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  • Home
  • About
    • Mission Statement
    • Core Values
    • Steering Committee Charter
    • Contact OI Steering Committee
    • Values Agreement
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    • 2022 OI Launch Video
    • OI Teams
  • Call to Action
  • Join us
  • Donate
  • Endorsed
  • Elections 2023
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    • MoC Meeting Summaries
  • Action Cafe!
  • Reproductive Rights in WA!
  • TAN (Take Action Network)
    • TAN Help Form
  • Photo Library
  • OI Gear
  • Education Toolbox
  • Register to Vote
  • Blog Submissions
  • Social Media Policy
  • POAT Postcard

Weekly Call To Action - July 23, 2023

7/22/2023

 

Quote of the Week:

“Three former high-ranking Fox executives are blasting Rupert Murdoch for Fox News' role spreading disinformation in the public discourse. In a joint statement published Wednesday, the executives — Preston Padden, Ken Solomon, and Bill Reyner — expressed profound regret for their roles helping Murdoch build Fox in its early days.” -- Oliver Darcy, CNN Reliable Sources

Final Week for Campaigns:

​Support Our Endorsed Candidates in This Final Week and Beyond

OI Endorsed Candidates from top left to right:  Sarah Tonge, Emily Clouse, Wayne Fournier, ​Maggie Sanders, Jasmine VasavadaPicture
www.sarahforport.com/eventswww.clouseforcommissioner.com/events
​Those of you in the following districts, will see one of our endorsed candidates on your ballot. If he or she has enough votes, they will make it through to the general election as one of the two contestants at which time we can all vote for them.

If you are in these districts, please vote. 

If not, you can still help the candidate get through the primary election by participating in one of the following:

District 5

Emily Clouse for Thurston County Commissioner
Sarah Tonge for Port of Olympia Commissioner

  • Phonebanking OR texting voters (Sarah) - Next Wednesday, see website to sign in to zoom. Wednesday, July 26, from 5:00 to 6:30

  • Phonebanking OR texting voters (Emily) - Next Thursday, see website to sign in to zoom. Thursday, July 27, from 5:00 to 6:30

  • Sign Waving (Emily and Sarah) – if you live close, come join us. Friday, July 28, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM, at Carpenter Rd & Martin Way

  • Canvassing (Emily and Sarah) – events, Saturday, July 29 from 4:00 to 6:30 at Edgewater Park 


District 4

Wayne Fournier for Thurston County Board of Commissioners

Fundraiser:
  • Saturday, August 12, 2:00 to 5:00 PM) Join us to support a great candidate for Thurston County. Hosted by Sandra Romero, former County Commissioner, and Carolyn Cox, Lacy City Council Member. There will be light refreshment, and community conversation. You’re invited. RSVP here for location. 


Maggie Sanders for Port of Olympia Commissioner

Sign Waving:
  • Thursday, July 27, 4:30 to 6:00, Capitol Way and Tumwater Blvd


District 1

Jasmine Vasavada for Port of Olympia Commissioner

Canvassing: 
  • Sunday (July 23, 30)
    Two hour shifts canvasing/doorbelling, with or without a partner. Meet at 10:00 am. For the meeting location, scheduling a shift and getting set up with a map RSVP here. You can also text 360-464-0174 to RSVP, but the website link is preferred.


  • Any Evening through August 1
    Two hour shifts starting at 5 pm until sunset.  RSVP here or call 360-464-0174 for the starting location, scheduling a shift and getting set up with a map.

    ​
Fundraiser:
  • Friday, August 11, 5 PM)
    Join us for a summer soiree in support of an amazing Port of Olympia candidate at one of Olympia's Urban Futures Farm, 928 Wilson St NE, Olympia. As a potluck, we encourage you to bring your favorite dish to share! Sign up on our Potluck Meal Train. Let us know you are coming, sign up here.

Who Shall I Vote for on the School Boards?

Blackboard with School Board written on it next to a green apple on a book

School boards have never been more important!

Action: Support good candidates. Use this document compiled by an Olympia Indivisible volunteer working with Washington STOP Moms for Liberty to help protect inclusive public education by researching school board candidates statewide. 

  • Thurston PRIMARY School Board Candidates to avoid candidates (identified by red flags) who have ties to groups which promote pro-censorship, anti-public school views, who have independently expressed such views, whose campaigns are conspicuously silent on the need for inclusivity, or whose previous public service demonstrates lack of transparency. ​

Local Actions:

​Say NO to Unnecessary Rating Policies at our Libraries

A library with books on shelves

​Background
  • Access to Library Resources and Services for Minors: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights 
  • Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools
  • Conservatives Have Turned to a Ratings System to Implement Book Ban 
​
Conservatives Proposing Negative Library Policies
Lewis County Commissioners, led by Conservative, outspokenly anti-LGBTQ member Sean Swope, want to establish "ratings" for kids’ library books. They have formally requested the two Timberland Regional Library (TRL) board members who represent Lewis County to develop a policy for brochures and other printed materials available at libraries. They also are requesting that the libraries develop a rating system to ensure children under 18 are only able to access what they deem is “age-appropriate” content. These kinds of rating systems are increasingly being wielded by conservative interest groups across the nation to restrict any literature they find offensive, including books focused on race, racism, and/or characters of color or LGBTQ+ community.

