Call To Action 7-26-20

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY
 
Are We Going To Let The Supreme Court Decide The Election?
 
While mail in voting will likely reach historic proportions for this election, few states are prepared to count the unprecedented number of mail-in ballots. It is likely that it will take weeks and possibly over a month to get all ballots counted. If that happens, states will run out of time to verify their elections and the Supreme Court will decide. The voting calendar, set by the House will be the problem.
 
This week a district in New York has been trying to count and verify primary ballots for over a month and the results are still not known. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-month-later-this-new-york-city-primary-is-still-a-train-wreck-and-a-warning-to-us-all/2020/07/25/1c19f9c4-cb68-11ea-b0e3-d55bda07d66a_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-banner-main_nyc-ballots-7am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
 
President Trump has already signaled he will likely not accept the results of the election. Let's do everything we can NOW to prevent this disaster.
Ask Denny what he is doing to ensure that this will not happen.
 
ACTION:  My name is ____________. I am a member of Olympia Indivisible and I am extremely concerned that states will not have enough time to accurately verify the historic number of mail in ballots due to the pandemic. What is Congressman Heck doing to ask the House to extend the voting calendar so that states will have enough time to count these ballots before the Supreme Court has to step in?
 ​
Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Act
Our Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are co-sponsoring legislation to restrict the Trump Administration’s ability to use federal law enforcement against Americans. The legislation is in response to the unidentified federal forces used in Portland to tear gas protestors and seize people without probable cause. The legislation would 1) require identification on uniforms of officers and prevent the use of unmarked vehicles during arrests, 2) limit the scope of federal agent activities to federal property and its immediate vicinity, unless their presence is specifically requested by both the mayor and the governor, 3) require disclosure on an agency website within 24 hours reporting the number of personnel and purposes of deployment, and 4) make arrests in violation of these rules unlawful.
ACTION:  Call our Senators to thank them for co-sponsoring the legislation to protect communities from federal law enforcement officers acting in violation of our First Amendment rights.
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 thank Senator____________ for co-sponsoring the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Act. The Trump Administration has used Federal law enforcement officers to violate protestors’ First Amendment rights in Portland. Violence and aggression are totally unacceptable, and the proposed legislation will help protect our right to protest safely.
 
Support Maricopa Democratic Headquarters ARSON Recovery Fund
The Democratic Party’s state and county headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, was targeted in an arson attack this past Friday. Luckily, no one was injured in the early-hours blaze that ripped through and decimated the part of the building occupied by the Maricopa County Democratic Party. The inferno totally destroyed the Maricopa County headquarters, including computers, laptops, phone banking equipment, and decades’ worth of gathered voter and candidate information. Arizona is a key state in the 2020 election and one of the states which Olympia Indivisible adopted to aid in 2020. In fact, our Arizona Field Team was at the Maricopa County headquarters for its opening ceremonies when we did our field trip in February.
 
WHAT CAN YOU DO?  ACTION:  Make a personal  donation to the Fire Recovery Fund for Maricopa County Democratic Headquarters. The Maricopa County Democratic party has just set up a page on their website which makes this easy to do online. If you prefer to send a check, send your donation to MCDP C/O Brooklynne Sundseth 1101 E Almeria Rd Phoenix, AZ 85006.
 
NEW DAY!!! NEW TIME!! - PHONEBANKING: YES, YOU CAN!!
Phone banking is our #1 tool to get out the vote for the elections. The OI Education Team is ready to get you comfortable with making those calls and to show you how to do it with ease.
 
Join us for our first training session on Friday, July 31 at 6:00 pm. The training will last about an hour.

 
Click here to register, then watch for an email with more details.
 
Let’s get to work!
 
Three 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. 
 
​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
Forwarded from Our Revolution Thurston:[Requesting] our membership to email all 4 officials, mentioning the fact that Bayer has over 8,000 lawsuits against them for using Glyphosate and that some have been decided against them. It needs to be in by Tuesday. 

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER ALERT
 
The Black Lake Special District has applied to Thurston County Commissioners for a $1,400.000 grant (at $103,000 per year over 20 years) for which the 180 shoreline parcel owners would be taxed to finance this insane project.  This even though the County’s own assessment of potential herbicides and pesticides found glyphosate and diquat dibromide, a second of the three planned chemicals to be used, failed their criteria for permitted use.

Even if you are not a shoreline resident but have a concern about the wider pervasiveness of these disastrous and toxic products you can register your concerns at a public hearing this Tuesday, July 28th at 3:00 p.m. at the Thurston County Courthouse, Rm. 280.  Another option is to call 360-252-9020 Pin #1234 and can call in any time after 2:00 p.m. (recommended due to Covid 19). You also can send an email with your comments to the County Commissioner’s, but HURRY
 
Let us let the County officials know that an exceptionally large portion of citizens are not indifferent to what is going on here and around the world.  A   U.N. investigation concluded glyphosate is a probable carcinogen that causes cancer.  We are asking that Environmental Impact Assessment be completed before any consideration for continuing this project, and results of that assessment be published.

