Action Items: Week of May 4, 2025
“Are you ready for the fight?” - Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker
“I understand the tendency to give in to despair right now but despair is an indulgence that we cannot afford in the times upon which history turns. Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now. Cowardice can be contagious, but so too can courage…. Just as the hope that we hold onto in the darkness, shines with its own...special light. So I have one question for all of you, are you ready for the fight?
-from the April 27, 2025 speech Democratic Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker gave to Democrats in New Hampshire as captured by Heather Cox Richardson on 4/28/25
This Week’s Newsletter Contains…
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
IGGR Events
Events From Other Organizations
What We’re Monitoring
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
This list gives you the key action items you focus on for the week. It is, as you well know, not the only things you can do. If you want to do more and/or would like a script to follow to make calls or send emails to your Congresspeople, download the 5 Calls app. It includes the current issues and is updated regularly.
Call Senators Peters, 202.224.6221 and Slotkin, 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)
Thank you for voting YES on Senate Joint Resolution 49 terminating the national emergency declared to impose global tariffs.
Thank you for noting NO on Senate Joint Resolution 31 that weakens the Clean Air Act by overturning an EPA rule on seven highly toxic air pollutants emitted by heavy industry
Support a filibuster to prevent the HR22/S128, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) from coming to a vote.
Demand a hearing on Ed Martin, Trump’s nominee to be US attorney for Washington, DC, who did not report over 200 media appearances, including many on far-right outlets and Russian-state media, and vote NO on his confirmation
Oppose funding cuts to NPR and PBS
Call Representative Rep. Scholten, 202.225.3831
Fight against cuts to the Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Social Security programs in the Republican budget resolution; fight against tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires
Oppose funding cuts to NPR and PBS
Email Dana Nessel (miag@michigan.gov) and demand she fight back against ICE overreach. Publicly condemn undemocratic and illegal detentions of immigrants like Rümeysa Öztürk and call for the immediate release of those being targeted for their political expression. Open a formal investigation into ICE activities in our state. Investigate Avelo airlines transporting shackled passengers and concerns about possible safety issues if there’s an emergency. ICE Air Has a New Contractor. This State Is Asking How It Will Protect the Detainees on Board. You can also call: 517-335-7622
Call your State Representative (see Resources for You for contact info)
If your Rep is a Democrat, thank them for voting NO on HJR B (the Michigan version of the SAVE Act)
If you Rep is a Republication, express your disappointment about their YES vote
Michigan proof-of-citizenship question fails to gain House support
Take a moment to do a small bit of good, like helping a friend, helping a stranger, giving someone a compliment, picking up litter, making a donation, etc. It’s just what the world needs.
For additional kudos! Attend any of the events listed below! You’ll find IGGR events as well as other events from great organizations in the Grand Rapids area.
“A reminder that every small bit of good you do - whether it be putting art into the world, helping a friend or stranger, donating to a good cause, or just listening to someone who needs to vent - offsets all the evil in the world just a little bit. And sometimes that's just what the world needs.” - From C. Robert Cargill
IGGR Events
Sunday, May 4 at 3:30 - 5:00 pm. IGGR Book Fair Social at Fountain Street Church Social Hall. Join other Indivisible GGR members to celebrate and share stories about all the hard work you have been doing! Books and Mortar will present a book fair with a selection of books about general political and social justice issues including immigrants, LGBTQ+, seniors/disabled, women's rights and more! Bring your favorite beverage and a snack to share, buy a book or two and hang out with like-minded people.
Wednesday, May 7 at 12 pm. Protect Social Security Rally at the Social Security Office, 3045 Knapp St NE, GR.
Friday, May 9 at 4:30 to 6 pm. Bridge Takeover Protest. 54th Street over US 131.
Thursday, May 15 at 7 - 8:30 pm. Grand Rapids Power Analysis Workshop.Fountain Street Church Social Hall, 24 Fountain Street NE. Join GR organizer Jeff Smith in this interactive workshop where he will discuss the Grand Rapids Power Analysis to help you understand the organizations and people who have significant political and economic power in this city. This analysis provides critical information needed by individuals working to affect structural changes to injustices in Grand Rapids. You will be better prepared to create strategies and tactics for handling resistance from those organizations and people as you work to achieve social justice.
Jeff Smith has been part of social movement work for 40+ years in Grand Rapids. He co-founded the Koinonia House, which practiced radical hospitality for the unhoused and was a sanctuary for Central American refugees fleeing US sponsored terrorism in the 1980s. Jeff spent a significant amount of time doing accompaniment work in Central America and Mexico, working with, and learning from, movement organizers in those countries. He has written several books including “A People’s History of Grand Rapids.
EVENTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Sunday, May 4 at 1 - 4 pm. Festival of Hope & Freedom. Rosa Parks Circle. This event is a celebration of core Democratic values, including Freedom to Prosper, Freedom to Be Me, Freedom to Learn, Freedom to Vote, Hope for a Clean Environment, Hope for Safety, Hope for Healthy Families, and Hope for Democracy! Sign up here.
Monday, May 5 at 12 pm. Tesla Takedown. Tesla Showroom in Grand Rapids, 2919 29th St SE.
Monday, May 5 at 12 - 3 pm. March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). Ah-Nab-Awen Park, 220 Front Street NW. Rain or shine, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Friday, May 9 at 4 - 5:30 pm. No Kings–Then or Now. Online event. A focus on strategies and pragmatic actions you can take to stop the destruction of our democracy with our special guest speakers: Historian and political writer Heather Cox Richardson, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin. Together, they will answer the question: What CAN and MUST we all do to win this fight. Register here. Sponsored by a variety of groups, including Concord Indivisible.
Monday, May 12 at 6 - 7:45 pm. A Conversation with our U. S. House Representatives at Union High School, 1800 Tremont Blvd NW.
Ongoing. Sundays at 1 pm. Join the Protest for Progress - a weekly demonstration hosted by the Grand Rapids Trans Foundation in Monument Park on Fulton Street, GR.
What We're Monitoring
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.
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Thank you for this communication.
In the last week or so I've seen a number of people commenting to various posts and they have really good ideas about how to grow the number of people attending protests/ events. I have tagged Indivisible of Greater Grand Rapids but haven't seen any responses. I know you have a alo on your plates, as we all do. Is there a better way to communicate with administrators of IGGR?
A few ideas that I hope you'll consider:
Is there a way to make a specific page listing events that we can repost? The news doesn't cover everything, most people don't know about IGGR unless they do a specific search; it took me two weeks back in February before I found it.
A specific shareable IGGR page would make things so much easier. I don't know if a way to share photos from events. I know some people may not want to appear in public photos, but I also know that there are people who would be more inclined to join a protest that looks like it has momentum.
Next, there was a very recent post about L.A. and multiple smaller protests as a tactic. I'd like to recommend that we try that here. Police have been much more chill with smaller groups than larger ones. Also, smaller ones all around the city have more visibility to people all over G.R. than a singular event they could totally miss unless they happen by it.
It also may make it more accessible to people who are less comfortable with driving/ parking downtown.
Finally, is there a better way to communicate ideas with IGGR administrators?
Thanks so much for all your hard work!
Thank you for this communication. It truly helps me to get my weekly action plan together. Quick question: Is anyone from West Michigan planning to travel to the June 6th protest in DC?