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Apoligies. The version of this newsletter that went out this morning was full of errors and wrong information. Here's the corrected version. |
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Upcoming Meetings & Events |
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Teams Phonebank - Our phonebank is taking a well-deserved break after contributing to the successful election of liberal Judge Susan Crawford to the WI State Supreme Court, thus maintaining that court's liberal majority - and protecting abortion, unions, fair maps and more for the next several years.
ACTIONS Protecting the Social Safety Net Team Protecting Vulnerable Communities Team Research and Rapid Response Team
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April 5, 11AMHANDS OFF BOSTON! |
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Hands Off! is an all-in moment for the pro-democracy, pro-worker movement—a demand, a warning, and a rallying cry .
When in Western MA last month, Sen. Ed Markey called on us to amass 100,000 on Boston Common - for Massachusetts to once again lead in this fight for our country.
On April 5, We the People of Massachusetts will march in Boston. Because we will always be a sanctuary against tyranny. Because we will protect our neighbors, no matter where they were born or their race or gender or sexuality. Because we will never bow to tyrant kings. Because in the words of Boston’s mayor: “If you come for one of us, you will get all of us.”
On April 5, We the People of Massachusetts will come together to tell the tyrants in DC:
Hands Off Boston! Hands Off Massachusetts! Hands Off America!
Because We the People means everyone, and Massachusetts is fighting back.
Let's answer Senator Markey's call to have a HUGE, IMPACTFUL showing on the Common & City Hall - MA was a leader once before in ousting a mad king - time for us to do it again!
While all the chartered buses are full, this document has lots of info about traveling from WM to Boston. |
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April 10, Noon-1:30 PMStand Up and Stand Out for Social Security |
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IN-SLWM, along with other Western MA partners, is holding a Rally to save Social Security on Thursday, April 10th starting at 12noon in Springfield.
The Hands Off Social Security Rally builds on the energy and determination of thousands demonstrating on April 5th by saying Hand Off Social Security to co-president Musk and our lawmakers in Congress. We will remind them that the Social Security fund is our money, and we refuse to let billionaires raid this fund that we paid into with every paycheck we earned. GOP members of Congress who say they won’t touch Social Security mean that they won’t pass a bill to cut benefits. However, standing by while DOGE slashes staff and creates chaos with the system is, as Senator Warren says, a “backdoor” approach to reducing our benefits.
Former Social Security Agency head Martin O’Malley has said recently that the agency is 90 percent broken and will continue to break if more staff are removed. Yet DOGE plans to lay off 7,000 more staff.
Moreover, the recent so-called “walk-back” allowing people to access services by telephone merely delays that phone access cutoff until April 14. Wired magazine reported that DOGE wants to completely modernize the system’s old COBOL coding in months, but in 2017 it was determined that a safe modernization protocol would take years. What could go wrong?
The payment system could break during the so-called modernization. We call on people of all ages to join us to help protect seniors and those with disabilities,
Join us to say, Hands Off Social Security!
Hands Off Federal Employees!
Hands Off Our Democracy!
When: April 10, 2025, 12 Noon-1:30pm
Where: 1550 Main Street, Springfield
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Protecting the Social Safety Net Team |
Fully Fund the Healthy Incentives Program |
At a time when we see many fires to put out, here is an action you can take NOW that supports our local communities in Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, the FY2025 budget cut a significant portion of the funding for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which provides fresh, healthy, local fruits and vegetables for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. And, according to the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, the FY2026 budget does not fully fund HIP either. While these are challenging financial times, we should not balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable in the community.
With food insecurity growing in our community, it is unconscionable that the FY2025 budget cut HIP benefits by at least 50% – to $20 per household per month, regardless of household size, (from a variable $40 to $80 based on household size). In addition to SNAP recipients, these cuts also harm the local economy, particularly the markets that sell the produce and the local farmers who produce it. Atlas Farm in South Deerfield, reported HIP and SNAP sales were down 27% in December 2024, the month the cuts went into effect. CISA, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, stated that the cuts had an immediate negative impact on farmers’ sales, and that these cuts add more uncertainty for farmers. Massachusetts farmers report a 60% loss in HIP sales since the cuts began, according to the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. Farmers and our local food economy are facing multiple threats as explained in “Federal Spending Freeze Worries Farmers” and “Grave Threats to Local Farmers, Food.”
