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**** Fundraising Message Below **** |
Meetings and Events Indivisible Easthampton, Kick-off Party! Saturday, July 5, 2–4 pm Indivisigather, In-Person Gathering to Reconnect & Recharge: Sunday, July 13, 4:30–6 pm Online Benefit for Trans Relocation Support: Tuesday, July 15, 7–8 pm Indivisible, One million rising: online, Wednesdays, July 16, July 30, August 13, 8 pm ET
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Actions Phonebank for Democracy! Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm ET Urgent Action to Strengthen Abortion Access in MA! A message from Rep. Sabadosa Pass the Location Shield Act: Protect our personal location data New Weekly Standout at the Leeds VA
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News and Announcements “Stronger Together”: Notes from the June 26 Vigil, “Disappeared in Massachusetts” A Win for Reproductive Rights in Wisconsin
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**** Fundraising message **** |
First of all, thank you to those who responded to our original fund-raising appeal.
The events of this year have challenged us in unprecedented ways; and we have met those challenges with creativity and persistence. We have been deeply grateful to our communities for showing up, over and over, with energy and commitment in the face of our fear and rage. We are present for each other, present for our democracy, present for the future of our communities, our country, our planet. As we prepare for the rest of 2025, IN-SLWM is putting in the work to organize our resistance, to fight back at every moment. We are asking for your financial support to continue and to expand our work.
Here’s what we have done so far this year: organized rallies and standouts at a variety of locations across western Massachusetts and New England; organized and provided support for teams to take action on critical issues such as women’s reproductive rights, protecting vulnerable communities and preserving the social safety net; collaborated with groups in Springfield and other towns to build a bigger, more diverse coalition; held weekly phone banks across the country with state and national organizations; mailed 23,000 postcards in support of candidates and to highlight issues for voters in swing states; hosted virtual town halls with state and federal electeds.
We have expenses. Our mailing list has almost doubled to over 3,000 people since November, so we’ve had to start paying for an email distribution platform. The cost of web hosting has gone up. We spend money on supplies for social events, sign-making, and other incidentals. Now we are incurring expenses for security and other infrastructure for rallies. We want to do more. We want to support a zoom account for our teams; we want to host more social gatherings; we want to fully support teams with materials for sign-making, video production and other forms of outreach; we want to strengthen security and other features of our website and we want to be in a position to launch new projects.
If half of the people on our list chipped in $5 we’d be in good shape for the rest of the year. So every little bit counts, and no amount is too small.
Now is the time to support Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western Mass. as we build our people power. Please consider making a contribution today to support our work. |
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Saturday, July 5, 2–4 pmIndivisible Easthampton: Kick-off Party!Easthampton Public Library Annex,52 Main Street, Easthampton |
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FREE! FREE! FREE! FOOD. ART. GIVEAWAYS.
We need your energy!
Join with your community to do all we can to save our democracy & nation. You can't sit this one out.
Join us to: Learn how to fight back nationally and locally Sign up for an Action Team Celebrate America's birthday & our little town with a big heart Make art & build community Hang out with neighbors & eat snacks.
Bring your friends and family!
Action teams include: Writing & sending postcards to voters Engaging with elected officials Phone banking Building our website & social media Recruiting members Building partnerships Supporting candidates Registering voters
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Sunday, July 13, 4:30–6 pmIn-Person Gathering to Reconnect & Recharge: Indivisigather! |
Let's meet up IRL (in real life!!) to do some spirit-sustaining, joy-inducing, be-ing together!
We'll have beverages and snacks —feel free to add your own or not - live music from the jazzy acoustic band, Too Human (featuring our own postcard diva & fabulous phonebanker, Ellen Schwartz), political button-making, opportunities to find out more about our current campaigns, and hang out and RELAX with your activist community!
While signup is optional, it will help us estimate how many will be coming.
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Tuesday, July 15, 7–8 pmOnline Benefit for Trans Relocation Support |
Show your support for the local transgender community!
Transgender people are being persecuted on multiple fronts right now: On June 18th, the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to trans youth, their families and the communities that support them. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in Skrmetti v. U.S. that SB1— Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors —does not illegally discriminate against individuals on the basis of sex or transgender status. This allows Tennessee, and any other states that may choose to follow its discriminatory lead, to ban medically necessary health care for minors. 26 states have outlawed gender-affirming care for trans youth 25 states ban transgender students from participating in sports aligned with their gender identities 13 states ban transgender people from using bathrooms corresponding to their gender identities.
In response, many trans individuals and families with trans or nonbinary members are moving to states such as Massachusetts that offer legal protections and a safer environment. But people making these moves face significant financial, emotional and logistical barriers. That’s where Trans Relocation Support (TRS) comes in.
