Action Items: Week of September 7, 2025

Let's get active. 🔥📣

“It is better to be angry and active than angry and passive. Once we become active, the despair feels less overwhelming. Our actions, no matter how small, can energize and focus us all.” -- Nick Brandt

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

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

More Information - Website & Social Media

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The Top 5 Things YOU Can Do This Week

If you are new to calling, consider downloading the Five Calls app on your phone. 5Calls makes it incredibly easy to make calls to Senators and Representatives. The app lists issues of the day or week that merit calls. The issue is explained briefly and succinctly. A proposed script is provided for what to say. Best yet, you can click on the Senators’ or Representatives’ name and the app will actually dial the number for you. You’ll have to leave a message for our Senators because they don’t have people answering their phones. Representative Scholten has staffers who do usually answer during business hours. Whether leaving a message or speaking to a human, list your home address to demonstrate you are a constituent. And thank them for their work (they have a tough job!)

• Call Senators Peters 202.224.6221 and Slotkin 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info).

  • Oppose-- and make a big deal about opposing-- the deployment of National Guard and military for law enforcement purposes in Washington D.C. It seems Chicago is next.

  • Oppose new FDA decision to limit COVID vaccinations to people over 65 years of age or to people with a medical condition. Advocate to overturn this decision. The latest COVID vaccines come with new FDA limits. This is especially important at the Stratus variant spreads. Map Shows Rising COVID Cases as Stratus Variant Spreads

  • Speak out against Trump's plan to let Artificial Intelligence (AI) deny Medicare coverage. Trump and Dr. Oz want to let AI choose which procedures Medicare will cover for individual patients -- with AI companies being paid based on how much money they save by denying people’s coverage. They are letting greedy and unproven AI companies come between Medicare patients and their doctors.

  • Demand that the Federal Reserve Board remain independent of Trump.

  • Oppose Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule change shifting responsibility and cost of cleaning up forever chemicals from the polluters to the government, meaning that either the forever chemicals will be at the expense of taxpayers or not be cleaned up at all,

  • Watch out for and call when you see an emergency notice that the Senate is going to debate and vote on The SAVE Act, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, S. 128. Watch for emergency notices in the coming weeks for Senate action on this Act. Look for it on Five Calls and all Indivisible of Greater Grand Rapids (IGGR) publications and any other progressive new sources you read and get ready to make your calls.

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

  Be sure to give them your home address so they know you are a constituent. Scholten’s staff has indicated that one call succinctly listing the multiple issues that concern you is preferable to multiple calls addressing one issue for each call.

  • Thank you for voting NO on H.J.Res 104, 105, and 106, all of which weaken natural resources protections. (Moolenaar voted YES on all -- call to express your disappointment.)

  • Please sponsor and vote YES on H.Res 581 to compel a House vote on the release of documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. GOP Rep. Thomas Massie files discharge petition to force House vote on releasing Epstein files

  • Oppose new FDA decision to limit COVID vaccinations to people over 65 years of age or to people with a medical condition. Advocate to overturn this decision. The latest COVID vaccines come with new FDA limits. This is especially important at the Stratus variant spreads. Map Shows Rising COVID Cases as Stratus Variant Spreads

  • Speak out against Trump's plan to let Artificial Intelligence (AI) deny Medicare coverage. Trump and Dr. Oz want to let AI choose which procedures Medicare will cover for individual patients -- with AI companies being paid based on how much money they save by denying people’s coverage. They are letting greedy and unproven AI companies come between Medicare patients and their doctors.

  • Oppose-- and make a big deal about opposing-- the deployment of National Guard and military for law enforcement purposes in Washington D.C. It seems Chicago is next.

  • Oppose Environmental Protection Agency rule shifting responsibility and cost of cleaning up forever chemicals from the polluters to the government, meaning the taxpayers will pay for the clean up or it won’t be done at all.

  • Oppose Trump making deals with American companies giving them priority to contracts in exchange for the government taking a percentage of the profits. Companies agreeing to this plan end up having an advantage over companies without such a deal, thereby suppressing innovation and competition.

• Call Governor Whitmer 517.335.7858

  • Follow the lead of other states like MA, PA, NY, and NM, and do whatever you can to make sure COVID vaccines are available to everyone who is eligible, such as directing the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a standing order allowing all Michigan pharmacies to dispense and administer COVID-19 vaccines to all eligible people without an individual prescription. Three states take steps to ensure COVID vaccine access. Hochul to Sign Order to Get Around U.S. Limits on Covid Vaccine

  • Oppose deployment of National Guard and military for domestic law enforcement purposes. Refuse to allow Michigan National Guard troops to be deployed anywhere for domestic law enforcement purposes. Deployment of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes violates the Posse Comitatus Act.

• Call your State of Michigan Representatives (Find them here)

  • Thank your Democrat Rep for voting NO on HB4024, which restricts student access to certain restrooms and changing areas based on their biological sex.

  • Tell your Republican Rep you are disappointed in their YES vote on HB4024

  • Push for a state budget that provides for funding for schools, human services and the arts.

• Collect signatures for the Invest In MI Kids and Michigan for Money Out Of Politics petitions. First, sign up for petition training: Monday, September 8 at 6 pm; Tuesday, September 9 at 6 pm; or Monday, September 15 at 6 pm. (More information about the specific petitions at the end of this newsletter.) Sponsored by Distill Social.

• Extra Credit:

  • Read “5 Phone Calls Can Stop American Fascism. Here Are the Numbers” and learn how to more effectively get your voice heard by your representatives and other government officials.