Now is the time to put pressure on our state leaders. The annual budget is a four-part budget process that begins with the Governor, moves to the House proposal, then to the Senate proposal, and then to a Conference Committee, which reconciles the House and Senate budget proposals. So it is essential to put pressure on the Governor now! And the MA legislature needs to hear from constituents so they also act with urgency to address this gap in HIP funding and support the legislation below to support the HIP program.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO
- CALL Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll at (617) 725-4005. Share why you care about the Healthy Incentives Program; if possible, share a personal story.
Sample script: Hello! My name is ____, I live in ____. I’m calling about the cut to the Healthy Incentives Program funding. This funding shortfall negatively impacts the 285 farmers and thousands of low-income households that benefit from HIP every month. $20 is insufficient for low income households to purchase Massachusetts-grown foods. Massachusetts should be a leader when it comes to prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable populations. Fully funding HIP ensures food-insecure families access to locally grown fresh produce, boosts our local economy, and supports MA farmers! Please support $5 million in a supplementary budget to fully fund HIP in FY2025 and ensure that FY2026 includes at least $25 million to fully fund the program. Thank you!
- Contact your state representative and senator (find them here) and ask them to support full funding for HIP and to support the legislation below.
Include a personal story if possible.
- Ask them to fully fund HIP for FY25 and FY26 to support these vulnerable families on SNAP, which also supports local markets and MA farmers.
- Thank your state senator if they are a co-sponsor of Bill S.104, which aims “to codify HIP in statute, making it harder to cut abruptly.”
- Thank your state representative if they are a co-sponsor of H.222, the House version that codifies “HIP in statute, making it harder to cut abruptly.”
- If your state senator or rep is not a co-sponsor, ask them to co-sponsor the relevant bills above. They need to prioritize the most vulnerable families in the budgeting process.
- CALL or EMAIL House and Senate leadership (if email, cc: your legislators):
Key points:
- Ask them to support $5 million in a supplemental FY2025 budget for HIP to reverse the cut and ensure that FY2026 includes at least $25 million to fully fund the program.
- Share why you care about the Healthy Incentives Program and, if possible, share a personal story.
- Tell them: Massachusetts should be a leader when it comes to prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable populations, not cutting their benefits.
- Express your concern that these cuts are also hurting Massachusetts farmers, who report a 60% loss in HIP sales since the cuts began, leading many to start layoffs and adjust their future plans, according to the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative.
- If you live in Northampton, contact your City Councilor and the At-Large Councilors ( Contact Your Councilor). Thank them for supporting R-25.214 A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR FULL SUPPORT OF THE HEALTHY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (HIP). It passed unanimously with one person absent, Councilor-At-Large Perry. Tell them that you would now like them to do all they can to pressure the Governor and the Legislature to fund HIP fully.
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The Protecting Vulnerable Communities Team |
Protect our immigrant family, friends, and neighbors! |
Hello all! The Immigration Subcommittee of the Protecting Vulnerable Communities Team is asking for your action on 3 MA bills to protect our immigrant family, friends, and neighbors: The Act would limit voluntary police and court involvement in civil immigration matters, protect basic rights, and keep law enforcement agencies focused on public safety. The Act would create a funded statewide program to provide no-cost immigration legal defense to immigrants in Massachusetts who are at imminent risk of deportation, especially those held in federal immigration detention. The Act would prohibit contracts between ICE and MA law enforcement and would prohibit MA sheriffs from renting beds in our county jails to ICE for use as detention beds.
Fact sheets on each of these bills can be found at the Mass. Immigration and Refugees Advocates Coalition (MIRA) website here.
