Quote of the Week: “I will not stop pushing back against this Administration’s cruelty and their efforts to trample on people’s due process rights, safety, and basic humanity. I will keep using every legislative tool at my disposal and speaking out against these abuses, alongside so many people in Washington state and across the country who are exercising their First Amendment right to peacefully protest.” –Senator Patty Murray, November 12, 2025 letter to a constituent. Get Out on the Streets:  Photo by zaya odeesho on Unsplash Want the scoop on upcoming rallies, marches, and related events? Visit OI’s Rallies, Marches, Town Halls and Boycotts webpage! Federal Actions: Take Action on the Democratic Senators/Schumer Cave-in  Background After insisting on measures to protect millions of Americans from huge increases in healthcare costs as a condition of ending the federal government shutdown, a handful of Democratic senators gave in, voting for a Republican cloture motion and helping Republicans pass a continuing resolution, getting nothing meaningful in return. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, while casting a nay vote, did not stop his caucus from splintering and caving. The Sunday Senate vote is the ugly sequel to the March capitulation that Schumer engineered and participated in himself. Representative Ro Khanna (D-California) put it best: “Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced.” Action 1: Thank our Senators for voting against the continuing resolution; tell them to push for Schumer to resign.
Suggested Script: I am furious beyond belief that Democrats have caved to Republicans while extracting no meaningful concessions. I understand this isn’t the Senator’s fault—thank you for voting no. But I hold you accountable for allowing Minority Leader Schumer to stay in his role as Minority Leader. He is incompetent and untrustworthy and I call on you to tell him to step down now. Action 2: Rep. Strickland has come out with a press statement strongly opposing the ugly Senate budget deal. The House still needs to act,.
Suggested Script: As your constituent, I thank you for your press release voicing your opposition to the Senate budget deal and calling out Democratic Senators who lost their nerve and caved in to this toxic Republican plan in exchange for a meaningless promise of a future vote to save health care. Action 3: Signal your outrage to the Ugly Eight Senators who capitulated. Three of them won’t even accept voicemail at their D.C. office phone numbers but you can do so at their regional offices (see below).
Suggested Script: I’m calling to express my deep outrage that _________ voted Yes on a toxic budget deal that does nothing to fix our health costs and caves to an untrustworthy authoritarian regime. Republicans agreed to nothing more than a worthless promise for a vote on health care. Your yes vote betrays not only of your constituents but American people across the nation. Shame on you Tell your Senators to Co-Sponsor the No Troops in Our Streets Act of 2025  Photo by Chris Henry on Unsplash Tired of seeing National Guard troops taking control of our cities as if we were living in a military dictatorship? Tell your US senators to support and co-sponsor SB 3167, Senator Elissa Slotkin’s “No Troops in Our Streets Act.” Action: Contact your Senators:
Local Actions: Spotlight on Local Organizations Feeding our Community Have you heard about Chris Hyde and the Souper Sunday Facebook group? What started two years ago as Chris cooking soup in his kitchen and sharing it from his front porch has grown into a local movement with 21 independent Souper Sunday neighborhood groups providing hot meals every day of the week and over 5,000 members. There are a variety of ways you can help this remarkable local organization. Please click this link to learn more: Super Sunday Action --------- Pizza and Politics: Preparing to Engage in the 2026 Legislative Session Learn the ins and outs of Washington’s legislative process at the Pizza & Politics workshop in the Timberland Regional Library Olympia Branch atrium, 313 8th Avenue SE, Olympia at 6:30 pm, November 18 (Tuesday). Bring a notepad, a pen or pencil, an appetite for pizza, and warm clothing – the atrium is outside the library. See the library’s event page for more information and to easily add this to your calendar. --------- Absolutely Free Sharing Market What: Absolutely Free Sharing Market When: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 12-5pm (12-1 Covid Cautious Hour; 1-2pm Foster Families + SNAP and WIC Recipients; 2-5 General Public Swapping) Focus: Books, plants, tools, clothes, home decor, furnishings, skill share, live music, cookie swap, and more Organizer: Evergreen Resistance Carpooling and volunteer opportunities: [email protected] --------- Learn Nonviolent Strategies Against Authoritarianism What: Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation’s 2025 Fall Conference When: Saturday, Nov. 22nd, 8:45-12:45pm on Zoom Focus: Nonviolence: Key Strategies for Times of Rising Authoritarianism (plus youth activist presentation, discussions, and music) Trainers: Mary Lou Finley and Pam Smith Cost: Optional donation $1-50 Register online HERE --------- Boycott Starbucks to Support Union Baristas On November 13th during Starbucks' annual Red Cup promotion, more than 1,000 union Starbucks baristas in 40+ cities went on strike to demand better pay, more staffing, and a fair contract. Workers didn’t come to this decision lightly. They take pride in their jobs. But Starbucks has been stalling, breaking the law, and breaking promises from the moment this union started, it’s time to show that the union is serious. What’s at stake:
Every cup of coffee skipped counts. When customers take action alongside workers, Starbucks will have no choice but to listen. Spread the word not to buy Starbucks as long as workers are on strike! Actions:
Join Artists Across the Nation Even if You Aren’t an Artist  Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation. Our democracy is under attack. Threats to free expression are rising. Dissent is being criminalized. Institutions and media have been recast as mouthpieces of propaganda. Beginning November 21–22, 2025, galleries, museums, libraries, comedy clubs, theaters, and concert halls across the country will host exhibitions, performances, and public events that channel the urgency of this moment. Art matters. Artists are a threat to American fascism. Fall of Freedom. Action: Art in Action has created an easy, fun activity to join in this action, a “MISSING”, “LOST” poster you can create, make copies and post everywhere starting November 20. Fill in the template with your creativity. Collages, drawings, printed graphics, words–make it family friendly and timely. Then copy and post as you would any lost item, and share photos, share the template and spread the word freely! Responsible posting, please – no private property or defacing of public property. Enjoy! Link to templates Department of Good News: Olympia No Kings 2.0 Emcee Wins Award Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, who led the Olympia No Kings 2.0 rally at the Capitol with style and verve, has won the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Superior Service award. The Department says, “Alfie Alvarado-Ramos embodies exceptional dedication, advocacy, and civic leadership. [...] Alfie’s legacy of empathy and innovation continues to transform lives across Washington.”
|
Archives
December 2025
At the bottom of the page lick the "<<Previous" link to see older posts.
|
RSS Feed
.jpg){kind=link}