CALL TO ACTION #1055: Lindsey Graham Must Go; End Structural Racism (November 20, 2020)
46 Days until the Senate Runoff Election in Georgia!
(Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossof)
See Action Three below for ways to HELP these two guys!
Special Note
We are changing the way we do our Calls to Action — CTAs. Beginning this weekend, we will publish the upcoming week’s CTAs in our weekly newsletter. Then, each Wednesday, we’ll put out a CTA like this one that highlights a particularly important action, or reacts to a ‘developing story’ that needs immediate attention.
Thank you so much for being an Indivisible Activist! We have work to do.
***CALL TO ACTION***
Lindsey Graham Must Go
End Structural Racism
Despite attempts to silence our voices and erect barriers to our votes, we turned out in records numbers, electing Biden by approximately a 6-million vote margin. BIPOC voters, intent on having their voices heard, were an important part of that victory.
Unable to keep BIPOC voters from the polls, the GOP is now trying to get their votes suppressed. Among the most blatant examples are:
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Lindsey Graham using his office to pressure Georgia’s GOP Secretary of State, and others, to discard valid ballots from Democratic areas. As a result, state officials received death threats for simply doing their jobs.
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Trump interfering in Wayne County, Michigan’s certification process by pressuring local officials to disenfranchise all Detroit voters, for the same few discrepancies ignored in white suburbs, and encouraging GOP state legislators to somehow prevent the state’s certification.
These attacks are part of a long history of voter suppression against all nonwhite voters, based on the assumption that any election won with BIPOC votes is invalid. GOP leaders must condemn death threats against local elections officials for not supporting Trump’s attempts to steal the election and decry his bullying.
Now is the time to address the structural racism permeating our electoral system, our responses to COVID, and that is creating our economic injustice.
Demand Lindsey Graham Resign!
End Structural Racism!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATOR MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We must attack head-on the structural racism that permits the dismissal of all but white votes as somehow invalid—allowing Lindsey Graham and the Wayne County GOP election commissioners to discredit votes cast in Democratic strongholds—and call out Trump and his GOP enablers for threatening state election workers and interfering with their ability to carry out their duties. I am calling on the Senator to:
- Demand that Graham be removed from his position as Judiciary Committee Chair and referred to the Senate Ethics Committee and Committee on Rules and Administration for a thorough investigation of his possible illegal interaction with election officials in Georgia and elsewhere.
- Demand Graham resign his Senate seat.
- Continue to work to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act.
- Provide assistance, through meaningful COVID relief and budgetary provisions, to those communities suffering most from the pandemic and it’s accompanying economic dislocation.
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].
There isn’t much left to say; Greg Walden has clearly betrayed his oath of office, mistaking his political party for the America of We The People. He should be ashamed for allowing Trump to ransack our government institutions.
This is a betrayal of the highest order; history will not be kind.
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDENDC (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**
2. Post Cards to Swing States: https://postcardstoswingstates.com/
3. Reclaim Our Vote: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k5pKB6cDRu9Q64nHgE5zUgrZrYvoigOrZddS1zEXBqA/edit
November 20, 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.
**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
Lindsey Graham’s Long-Shot Mission to Unravel the Election Results
Lindsey Graham’s claim that he wasn’t interfering in the Georgia vote doesn’t add up
‘Lindsey Graham Must Resign’: Outrage Grows over GOP Senator’s Alleged Assault on Election Integrity
We need an investigation into Lindsey Graham’s intervention in Georgia
Threats and Tensions Rise as Trump and Allies Attack Elections Process
When Michigan Republicans Refused to Certify Votes, It Wasn’t Normal
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/19/wayne-county-rescind-certifying-election/