ACTION:  Please attend this meeting or write a letter to the County Commissioners in support of our environment.

Commissioners Email Addresses:

John Hutchings, Chair 
john.hutchings@co.thurston.wa.
 
Tye Menser, Vice-Chair
tye.menser@co.thurston.wa.us
 
Gary Edwards, Commissioner
gary.edwards@co.thurston.wa.us
 
Tim Wilson, Water Resources Program Manager
tim.wilson@co.thurston.wa.us

From the Freedom From Religion Foundation:
Protect Abortion Rights
Rep. Ayanna Pressley has just introduced a crucial proposal to remove the Hyde Amendment from a major federal appropriations bill and ensure that abortion care is accessible for all. 

The Hyde Amendment, inserted decades ago by ultra-Catholic Rep. Henry J. Hyde, restricts federal funding for abortion, rendering women on Medicaid ineligible for abortion coverage even if the procedure is recommended by a doctor or if the pregnancy compromises the woman’s health. 
Read more.

Hyde’s long history of anti-choice legislation was vocally driven by his fear of “God’s punishment.” He said:

“I believe in a merciful God, I believe in a just God, and I would be terrified at the thought of having to explain at the final judgment why I stood unmoved while Herod’s slaughter of the innocents was being reenacted here in my own country.” 

This rule is plainly based on Hyde’s own dogmatic religious beliefs and abandons the safety and autonomy of some of the most vulnerable Americans. Please contact your representative and urge them to support Rep. Pressley’s amendment and remove the Hyde Amendment from the current appropriations bill. 
ACTION:  Call Representative Denny Heck and ask him to strike the Hyde Amendment.
Representative Denny Heck (360) 459-8514
Script: As your constituent, I strongly urge you to support Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s amendment to remove the Hyde Amendment from this year’s Labor-HHS appropriations bill.
The Hyde Amendment has restricted access to abortion to some of our most vulnerable communities for nearly 40 years.In 2015, 643,000 women of reproductive age were enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid because they are low-income or living with a disability. The Hyde Amendment restricts women on these crucial programs from receiving affordable abortion health care. Nobody should be denied essential healthcare because they are struggling financially.
It is long past time for the Hyde Amendment to be overturned. Please vote YES on Rep. Pressley’s amendment and remove the Hyde anachronism from federal spending legislation once and for all.

STATE & COUNTY ACTIONS
Tell Helen Wheatley Thanks
 
Helen Wheatley (whom you all recall ran for Port Commissioner last year) has stepped up to fill the board vacancy created by Paul Picket’s resignation. She will do a great job. We thank Paul for his service to the county and thank Helen for stepping to the plate!
The TCD contact form is here: https://www.thurstoncd.com/about-us/contact-us/
 
Olympia Indivisible Elections Alerts and Events
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 - Congressional District 10 Representative​
ALERTS: Beth Doglio for Congress is looking for volunteers (RIGHT NOW) to host a virtual fundraiser, phone bank, and text bank! Please contact Caitlin Krenn, Field Director, for more information: (360) 339-5744 / caitlin@bethdoglio.com.
Beth Doglio is proudly endorsed by Olympia Indivisible Group, Indivisible Tacoma Community, and Indivisible Puyallup.

 
Jessica Bateman - ​Representative District 22 Position 2
ALERTS: 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 Bateman Sign-Waving Events
There are only two weeks until Election Day! Please join us to sign-wave for candidate Jessica Bateman! They are requesting O.I. volunteers to help wave signs at these outdoor events, while observing social distancing and wearing a mask. As always to support community health, we encourage you to stay home if you are not feeling well.

​Please send questions or an RSVP to: info@votejessicabateman.com.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

• Sat. 7/25, 10:30 - 11:30am, Tumwater,
  Trosper Road SW and Capitol Blvd SE Tumwater, WA (park near WEA building)
• Wed. 7/29, 5:00 - 6:00pm, Lacey 
  Pacific Ave SE & Sleater Kinney Rd SE, Lacey, WA
• Fri. 7/31, 5:00 - 6:00pm, Olympia
  Plum St. SE and Union Ave SE, Olympia, WA
• Sat. 8/1, 10:30 - 11:30am, Olympia
  ​Black Lake Blvd SW & Cooper Point Rd SW, Olympia, WA​

Carolina Mejia - Thurston County Commissioner District 1
ALERTS: 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, and 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
​
Michael Steadman - Thurston Commissioner District 2
ALERTS: Michael 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

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