Weekly Call To Action - July 3, 2022

Quote of the Week

“There are no easy answers in this moment. We all wish there was a secret plan to fix this, to make everything right tomorrow. No one has that plan — but what we do have is the compassion and courage to protect each other, the determination to fight back, and the people on our side. We’ll build the power to make things right — step by step.”
–Leah Greenberg, co-founder, Indivisible, 06-24-2022

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​A New CTA Format:

If the arch-conservative majority SCOTUS full-on assault of constitutional protections has you outraged, Olympia Indivisible has the toolbox ready for you to harness that anger into electoral activism! We know you care–that’s why you signed up with Olympia Indivisible to begin with. 

But caring is not enough–all of us need to lean in NOW to build up support for pro-democracy, pro-civil rights candidates up and down the ballot in Washington.

OI will do everything we can to make it easy and fun for you to do your part, starting this week with a new Call to Action format which highlights opportunities for you to engage in electoral work.

Let’s get started! Check out this spankin’ new Candidate Support Calendar, hot off the Google Press. It’s your one-stop shop to engage in everything from post carding to phone banking, writing LTEs, door belling or hoisting a beer with Jessica Bateman and Beth Doglio. 

Here’s how you do it: commit to doing just one thing this coming week. Look at the calendar, click on an event to see the details, pick one, and show up. 

What if your schedule doesn’t work with this week’s available events? No worries! Sign up to write postcards for Tye Menser.  If your handwriting is truly, deeply, awful, sit down at your computer and write a supportive Letter to the Editor (see LTE action below) for one of our candidates. 

Whatever it is, do one thing this week. Because when your actions reflect your values, you know you are being constructively true to yourself, and You Will Feel Better. ​

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​Electoral Actions:

Take Action with the New Candidate Support Calendar

Click on the calendar above to see a larger version. ​

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Endorse Progressive Candidates with Letters to the Editor

Support our progressive candidates by writing Letters to the Editor (LTE.) We can give our candidates free publicity!

The opposition is out in force with their LTE’s.  With one in the Olympian asking people to vote Republican because of the “Democrat Extreme Green Climate Agenda”, the border, homeless and crime. The Chronicle has one about voting for Smiley over Murray. 

Help our side win by using Indivisible’s advice to format your letter: Endorse Local Progressive Candidates with Letters to the Editor

Action: Use our Candidate Talking Points document created from contributions from the Candidate Interface Team (CIT) or give your own opinion about your candidate. 

Submit your letter to one of these sources or your own favorite local paper:

LTE Form -- Nisqually Valley News
LTE Form --The Olympian 
LTE Form -- JOLT News
LTE Form -- The Chronicle
LTE Form -- Shelton-Mason County Journal
LTE Form --Tacoma News Tribune

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Derek Sanders for Sheriff
Town Hall on July 21, 7:00 pm

We are excited to introduce Derek Sanders who is our endorsed candidate for Thurston County Sheriff. 

As a lifelong resident of Thurston County, Derek understands the issues facing our community. Our residents deserve a Sheriff who is transparent, accountable, and ready to face the issues of 21st century policing and community building.

Derek is running to restore trust, rebuild employee morale, and fight for increased public safety. He believes we have the opportunity to improve peoples’ lives by delivering high quality service while being effective stewards for taxpayers and residents. Thurston County deserves better than we’ve been getting. Derek is committed to delivering results for you.
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Action: Come join our Town Hall with Thurston County Sheriff Candidate Derek Sanders. July 21 at 7:00 pm. Hosted by Olympia Indivisible Register here. ​

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OI Website: 
Keep up with what is happening with candidates on OI’s Election 2022 resource page. And discover more about OI plans and activities on the website. 

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​Local Actions:

Ask Inslee for a Special Session for Abortion Protection

Convene a special session to pass legislative protections for abortion rights, now!

Background: Far-Right Freaks Could Force Washington to Act Fast to Protect Abortion

When asked about the urgency of passing legislative protections for abortion rights, Kia Guarino, the executive director of Pro-Choice Washington, said in a phone interview that “the sooner [Washington] can get something on the books, the better.” In her view, the risk of losing either chamber of the Legislature to Republican control after November’s midterm elections presents the “most compelling reason” to call a special session. 

