Action Items: Week of March 2, 2025
Remember this: We hold the truth.
Truth alone can succeed; falsehood is a waste of time and loss of energy.
- Bowl of Saki, February 23, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
This Week’s Newsletter Contains…
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
Share Your Story
Events
Resource: A History of Racial Violence
What We’re Monitoring
Introduced Bills to Keep an Eye On - Federal and State
Presentation from our Banned Book Event on 2/23/25
Trusted News Sources
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)
Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll confirmation
Thank Slotkin for voting NO on Daniel Driscoll
Tell Peters you’re disappointed with his YES vote
Oppose cuts to healthcare/medicare/medicaid/SNAP
Affordable Care Act recipients, totaling approximately 31,000 people in the greater Grand Rapids will experience a 47% increase in the premiums they will pay.
In greater Grand Rapids approximately 159,922 people on Medicaid will lose their health care, that includes 70,247 children and 11,000 seniors over 65 years of age.
Cutting Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) will threaten the loss of the main food source for approximately 94,000 people in greater Grand Rapids
Speak out against the politicization of the military. Trump fired the Chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations, Air Force Chief General and all of the top Judge Advocates General (the legal branch of the armed services). These firings and planned use of the military for immigration enforcement undermines the ability of the military to respond to foreign enemies.
Before any agreement to a budget, demand the reintroductions of HR3988 Article One Act and S1912 Article One Act, ironically introduced by republicans to limit presidential power to declare a national emergency without the approval of congress.
Support a Bill that would limit the power of the president to use the U.S. National Guard to suppress protest and political dissent. (This was part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act which passed the house but did not become law.)
Call Rep. Scholten 202.225.3831
Thank you for voting NO on the GOP budget resolution (and thank the person who answers the phone -- they have a hard job!)
Before any agreement to a budget, demand the reintroductions of HR3988 Article One Act and S1912 Article One Act, ironically introduced by republicans to limit presidential power to declare a national emergency without the approval of congress.
Support a Bill that would limit the power of the president to use the U.S. National Guard to suppress protest and political dissent. This was part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act which passed the house but did not become law.
Call your State House Rep (see contact info in Resources for You)
Dems: Thank you for speaking out against ridiculous HR 28 to overturn the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which protects same-sex marriages
Download the 5Calls app and start calling!
Congressional Committees: Interested in knowing which Congresspeople are on what committees? Find lists on our “Resources for You” page.
Bonus Round #6 - Tell us your story of being affected by DOGE cuts. And attend any of the events listed below for support and information.
Share Your Story
The DOGE chainsaw approach to jobs, benefits and support has begun impacting Greater Grand Rapids residents. If you have been affected - or are afraid of what will happen if you are - we would love to share your story a broader audience. Our goal is to educate all voters as to how what happens in D.D. affects us here at home.
Please know you don’t have to share your name if you don’t want to. We’re grateful for your story.
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
March 3, 2025 at 12 pm: Stop Elon protest at the Tesla Showroom. 2919 29th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
March 3, 2025 at 2 pm: Trumping Tyranny Protest, Michigan State Capitol, Lansing. Protesting against Donald Trump's abuse of power and demanding he be held accountable for his actions.
March 7, 2025 at 12 pm: Michigan Stand Up for Science Rally. Michigan State Capitol, Lansing. Join scientists, researchers, doctors, and citizens united in demanding that policymakers defend science, protect research funding, and ensure evidence-based decision-making for the benefit of all. More info here.
March 8, 20225 at 12 pm: International Women’s Day Unite and Resist rally. Rosa Parks Circle, Grand Rapids (This is an approximate location. Once the host has confirmed the event's location, attendees will receive the address via email.)
March 13, 2025 at 11 am: Social Justice March at the Hispanic Center, 1204 Cesar E. Chavez Ave.
March 15, 2025 at 12pm: Rapid Response 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.
Resource: A History of Racial Violence
If you’re interested in learning more about this country’s foundation on - and ongoing acts of - Racial Violence, check out the A History of Racial Injustice from The Equal Justice Initiative. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, you can sign up for daily history lessons delivered right to your email inbox. Here is an overview of March that will give you an idea of the information they provide.
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 Updates: Introduced Bills to Keep an Eye On
State Updates: Things to Keep an Eye On
HR 28: GOP resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which protects same-sex marriages. Introduced by Josh Schriver, R-Oxford on 2/25/25. Bridge Michigan article.
Presentation from our Banned Book Event on 2/23/25
If you missed our Banned Book Event last Sunday, the slide show we presented can be found here. If you’re interested in volunteering for any of the Committees - message us via the button below. We would love to have you!
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.
For faster updates or other info - join our private Facebook Group and follow us on Bluesky - @indivisibleggr.bsky.social.
Thanks so much for the weekly newsletter. It is so helpful and I am sharing with as many people as I can.
I am also asking about a rally in Lansing on the 4th. I thought that you had posted that last week.