Action Items: Week of June 8, 2025
Determined. And Hopeful!
"One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise." -F. Scott Fitzgerald
We’re Determined. And Hopeful!
Join us and/or 50501 for the No Kings Rally this Saturday, June 14!
This Week’s Newsletter Contains…
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
IGGR Events
Events From Other Organizations
Michigan Updates
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
There are A LOT of actions on this list. Remember, you don’t have to do every single one of them. Choose the issue that’s closest to your heart and take action on that one. Or pace yourself by doing one action per day. Take a break when you need to and come back to fight. The important thing is persistence -- keep resisting however you are able. It all matters. And it is making a difference per Senator Slotkin’s office on a call this past week!
Call Senators Peters 202.224.6221 and Slotkin 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)
Vote NO on H.Con.Res 14 Budget Resolution, “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, AND Speak out about the many reasons to oppose the Budget Resolution, as enumerated in “What’s in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill“:
Limits the ability of the federal courts to issue contempt of court orders against illegal and unconstitutional executive actions. This means that the courts would be limited in their attempts to enforce their rulings such as temporary restraining orders or injunctions issued against the executive branch.
No cuts to Medicare! Medicare is a target as Senate GOP faces megabill math issues
People in the 10% or below income bracket will see a significant reduction in their annual financial resources and those in the top 10% income bracket will see a significant increase in their financial resources.
Eliminates Jobs Corps training which provides low income people with job training and experience and helps them secure employment.
Curtailment of federally backed student loans and Pell grants which help low income students pay for college without having to repay as a loan would.
Sale of public lands in federal forests and federal land management areas for fossil fuel exploration and drilling and for excessive harvesting of timber.
Cuts to Medicaid funding. One in five U.S. citizens rely on medicaid to pay for medical care. In Michigan approximately 20 to 25% of the population relies on Medicaid.
Bars the use of Medicaid for services rendered by health clinics like Planned Parenthood.
Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), approximately $267 billion dollars.
Eliminates tax incentives for utilities to convert to clean energy alternatives.
Eliminates tax incentives for purchasing an energy efficient car and instead would institute a fee for doing so.
Additional cuts to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC budget has already been cut by more than 50%.
Adds $3.8 trillion to the national debt and would raise the debt ceiling by $44 trillion.
Object to the government contract with Palantir to compile data on Americans that could make it easier to spy on and persecute people living in the US. Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans. Trump Taps Palantir to Create Master Database on Every American
Oppose the nomination of Casey Means, a social media influencer, as Surgeon General. She’s friends with Kennedy and shares his anti vaccination position, calling vaccine mandates criminal. She promotes and profits from the sale of raw milk and untested plant therapies.
Oppose the nomination of Paul Ingrassia, a far-right podcaster known for making incendiary comments, to lead the US Office of Special Council. Trump nominates former podcast host with history of inflammatory comments for top ethics job
Oppose the nomination of Emil Bove, one of Trump’s personal lawyers, to a lifetime appointment to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Oppose the nomination of Billy Long for the head of the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). He supports the elimination of the IRS and supports a national sales tax.
Demand the return of immigrants who have been deported to other countries without due process.
Demand that the contract with Moderna for development of a Bird flu vaccination be reinstated.
Demand an investigation of Elon Musk’s drug use during his tenure with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (See the CBS News interview of Musk for an example of his disjointed and somewhat incoherent discussion of DOGE). Investigate Musk’s profiting from his tenure in DOGE. See “Elon Musk is $170 Billion Richer Since Endorsing Trump.”
Object to the DOJ settling the federal wrongful death lawsuit for $5 million, the case involves the death of Ashli Babbitt, who was a January 6, 2021 rioter in the Capitol.
Demand that the plaque acknowledging the bravery of the Capitol Police on January 6, 2021 be installed in the Capitol Building.
Demand that the 12,000 refugees who had been cleared for admission to the United States and who had their plane tickets to travel here. A few hours into his second term he signed an executive order suspending the admission of these refugees. His order included an additional 118,000 refugees who had been cleared for admission to the U.S. Many of these refugees are Iraqi or Afghans who assisted the U.S. Army and are in danger in their own countries.
Demand that funding from the Department of Transportation to Michigan for road repairs and improvements not be tied to Michigan assisting Immigration and Custom Enforcement immigration enforcement, the disbanding of any programs involving diversity, equity and inclusion, and not being tied to marriage and birthrates as threatened by Trump. Trump to Michigan: Comply with immigration, DEI orders or lose road funding
Call Representative Scholten, 202.225.3831 or Moolenaar 202.225.3561
Thank you for speaking out against the closure of the GR Job Corps Center that will affect hundreds of Grand Rapidians. With Grand Rapids center affected, Scholten criticizes Job Corps pause
Demand an investigation of Elon Musk’s drug use during his tenure with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (See the CBS News interview of Musk for an example of his disjointed and somewhat incoherent discussion of DOGE). Investigate Musk’s profiting from his tenure in DOGE. See “Elon Musk is $170 Billion Richer Since Endorsing Trump.”
Demand the contract with Moderna for the development of a vaccination for bird flu be reinstated
Demand the return of immigrants who have been deported to other countries without due process.
Object to DOJ settling the federal wrongful death lawsuit involving the death of Ashli Babbitt who was a January 6, 2021 rioter in the Capitol, for $5 million.
Demand that the plaque acknowledging the bravery of the Capitol Police on January 6, 2021 be installed in the Capitol Building.