Action: Contact Governor Jay Inslee Telephone: 360-902-4111, Contact Form

Script: Dear Governor Inslee:
Please convene a special session of the legislature to develop “airtight” legal protections for both abortion patients and medical providers. This urgency stems from two factors: We cannot be certain that Democrats will hold a majority in November and States like Texas and Idaho might not give us the luxury of waiting until January

Sincerely,

[NAME], [ZIP]

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Save the Salmon!
​Tell Governor Inslee and Senator Murray to Remove the Dams!

Background: Includes an overview of the remarkable outcome of the Elwha River dam removal on the Olympic Peninsula.

• Snake River Dams - Washington Environmental Council 
• Save Our Wild Salmon
• Listen to a discussion of this issue on the Washington Indivisible Network’s podcast

Since the four Lower Snake River dams were built in the 1960’s, wild Snake River chinook and sockeye runs have decreased by 60%. A study by the Northwest Energy Coalition cites a 90% decline in overall salmon runs because of the dams.  Dams, along with accompanying reservoirs, disturb the natural flow of a river, creating segments of water that collect and retain heat by remaining stagnant or slow moving. The temperature of the Snake River is beyond a safe threshold for endangered salmon.

Congressional representatives in eastern Washington oppose dam removal.  While they have sincere concerns for the financial impacts on agriculture and for reduced energy production, there is enough data to suggest that their fears are unfounded.  And there is an increasing awareness across industries that the full functioning of the river ecosystem is necessary to support the longevity of farming, outdoor recreation, and a future for their communities.

Here is the Washington Environmental Council’s statement on costs.

Action:  Comment by July 11th.

Option A: Take this action with one click in Take Action Network (TAN) Comment on the Lower Snake River Dam Salmon Recovery plan 

Option B: Send comments directly to the consultants working with Governor Inslee and Senator Murray:

•  www.lsrdoptions.org/report-comments with email subject line “Draft LSRD Benefit Replacement Study”

Comments also may be mailed to:  

• Draft LSRD Benefit Replacement Study c/o Ross Strategic, 1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101.
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Script: My name is _______ and I am a member of Olympia Indivisible.  I would like to thank Gov. Inslee and Senator Murray for their leadership on dam removal.  Congress and President Biden should begin to implement a comprehensive regional solution that includes lower Snake River dam removal and the replacement of their services in a manner that moves everyone forward together.  Please review the costs involved.  Right now the report’s tables only show the costs of breaching the dams with no table summarizing the costs of leaving the dams in place. Please provide a companion data table reflecting the costs of leaving the dams in place, which will provide a more accurate comparison of costs.

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Comprehensive Plan Update 101

The first session “Comprehensive Plan Update 101” will be held virtually via Zoom on July 14th at 6:30 PM. As a participant, you will learn the basics of Comprehensive Planning, and also how you can help set the standards for climate change and housing for the next 10 years. In order to get a detailed Comprehensive Plan that goes beyond vague business-as-usual goals, we need you and other community members to be involved.​

To register for the July 14th session, click here

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Federal Action:

Pass the Court Expansion Bill

The June 26 email from Indivisible invites us to take action to make sure the GOP regrets their recent actions forever. 

“Friday was the day we’ve been dreading: The Republican Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This is where the last 50 years of right-wing mobilization against abortion rights has led us. And the extremists on the Court have told us in their own words where they’re headed next: “In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.”

In other words: They are coming for contraceptive access, same-sex marriage and relationships, and every other civil right we’ve fought for through decades of struggle.”

Action: Contact our MOC’s to expand the court

Option A: Take this copy/paste action in Take Action Network (TAN) Pass the Court Expansion Bill

Option B: Use Indivisible’s links below to call your congressperson. 
Click here to call your senator and demand they pass the Markey Court Expansion Bill. Even as Democrats work to expand our rights, the threat of them being overturned by the Supreme Court looms large. We must expand the court after Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell conspired to pack it for generations to come. The only way to re-legitimize the court is to expand it. Contact your senator and, when you’re done, click here to contact your representative and tell them to pass Rep. Mondaire Jones' House version of the bill.