TRS helps newcomers to Western Massachusetts find temporary housing and connects them with a team of volunteers — their own “welcome village.” These TRS volunteers provide much-needed support as newcomers settle in and join our affirming community.
Members of the local Indivisible chapter have organized a fundraiser aiming to raise $20,000 for Trans Relocation Support. On Tues., July 15, we’re hosting a virtual benefit on Zoom featuring members of TRS, who will discuss the vital work they’re doing.
Event details: What: Virtual Benefit for Trans Relocation Support When: Tues., July 15, from 7–8 p.m. Who: Speakers will include representatives from Trans Relocation Support, including a newcomer TRS has helped resettle in the region, dedicated community volunteers and a member of their leadership team.
RSVP: Sign up to join us on Zoom by registering at this link.
Thank you so much for your support!
One note: To protect the safety and privacy of TRS’ clients, please do not share our fundraising page on social media. |
Three Wednesday sessions:July 16, 8 pm ETJuly 30, 8 pm ETAugust 13, 8 pm ETOne Million Rising:Our recipe to delay, defy, and help defeat TrumpIndivisible's new focus! |
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We are all watching MAGA attempt to end the American experiment.
With Senate Republicans passing their bill to eviscerate Medicaid, rip away health insurance from millions of Americans, and fast-track a massive wealth transfer through tax-breaks for the rich, it is clear the GOP has given up on governing for the American people and are all-in on serving their wealthy masters.
Congress will not save us.
The courts will not save us.
We are the only ones who can save us.
But we can’t do it alone. If No Kings Day reminded us of anything, it is the power of collective action. One voice can be ignored. Five million voices are undeniable. But how do we build that sort of ongoing engagement?
One day mass mobilizations like No Kings Day are incredible shows of movement energy, but they are, by definition, confined to a single day. To defeat MAGA, we’re going to have to mobilize more people, and we’re going to have to do it on a sustained basis. That’s where One Million Rising comes in. The success of an authoritarian takeover is dependent upon a population choosing to comply. It only takes a (relatively) small number of people practicing non-cooperation to make implementation of their fascist ideals impossible -- so let’s train one million. If we can motivate, train, and equip this movement in the practice of strategic non-cooperation, we can disrupt, delay, and even, at times, make it impossible for this administration to enact corrupt policy. We’re breaking this down into three sessions -- join us for all three if you can! (Yes, they’ll be recorded if you can’t.)
One Million Rising Structure
Session 1: The Moment and Your Mission Wednesday, July 16 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
Get oriented to making meaning of this moment and the role you can play in coordinated strategic action.
Session 2: How to Make it Happen Wednesday, July 30 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
Learn not just our strategy, but how you can train others and get them on board. This train-the-trainer session is how we get to one million.
Session 3: What Now? Wednesday, August 13 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
You'll be onboarded to basic campaign design and learn how to implement it locally. We’ll also get you plugged into our next national campaign.
This is the next stage of the Indivisible movement: Indivisible activists moving their friends, family, and acquaintances from doomscrolling to active resistance. It is vital to our ability to slow down, stop, and ultimately defeat Trump’s authoritarian takeover.
Whether you’re an experienced group leader or joining one of our trainings for the first time, One Million Rising will bring you critical insights into how we move forward as a movement in the face of a Trump regime that does not care about rules, laws, or the courts. Join us for One Million Rising beginning Wednesday, July 16. |
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Thursdays, 5:30–7:30 pm ETPhone Bank for Democracy! |
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In this head-spinning time of BOTH horrific assaults on our democracy and neighbors, AND increasingly frequent, loud & powerful demonstrations of RESISTANCE (looking at you, TakeDowns, Standouts,—and No Kings!), we must also continue the step-by-step work of reaching out to voters, giving them information and inspiration so that they, too, can make their voices heard in this fight for our democracy.
Join us as we do just this, together, every Thursday, from 5:30-7:30 pm ET on zoom. We'll be working with Common Cause to stop copy-cat SAVE (voter suppression) Acts! Common Cause will be consulting with their partners at the state and federal levels to make sure we'll be focusing our calls where they're needed the most.
As always, we'll have a full training to begin, and lots of support throughout—so all are very welcome—and very needed in this powerful tool for democracy!
Here's the Mobilize link:
See you Thursday! |
Urgent Action to Strengthen Abortion Access in MA!A message from Representative Lindsay Sabadosa |
From Representative Sabadosa: "A bill I filed with Rep. Barber, H.2370, An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care, is coming up for a hearing. This legislation ensures that decisions about later-in-pregnancy abortion care remain between patients and their doctors, not politicians, hospital attorneys, or other third parties.
"The reality is that every month, people from Massachusetts are forced to travel to states like Maryland, D.C., or Colorado to access care they should be able to receive here at home. Why? Because an existing law is being interpreted too narrowly by hospital attorneys who fear legal backlash from anti-choice groups. As access to abortion becomes more restricted across the country, it’s critical that Massachusetts lead by allowing patients to receive the care they need, right here.
