Action Items: Week of September 28, 2025

Urgent Calls Needed By Monday on the GOP Budget Bill - We Have a Script for You!

This Week’s Newsletter Contains…

The Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week

Pet of the week

IGGR Events

Events from Other Organizations

Michigan Petitions Update

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The 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).

  • URGENT: Call MONDAY and urge Senators to stand firm and vote NO on the GOP budget bill. Use this script for talking points. (Congress must reach a funding agreement by the end of the day next Tuesday, September 30 or the federal government will shut down on Wednesday.) You can also email: Email Gary Peters, Email Senator Slotkin

  • Reach out to the USDA and demand it reinstate the ERS Household Food Security report.

  • Demand that the Department of Defense move forward to clean up Polyfluoroalkl (PFAs) contaminations promptly instead of delaying such clean ups as the Trump administration plans. There are 100 such sites throughout the United States with several in Michigan including Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Sawyer Air Force Base near Marquette, and sites in Battle Creek, Grand Ledge, Lansing, and Camp Grayling. Up to 3.2 million people, that’s one in three Michiganders, may get their drinking water from PFA contaminated aquifers. PFAS cleanups delayed by years at Michigan military sites.

• Call Representative Scholten 202 225 3831 or Moolenaar 202 225 3561

  • Scholten:

    • Thank you for your NO vote on HR5371 Continuing Resolution to fund the government.

    • Extremely disappointed in your YES vote on H Res 719 honoring racist, misogynist, Christian Nationalist Charlie Kirk. (See her explanation for her vote here.)

  • Moolenaar:

    • Extremely disappointed in your YES vote on HR5371, the Continuing Resolution to fund the government.

    • Extremely disappointed in your YES vote on H Res 719 honoring racist, misogynist, Christian Nationalist Charlie Kirk.

  • Reach out to the USDA and demand it reinstate the ERS Household Food Security report.

  • Demand that the Department of Defense promptly move forward to clean up PFAs at several former and peasant military sites in Michigan. One in three Michigan citizens gets their drinking water from PFA contaminated aquifers.

• Call Governor Whitmer 517.335.7858

  • Demand that the Department of Defense move promptly to clean up PFAs at Sawyer and Wurtsmith Air force bases and at several other sites in Detroit, Battle Creek, Lansing, Grand Ledge and Grayling. One in three Michigan citizens get their drinking water from PFA contaminated aquifers.

• Call State Senators and Representatives (find contact information here)

  • URGENT! Call and email on MONDAY, September 29. State Senators: Vote NO on the Republican-led House Budget bill which makes $5 billion in cuts to essential services, including a $4 billion cut to the Department of Health and Human Services (mainly Medicaid and behavioral health), $1.4 billion in cuts to education, a $200 million cut to environment, Great Lakes and energy, and a $94.7 million cut to public safety. Join the call and email campaign sponsored by Indivisible Paw Paw. Scripts and templates here.

  • West MI Democrat Representatives: Thank them for voting NO on HB4664, which would make protesting in the street without a permit a criminal offense punishable by jail time. Street protesters could be charged with a crime under Michigan House bill

  • West MI Republican Reps: Express your disappointment in them voting YES for this bill

  • Winnie Brinks: Call (855.347.8029) or email her and urge her NOT to bring this bill up for a vote (let it die in committee).

  • All representatives: Demand the Department of Defense clean up PFA contamination at former and present military sites in Michigan. One in three Michiganders get their drinking water fromPFA contaminated aquifers.

• Help with Progressives in the Park. Rep. Phil Skaggs and Mayor David LaGrand are looking for volunteers to help drop informational leaflets in the Riverside neighborhood for Progressives in the Park. Progressives in the Park is an event that allows candidates and organizations to talk about what they do and the services they provide. Our scheduling is flexible but we would like to do a lit drop Monday—Friday at 1 pm during the week of September 29. Please contact Justus Young at justusyoung2002@gmail.com if interested.

• EXTRA CREDIT:

  • We need your help with our No Kings Community Festival on October 18 from 11am - 1pm at Riverside Park! Your donation help us have additional porta-potties, entertainment, art supplies for kids and so much more. You can also volunteer to help us with activities, set up, clean up, stage direction and more!

