Fri 10/25: The Swamp is full. Two actions to help clean it up.

Action #1: Our morality-challenged president wants to veto an “illicit offers” bill. Ask your senator to support SHIELD (HR 4617) to protect our political process from foreign influence.

The White House issued this statement: “While the Trump Administration seeks to limit foreign national interference in our elections by strengthening FECA and combatting illegal behavior, the SHIELD Act would produce harmful unintended consequences without achieving that goal.”…like making Trump sad. The House has already passed the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act (SHIELD) (H.R. 4617) which would require:

reporting offers of campaign assistance,
requiring transparency of online political advertisements,
prevents foreign cash from entering our election process through corporation, PACS, Super PACs, and other entities
stop sharing of polling data with foreign governments,
prohibit deceptive messaging on voting procedures.

We need a veto-proof majority to get this done, so everyone – to your phone!

Minimal script to senators: I’m calling from [___] and I would like Sen. [__] to support the SHIELD ACT – H.R. 4617 and all other bills related to foreign entanglements in our election process.

Contact:
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
Who is my representative/senator?: hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com

Action #2: Rep. Matt Gaetz led his fellow feral GOP members to crash a secure facility armed with cellphones…not surprisingly, this is against the law.

Continue reading “Fri 10/25: The Swamp is full. Two actions to help clean it up.” →

Thurs 10/24: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and domestic violence is a gun violence issue.

Action: This is a good day to remind your legislators that we know exactly which group is holding up H.R.8. – Universal background checks.

H.R. 8 – “To require a background check for every firearm sale.” was passed by the House on Feb. 27, 2019, and was cosponsored by these legislators. (Brownley and Carbajal are both cosigners). Eight months later, it still hasn’t seen the inside of the Senate. Meanwhile, NRA friend, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has just launched his misdirected RESPONSE Act, which concentrates on mental health, despite minimal evidence that it’s tied to mass shootings, along with more shooter drills, increased surveillance of students and expedited executions of mass shooters. Nearly 1,700 children and teens die by gun homicide every year and that’s the best they can do. In comparison, vaping has killed a total of 33 people, yet our president is already planning to ban e-cigarette flavors that appeal to children.

The president is creating a myth that the House has done nothing but concentrate on impeaching him. Tell your senators that we are not fooled. Continue reading “Thurs 10/24: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and domestic violence is a gun violence issue.” →

Wed. 10/23: The Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch need our help to protect our environment and wildlife. Two quick actions!

P-30 and P-53 were found dead in September and August, respectively. Both had rat poison in their systems. (National Park Service)

Action #1: STOP MOUNTAIN LION DEATHS FROM RAT POISONS! – Join the Sierra Club in calling Governor Newsom.

(from Jim Hines, Sierra Club, Los Padres Chapter) Good Morning Friends:

We walked the halls of the CA state assembly this Spring and got our bill passed to ban anti-coagulant rodenticides (rat poisons) banned in the state of California, then the bill went to the state senate and we just did not have the votes this Fall for passage. The state senate is now in recess until 2020, so our next chance to get the state senate to ban rodenticides will be in February 2020.

But in the meantime, mountain lions (and other wildlife) are being killed by simply eating dead rats.

So along with our friends at Poison Free Malibu, we are urging people throughout California to contact CA Governor Gavin Newsom and ask him to impose a statewide ban on the use of wildlife-killing rodenticides.

The Governor has told us he will consider such a ban, but he is already getting a ear full from supporters of wildlife-killing rodenticides (retail store industry who sell rat posions, agri-business, golf courses and the like).

So we need to show the Governor that the people in California want mountain lions, raptors and other animals protected.

The Governor has toured mountain lion habitat areas and wildlife crossing areas with us and has always been on the side of protecting mountain lions, but now we need him to act to save mountain lion lives.

You may contact the Governor in any of the following ways:

* Use the Governor’s email link: https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/
* On Twitter: @GavinNewsom
* Gov Newsom’s phone: 916-445-2841

for mountain lions wild and free,

Jim

Action #2: Tell the Senate to “skip” Aurelia Skipwith for head of an agency she might be happy to destroy.

Continue reading “Wed. 10/23: The Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch need our help to protect our environment and wildlife. Two quick actions!” →

Tues – 10/22: This Halloween: Dress as a “NOT QUALIFIED” extremist judicial nominee! Or as a free-range uterus! Then say “NO” to Sarah Pitlyk.

