible & Indivisible MA Coalition's Feminist Action Team)
BAR INSURRECTIONISTS FROM THE BALLOT
Sign the Petition
Enacted after the Civil War, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies from public office any individual who has taken an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and then engages in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or gives aid or comfort to those who have.
By inciting a violent attack on Congress in an effort to prevent the certification of his own electoral defeat, Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and violated his oath of office. Free Speech For People and Our Revolution have teamed up to urge Secretaries of State and chief election officials across the country to follow the mandate of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment and bar insurrectionists from any future ballot.
Sign hereto tell Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin to abide by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and bar Trump from appearing on any future ballot in MA.
And read about this success in New Mexico! where citizens filed suit and a County Commissioner was removed from office as a result of his participation in the Jan. 6th insurrection!
On Wed evenings at 8 pm or Fri mornings at 9 am, join Paul Spector and activists from across the country to collaborate on helping Democrats win elections. At Paul's meetings, you will...
hear upbeat political news
share questions and comments
learn about new political actions
support fundraisers with special guests -- such as Swing Left, Movement Voter Project, Flip the Senate, New Georgia Project, and Bucks County Democrats
hear inspiring music (mostly from Playing for Change).
Folks find his meetings educational, uplifting, and hopeful, and it's wonderful to see 50-100 other people at each of the two meetings. To check out the meeting, come Wednesday at 8 p.m. or Friday at 9 a.m. EDT, to this Zoom room: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87820043147?pwd=aXZ0K3QrZGtHR2dBUFlCZnk2TU1hQT09
Debt Ceiling Crisis Team
We've formed a new team to deal with the debt ceiling crisis.Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 22 at 5pm on Zoom.
See Indivisible's explanation of what the Debt Ceiling is, and how the GOP is using it to try and dismantle the social safety net, climate mitigations, and all things progressive.
If you'd like to join us or for more information, contact Joel Rosen at jalrose2@gmail.com.
Letters to the Editor (LTE) Writing Team Adopt, Amend, & Send Our-Your Letter to the Editor
Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA. has a new team dedicated to writing letters to the editors of our local newspapers,and sharing them with others to send to their newspapers too.
Letters to the Editor (LTE’s) are an effective in sharing our progressive views widely with our neighbors and community. They often attract the attention of our political leaders too, and we already have had several published.
Our goal is to motivate ourselves and others to write valuable, high-quality LTE’s on topics which are important to us, and get them published locally and across the state. (Maybe nationally in the future too).
We meet every two weeks on Tuesdays at 7:00pm (on Zoom) to strategize and plan. Our next meeting is Tuesday, May 23 at 7PM.
We’d like to enlist your help in these ways.
Join the group: We welcome everyone to come join us. Email Larry at lpareles@yahoo.com for the Zoom link for Tuesdays at 7pm.
See our letters and send them: The collection of letters we've written is HERE. You can adopt some to personalize and make your own, then send them to your local papers. Please let us know when they get published so we can track our successes.
Share the LTE’s: Feel free to share your (our our) letters with others to send to their local papers too.
If you have questions or would like further information, contact Larry at lpareles@yahoo.com.
IN-SLWM Climate Team
Our Climate Team is continuing to receive weekly action alerts by email, mainly about climate action that they can take at home.
If you’d like to join the Climate Team, email Michael Dover at mjdover44@gmail.com.
NEWS
NEW SLOGAN, NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS & MORE
It’s been almost a year since Indivisible Northampton and Swing Left Western Massachusetts merged, and we’ve accomplished a lot since then. Now we're getting around to making changes to our website and other aspects of our Internet presence.
We have had a new logo for some time, thanks to the wonderful talent and generosity of web designer Nora Brown. She has also created a new banner design, above, to use as our letterhead and as an actual banner for rallies, standouts, and other in-person events. As you can see, it includes a new website address, in-slwm.org, that replaces the old indivisiblenorthampton.org. The old address will automatically redirect to the new address.
The banner also displays our new slogan: Defeat MAGA. Save Democracy. No explanation necessary; it’s simple and to the point.
We’re also working on a new design and new content for the website. Expect to see a bunch of changes on the site, which we hope will make our information more complete, and accessible. We’ll also be making it easier to sign up for our mailing list and our Facebook group. Stay tuned!
Indivisible New England Digest:
National Workshop, Webinar & Call Calendar
We are fortunate to have Judy Stadtman as our Indivisible National regional organizer. Judy is the liaison between the national organization and local groups in CT-MA-ME-NH-VT. She does an incredible job keeping IN-SLWM connected to and supported by Indivisible National. If you attended our recent general meeting, you might have had the pleasure of hearing her speak about the national political landscape and actionable steps we here in MA can take.
Judy is incredibly active and responsive to our needs. She is eager to lend a hand and hear from anyone who seeks her advice or guidance. If you have any questions or would like to connect with her, please don't hesitate to email her at Judith@Indivisible.com. She looks forward to hearing from you!
New Mission Statement
The Steering Committee has recently updated our Mission Statement to better reflect our post-merger identity and priorities as we collaborate with you to save democracy.
We're eager to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please take a moment to check out our new Mission Statement and let us know what you think. Thanks for your continued support!
Here it is:
Our mission is to promote a strong and inclusive American democracy by educating and mobilizing constituents of MA CD-2 and beyond. We work to elect and hold accountable bold progressive leaders who will protect our country from the dangerous agenda of the right-wing MAGA extremists. We aim to strengthen our democratic institutions, advance social justice, protect the environment, and more. As a proud chapter of Indivisible and Swing Left, we collaborate with local, regional and national groups to build an informed, sustainable activist community.
Northampton Reparations Committee Webinar
On January 24 the Northampton Reparations Committee presented an online webinar cohosted by Forbes Library.
This section of our newsletter features articles written by one of our subscribers and an article or two selected by our steering committee. Subscribers to the newsletter are welcome to submit writing by email to info@indivisiblenorthampton.org with the subject line "Newsletter Submission".
The opinions expressed in the writings don't necessarily reflect any consensus of Indivisible Northampton.
When you click the link in your confirmation email, a Zoom page will open in your web browser and the Zoom app will open.
If the Zoom app does not open, here are a few things you can try. You will need to know the meeting id, which is embedded in the address of the Zoom page that opened. On the page that opened in the browser, in the address bar you'll see an address that looks something like this:
