CALL TO ACTION #995: Black Lives Matter (August 28, 2020)



67 Days

Until the November 3rd Election


We’ve been calling it the November 3rd election, but it really takes place in OCTOBER. Mail service could be iffy this year with Trump and DeJoy attacking the USPS. We urge you to vote early, use a ballot box if you can get to one, then track your ballot (more on tracking once the ballots are mailed).

Important Dates:

October 13: Last day to register to vote; postmark or online by 11:59 pm

October 14-20: Voter’s ballots mailed; find your ballot box

October 20: Last day for county Voter’s Pamphlet distribution

November 3: Ballots must be in a ballot box or with the county clerk by 8 pm

We invite you to watch and share this YouTube video by ORD2 Indivisible co-founder, Jessica Sage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQNs_kR5JN0


 Our Endorsements for November

What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in a better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise endorse may be missing from this list.

President: Joe Biden

U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley

U.S. Congress CD2: Alex Spenser

Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan

State Treasurer: Tobias Read

State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum

State Senate District 2: Jerry Allen

State Senate District 28: Hugh Palcic

State House District 4: Mary Middleton

State House District 5: Pam Marsh

State House District 6: Alberto Enriquez

Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin



***Today’s Call To Action***

Black Lives Matter


On Sunday, Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, at close range in the back, outside his vehicle in which 3 of his children were passengers. Blake is the most recent known victim of police systematic racism—where the rate of police shootings of blacks is more than twice as high as whites.

Protests must continue. Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Kemp tells us:

“In a world where we are the ones who need to remain calm while a trained professional points a gun in our face; a world where the people in uniforms who took an oath to protect us are the same ones killing us; a world where we become hashtags before we even reach our potential; we must stand together, speak out, protest, and be the change we demand, require, and need so bad.”

While the Biden-Harris campaign reached out to Blake’s family and called for systematic racism’s dismantling and officer accountability, the GOP Convention stoked the fears of its dwindling white base. 

In 67 days, your vote helps determine which vision of America will prevail. Acting to end systematic racism cannot wait. To prevent more killings, Congress must act NOW! 


**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]. 

How many more people of color have to die for any real change to happen? We cannot allow white racist police brutality to claim more victims. Congress must act immediately, starting with swift passage of the House version of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which outlaws chokeholds and eliminates qualified immunity. Congress must also hold hearings to examine the infiltration of white nationalists into local police forces and the impact of open carry laws on the ability of the police to protect their communities. Please ask the Senator to do everything in his power to move the Senate to act. Black citizens cannot wait until the next administration.

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]. 

Republicans should be ashamed of standing by after Jacob Blake was shot in Kenosha and again when a white racist shot protestors. Greg Walden and his party must stop standing up for racists. I am outraged that the GOP created the Southern strategy that is eating a cavernous hole in America’s soul. Tell Greg he can begin earning back some of his lost legacy by standing up NOW to end police brutality—especially against Black people.

Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake. 

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**

August 28, 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.

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Workers Helping Workers, Labor Day Food Bag Drive – Central Point
September 7 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-workers-helping-workers-central-point/

 

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/