Who Are the Library Board of Trustees? 
The TRL Board of Trustees is made up of representatives from five counties: Pacific, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Thurston. There is a Trustee from each county and two additional Trustees filling at-large positions, one from Lewis County and one from Thurston County. The County Commissioners get to vote on accepting a nominated trustee. 

Adding to concern about conservative control of our County library system is the nomination of Brian Mittge for TRL Board of Trustee for Lewis County. Mittge recently penned an anti-LGBTQ+ screed supporting the R101 initiative in his article in The Chronicle. The R101 initiative seeks to annul SB 5599, a bill passed by the Washington State Legislature and signed into law in 2023 in order to remove barriers to safe shelter for youths that seek gender-affirming or reproductive health care.

Actions: Push back against regressive policies and anti-LGBTQ+ representation on the TRL Board of Trustees by emailing the TRL Board of Trustees and the Thurston County Commissioners. Attend the Board meeting on July 26 at 5:30. And let Thurston County Commissioners know we do not want Brian Mittge as a TRL Board Trustee.

Email Deadline: Tuesday July 25, 2023

  • Option A: Take this action with one click in Take Action Network (TAN) Say NO to Unnecessary Rating Policies at the Library 
 
  • Option B: Give your comments live over Zoom at the TRL Board meeting on July 26. 
 
  • Option C: Send an email using the script below to the TRL Board of Trustees.
 
  • Option D: Take this action with one click in Take Action Network (TAN) Ask Thurston BoCC to Vote NO for anti-LBGTQ Library Board Candidate 

Script:

To: TRLBoardofTrustees@trl.org

Subject: Say NO to Unnecessary Rating Policies at TRL 

Script: I am strongly opposed to a library rating system which can be just a coded way to restrict material that some deem offensive, including LGBTQ+ stories. 

New policies delineating age-appropriate books and other printed materials, including a rating system, as suggested by Lewis County are not necessary. TRL collection guidelines that are fair and appropriate are already in place. 

 [NAME], [CITY], [ZIP] 


Add any of these talking points to your email:

  • Let the librarians do their job. Books do not end up on library shelves by accident. Librarians have guidelines that include reviews, awards, school curriculums and other factors that they take into consideration before deciding if a particular title is worth adding to the collection.
  • A labeling system will become a “plan b” to block LGBTQ+ stories, especially as bans have become increasingly unpopular. 
  • Cataloging decisions, labels, or ratings applied in an attempt to restrict or discourage access to materials or to suggest moral or doctrinal endorsement is a violation of the First Amendment and Library Bill of Rights.
  • The American Library Association opposes all attempts to restrict access to library services, materials, and facilities based on the age of library users.
  • Reading materials available in the library are available to students for personal selection; they are not required books.

Support the Medicare for All Act - Again

Cartoon showing Uncle Sam at a patient’s bed with a conglomeration of medical care being fed by IV tube into the patient.

Ask your MoC to cosponsor H.R.3421/S.1655 Medicare for All Act - again!
​

In May,2023 Indivisible members asked our members of congress to co-sponsor the Medicare for All Act. We need to ask a second time!

Rep. Pramila Jayapal is the sponsor and Rep. Adam Smith is a co-sponsor. We need all the WA representatives and our Senators to push for Medicare for All.

Background
  • Single Payer H.R. 3421 & S. 1655 Summary

Action: Contact our Members of Congress to support Medicare for All. 

Option A: Take this action with one click in Take Action Network (TAN) Support Medicare for All Act (H.R.3421) and (S.1655)

Option B: Contact WA MOCs
  • Senator Patty Murray, Phone: 253-572-3636 or Contact Form 
  • Senator Maria Cantwell, Phone: 253-572-2281 or Contact Form 
  • Marilyn Strickland, Phone: 202-225-9740 or Contact Form 
  • Derek Kilmer, CD6, LD35, Phone: 202-225-5916 or Contact Form 
    • Email all three MOCs at once using Democracy.io. 

Subject: Medicare for All

Script: Please co-sponsor the Medicare for All Act H.R. 3421/S.1655. Indivisible members asked you to co-sponsor this bill in May, 2023. We are now asking you again to be a co-sponsor and to speak out and push for Medicare for All! Healthcare is a high priority and we want to see action now.

[NAME] from [CITY], [ZIP]

​Have You Scheduled This Event?

​Save the Date for the Olympia Indivisible Picnic

Picnic basket with ham, bread and tomatoesPicture

Sunday, September 10, 2023, at Squaxin Park’s Rose Garden, 
from 12:00 to 2:00pm
​

You Might Also Like to Attend:

Trade Justice Events during the Seattle APEC Counter-MobilizationPicture

Officials from D.C. and multiple countries throughout the Asia Pacific region will be in Seattle later this month for closed-door, invite-only talks on trade and the global economy. In response, the Washington Fair Trade Coalition is  joining with labor, environmental, consumer privacy, and international solidarity partners in hosting a series  of events below highlighting the voices of those marginalized by free trade. 

Trade Justice Workshop
Saturday, July 29th at 1 pm | University of Washington
RSVP here

Trade Justice Rally and March
Sunday, July 30th at 2 pm | Cal Anderson Park
RSVP here

Digital Trade Town Hall with Representative Jayapal and Cherika Carter
Monday, August 7th at 4 pm | University of Washington (confirmation pending)
RSVP here


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