Action #1 – Call your senators and tell them to vote “NO” on “NOT QUALIFIED” forced-birther radical Sarah Pitlyk for U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Planned Parenthood alert: The bipartisan American Bar Association has unanimously rated Sarah Pitlyk, another extremist Federalist Society member, “not qualified” for this important position, due to her lack of trial experience. She opposes reproductive rights, the Affordable Care Act and the legal right to abortion. She fought to allow businesses and landlords the right to discriminate against women whose private health histories include abortion or birth control. Through her Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, her writings, and legal actions she participated in at forced-birther advocacy firm Thomas Moore Society (TMS), she’s demonstrated that she will impose her own religious beliefs over the lives of women and their families if she gets into a position of power. While the concept of the the Handmaid’s Tale’s Aunt Lydia becoming an judge might make a great Hollywood script, in real life, true-believer Sarah Pitlyk cannot be trusted to apply the law and legal precedents fairly and impartially to everyone who might come before the court.

Continue reading “Tues – 10/22: This Halloween: Dress as a “NOT QUALIFIED” extremist judicial nominee! Or as a free-range uterus! Then say “NO” to Sarah Pitlyk.” →

Mon 10/21: “Your presence is requested…” Pick your resistance activity for this week.

People tell us that they sometimes feel overwhelmed by the news they hear every day, but that doing something, even a small action, helps. Writing postcards. Registering new voters. Learning about an issue. Supporting speakers at meetings. Being a part of a community that’s trying to make change. So, come join in. There’s a lot to do.

Monday, Oct. 21: Trip to Adelanto Detention Center led by Rev. Betty

Does the work of the resistance have any effect? Yes, CA just passed a law to ban all private prisons when their contacts expire in 2020. However, in the meantime, immigrant detainees need to know they are not alone. Visits are meaningful to both detainees and visitors. To join the carpool, contact Rev. Betty at bstaple4d@gmail.com.

Mondays – Volunteering with Al Otro Lado.

Continue reading “Mon 10/21: “Your presence is requested…” Pick your resistance activity for this week.” →

Mark your calendars! We’re not waiting for justice and unity to roll down from on high. It’s do-it-ourselves democracy week in Ventura County!

We live in an amazingly active community, so it’s very possible we’ve missed an important event. If so, please email us at indivisibleventura@gmail.com. Come join in…in both the events that protect our families, our neighbors and our environment, and the celebrations that refresh the spirit and remind us how lucky we are to be living here.

Sat., Oct. 19: Va Por La Avenida – In preparation for Día de los Muertos – Ofrenda.

Starting at 12:00-2:00pm: Come celebrate the residents, artists and businesses of Ventura Avenue. Festivities begin at the Kellogg Park with free art classes and music and dance performances by Danza Mexícayotl de Ventura and Ballet Floklórico. Local artists Trio Yolipan will begin a performance in the park, then will continue to perform as they walk down the Avenue. Businesses in the area will have a number of creative events. The Bell Arts Factory will host lessons in making masks, flowers, paper dolls and silk screening and local artists will display their wares. The celebration will continue along Ventura Avenue until late evening. For more information, see this event page and their Facebook event here.

Saturday, Oct. 19: Ventura County Youth Leaders Without Borders Conference

By invitation. For information on how you can support young immigrants in your community, contact our Safe Zones for Dreamers work group at clue@cluevc.org.

Saturday, Oct. 19: RIP Platform Holly: A Wake to end Offshore Drilling.

Continue reading “Mark your calendars! We’re not waiting for justice and unity to roll down from on high. It’s do-it-ourselves democracy week in Ventura County!” →

Fri – 10/18: “Not qualified”… That should be enough in normal times. Note: We are no longer in normal times. Say “NO” to Justin Walker.

Quote from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)

Action #1 – Call your senators and tell them to vote “NO” on Justin Walker.

