Wed. – 10/10: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

(Quote by Martin Luther King)

Take a moment this morning and watch this amazing video.

Action #1 – Share your feelings after the Kavanaugh confirmation debacle.

The New York Times wants women’s responses to the following questions:

Whose accounts did you end up believing, Christine Blasey Ford’s or Judge Kavanaugh’s? Why?
What is your reaction to the vote? How do you feel the fight over his confirmation will affect women?
Most of the senators who voted were men. Would it have made any difference if more women were senators and able to vote? How important is it to have more women in public office?
Does this decision spur you to any kind of political action, such as voting in the midterm elections or attending political protests? If so, what do you plan to do? Or does it feel like meaningful change is out of reach?
If you were to pass down one lesson to your son or daughter from Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and hearings, what would it be?

Share your thoughts here. This NY Times page does not count against free view access.

Action #2 – Don’t let him get comfortable.

Continue reading “Wed. – 10/10: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”” →

Fri – 10/5: Last day to roar! They’re voting on Saturday.

Action #1 – Do you have Maine or West Virginia connections! Light up their lines!

If you have any connections with Susan Collin’s district in Maine or Joe Manchin’s in West Virginia, now is the time to use them. Using the incomplete FBI report as a shield, indications are that they’ll vote for Kavanaugh. Tell the supporters you know that there’s a different shield to hide under…other lawyers won’t touch him with a 10-foot pole after his maudlin performance at his nomination hearing.

Action #2 – Other lawyers are worried about him…Tell your senator.

Minimal script for senators who support Kavanaugh: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to carefully consider that a retired Supreme Court Justice along with thousands of law professors, including his former dean, co-workers and former supporters, no longer consider him to a good candidate for the Supreme Court.

More script if you need it: His partisan ranting will force him to recuse himself on numerous cases and revealed a temperament unsuitable to the court.

Minimal script for senators who oppose Kavanaugh: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [Feinstein/Harris, Senate Ethics Committee] to open a hearing on his perjury under oath at this and earlier confirmation hearings. Continue reading “Fri – 10/5: Last day to roar! They’re voting on Saturday.” →

Fri -9/28: We aren’t going to take this anymore.

And, in fact, look what a couple of absolutely fearless and committed women can do!

Action #1 – Be ready.

Depending on the outcome of today’s legislative shenanigans, we may be rallying together soon. When we do, wear black, bring your best signs and American flags.

Action #2 – Call your legislators

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to demand that the Judiciary’s Committee rescind their ill-advised and premature vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination until ALL accusers and witnesses have had a chance to testify and their claims are fully vetted by outside NON-BIASED investigators and experts in dealing with victims of sexual misconduct.

More script if you want it: Also, for the next hearing, don’t let the angry menfolk start yelling and interrupting everybody. Pull them out like they do the protesters in the back. This is verbal abuse and it needs to be called out as such. Continue reading “Fri -9/28: We aren’t going to take this anymore.” →

Tues 9/18 – Judges shouldn’t lie under oath. Period.

Longer version and written transcript here.

Action – “Speak no evil” – Don’t reward liars with SCOTUS seats.

Brett Kavanaugh has stated that he never assaulted Christine Blasey Ford. That he’ll repeat that claim under oath on Monday is expected, but of no importance, as he no longer has a reputation as an honest man to defend. With more information coming to light, testimony from his current hearing, as well as from his 2004 and 2006 hearings, have been re-cast as bald lies, alongside many statements that have been perjury-adjacent or “evasive”. He has been outed on the national stage as what he really is – a highly partisan political operative, and not the even-handed dispenser of impartial justice Americans deserve. His perjury under oath should immediately disqualify him from SCOTUS contention, as well as the federal bench he currently serves on.

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to do four things to prevent Brett Kavanaugh from ascending to the Supreme Court.

A) Require an FBI investigation as requested by Christine Blasey Ford prior to a full hearing of Brett Kavanaugh’s alleged actions against her. There is no longer a viable deadline.
B) Bring forward the two federal employees who had information regarding Kavanaugh’s witnessing of Judge Kozinski’s sexual harassment, contrary to his sworn testimony.
C) Subpoena all emails and messages between Kavanaugh and Kozinski, including links to his website, to determine Kavanaugh’s actual knowledge of sexual harassment issues as opposed to his statement under oath.
D) Start impeachment proceeding against Judge Kavanaugh for his continued perjury regarding stolen documents from his 2004, 2006 and current confirmation hearings.

