Action Items: Week of February 16, 2025
We will not accept.
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” - Angela Davis
This Week’s Newsletter Contains:
Top 10 Things You Can Do This Week
Events
What We’re Monitoring - 2/16/25
Introduced Bills to Keep an Eye On - Federal and State
Trusted News Sources
Contact Us/Volunteer Needs
Top 10 Things You Can Do This Week
Unfortunately, this list isn’t growing smaller because there is a lot we cannot accept. However, we actually have some gratitude to share with our legislatures & companies so while this is a longer list than usual, there’s some joy to spread around as well.
Remember, there’s no need to take all of these actions in one day – you can complete them over the course of this week. Or just choose to do the ones that really resonate with you. As long as you DO SOMETHING, you’re helping to save Democracy. And remember, you can mention more than one issue per phone call.
Call Senators Peters, 202.224.6221 and Slotkin, 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)
Thank you for voting NO on Gabbard and Kennedy.
Vote NO on every Trump nominee for every position, esp. Patel, McMahon, Jamison, Greer, Loeffler
Vote NO on S128 (Safe American Voting Eligibility Act) (More info on “What We’re Monitoring” page)
Take all possible actions to grind Senate business to a halt.
Object to the funding cuts for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Take action to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which helps protect the public from fraud in commercial dealings.
Make every effort to oppose and overturn the executive orders regarding the following:
No mining, drilling, excessive logging or industrial expansion into national lands found in National Monuments and Bureau of Land Management. These lands not only protect natural beauty and lead to billions of dollars in the tourist industry, they protect us from water and air pollution.
Reinstate scientific data into the data bases of the EPA, Department of Transportation, NIH, NSF, this data assists in medical research and care and helps local governments plan for natural disasters.
Regarding USAID, take action to make sure the US District Judge of DC order to the administration not to suspend or cancel foreign assistance that was in place before the present administration took office is enforced
Oppose executive orders halting research and development of alternative energy sources. This industry employs thousands of people and protects the environment.
Oppose executive order limiting research and development of EV cars and infrastructure to support them. This executive order helps the dominant electric car company Tesla and its owner Musk by eliminating competition.
Thank Peters for his letter to the White House Calling for Immediate Pause on Elon Musk and DOGE’s Activities
Please note: If you are unable to leave a message by phone, go to their websites to send them an email. Unfortunately email has to be done through their official websites. Phone calls are recommended but an email is better than nothing. Peters email and Slotkin email.
Call or visit Rep. Scholten 202.225.3831
Visit her office in person at 110 Michigan Ave. NW, Suite 460, 616.451.8383 (the US House is in recess between February 14 - 23). Please note: This office is likely closed on Feb. 17 (Presidents Day) but she’s here ALL WEEK!
Do not help the Republicans pass ANY legislation. The Dems have to be a united front and fight back.
Thank you for introducing the CLEAR Act (Consistent Legal Expectations and Access to Records Act), which ensures that temporary agencies like DOGE are subject to the same Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) rules as permanent government entities
Vote NO on HR22 (Safe American Voting Eligibility Act) (More info on “What We’re Monitoring” page)
Object to the funding cuts for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Take action to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which helps protect the public from fraud in commercial dealings.
Make every effort to oppose and overturn the executive orders regarding the following:
No mining, drilling, excessive logging or industrial expansion into national lands found in National Monuments and Bureau of Land Management. These lands not only protect natural beauty and lead to billions of dollars in the tourist industry, they protect us from water and air pollution.
Reinstate scientific data into the data bases of the EPA, Department of Transportation, NIH, NSF, this data assists in medical research and care and helps local governments plan for natural disasters.
Regarding USAID, take action to make sure the US District Judge of DC order to the administration not to suspend or cancel foreign assistance that was in place before the present administration took office is enforced
Oppose executive orders halting research and development of alternative energy sources. This industry employs thousands of people and protects the environment.
Oppose executive order limiting research and development of EV cars and infrastructure to support them. This executive order helps the dominant electric car company Tesla and its owner Musk by eliminating competition.
Continue fighting back against Musk and Trump
If your State House Rep is a Democrat: (see contact info in Resources for You)
Call and thank them for voting against HR 19 to withhold funding for sanctuary cities
If your State House Rep is a Republican: (see contact info in Resources for You)
Call and tell them your disappointed they voted yes on HR 19
Call your State Senator (see contact info in Resources for You)
Vote NO on HR 19
If your State Senator is Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, urge her not to bring HR19 to a vote
Also ask Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks not to bring SB11 to a vote - this bill would prohibit law enforcement from limiting communication between law enforcement and federal officials about immigration status
Call Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (517.335.7622) and thank her for joining the state attorneys general who have filed a case to prosecute Musk and DOGE for the illegal data breach of social security numbers, health records, and income tax information taken in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974.
Write Postcards for Susan Crawford, candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to keep the Democratic majority on the court. If she doesn’t win, the court flips conservative, and everything Wisconsin gained — fair maps, voting rights, the chance to flip seats — disappears overnight. Postcards to Voters.
Sign up for the General Strike. They need 3.5% of the population to commit to a strike and then they will set the date. The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world.
