CALL TO ACTION #916: Trump Wants a Return to “Normal.” That’s a Mistake. (May 6, 2020)

181 Days

Until the November 3rd Election


You probably have your ballot for state and local elections. If not, you can track it.

Check here to track your ballot.

 

Important Dates

Ballots Due 8:00 PM, May 19: Postmark DOES NOT COUNT.

Don’t delay; study your voter pamphlet, make your decisions, mark your ballot, put it in the Postage Paid envelope, and mail it in or deposit it in a county ballot box (locations) before you lose it under a stack of bills! Urge all of your like-minded friends and family to do the same.

Progressive activism means voting the ENTIRE ballot, including seemingly obscure local boards and commissions, and those pesky initiatives. 

Make the BLUE WAVE wash over every level of government!


***Today’s Call To Action***

TRUMP WANTS A RETURN TO “NORMAL.”

THAT’S A MISTAKE. 


Essential workers are risking their lives to get America back to normal. Sadly, dealing with the virus is exposing that “normal” is wretched for millions of people. 

 

To end this pandemic, we need to fill gaps in the current public health response with:  

  • A trusted leader – someone who obviously values science and all people. Trump is unfit for office.
  • A national strategy – states were forced to create a patchwork of responses but good measures can be overwhelmed by a neighbor’s folly. Trump’s plan is to divide and conquer. 
  • Testing and contact tracing – 10 states have the minimum level of testing needed, and no state is ready for contact tracing. Trump lies, he demonstrably does not care about us

All of these shortcomings, plus armed protesters, will undoubtedly lengthen the outbreak, perhaps by a year, two or even longer. 

Further, we should focus on hotspots, including: 

  • Nursing homes 
  • Prisons and jails 
  • Meat packing factories 
  • Impoverished neighborhoods.  

Stopping the virus demands a recognition that our collective health depends on the health of our most vulnerable. People in these incubation sites need special protections, including PPE, or they will continue to suffer and seed additional waves of infections. 

Defeating the pandemic requires an America that values science and each other!

Work for that future by calling your Members of Congress!

Work to defeat Trump!


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].

I am worried that the gaps in our public health response will prolong the COVID-19 pandemic. Please tell the Senator that we need:

  • A national strategy for consistency across states so the good work done by one state isn’t undone by its neighbor 
  • A boost in testing and contact tracing 
  • A focus on hotspots including: meat packing factories, nursing homes, prisons and poor neighborhoods – which are all suffering and seeding new outbreaks. 

Thank you.”


SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY

Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

 

SENATOR RON WYDEN

Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

 


**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. 

I am worried that the gaps in our public health response will prolong the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell Greg Walden that we need:

  • A national strategy, for consistency across states, so the good work done by one state isn’t undone by its neighbor 
  • A boost in testing and contact tracing 
  • A focus on hotspots including: meat packing factories, nursing homes, prisons and poor neighborhoods – which are all suffering and seeding new outbreaks. 

Thank you.”

COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN

DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me


**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Ongoing Event: Oregon Health Authority Coronavirus Update Zoom Conference Calls
TODAY: May 7, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth  Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”

Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.

“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”

The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.

ORD2 Indivisible Virtual General Meeting: Candidate Meet & Greet – Your Home!
May 11 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-virtual-general-meeting-candidate-meet-greet-your-home/

Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties

Postcards to Voters:

Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org

You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/

To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104

…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.

Letters to Voters

We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states.  It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/

Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.

Virtual Letter-writing Parties

We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:

https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/

**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/


SOURCES:

PBS NewsHour, May 4, 2020: “Grim Outlook”  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/grim-new-projections-forecast-explosive-growth-in-covid-19-cases-deaths   

Wired, May 2, 2020: “Covid-19 Is Killing Black People Unequally—Don’t Be Surprised 

The coronavirus pandemic is further exposing a gulf in the health statistics of white and black Americans that has existed for decades.”   https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-coronavirus-racial-disparities/?bxid=5cc9dff9fc942d13eb1e6a84&cndid=54804944&esrc=AUTO_PRINT&source=EDT_WIR_NEWSLETTER_0_DAILY_ZZ&utm_brand=wired&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_mailing=WIR_Daily_050320&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl&utm_term=list1_p3   

New York Times, May 4, 2020: “As Trump Pushes to Reopen, Government Sees Virus Toll Nearly Doubling”  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-death-toll.html   

Washington Post, May 5, 2020: “Trump cheers on governors even as they ignore White House coronavirus guidelines in race to reopen” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cheers-on-governors-as-they-ignore-white-house-coronovirus-guidelines-in-race-to-reopen/2020/05/04/bedc6116-8e18-11ea-a0bc-4e9ad4866d21_story.html  

Newsweek, May 3, 2020: “New York Gov. Cuomo Tells Reopen Protestors ‘You Have No Right to Jeopardize My Health’’  https://www.newsweek.com/cuomo-slams-protesters-not-wearing-masks-1501647   

National Geographic, May 4, 2020: “Fauci: No scientific evidence the coronavirus was made in a Chinese lab”   https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/05/anthony-fauci-no-scientific-evidence-the-coronavirus-was-made-in-a-chinese-lab-cvd/?utm_source=reddit.com   

MSNBC, May 2, 2020: “Rev. Barber: ‘The people in power right now are too comfortable with other people’s deaths’ ”  https://www.msnbc.com/ali-velshi/watch/rev-barber-the-people-in-power-right-now-are-too-comfortable-with-other-people-s-deaths-82944069563   

New York Times, May3, 2020: “The Coronavirus Becomes a Battle Cry for U.S. Extremists”   https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/coronavirus-extremists.html   

  Politico, April 23, 2020:  “Study: Elderly Trump voters dying of coronavirus could cost him in November”   https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/23/how-coronavirus-could-upend-2020-battlegrounds-204708