At this particular moment in history, despair is not an option. Giving up is not acceptable. And none of us have the privilege of hiding under the covers. The stakes are just too high.
Let us never forget. Real change only occurs when ordinary people stand up against oppression and injustice – and fight back.
That is the history of the founding of our nation… It is the history of the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement and the gay rights movement. Bernie Sanders

Hi Friend,

Wednesday, July 30 is a busy day:

• 10:30 am Neighbors United Indivisible has managed to secure a meeting with US House Rep. Katherine Clark to urge her to represent her constituents and do more to protect democracy. In particular, members of the group will express their displeasure about her recent vote for the cryptocurrency bill that just passed and generally to demand that she be more responsive to her non-corporate constituents (i.e. Indivisible members and others from the community). The meeting will be at the main branch of the Wellesley Public Library at 10:30am on Wednesday June 30. To RSVP and get final event details, contact Karen-Sue Taussig at: kstaussig@icloud.com
• 7:30pm–9pm US House Rep. Jake Auchincloss is holding an in person (!!) Town Hall at Newton North High School.  Sign up for information.  Consider asking him to leverage his platform to bring attention to ICE detentions without due process by standing outside the concentration camp in Florida with a sign that says, “This is not what makes America Great” since with this extended recess, he has some extra time.
• The second of the One Million Rising Training takes place. Sign up and attend in real time (150,000 people attended the first one!) or get the recording and watch with a friend at your convenience (but soon) and plan a community gathering to build the movement. We still have a chance to turn back the authoritarian tide, but it will take everyone doing a little more.

Protesting won’t change Trump but it does help build our movement.  It strengthens that small voice in bystanders unhappy with what is happening to our neighbors and our country.  Marching with others or seeing a montage of protests from a single week, helps us remember that we are far from alone.  There are millions of us willing to stand up for what we believe.

• Bearing Witness at ICE, Every Wednesday, 11am–1pm 100 Division Ave. Burlington, MA and every Saturday, 11am–1pm Burlington Mall Road and Division Ave
• We will not be Silenced: Let Gaza Live  Thursday, July 31 5pm–6:30pm 30 Court St. across from the Gov’t Ctr. T  Friends of Standing Together, bring your heart but no signs or flags.
• Rage against the Regime, Saturday, August 2  12pm – 4pm on the Cambridge Common. Learn from Mass 50501 and others about the strategy of nonviolent civil resistance and tactics of noncooperation. Connect with local groups doing vital community work, from organizing mutual aid for those in need to fighting for immigrants’ rights. The event will have art, live music, education, and ice cream, and will be focused on channeling our anger and frustration into mutual aid and building the future we want for our communities. 
• Rebuild Sanctuary, A Tisha B’Av Action on Immigration  Sunday, August 3 4:30pm– 6pm at DHS ICE office, Burlington, MA
• Youth Against Deportations March Monday, August 18 Boston City Hall

• Every Monday, Postcard Writing Research Project 6:45pm– 8:45pm  United Parish Church, Brookline.  GOOD NEWS:  Don’t let heat stop you from joining us.  We are meeting in a cool well lit room.  Bring your own stamps or purchase from us for $17
• Wednesday, September 24, Combatting Mis- and Disinformation 6:45pm–8:45pm United Parish Church, Brookline
• Stay tuned for more in person events after Labor Day.

With a Democratic Governor, and majorities in both chambers of the legislature, Massachusetts has a trifecta.  “When Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the legislature, they can act fast and boldly to block, blunt, and beat back Trump’s most dangerous moves. They can sue. They can pass laws. They can create safe zones and legal shields. And they can lead by example.” (from Indivisible’s Blue State Defiance) 

Here are actions you can take to demand our leaders act to protect the people of the Commonwealth. NOW.

• Sister District learned from the GOP that supporting state legislative candidates pays off. Small investments yield huge returns  In 2025, they are focusing on Virginia where a solid Democratic win will energize the country.
• Run for Something is smoothing the way for young progressives outside traditional power structures to run and win elections.  From school boards to congress, they have an impressive track record supporting tens of thousands of potential candidates and notching up wins across the country in red, purple and blue districts.

• Nonviolent action has the ability to topple regimes; however, successful movements are diverse. They are not only phone calls and demonstrations: they are also targeted, creative forms of dissent.  In (We the People Dissent), you will discover 20 ideas for civil dissent.  Read more.  If you’d like help getting one of these off the ground, get in touch.
• US Placed on rights watchlist over health of its civil society under Trump Not a surprise but still shocking to see the US rated similarly to El Salvador.  If you need a reason to talk to people on the sidelines, this might be it.
• Why many Black Americans are boycotting big box retail stores: ‘using my money to resist’  Our dollars matter, even when when we aren’t spending lots of money.  And after you cancel your Amazon subscription, or stop going to Target, talk about it and share on social media.

• What’s the Plan?, Thursdays at 3,  weekly discussion with Indvisible’s co-founders
• The Overlooked Blue Wave that is quietly sweeping one local election at a time.
• One Million Rising, Indivisible and NoKings make the case for how and why we need to build the resistance today.  Watch this first episode and then take action.

• Who, what, when, where and why of phone calls: Infographic
• Download and USE 5 calls.
• Families for Justice as Healing are leading an effort to stop the Governor’s plans to spend $360,000,000 on a women’s prison when services are being cut.  Learn more and call your legislators and the Governor.

Together for Democracy,

Marjorie Siegel, Laura Walters, Barbara Weiffenbach, Suzette Abbott

volunteer co-leaders

Activist Evenings, An Indivisible Group

We don’t do this for the money but we need money to do what we do. Rent and supplies.cost $800 each month.  Please consider supporting Activist Evening — any amount helps!