  • Protect the Porcupine Mountains - On August 26, the Michigan House approved the $50 million grant to Wakefield Township to enable the proposed Copperwood Mine. Now the conversation passes over to the Senate, which will decide whether to include or exclude the grant from their 2026 budget proposal. Reach out to your local state senator via phone call, in-person visit, hand-written mail, and the contact form on their website. Note that the contact form is superior to email. Please also contact the top-priority targets below. FIND YOUR SENATOR. You can also watch this Reel on Instagram for more info (and follow them for ongoing updates!)

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Pet of the Week 🐱

Name: Benny

Human: Nicole A.

Hobbies: Protesting with Mom, Butt-Wiggling, Attention-Seeking, Chewing, Playing Tug-of-War and Avoiding All Car Rides.

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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 9 at 4 pm. Meet with Kevin Hrit and his team from Gary Peters staff. You can register here. Sponsored by SWIM.

Wednesday, September 10 at 12 pm. Protect Social Security Rally at the Social Security Office, 3045 Knapp St NE

Friday, September 12 at 4:30 to 6 pm. Bridge Brigade Takeover Protest. Fuller over I-196. Future dates/locations:

• Sept 19-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.)

• Sept 26 -Fuller over I-196

Monday, September 22 at 6:30 pm. In-person IGGR Member Meeting. Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain NE. Mark your calendars and plan on attending our monthly meetings this fall. Mondays at 6:30 pm. October 27, November 24. A free will donation will be accepted to cover the cost of renting the church space.

Thursday, September 18 - Saturday, October 4. Grand Rapids Art Prize will be open. As you plan your day/s for viewing the Art Prize works, please consider giving an hour of your time to help protest against Avelo Airlines. Avelo Airlines based out of Houston and flying to 56 destinations across 23 states and has recently secured a $151 million contract with the Department of Homeland Security to run deportation flights. More information will be forthcoming about where to gather, what signs to use, and what route to take during the time you're available to protest. Please know that other Indivisible groups across the state of Michigan are also being asked to participate to make sure our voices are heard protesting Avelo Airlines’s deportation of our neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends and demanding they cancel their contracts with ICE.

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EVENTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Monday, September 8 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 8 at 12 - 1 pm. Tesla Takedown. 2919 29th St SE. Every Monday from 12 - 1 pm through the summer.

Friday, September 12 at 4:30 - 6 pm. Rush Hour Resistance. Jupiter Avenue Bridge, parking near the intersection of Konkle and Jupiter, just off West River. (Alternates weekly with Veteran’s Memorial Bridge (North Park).

Friday, September 12 at 3 - 5 pm. Grim Reaper Rally. Meeting at the Family Dollar Parking Lot, 321 East Main Street, Carson City. Sponsored by Flat River Indivisible.

Saturday, September 13 at 12 pm. Support Our Veterans and VA Rally. Michigan Veterans Home, 2950 Monroe Ave NE, GR (Alternates with: Veterans Park in Greenville, MI on M-57 Washington between Bower Street and Luray Street; rally on north side of M57). Sponsored by the Support Our Veterans and VA Facebook group.

Saturday, September 13 at 12 - 6 pm. The West Michigan Welcome Plan's 3rd Annual Global Gathering at Garfield Park. A day full of amazing food, music, and fun as we celebrate international cultures in our community. The free Global Gathering event is a part of Welcoming Week, a worldwide annual celebration that invites communities of all sizes to celebrate and deepen their commitment to creating places that are welcoming to everyone, including immigrants and refugees.

Thursday, September 18 at 7 pm. Do Something Now - Gen Z and Democracy. Kent Dems HQ, 301 Fuller Ave NE. Why is Gen Z's support for Democrats showing signs of strain—and what can be done to rebuild that connection? Join us for an eye-opening presentation led by Kasen Wooters, a 17-year-old political organizer and founder of the Freshwater Future Fund PAC … AND member of KentDems! With firsthand experience in campaign strategy and youth mobilization, Kasen will explore why Gen Z turnout for Democrats has lagged, where engagement efforts have fallen short, and how the party can better connect with young voters going forward. Sign up here. Sponsored by the Kent County Democratic Party.

Ongoing. California’s YES on Prop50 Phonebank. Six days a week, two shifts a day. Join these phonebanks and help stop the Trump / MAGA agenda. Trump is trying to rig the midterm elections and passing Prop 50 is the best chance we have of taking back Congress next year. Sign up here. Sponsored by the California Democratic Party.

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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: Michiganders for Money Out of Politics aims to pass a citizen-led ballot initiative that bans political contributions from regulated monopoly utilities, such as DTE and Consumers Energy, as well as corporations that seek or hold large state and local government contracts.

  Starting Labor Day Weekend 2025, concerned citizens will be taking this fight directly to voters to ask: Do we want a government that serves us or a government that is bought and paid for by corporations? 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: Ranked Choice Voting is a simple upgrade to our voting process — an easy, nonpartisan, reform that ensures elections are fair, representative, and reflective of the will of the people. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference—so every vote counts and every voice can be heard. Elected officials need to earn their constituents first, second, and third choices to win an election. With Ranked Choice Voting, politicians are rewarded for campaigning on issues and showing compromise, not for tearing down opponents.

  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.

Save the Date: on Thursday, October 9, Rank MI Vote will present an educational session on Rank Choice Voting in the Social Hall at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE, Grand Rapids. More info to come!

• Invest in MI Kids: Raises taxes on high-income earners and use the revenue to fund public schools. This proposal aims to address underfunding in the state's K-12 system by taxing individuals earning over $500,000 and couples over $1 million. The money raised would be used exclusively on local school district classrooms, career and technical education, reducing class sizes, and recruiting and retaining teachers; and subject funds to annual audits.

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

• Committee to Protect Voters’ Rights

• Americans for Citizen Voting

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