STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY
Democracies can die. Now, by declaring a national emergency, Trump is pushing our democracy to the edge.
American democracy has worked because the founding fathers created three independent branches of government to check a potential despot. But Trump has efficiently packed the courts and is now tossing Congress aside.
If his emergency declaration survives Congress and the courts,
Trump will have access to extraordinary new powers.
Trump may understand little about democratic traditions, treaties or the constitution but Putin, his mentor and role model, knows exactly how to transform a democracy into a dictatorship.
Alice DiMicele
Trump entered the Oval Office believing the presidency was all-powerful, and chafed at any attempt to deny his wishes. Until now, he has relied on Executive Orders to:
- Launch a war on immigrants and their children
- Discard nuclear deals with Iran and Russia
- Hobble Obamacare, consumer protections, and environmental regulations.
Now, he has grabbed a much more lethal tool. If he succeeds, he will use it again … perhaps canceling the 2020 elections by declaring a “voter fraud” emergency.
Resist the Fascist Trump Regime!
Override the Emergency Declaration!
Fight for Democracy!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
Sample script for Senators Wyden and Merkley:
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent living in [town/city], Zip code [number]. Trump and his fake emergency must be stopped! After packing the courts, he is now trying to seize power by bypassing Congress. If his declaration is not overridden, he will use it again and again, perhaps even canceling the 2020 elections. You need to do everything inside and outside of Congress to stop this erosion of our democracy. Thank you.”
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/
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/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
Sample script (Note: Walden has come out against the emergency declaration!):
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent living in [town/city], ZIP code [number]. Trump and his fake emergency must be stopped! After packing the courts, he is now trying to seize power by bypassing Congress. If his declaration is not overridden, he will use it again and again, perhaps even canceling the 2020 elections. You need to do everything inside and outside of Congress to stop this erosion of our democracy. 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**
Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on our local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. Check out the following:
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Senator Ron Wyden Town Hall – Medford
February 20 @ 10:15 am – 11:30 am
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-senator-roy-wyden-town-hall-medford/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: SOCAN’s February Monthly Meeting: Bugged by Global Warming: Insects in a Changing Climate – Medford
February 26 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-socans-february-monthly-meeting-bugged-by-global-warming-insects-in-a-changing-climate-medford/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Political Repression in the Era of Climate Crisis – Talent
February 27 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-political-repression-in-the-era-of-climate-crisis-talent/
SUBMIT EVENTS TO BE ADDED TO THE ORD2 INDIVISIBLE EVENT CALENDAR
Help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
SOURCES:
“The Alarming Scope of the President’s Emergency Powers” The Atlantic, January/February 2019 issue: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/presidential-emergency-powers/576418/
“On Tyranny – Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” by Timothy Snyder, published by Duggan Books/Random House 2017 http://timothysnyder.org/books/on-tyranny-tr
“The View from Flyover Country” by Sarah Kendzior, Flatiron Books 2015.https://sarahkendzior.com/2018/04/27/the-view-from-flyover-country-interviews-and-reviews/
Brennan Center for Justice, December 12, 2018: “What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency – A vast array of obscure presidential powers spans everything from the military to criminal law, and some are ripe for abuse. They need to be reexamined.”https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/what-president-could-do-if-he-declares-state-emergency