Donate! Donations are needed by the litigators who have been filing lawsuits to stop the destructive, anti-democratic executive orders and the horrible, illegal actions of Musk and DOGE. They include the following: ACLU, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Democracy Docket, Democracy Forward, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, and American Immigration Council.
Call Costco at 425-313-8100 and let them know how much you appreciate them for supporting their DEI programs and the way they treat their employees. Their operators are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT. The opposition has been bombarding them with calls demanding they stop their DEI programs and they are keeping track of those who call to support and those who call to complain. Let's show them some love!
Eat some ice cream - and check the Goods Unite Us app to see which brand worthy of your support. Yes, it’s the middle of a particularly wintry winter. But ice cream is one of the best creations humans have ever produced, and possibly the most soothing food in the world, so you will feel better when you have some - especially when it comes from a company that put it’s donations toward causes you support. That’s a win-win!
Bonus Round! To Do #11 - Attend any of the following events!
Events
Ongoing. Thursdays at 3 pm, “What's the Plan?” Zoom call with Indivisible Leaders. Support for the entire network to "make sense of the moment," stay grounded, and build impact, Thursdays. Ongoing Thursday afternoon National call with Leah and Ezra, formerly called “Bracing for Impact,” now called "What's the Plan?" RSVP here
February 17, 2025 at Noon - Protest rally at Calder Plaza, Grand Rapids. This event is not sponsored by Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids but we are supporting it, given that the 50501 Michigan rally in Lansing has been cancelled due to expected bad weather.
February 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm, Rep. Hillary Scholten is having a telephone Town Hall. Dial 855.286.0280 to tune in.
February 20, 2025 at 6 pm. Join a Zoom call with Senator Slotkin's Regional Director, Terry Campbell. Register in advance for this meeting:
February 23, 2025 from 2-4 pm in the Social Hall at Fountain Street Church. Banned Book Exchange Social and IGGR In-person Meeting. Give a banned book, get a banned book. Wrap your book in brown paper and write the first sentence of the book on the wrapper. Meet your fellow members of IGGR and learn about our different committees. Maybe you’ll even want to join one!
February 23, 2025 from 12:30- 2:00 pm, Nonviolence Film and Speaker Series, Fountain Street Church Chapel. The FSC Social Justice Team is showing the film series, A Force More Powerful, and sponsoring speakers from area organizations to discuss civil disobedience. The documentary films feature moments in history when nonviolence was used as a tool for social and political change. Each film will be accompanied by a speaker from a local organization doing important work in our community. Lunch will be provided.
February 23: Film featuring Gandhi’s Salt March & speaker Jonathan Rinehart Sr from Indigenous Water Protectors
Free street parking is available near the church. The GRCC parking garage across Fountain Street is free until 3:00 PM on Sundays.
February 27, 2025 at 6:30 pm at Fountain Street Church, GR Rapid Response to ICE will present Understanding the History of US Immigration Policy, to demonstrate that this history has always been rooted in White Supremacy and xenophobia. This presentation will provide an understanding of various federal legislative acts and how those laws impacted various immigrant populations over the past 250 years. We believe it is important to understand this history to address current immigration policy. This event is free, although we encourage people to make a donation to Fountain Street Church for providing the space. Wearing masks is encouraged.
March 15, 2025 at 12pm: Training is scheduled at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church. This is a training being offered through GR Rapid Response to ICE to prepare people to take action in support of immigrants that will be targeted, especially with the threat of mass deportation from the Trump Administration. Please visit GR Rapid Response to ICE on Facebook or Instagram to register for the event.
March 25, 2025 at 7:30pm: “How Laws Are Made at the Federal Level,”a Virtual Town Hall sponsored by IGGR, featuring Charles Seigel, faculty member of College of DuPage, who has worked at various levels of federal and city government. Stay tuned for more information and a Zoom link.
April 21, 2025 at 7:30 pm: “How Laws Are Made in Michigan,”a Virtual Town Hall sponsored by Statewide Indivisible Michigan and IGGR, featuring Representative Phil Skaggs (D-80) and Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-8). Stay tuned for more information and a Zoom link.
If you are part of an organization that has an upcoming event that helps defend democracy, we can help spread the word. DM us or email indivisibleggr@gmail.com with the details.
What We're Monitoring - 2/16/25
Following is information about introduced Bills that our Research Committee is keeping an eye on. Come back here as often as you’d like to find an update. We’ll edit this at least once a week.
Introduced Bills to Keep an Eye On
No action is needed at this time, but be aware of what MAGA is up to in the US Congress and in our state legislature.
Federal
No action is needed at this time, but be aware of what MAGA is up to in the US Congress.
HR 22/S 128: Safe American Voting Eligibility Act (see above)
H.Res 7: Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages (sounds benign, but it’s not)
State of Michigan
No action is needed at this time, but be aware of what MAGA is up to in our state legislature.
HR 19. A resolution withholding earmark funding from communities with policies that “subvert” federal immigration law. Passed in the House 2/11/25. Watch for Senate actions.
Michigan lawmakers strike deal on wages and tips — but not sick leave, yet
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