We need to make calls (or send emails) to our MA reps and senators urging them to co-sponsor all of these bills. If you live in the districts of those legislators who have not yet co-sponsored any of these bills, PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND URGE THEM TO CO-SPONSOR ALL 3 BILLS.
PLEASE ALSO spread the word by asking 3 friends or family in these districts to also make these calls.
WESTERN MA STATE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE NOT YET CO-SPONSORED SCA/ILDA/DND (AS OF 3/18/2025): THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS! |
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STATE SENATORS: John Velis: 617-722-1415 Paul Mark (YES for SCA, not ILDA or DND) 413-464-5635, 617-722-1625
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STATE REPRESENTATIVES: NATALIE BLAIS: 413-362-9453 HOMAR GOMEZ: 617-722-2800 x7304 AARON SAUNDERS: 617-722-2320 SUSANNA WHIPPS: 617-722-2090 PATRICIA DUFFY (YES for DND, not SCA or ILDA): 617-722-2013 |
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WESTERN MA LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE ALREADY CO-SPONSORED ALL 3 PRO-IMMIGRATION BILLS (SCA/ILDA/DND): PLEASE THANK THEM! |
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REP. MINDY DOMB: Hampshire. 413-335-1362, 617-722-2877 REP. LINDSAY SABADOSA: 413-270-1166, 617-722-2304
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SEN. JO COMERFORD: 413-367-4656 , 617-722-1532 SEN JAKE OLIVEIRA: 617-722-1291 SENATOR ADAM GOMEZ (617) 722-1660 |
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Volunteer to Protect Vulnerable Communities |
Whether you have time, skills, or resources to share, there are many ways to make a meaningful impact. This is a working document and not a definitive list—if you know of other opportunities or resources, please reach out to us at community.solidarity.wma@gmail.com. Please use this link to access the list and find ways to get involved: |
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Republicans in Congress have introduced the extreme anti-voter Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22/S.128) and declared it among their top priorities. This bill would hinder millions of eligible Americans from registering to vote by requiring citizens to present a birth certificate or passport in person to register.
Five Democratic US Representatives voted for the SAVE Act in July 2024. We want to make sure they don't make that mistake again. It's coming up for a vote next week or so. Let's put pressure on those Representatives to change their vote. |
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New Issue Oriented Teams &
Ongoing Tactic Based Teams |
You can find a full list of our teams on the teams page of our website.
( NOTE: If the email links on the teams page don’t work, right click the email address and choose “copy email address” from the menu. You can then open a new message and paste the email address into the To: field. If that doesn’t work, please use this form to send your message.) |
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File a FOIA Request with DOGE From Rep. Jamie Raskin |
Today I filed a formal demand for access to my personal data obtained by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk. I encourage all U.S. citizens to join me in doing the same.
Elon Musk should have been more careful in what he wished for. DOGE recently dodged lawsuits about its seizure of citizens’ personal data by telling courts that it is a legitimate government agency entitled to extract this information. What Elon Musk apparently did not realize is that this statement triggers DOGE’s obligation to comply with citizen demands to see and—if need be—correct their personal information under the Privacy Act. It also allows every citizen to find out what other agencies or outside parties have been made privy to our information.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued an injunction commanding DOGE to comply with citizen requests under the Freedom of Information Act. FOIA encompasses the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, which entitles any citizen to access personal information held in any U.S. government records system.
Click this link to fill out the Privacy Act request form and mail it in directly to DOGE. This newly recognized federal agency, which has been systematically accessing government computer data systems, now has an obligation to respond to specific information demands from any of the 340 million U.S. citizens who exercise their legal right to defend their privacy and establish the security of their personal information.
I can’t wait to see what DOGE has been doing with all of our data, and I can’t wait to see what the courts will do if DOGE refuses to comply with the District Court’s injunction. In a democracy, as opposed to a dictatorship, assuming the powers of government carries real burdens and obligations for our officials as well as the benefits and riches the billionaires routinely seek out.