Photo by Meg on Unsplash

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Pet of the Week 🐩

Name: Sadie

Human: Randee M.

Official Role: Protestor. Because seriously, does she look like she tolerates fascists?

Hobbies: Getting her point across.

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Send us a photo of your pet! Following the lead of The Contrarian, IGGR has started 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; we will include your first name and initial.

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IGGR Events 🎉

Tuesday, September 30 at 7:30 pm. Frontline in the Fight: Why Fascists Fear Teachers - A Conversation w/ Randi Weingarten. Online. Join Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, for a dynamic conversation on her book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers. Randi will highlight how educators fight for freedom in classrooms, the dangers of censorship and attacks on schools, and why standing with teachers is a revolutionary act. Register here. Sponsored by Indivisible National.

Wednesday, October 1 at 12 pm. Protect Social Security Rally at the Social Security Office, 3045 Knapp St NE.

Friday, October 3 at 4:30 to 6 pm. Bridge Brigade Takeover Protest. Hall over US-131 (we have been asked to continue here to show our support for the surrounding community--Keep that in mind as you choose your protest signs.)

Future dates/locations:

• Oct 10 - Fuller over I-196

• Oct 17 - Hall over US-131 (we have been asked to continue here to show our support for the surrounding community--Keep that in mind as you choose your protest signs.)

Friday, October 3 at 6 pm. Avelo Protest at Grand Rapids Art Prize. Wear a “Boycott Avelo” T-shirt and/or carry your own sign, meeting at the Rosa Parks statue in Rosa Parks Circle for group walk-arounds. The shirts will be for sale on October 3, sizes L and XL, $15 (cash only) and also, car magnets for $10. Sign up here. Sponsored by Holland Zeeland Indivisible.

Wednesday, October 8 at 7 pm. SWIM Meeting with Dana Nessel. Online. SWIM will be hosting and moderating a discussion with AG Dana Nessel about steps she and her colleagues in the state as well as fellow AGs are taking to protect the rights of people in Michigan. This is a unique opportunity so please plan to join. Register here.

We want to be able to cover as many questions as possible, so please submit your questions by October 3 at 5 pm to info@statewideindivisiblemi.com.

Thursday, October 9 at 7 pm, Rank MI Vote Presentation on Rank Choice Voting in the Social Hall at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE. Do you have questions about what Ranked choice voting actually is and how it works? Speaker Jordan Green from Rank MI Vote will explain and answer all your questions.

Saturday, October 18 at 11 am to 1 pm. No Kings Community Festival. Family Friendly. We need these things to be sure we have a successful rally:

No Kings Signs

Safety Observers

Volunteers to help with set up & tear down. Without YOU, we cannot make this event happen. Please consider volunteering as a Safety, set up person, or tear down person. Fill out this form. Thank you!

Financial contributions are always welcome. You can donate here.

Saturday, October 18 at 5 pm. Fighting Dictatorship Together (No Kings Event). Heritage Landing, Muskegon. An evening rally in Muskegon to demand a government that serves the people - not billionaires, not corporations, not would-be kings. We deliberately scheduled our protest for the evening so that people can support their local events - then come together in Muskegon to make this the biggest, loudest, most unified event West Michigan has ever seen. We know many groups are planning their own actions earlier in the day, and we want to amplify that energy. There will be speakers, musicians and a short skit all on stage. We begin at 5 pm and at the end, those who wish to are welcome to walk along Seaway Drive with appropriate signs for a short and calm protest. Bring a chair.

Saturday, October 25 at 8 to 11:30 pm. Douglas Halloween Parade, Douglas, MI. Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids will be supporting Saugatuck Douglas Area Indivisibles (SDAI) in the 27th Annual Douglas Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 25. The SDAI group will have their SOS Democracy Float Boat in the parade and are looking for people to march with their float. There is also an opportunity to join some rehearsal sessions but attendance is not necessary if you just want to march. The parade lineup starts at 9pm and the parade starts at 10pm. This Adult parade attracts about 20,000 people and one of the best ways to be involved is to march in the parade! This is a great opportunity to spread our message and get a lot of exposure for the cause. If you are interested in participating, please sign up here.

