Call to Action July 19, 2020

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY
 
Russia offers bounties for murder of US soldiers and Trump doesn’t blink an eye!  Where is the outrage?  Where is the investigation?
 
Late in June we learned that US intelligence agencies had credible evidence that Russia offered to pay Taliban insurgents bounties for the murder of US soldiers, and that some deaths of US soldiers were attributed to the Russian program.  Trump called it “Fake News” and denied ever having been briefed on it, but it is clear that many in the administration were briefed.  When the news broke at the end of the month, both Democratic and Republican members of Congress expressed outrage over the Russian actions and concern that the administration appeared disinterested in the matter.  Strongly worded Tweets by Liz Cheney and Lindsay Graham and public comments by Nancy Pelosi led many of us to think that there was a chance of bipartisan action by Congress to sanction Russia and investigate whether the Trump administration had tried to sweep the entire affair under the carpet.
 
Since then, we have heard nothing further from our Members of Congress, although others have continued to speak up.  The House and the Senate have been on break, reconvening tomorrow.  Maybe that is the reason for their silence, but where are the announcements of upcoming investigations or plans to further penalize Russia for continued bad behavior?   We all get distracted by the next Trump inspired crisis or outrage; as a result, it is all too easy to lose track of the ones that really matter.  This is one that really matters.
 
ACTION:  We should urge our MOCs to not let this issue recede from our attention.  They can do three things.  One is to continue to express their anger over the actions by Russia and the apparent inaction by the Trump administration.  A recent Op-ed in the Washington Post by several former intelligence chiefs clearly makes the case for continued focus on this.  The second is to organize investigations into what the Trump administration knew, when they knew it, why they withheld the information from Congress, and what they intend to do about it.  And third, consider legislation to increase penalties and sanctions on Russia.  We are mad that Russia did this, and madder that Trump may let Russia get away with it.
 
Call our MOCs to express your concerns.
 
Senator Patty Murray
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Website: https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: (202) 224-3441
Website:  https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Representative Denny Heck
Phone:  202-225-9740
Website: https://dennyheck.house.gov/contact/email-me
 
Script:  I am _________________ and I am a member of Olympia Indivisible.   Russia paid bounties to Taliban insurgents to murder US soldiers, and some of our soldiers died as a result.  The Trump administration knew of this program, considered options for response, but to date Russia has felt no consequences for this egregious act of aggression against us.  Trump denies that he knew anything of the program, and calls it Fake News.  To date, there have been no consequences to him for being complicit with the Russians.  Congress must speak out with one voice about this Russian aggression and murder of US soldiers, and if Trump won’t provide consequences for bad behavior by the Russians, then Congress must.  Congress must also investigate what the Trump administration knew about this, when they knew it, and why they did not inform Congress or the American people.  Please tell me what Senator/Representative ________ is planning to do about this, and tell her/him that I demand action so that the murder of US soldiers is not forgotten and so that both the Russians and the Trump administration face consequences for their actions.

Demand an Investigation of Federal Agencies for Violating Portland Protestors’ Civil Rights
The Oregon Attorney General and the Oregon Department of Justice filed a lawsuit alleging that the federal government violated Oregonians’ civil rights by seizing people without probable cause during Portland protests. The Trump Administration sent unidentified men in camouflage uniforms into Portland, and these men in military fatigues took people off the streets for simply being protestors. The “officers” were from the U.S. Marshalls Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Protection Service. None of them are trained either in dealing with protests or ordinary law enforcement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) issued a joint statement on the Portland protests and the crackdown by the White House. They stated “Yet time and time again, the Trump Administration shows its lack of respect for the dignity and First Amendment rights of all Americans.” In the statement they promised “The House is committed to moving swiftly to curb these egregious abuses of power immediately.” Our own Senator Patty Murray stated that “These attacks on Americans’ basic freedoms should have no place in our country.”
We must demand that our Members of Congress initiate investigations into the abuse of power and violation of protestors’ civil rights.
ACTION:  Call Representative Denny Heck to demand that the House investigate the use of federal agencies to disrupt peaceful protests.
Representative Denny Heck (360) 459-8514
Script: My name is ___________________, and I am a member of Olympia Indivisible. I am calling to demand that the House initiate an investigation into the use of federal agencies to disrupt peaceful protests. This action by the Trump Administration is a violation of our First Amendment rights.
ACTION:  Call our Senators to demand that the Senate investigate the use of federal agencies to disrupt peaceful protests.
Senator Patty Murray (253) 572-3636
Senator Maria Cantwell (253) 572-2281
 Script: My name is ___________________, and I am a member of Olympia Indivisible. I am calling to demand that the Senate initiate an investigation into the use of federal agencies to disrupt peaceful protests. This action by the Trump Administration is a violation of our First Amendment rights.