"If you agree, I encourage you to participate in the upcoming hearing [in person or by email]. You’ll find the details below, and our office is happy to assist with drafting testimony or offering support to ensure your voice is heard. Committee: Joint Committee on Public Health House Chair: Marjorie C. Decker Senate Chair: William Driscoll, Jr. Date of Hearing: Date of Hearing: Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. Room: Hearing Room A1 In-Person and Virtual Testimony: Written Testimony: Use as email title: "Public Health Committee Testimony, H2370" Include in email text: Your name, address, phone number, and organization (if applicable)
"Thank you again for standing with us in the fight for reproductive freedom." |
Encourage your members of the Massachusetts Legislature:Pass the Location Shield ActProtect our personal location data! |
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For many of us, our phones are constant companions and go-to-references. How do I get to cousin Lenny’s?? Where is the closest gas station?? This is not, however, private information. This personal location data, from apps on our cellphones, reveals where we live, work, play and more, and is bought and sold by unregulated data brokers. With extremism on the rise and personal data increasingly exploited to attack people online and in person, we need to safeguard these sensitive details from prying eyes. To protect domestic abuse victims, abortion patients and providers, trans people and their families, journalists, and more, Massachusetts needs to pass:
the LOCATION SHIELD ACT H.86 & S.197 STOP THE SALE OF CELLPHONE LOCATION DATA
This legislation has significant support in the MA Legislature, but needs supportive input and prompting from citizens to get it into law.
We are participating in the postcard campaign organized by the ACLU to provide that prompting. IN-SLWM will provide postcards that will go to legislators in the MA House and Senate, to encourage them to act to pass this bill (find your legislator’s position here).
Details re: card pickup are on this form. You can just stop by, fill them out with your contact information and leave the completed cards. Or get together with a group of friends and neighbors, write a couple of postcards each and make your voices heard! Return them to the pickup location, and they will be delivered to the ACLU, which will present them to the legislators en masse. |
New Weekly Standout at the Leeds VA!Monday, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm |
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Protecting Vulnerable Communities: urgent request |
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From Amy Martyn: One of our Protecting Vulnerable Communities members is organizing a fundraiser for a local family impacted by ICE detention. You can read their story here.
They have no source of income now, and further family members are in danger of being abducted/detained. We hope you can help support this family in urgent need.
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Protecting Our Social Safety Net |
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The Protecting Social Safety Net team is concerned with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, school lunches, education, housing, veterans' health, and more. We share information within our team related to these issues. We also work on informing a wider audience about how individuals and communities are being impacted by federal legislation and executive orders. We are action oriented and welcome ideas. Our meetings are biweekly, mainly on zoom. Contact the chair, Barbara Goldin, at barbaradiamondgoldin@gmail.com . |
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“Stronger Together”:Notes from June 26 vigil, “Disappeared in Massachusetts” |
On June 26 at high noon, several of us from IN-SLWM joined about 150 others to attend a vigil for the 1,500 Massachusetts residents who have been grabbed and “disappeared” by ICE. It was a simple, somber event: gather in front of Northampton City Hall, listen to two songs of mourning and two brief speeches, grieve together in silence, and walk slowly through the downtown area. We carried flowers, not signs.
The event was organized by five friends. These women simply made a decision that the 1,500 humans deserved to be acknowledged and their treatment decried as inhumane and unlawful. These friends, working together, created a tone-perfect, successful event.
If you wonder what you can do to resist the coup, consider which injustice enrages you the most, grab a couple of friends, and create your own standout, letter-writing campaign, letters to editors, calls to legislators, or coffees to educate others. Every action counts. We are stronger together. —Arlene Kirsch |
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A Win for Reproductive Rights in Wisconsin |
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On July 2, the right to a legal abortion was upheld in Wisconsin by the State Supreme Court, which threw out the 1849 ban that Republicans planned to enforce. This is a victory for reproductive rights in Wisconsin! It’s a victory that you helped make possible. As The New York Times put it: [This decision] also reflects the significance of the state’s elections for Supreme Court justices, which have been hotly contested and revolved largely around abortion rights since the fall of Roe.
The court ruled 4-3 to strike down the ban, and while the justices are officially nonpartisan, the decision split them along ideological lines. A new justice who had campaigned on her support for abortion rights, Janet Protasiewicz, joined the majority.
Our activism turned out voters to put Justice Protasiewicz on the bench in 2023. We worked again this year to turn out voters—over 10,000 postcards sent and phone calls made—in support of Justice Crawford, who will be installed on the bench later this year.
Well done!! |
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 Democrats 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.
AS FOR 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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