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EVENTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Monday, September 29 - Friday, October 3: Help with Progressives in the Park. Rep. Phil Skaggs and Mayor David LaGrand are looking for volunteers to help do a literature drop of informational leaflets in the city for Progressives in the Park. Progressives in the Park is an event that allows candidates and organizations to talk about what they do and the services they provide. Our scheduling is flexible but we would like to do a lit drop Monday—Friday at 1 pm during the week of September 29. Please contact Justus Young at justusyoung2002@gmail.com if interested.

Monday, September 29 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 Wendy’s. Every Monday! Sponsored by Stop GEO Group in Baldwin and Coalition to Stop AVELO.

Monday, September 29 at 12 - 1 pm. Tesla Takedown. 2919 29th St SE. Every Monday from 12 - 1 pm through the summer.

Friday, October 3 at 4:30 - 6 pm. Rush Hour Resistance. Veteran’s Memorial Bridge (North Park). (Alternates weekly with Jupiter Avenue Bridge, parking near the intersection of Konkle and Jupiter, just off West River). Upcoming dates:

• October 10: Jupiter Ave Bridge

• October 17: Veteran’s Memorial Bridge

Friday, October 3 at 7 - 8:30 pm. Progressive Pulse Check at IATSE Local 26, 931 Bridge St NW. Kent County progressives: please join us at our “Progressive Pulse Check.” Progressive Dems and members of the Progressive Caucus board are getting together to share snacks, ideas and build power heading into the 2025 and 2026 elections! RSVP here. Sponsored by the Michigan Progressive Caucus.

Saturday, October 4 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 (Alternates with: Michigan Veterans Home, 2950 Monroe Ave NE, GR). Sponsored by the Support Our Veterans and VA Facebook group. Upcoming dates:

• October 11: Grand Rapids

• October 17: Greenville

Saturday, October 4 at 1 - 4 pm. Progressives in the Park. Riverside Park. This is a festival-style event that will feature elected officials and candidates. Major state and national elected officials, candidates and leaders have been invited to speak at our event to help us draw an even larger crowd. We’ll also have food trucks, a beer tent, and family fun at the park’s playground. For those of you who were around in 2017-2024, Progressives in the Park has included speeches by Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, Jocelyn Benson, Garlin Gilchrist, Dan Kildee, and dozens of other state and local candidates. Facebook event. Sponsored by One Michigan Alliance.

Thursday, October 16 at 7:15 pm. Fact-Based Journalism in an Age of Misinformation at Fountain Street Church. In an era where misinformation spreads faster than the truth, how can we ensure we’re getting the facts? Join Michigan Public’s award-winning team — Zoe Clark (Political Director), Vincent Duffy (News Director), and Christa Quinn (Lead Major Gifts Officer) — for a timely and thought-provoking community conversation on the power, promise, and responsibility of journalism today. Together, we’ll explore how ethical, independent reporting can cut through the noise and help build a better-informed Michigan. This is more than a talk — it’s your chance to be part of the movement for truth in journalism. More info here. Sponsored by the Kent Dems.

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Michigan Petitions Update

Sign these petitions for ballot proposals that are beginning to be circulated:

• Michiganders for Money Out of Politics If you are interested in helping to get the signatures needed to get this initiative on the ballots, reach out to Mop Up Michigan. Sign up for Policy and Circulator Training here.

• Ranked Choice Voting: Rank MI Vote On July 17, 2025, concerned citizens began circulating Rank MI Vote petitions to get 446,198 signatures within 180 days. To volunteer to help get petitions signed, visit Rank MI Vote.

Thursday, October 9 at 7 pm, Rank MI Vote Presentation on Rank Choice Voting in the Social Hall at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE. Do you have questions about what Ranked choice voting actually is and how it works? Come and learn from a speaker from Rank MI Vote. There will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.More info to come!

• Invest in MI Kids Volunteers are already collecting signatures, with a target of getting 700,000 signatures. To volunteer or donate, contact Invest in MI Kids.

Do not sign these petitions:

• Any (so called) voting rights of the petitions circulated by these groups:

  • Committee to Protect Voters’ Rights

  • Americans for Citizen Voting

• AxMITaxwhich wants to eliminate all property taxes in MI and make it much harder for the state or localities to enact any tax

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