Four Weeks Left to Help States Provide Safe Voting
As the pandemic escalates, 16 states still do not provide absentee mail-in ballots or expanded early in-person voting.
During these last four weeks the Advocacy Initiative project, we will continue to PUSH Governors and Election Officials in those targeted states. We also need to contact their US Senators to support safe voting legislation now in Congress.  The work is all done remotely from home, it’s easy, and it’s crucial. Contact lists and scripts are provided. The OI Advocacy Initiative Team will help you get started during personalized training sessions. If you’ve already been making contacts but have a few questions, join us at the beginning of a “Check-In and Get Started” session. These sessions are offered twice a week and will continue through mid-August. 
 
​ACTION: Check-in & Get Started Advocacy Initiative sessions​

• Mondays at 12 Noon PDT
  Use this link to register for this meeting.
• Fridays at 10:00 a.m. PDT
  Use this link to register for this meeting.

 
PROTECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Send Dr. Fauci a thank you
Send Dr. Fauci a thank you card. By mail. The postage purchased will help the USPS and the cards will let him know how much he's respected and appreciated by most Americans. If you're interested send a card to:
Dr. Anthony Fauci c/o
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
5601 Fishers Lane, MSC 9806
Bethesda, MD 20892-9806
USA
STATE & COUNTY ACTIONS
Help Beth Doglio Get An Indivisible.org National Endorsement.  
 
Please help secure a national endorsement for Beth Doglio by completing a very simple registration form from Indivisible. org which will allow you to participate in their voting process to determine the endorsement.   We, Olympia Indivisible, have submitted Beth’s name for consideration.  After vetting, they will pole registered CD10 members.  There are a number of benefits to this endorsement for Beth, so please help and register.   https://act.indivisible.org/signup/endorsement-signup
 
Olympia Indivisible Elections Alerts and Events
You can help out our OI endorsed candidates – go to https://www.olympiaindivisible.org/endorsed-candidates.html to see their upcoming needs. Here’s what’s posted this week:

​​Beth Doglio for Congress is looking for volunteers to: ​

• Host a virtual fundraiser!
• Phone Bank!
• Text Bank!

Please contact Caitlin Krenn, Field Director, for more information: (360) 339-5744 / caitlin@bethdoglio.com. Or visit: www.bethdoglio.com.

 
Jessica Bateman's campaign is wanting volunteers for phone banking every Wednesday and Saturday leading up to the primary. They also need volunteers for literature dropping. Contact Sara at sara.develle@gmail.com.
 
Team Carolina Mejia needs your help! We need volunteers and we will train!
What: Here is what our campaign needs:

• Virtual phone banking
• Lawn sign planting
• Host a virtual fundraiser 
• Sign waving

Where: Volunteer from home or walk/drive around your community and plant lawn signs!
When: We meet virtually every Thursday and Friday from 4 - 7pm and Saturday from 11 to 2pm. You can make phone calls, plant yard signs or host a virtual fundraiser on your own schedule. 

Please contact Antonia Moore Volunteer Coordinator (antonia@carolinaforthurston.com) for more information.
Phone:253-468-3725 
Or visit: www.carolinaforthurston.com
 
Michael Steadman - Thurston Commissioner District 2Michael Steadman’s campaign is currently requesting volunteers who will do phone banking. Any of our members who would be willing to volunteer should contact Jesse Simmons via email (jwsimmons0824@gmail.com). Campaign phone: (360) 525-4142

Weekly Zoom phone bank sessions from 6pm to 8pm on Monday, Tuesday, Friday from now until Wed Aug 5.