Continue reading “Tues 9/18 – Judges shouldn’t lie under oath. Period.” →

Wed 9/5: Write a letter to Kavanaugh! And other forms of dissent.

Enlarged version here.

Action #1 – Write a letter to Kavanaugh

Tell him to stiffen up, ditch his over-eager handlers, order the White House to release ALL of his writings. AND direct the committee to allow enough time for the papers to be properly examined.

Like the ones where he says it’s a “traditional exercise” of presidential power to ignore laws the White House views as unconstitutional, as he defended the controversial practice of signing statements prevalent in George W. Bush’s White House.

Until we can find a more direct email to the man (please share if you already have one to indivisibleventura@gmail.com), submit your letter through the email link at your senators’ office with instructions for them to print them out and hand to Kavanaugh at the hearings.

Source Material for letters: Swipe the letter above or read these great letters and reports and write something better.

Oppose the Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the US (civilrights.org)(Indivisible)
A Report on Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh (suitupmaine)
Where Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stands on key issues (CNN)
Kavanaugh Confirmation would do grave harm (AFJ)
The Kavanaugh Files (aclu)

Contact your Senator:
Senator Feinstein: email
and Senator Harris: email
Other Contacts: https://hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com

Email the United States Court of Appeal for the D.C. Circuit: WebInformation@cadc.uscourts.gov

Snail-mail the United States Court of Appeal for the D.C. Circuit:
Hon. Brett M. Kavanaugh
United States Court of Appeal for the D.C. Circuit
E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse
333 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001

Continue reading “Wed 9/5: Write a letter to Kavanaugh! And other forms of dissent.” →

Tues 9/4: MORE actions for today’s SCOTUS hearing! – updated 12:17 pm. Women getting arrested at the hearing. Donate for bail!

#1 – Make the calls – they are starting to scare the GOP and strengthen dissent against Kavanaugh

Polls are coming in and the GOP is getting nervous. Just tested this and it takes less than 6 minutes to leave short messages of support with staff at ALL of Feinstein and Harris’s offices. Especially if you set your phone up like this. Line for Fresno is busy? Call back at your next coffee break.

They’re not your senators? Go here. If your senators are perfectly OK with killing Roe v. Wade, as well as protections for pre-existing conditions, affordable healthcare, the environment, worker’s rights, seniors, students, LGBTQ people, the poor and the middle class, while protecting a possible crook and corporations, then spend that 6 minutes telling them, at every one of their offices, that you’ll send them packing boxes for after the election.

Contact your Senator:
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
Other Contacts: https://hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com

#2 – Phonebank for Planned Parenthood

Help Planned Parenthood phone bank to stop Kavanaugh FROM YOUR COUCH!! Phonebankers will be calling pro-choice North Dakotans and urging them to tell Senators Heitkamp and Hoeven to stand with North Dakotans and protect privacy in healthcare and the fairness of the Supreme Court.

HOW TO REMOTE PHONEBANK TO SAVE SCOTUS:
All you need is a phone AND headphones with a mic, a tablet, or a laptop, then:
1. Sign up with ActionID here.
2. After sign up, in a new tab, go to this link to get started:
Phone numbers, scripts, and instructions on how to log your conversation are super easy and intuitive.

Continue reading “Tues 9/4: MORE actions for today’s SCOTUS hearing! – updated 12:17 pm. Women getting arrested at the hearing. Donate for bail!” →

Tues 9/4: This is our Labor Week. 4 days to the end of Roe v. Wade. Light up your senator’s phone lines and tell them “Hell, no!”

Transcript: Interview with Trump by Chris Matthews of MSNBC

“I don’t have to call. My senator is already a Democrat.” Wrong.

(Slate) “If the Senate were currently on the brink of passing a bill that would ban abortion in much of the country, progressives would surely be swarming every congressional office—even those of conservative Republicans. Confirming Kavanaugh will have roughly the same effect, yet only a tiny fraction of the country seems especially upset about it. Roe is popular among Democrats and Republicans, and when it goes, Americans will take to the streets en masse. Their anger will snowball once they see the grim reality of abortion bans—the women arrested and imprisoned for exerting control over their bodies. (Nearly one in four women in the US will have abortion in their lifetime.) For now, though, they are watching the disaster unfold in slow motion, and few seem moved to even call their senators.”

We have four days. Despite potentially being the deciding vote in an upcoming legal battle about the President’s ability to be indicted while in office, Republicans are still largely on-board with confirming him without reading into his record all that deeply. Democrats are not sure we have their backs.

