CALL TO ACTION #946: Our Right to Vote (June 18, 2020)
138 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
***Today’s Call To Action***
OUR RIGHT TO VOTE
Voter suppression, police brutality, inequities in criminal justice, and COVID-19’s impact are manifestations of systemic racism that disproportionately affect Black communities. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 reversed Jim Crow laws that blocked Blacks from voting, but gerrymandering and voter identification laws following the 2010 election created new obstacles. Required identification is often difficult to obtain, and the expense is a virtual poll tax. Despite sustained evidence of this and other racist voter suppression tactics, SCOTUS gutted the VRA’s protections in 2013.
The 2020 WI and GA primaries demonstrated how unequal resources and closed polling places in predominately Black, urban precincts make voting difficult and exacerbate the pandemic’s danger. Purging voter rolls, disseminating misinformation, and threats are also aimed primarily at Black voters, although as with gerrymandering, other Democratic constituencies are targeted.
The HEROES Act fully funds Vote-By-Mail and the post office essential to it. Last December, the House passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019. McConnell refuses to move either forward, knowing he and his party will lose unless they suppress our votes. Yet to create the changes necessary to make Black lives truly matter, we must ensure everyone can vote safely and securely.
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling today because…
…COVID-19, police brutality, voter suppression, and the underlying systemic racism that produces them disproportionately harm Black communities. To enact change, we must have secure, safe, and equal access to our fundamental right to vote. I call on the senator to insist Senate GOP leadership brings the HEROES Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 to the floor of the Senate for passage immediately.
Also, please remind him to call for both Barr and Trump to resign. Publicly. Loudly. Every Day.
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/
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 calling today because…
…COVID-19, police brutality, voter suppression, and the underlying systemic racism that produces them disproportionately harm Black communities. To enact change, we must have secure, safe, and equal access to our fundamental right to vote. This is not a partisan issue; it is a humanitarian crisis. I call on Walden to insist his colleagues in the Senate bring the HEROES Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 to the floor of the Senate for passage immediately.
History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
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**
June 19, 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.
Friday Night at the Guerrilla Drive-In – Medford
June 19 @ 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/friday-night-at-the-guerrilla-drive-in-medford/
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:
https://apnews.com/550d11a97af645b1d6e64ad2047cd72a
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/12/us-presidential-election-fiasco-voter-suppression
https://www.newyorker.com/news/campaign-chronicles/georgias-primary-is-another-election-warning-sign
https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-not-too-late-to-save-the-2020-election-11591973979
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/12/house-votes-to-restore-the-voting-rights-act/
https://www.reuters.com/article/schwartz-voters-idUSL1N1D42AX