Demand that the 12,000 refugees who had been cleared for admission to the United States and who had their plane tickets to travel here. A few hours into his second term he signed an executive order suspending the admission of these refugees. His order included an additional 118,000 refugees who had been cleared for admission to the U.S. Many of these refugees include Iraquis and Afghans who are targeted by their own countries because they assisted the U.S. military. (Trump Makes America’s Refugee Program a Tool of White Racial Grievance)
Oppose the cuts to the Fair Housing Initiatives (FHIP) administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In February 2025 Trump terminated 78 grants to entities fighting housing discrimination by executive order and the Fiscal Year 26 Budget (FY26) would eliminate FHIP completely.
Help Voters Not Politicians’s Decline to Sign campaign. Voters Not Politicians has been sounding the alarm about the two voter suppressive ballot initiatives circulating this summer that would impose oppressive voter restrictions if passed. You can help raise awareness and protect your communities against these voter suppression petitions so voters aren’t tricked into signing away their voting rights. Sign up here for opportunities to fight back against these attacks on our voting rights.
Eat at Culver’s on June 24 and do good at the same time! Tuesday, June 24, 5 - 8 pm. In support of farmland preservation, all ten Culver’s locations in Kent County will host a Share Night on Tuesday, June 24, to raise awareness and funding for the Kent County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program. At the event, 10 percent of all sales will benefit the program. Guests can enjoy a great meal, see tractors (at each location), and contribute to an important cause. (Byron Center, Caledonia, Cascade, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, East Beltline, Lowell, Rockford, Walker, Wyoming)
Invite 5 friends to attend a No Kings Rally on June 14, no matter where they are!
Please consider donating to Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids here. Your funds will help us sponsor the No Kings Protest in Grand Rapids on June 14 and cover costs of the event, which include printing of flyers, rental of sound system, logistical help, etc. (all done by local businesses).
Bonus Round!! Please Volunteer for the No Kings Rally! IGGR is run 100% by volunteers and we need more help! We are looking to add to our Safety Squad to help with our upcoming No Kings rally on June 14 at Ah-Nab-Awen park (9am-12noon) and future rallies, marches and protests. Let us know if you are interested to join and if you need some training, we have 3 great online training opportunities prior to June 14. See the following link for signing up for training: https://www.nokings.org/trainings. You can also fill out this form to let us know you’re interested.
IGGR Events
Wednesday, June 11 at 12 pm. Protect Social Security Rally at the Social Security Office, 3045 Knapp St NE, GR.
Friday, June 13 at 4:30 to 6 pm. Bridge Takeover Protest. Hall Street over US 131. Future Bridge Takeover date: June 20
Saturday, June 14 from 10 to 11:30 am. No Kings Rally at Ah-Nab-Awen Park with IGGR. REGISTER HERE.
Saturday, June 14 from 12pm to 2pm. No Kings Rally at Rosa Parks Circle with 50501. REGISTER HERE.
Wednesday, June 18 from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. "State of Civil Rights and What You Can Do to Protect Them," Fountain Street Church Chapel, 24 Fountain Street SE. Lily Eggers from the ACLU will present an overview of the status of legislation, executive orders and current lawsuits and how they affect our civil rights and civil liberties. Get a better understanding of these rights and freedoms at this moment and learn what you can do to protect them.
Lily Eggers is an Organizing Strategist for Southwest Michigan at the ACLU of Michigan. Lily joined the ACLU of Michigan in October of 2022 as an organizer, contributing to the passing of Proposal 3- 2022 (Reproductive Freedom for All) to secure access to reproductive rights in Michigan. From 2023-2024, she worked on a voting rights and democracy project to ensure Michiganders knew about their newly won voting rights and worked with election officials to implement new policies and ensure folks had access to the ballot. In her current role as an Organizing Strategist, Lily works with people in their own communities to educate and organize in pursuit of civil rights and civil liberties protections.
Wednesday, June 25 at 6 pm. IGGR Meetup. Third Nature Brewery. 7733 Childsdale Ave NE, Rockford, MI. Dogs are welcome on the patio! Other meetups scheduled: Wednesday, July 16 at Broadleaf Brewery, 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE, Kentwood and Wednesday, August 13 at The Mitten 527 Leonard St NW, GR
EVENTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Monday, June 9 at 12 pm. Tesla Takedown. Tesla Showroom in Grand Rapids, 2919 29th St SE.
Saturday, June 14 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, June 19 at 12 pm. 2025 Afro Gaga Parade and Celebration. The parade begins at noon at Hall and Eastern. The procession features Pan-African displays of love, inspiration and pride for the people. Join the community on an adventure as you travel south on Eastern to Crofton St. SE, while beautiful melodies of the motherland lead attendees into an atmosphere filled with positivity. The Dickinson Park (1635 Willard St SE) event will immediately follow, with activities and cultural experiences such as African Drummers. Live music, raffle giveaways, food, and more! ( Until 7pm.)
Saturday, June 21 at 10 am to 12 pm. No GEO MI Protest. Webber Township Community Park on M-37 north of Baldwin. The purpose of this protest is to raise public awareness of the horrendous human rights violations and ugly business of immigrant detention by GEO. GEO is an 1800 bed for-profit immigrant detention center that will open on July 14, to incarcerate the victims of Trump's ICE arrests. Organized by the Manistee County Democratic Party, in partnership with the other CD2 Democratic parties and a coalition of groups. Watch for updates, follow details and contact organizers via Signal at No GEO MI. Register here:https://mobilize.us/s/K1ZVmQ
Michigan Updates
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Best one yet! Good job gathering all this useful information. Thanks.
Excellent! Amazing aggregation of information and action items. Thank you!