Action Items: Week of August 3, 2025

We've got work to do - let's share the joy when we can.

Aug 03, 2025

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," Mahatma Gandhi.

This Week’s Newsletter Contains…

Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
IGGR Events
Events from Other Organizations
Michigan Updates
Social Media Channels, Volunteer, Donate

Top 5 Things YOU Can Do This Week

Call Senators Peters 202.224.6221 and Slotkin 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)
- Thank you for voting NO to confirm Emil Bove, who should not have been given a lifetime judicial appointment.
- Hold town hall meetings throughout the state during the congressional recess
- Protect funding for the Library of Congress and Government Accountability Office
- Oppose the sharing of IRS data andMedicaid information with ICE
- Demand the release of the Epstein investigatory files.
- Oppose Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host, for U.S. Attorney for Washington DC
- Demand release of congressionally authorized funding for Head Start
- Oppose use of FEMA funds to create more ICE detention centers
- Oppose the EPA rescinding the 2009 scientific finding, known as the endangerment finding, that emissions from fossil fuels are harmful to human health. Rescinding this scientific finding will make it impossible to regulate fossil fuel emissions. In Game Changing Climate Roll Back EPA Aims To Kill A Bedrock Scientific Finding.
- Demand that Affordable Care Act tax credits are extended. Failure to extend
  the credits will result in a 75% increase in premiums.
- Support S.3494 (Ban Congressional Stock Trading) to ban people in both congressional houses and their families from trading in the stock market, thereby eliminating their ability to use insider information from the legislative process.
- Oppose and obstruct all of Trump nominees and all legislation proposed by the GOP.

Call Representative Scholten, 202.225.3831 or Moolenaar 202.225.3561
- Demand release of Congressionally authorized Head Start funds.
- Support Affordable Care Act tax credits. Without the credits there will be a 75% increase in the cost of premiums
- Support an investigation into Trump’s threats against media companies
- Oppose funding cuts to the Library of Congress and Government Accountability Office
- Oppose the sharing of taxpayer and medicaid data with ICE.
- Express outrage that House Speaker Johnson is shutting down the House to avoid a vote to release the Epstein files
- Support HR 3779, the Stock Act 2.0, which would ban congressional members and their families from trading on the stock market, eliminating their use of insider information they have access to in the legislative process.
- Oppose the EPA rescinding the 2009 scientific finding, known as the endangerment finding, that emissions from fossil fuels are harmful to human health. Rescinding this scientific finding will make it impossible to regulate fossil fuel emissions. In Game Changing Climate Roll Back EPA Aims To Kill A Bedrock Scientific Finding.
- Vote No on HR 3898, the Permit Act, which makes it easier for potential polluters to get permits for projects that have potential to pollute waterways. It removes small streams, wetlands and seasonal waterways from any review regarding the potential for pollution. It would limit the EPA’s ability to update pollution standards. It narrows the authority of states and tribes to monitor and control pollution. It is opposed by Clean Water Action and the League of Conservation Voters.

Join Indivisible’s One Million Rising initiative. From Indivisible National: The key to stopping any momentum toward authoritarianism isn’t to attack the would-be ruler at the top, but to chip away at the vital institutions and communities that uphold their power, causing the entire house of cards to come tumbling down. This is how we fight back against Trump’s authoritarian takeover -- by identifying our influence with the pillars of support his regime depends upon and convincing them to participate in strategic non-cooperation
This is the critical moment to build the opposition we need to fight back. It is vital that we recruit, train, and mobilize a critical mass of people now before Trump’s authoritarian regime has fully consolidated power. And that’s what we need you to do.
We are asking you to host a Community Resistance Gathering -- a meeting of a small group of people, who have some relationship to each other, who come together to build their connection, knowledge, and resilience against fighting authoritarianism. Event Host Toolkit.
Watch the first One Million Rising Workshop and/or the second one. You can sign up for the third one on Wednesday, August 13 at 8 pm.
Participate in Indivisible’s Solidarity in Action initiative. More information here. If nothing else, you should definitely watch the recording of “Messaging for Solidarity - Race Class Narrative, Anat Shenker-Osorio” for great ideas about how to more effectively get your message across (and stop promoting the other team’s).
Send us a photo of your pet! Following the lead of The Contrarian, IGGR will begin a new feature: Pet of the Week, highlighting the adorable animals who share the homes of our IGGR members. Please send a picture of your pet to indivisibleggr@gmail.com, along with your Pet’s name and their hobbies; we will include your first name and initial. (see example below!)
Attend any of the events below

Name: Lukas

Human: Brad F.

Hobbies: Belly rubs, long walks, hunting small creatures and FOOD!