I hope you will join me in this unfolding monumental struggle for transparency and the rights of the people. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to fill out this form. With gratitude and solidarity, and nothing but great high hopes for America,
Jamie Raskin |
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Many Actions Are Planned for After April 5 |
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Come join like-minded folks to demand that Trump, Musk, and the Republican-led Congress stop their unconstitutional power grab and the cruel destruction of our federal government.
It has been AMAZING to see the enthusiasm the last three Tuesday's overpass standouts have generated - in the signs and banners and flags and energy with which you've all shown up, and motorists' honking and waving and thumbs-upping, too!
Please come out whether or not you have a sign or banner or flag. The more people the better!
Tues. 4/8 > I-91 Overpass Peaceful Visibility Standout - 9 Mtn Park Rd, Holyoke, MA Tues, 4/8 > I-91 Overpass Standout - Mountain Dr, Hatfield, MA
Sat, 4/12 > Tesla Takedown Western MA - Sidewalk Protest at Supercharger Location And more, all over Western MA. Bookmark this link to Mobilize, sign up to get notifications of new events and and check often for updates.
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If you click around and have trouble getting back to our page, follow these steps: In the menu at the top, second button from the left, click Filters. In the box titled Near type in 01060 Scroll down and click Apply Filters
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IN-SLWM Members Voted for Leader Schumer to Step Down |
81% of our members who voted in our recent poll said that Senator Chuck Schumer should step down as the leader of the Democrats in the Senate.
Minority Leader Schumer is the chair of the Democratic Caucus in the Senate, and he broke with the vast majority of Democratic Senators to allow a Republican government budget funding bill to advance, without any restrictions on the continuing efforts by the Trump/Musk presidency to dismantle the federal government.
Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition sent this press release which summarizes it well: |
“Under Senator Chuck Schumer’s Leadership, Senate Democrats recently surrendered a rare moment of leverage to rein in the chaos and harm of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Congressional Republicans. By voting to advance the Republican government funding bill, without demanding anything in return, Schumer handed even more power to the extremists destroying the government. This was a strategic mistake and showed that he isn’t prepared to lead the Democratic opposition to fascism to protect our democracy. We thank him for his service, but call on him to step aside as minority leader.
Now we need leaders who are willing to fight as hard as we are. Schumer should step aside as Minority Leader so another Democrat who’s willing to lead the opposition can step up to take his place.” |
Action item: Please write or call our Senators to request they support replacing Senator Schumer with someone who recognizes the danger to America and will fight harder to protect us. |
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Our Facebook Page Is Back |
Upon further consideration, we have decided to keep this public Page active and use it to post event information, which can then be shared. Posts to the Page will be from the organization only.
This will help increase participation in our events, and encourage more people to join the private Group. The Group will also have the same event info, as well as the ability to post as a Group member. It will continue to be a great place to post and discuss news and ideas. We can keep trolls out of the Group, since people have to ask to join and we can remove any bad actors.
Posts cannot be shared from any private Group to others outside the Group. If you are in the Group and see an event post you want to share, just go to the Page and share it from there. If you want others not in the Group to see something posted in the Group, you can invite them to join the Group!
We welcome comments to michael@in-slwm.orgwith any questions or ideas you have about our Facebook presence. |
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ICYMI - Videos From the Archive |
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USEFUL LINKS
RESOURCES
CHOP WOOD, CARRY WATER That Zen saying is also the name of a daily email from activist and Substack columnist Jessica Craven. On weekdays she offers a bunch of actions for subscribers to take, such as phoning senators and representatives – often with different scripts for Democratic and Republicans – about issues needing their attention. On the weekends, she highlights items from the news that are encouraging, under the headline “Celebrate This!” Here’s the link to her substack page.
SPEAKING OF FACEBOOK…If you’re not already subscribed to our Facebook Group, consider joining! We share daily commentaries from a long list of authors, including Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Hubbell, and Robert Reich; announcements of our public Zoom meetings; and opportunities for action. To join our Facebook Group click here. |
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You received this email because you subscribed to our list. You can unsubscribe at any time. Mountain Laurel Path Florence Massachusetts 01062 United States of America ©️2025 IN-SLWM |
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