While we’ve been transfixed in horror by the clown car of Ukraine corruption, and now the bloody results of using Syria as a deliberate distraction from the impeachment inquiry, Mitch McConnell has been laser-focused on the prize. Instead of dealing with the huge stack of legislation piling up from the House, he has been locking in hard-right ideologues for the judicial bench who will pervert American justice far into the future, no matter who becomes president. Since Trump has come to power, McConnell has managed to ram through a least four LIFETIME federal judges who were rated “not qualified by the non-partisan American Bar Association (ABA) Continue reading “Fri – 10/18: “Not qualified”… That should be enough in normal times. Note: We are no longer in normal times. Say “NO” to Justin Walker.” →

Thur. 10/17: “What can I do? I’m just one person.” Answer: “A lot.” Join us today for 3rd Thursday – Pizza, comradery, & postcards!

In honor of Congressman Elijah Cummings, please take some actions today to protect democracy. We’ve listed some on our 10/16 post and we have more below.

Action #1 – TODAY! Meet at Santino’s for pizza, comradery, and social justice – every Third Thursday starting at 11:30 am

Where: Santino’s Pizza. It’s at 4231 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, 93003
When: Thursday, Sept. 19th, 11:30am – 1:30pm.
RSVP for our supporters: Nope. Just come. Invite your friends!
We do, however, reserve the right to refuse any volunteers and their services.
What to bring: We provide the pizza, postcards, stationary. If you prefer, you may bring your own stationary. A postcard stamp is $0.35. (300) postcards equals $105. Donations of stamps are always gratefully accepted.
Questions? Email indivisibleventura@gmail.org

Today’s Menu:

Postcards: We’re going to be writing 300 postcards to voters in Dallas in connection with the NAACP and the Center for Common Ground‘s – Reclaim our Vote campaign!

Why do we need a RECLAIM OUR VOTE campaign? Community of color voters are being placed on “Inactive” or “Unregistered” lists at a 16% higher rate than whites. The ability to vote of people in minority communities was already being systematically undermined over the last decade, by the imposition of strict new voter ID laws, by the reduction in polling places and early voting, and through many other tactics.

Cards of support: We’ll also send cards of support to Rep. Adam Schiff and staff. President Trump has focused his vitriol, and the rage of his followers against this incredibly brave legislator overseeing the inquiry that threatens his corrupt presidency.

Action #2 – Mark your calendars! Jim Hines of the Sierra Club needs our help! (Please share!)

“Greetings Friends of Our Oceans:

A vast pristine ocean area where some of the largest kelp beds in the world grow, numerous whale species swim and feed, sea otters frolic and giant Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles glide through the clear waters. All currently protected by the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS). Continue reading “Thur. 10/17: “What can I do? I’m just one person.” Answer: “A lot.” Join us today for 3rd Thursday – Pizza, comradery, & postcards!” →

Wed. 10/16: Today in do-it-ourselves democracy – some basic actions to take.

Action #1 – Our president is not above the law, and neither is this guy.

“You don’t get to say no to a congressional subpoena,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, which is spearheading the impeachment inquiry. “That’s not a thing. That is a crime. He’s gonna show up, or he’s going to get fined, or he’s going to go to jail.”

We vote “JAIL.” Two weeks ago we asked you to encourage your legislators to bring back “inherent contempt“, the original power of Congress to jail or fine those who refuse to comply with their lawful subpoenas. Who better to try it out on then this man acting as a “shadow envoy” to Ukraine? A man who tried in influence our government in an evolving Turkish scandal?

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] to ask Rep. [___] to enforce their subpoena for rogue lawyer Rudy Guiliani with their “inherent contempt” powers. Please jail him until he complies with the subpoena to appear in front of the House Intelligence Committee, like any other American citizen would be required to.

Continue reading “Wed. 10/16: Today in do-it-ourselves democracy – some basic actions to take.” →

Tue 10/15: Yes, it’s a pain in the ash, but you need to make a comment TONIGHT -(Tues.) by 11:59 pm EST.

Being a citizen in the age of Trump is tiring!

Every day, it seems, we need to do something to keep our President and his minions from stealing public assets, extorting foreign countries, torturing kids, or in this case, poisoning us with coal ash to increase profit margins for their friends.

“It is a disgrace to everything the EPA stands for, and we will do everything in our power to stop it.” – Lisa Evans, Earthjustice senior counsel and coal ash expert.

Continue reading “Tue 10/15: Yes, it’s a pain in the ash, but you need to make a comment TONIGHT -(Tues.) by 11:59 pm EST.” →