IGGR Events

Tuesday, August 5 at 5:30 pm Join the Michigan for the Many collaboration to gather signatures for important upcoming ballot proposals for the inaugural Happy Hour Training Session. During this session, you will learn about the three current proposals we’re supporting: Invest in MI Kids, Taking Back Our Power: Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, and Rank MI Vote. You’ll also learn about the regulations surrounding signature gathering and the steps involved in obtaining and returning the petitions. Sign up here. Sponsored by Kent Dems, Indivisible of Greater Grand Rapids, and Distill Social.

Wednesday, August 6 at 12 pm. Protect Social Security Rally at the Social Security Office, 3045 Knapp St NE

Friday, August 8 at 4:30 to 6 pm. Bridge Takeover Protest. Fuller Ave over I-196. Future dates/locations:

August 15--Hall Street over US 131

Wednesday, August 13 at 6-7:30 pm. IGGR Meetup. The Mitten 527 Leonard St NW, GR.

Wednesday, August 13 at 8 pm. One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism. Online. A national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. This is how we build people power that can’t be ignored. You’re invited to join us—and lead.

Session 3: What Now? - August 13 You'll be onboarded to basic campaign design and learn how to implement it locally as well as get plugged into our next national campaign work. Sign up here. Sponsored by Indivisible National.

Coming this Fall: In-person IGGR Member Meetings! Mark your calendars and plan on attending our monthly meetings this fall. Mondays at 6:30 pm. September 22, October 27, November 24. Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain NE.

EVENTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Monday, August 4 at 10 - 11:30 am. AVELO/ICE Protest. Patterson at 44th St at the entrance to the Grand Rapids Airport. Parking across the street at 4765 44th Street or Wendy’s. Every Monday! Sponsored by Stop GEO Group in Baldwin and Coalition to Stop AVELO.

Monday, August 4 at 12 - 1 pm. Tesla Takedown Picketing Events are Back! 2919 29th St SE. Every Monday from 12 - 1 pm through the summer.

Wednesday, August 6 at 5 - 6 pm. Freedom Protectors Rally. Ten Mile Road and Main, Rockford. Family Friendly really to protect first amendment rights, civil rights, and liberty and justice for all. Every Wednesday. Public Parking Lot P12 (directly off the bike trail) behind all the buildings in the first block of North Main St.

Saturday, August 9 at 12 pm. Support Our Veterans and VA Rally. Veterans Park in Greenville, MI on M-57 Washington between Bower Street and Luray Street; rally on north side of M57 . (Alternating Saturdays with Michigan Veterans Home, 2950 Monroe Ave NE, GR). Sponsored by the Support Our Veterans and VA Facebook group.

Thursday, August 14 at 3 to 7 pm. Kent County North Community Fest. Join Kent County for a first-ever, festive, family-friendly summer celebration at the Kent County North Campus, 4191 17 Mile Rd NE, Cedar Springs. This special community festival will be packed with fun for all ages, including food trucks, free ice cream, and a variety of kids’ activities. With back-to-school right around the corner, we’ll be giving away free backpacks for kids in grades K–12, while supplies last. Plus, you’ll have the chance to connect with your County. More than 15 departments and services will host meet-and-greet tables, giving residents a chance to learn more, ask questions, and access helpful resources—all in one place. All are welcome, and admission is free!

Help Us Educate, Activate and Hold Our Elected Officials Accountable!

We are a 100% volunteer, grass-roots organization and we need all the help we can get. Right now, there are requests for more event, more rallies, more involvement which is great. However, to do that, we need more hands and money.

Can you please help us by volunteering at least an hour a week? We’re looking for people with social media skills, getting out the vote ideas, event planning talent, community building, public relations and so much more!

Can you donate so we can pay for speakers, venues, sound equipment, water, etc?

Volunteer

Donate

Please let us know if you find this newsletter helpful by pressing the ❤️ button at the top or bottom of this email. You can also click on the thought-bubble icon 💬 and leave us a comment or question. Not only does the team at IGGR want your feedback but you help us make this communication better for all. Thank you for reading.

We Have More Channels To Follow/Find Us!

IGGR has some new volunteers helping out with our social media, and as they ramp up regular posting, we need your help to grow our channels! Please give our new Facebook page Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids, a follow.

(FYI - The Facebook Group is not going away and is a wonderful way to share lots of information and build connections — whereas the page doesn't require membership or moderation and is a great place for IGGR to share targeted messages. The Page is in addition to the Group.)

If you frequent Bluesky, Instagram, Threads or YouTube, find + follow us there as well!

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/indivisibleggr.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indivisibleggr/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@indivisibleggr

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@indivisiblegreatergrandrapids