CHANGE THAT!

Action – Call your senators, Red or Blue.

Senators will be watching their call volume this week as hearings begin and Kavanaugh is back in the news. Make him too toxic to touch. It’s starting to work. Get your phone programmed so you can do this easily.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [____] to know that we support [his/her] fight against the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh for a lifetime seat on our Supreme Court. I want the vote postponed until the 100,000 pages of his records are released by the White House.

Continue reading “Tues 9/4: This is our Labor Week. 4 days to the end of Roe v. Wade. Light up your senator’s phone lines and tell them “Hell, no!”” →

Fri – 8/31: 3 immigration actions – Kavanaugh, local DACA clinic, help for Paris, TX.

Action #1 – Don’t give Kavanaugh a free pass on immigration issues.

Everyone is focused on how he’ll overbalance the court into making extremist and unpopular decisions on Roe vs Wade, the Affordable Care Act, executive power, voting rights, and affirmative action, while protecting Trump from legal jeopardy. However, there are a number of immigration cases that are working their way up through lower courts that will come before SCOTUS too and he has already proven his hostility towards them.

So, guess how Kavanaugh will vote on cases regarding these issues…

DACA: Two different federal judges, two conflicting outcomes. This will be going to the Supreme Court. (C-span)(vox)
Sanctuary: The rights of states and cities versus federal agencies in immigration enforcement. (thehill)
Incarcerating children: The government’s right to separate groups as they please, including children, overruling the Flores agreement.(nytimes)
Bond hearings: The ability to detain immigrants without bond. (wapo)
Incarceration without limit: The government’s right to keep immigrants locked up in a detention facility indefinitely if the government is unable to deport them to their native country. The 2001 Zadvydas v. Davis decision that stopped this was a 5-4 decision.
Removing citizenship: The government’s right to remove citizenship from those who live next to the border, effectively creating stateless refugees (slate)
Right to education: Undocumented children’s right to attend public school regardless of immigration status ( Plyler v. Doe 1982) (LAtimes)
Birthright citizenship: (US v. Wong Kim Ark 1898) This is currently under attack, by Trump and others, and a future Supreme Court could hold that the 14th amendment does not confer automatic citizenship on the children of parents in the US without legal authorization. (wapo)
“Public Charge” restrictions: The government’s right to prevent immigrants from achieving citizenship or permanent residency if they legally accessed safety net programs in the past.

Continue reading “Fri – 8/31: 3 immigration actions – Kavanaugh, local DACA clinic, help for Paris, TX.” →

Mon – 8/27: Calls & postcards… Today’s focus – Kavanaugh and hate groups.

(Awesome protester and sign at the Stop Kavanaugh protest rally yesterday.)

Making a fuss makes a difference. Just look what happened in Georgia.

Action #1 – Your latest Kava-naw action

(Note: if you haven’t called your senators about Kavanaugh’s nomination yet, go here, here, here or here for scripts. And if you have called, call again. We need to swamp the call numbers!)

Due to recent revelations that have implicated Trump in federal crime, all ten Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have called for a postponement of the Kavanaugh hearings that were set to begin on September 4^th. Instead, they are asking Chairman Grassley to hold a special meeting “to discuss a bipartisan, fair, and transparent process for moving forward.”

Contacts
Call: Call the Senate Judiciary Committee at (202) 224-5225. Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpose the Kavanaugh hearing until our president is cleared of committing federal crimes.

Send two postcards:
Send one to Senator Grassley’s office to ask him to postpone the hearing until we know whether or not our president is a criminal.
Mailing address: 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Send another to:
The Senate Judiciary Committee.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 224
50 Constitution Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Email the whistleblower contact: whistleblower@judiciary-rep.senate.gov

Action #2 – Tell another hotel to stop hosting hate groups.

Continue reading “Mon – 8/27: Calls & postcards… Today’s focus – Kavanaugh and hate groups.” →

Fri 8/24: Get ready for your Kava-never weekend…

Sunday, Aug. 26th is National Women’s Equality Day!

The United States Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting women full and equal voting rights on this day in 1920. In 1971, Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY) sponsored the resolution and every year since, each president declares this day as Women’s Equality Day.

This should be interesting… The Center for American Progress put out this great list in 2017 of 100 ways the Trump administration is feverishly working to harm the rights of women and families. It should be substantially longer by now, including a threatening gag rule on doctors, attacking the UN’s resolution supporting breastfeeding, attacking SNAP, and gutting the asylum categories most used by women.