WE MUST COMMIT TO PROTECTING DEMOCRACY BY PRESERVING FREEDOM TO VOTE
Jump to today’s actions:
BACKGROUND
Everyone deserves the freedom to vote and to have their votes counted, but Jim Crow Republicans are committed to eliminating them for all but white Americans.
Just days after Jim Crow Senators blocked S.1’s consideration, Jim Crow Justices--appointed by presidents and confirmed by Senators representing a minority of voters--made it harder for people to vote and easier for megadoners to secretly sway elections.
The House passed S.1 and DC Statehood and is updating voting rights legislation, but Republicans erected Senate roadblocks to Senate action by scheduling lengthy recesses before Democrats won control, abusing the unconstitutional racist filibuster, and packing the courts with Jim Crow judges.
Delaying S.1’s passage beyond redistricting deadlines could create a House majority that would reverse the election of a Democratic president.
Senate Democrats must now go big, bold, and fast to protect our democracy:
Cancelling future recesses to ensure S.1’s passage before redistricting deadlines prevent review of further gerrymandering
Rejecting the talking filibuster which encourages delay and either eliminating it or carving out an exception for pro-democracy legislation.
Then, to ensure pro-democracy legislation’s survival, Congress must rebalance the courts,
passing the Judiciary Act of 2021 and creating additional federal judgeships.
1. Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am gravely concerned that Republicans at all levels of government are trying to eliminate all but white Americans’ freedom to vote and have their votes counted. After last week’s Supreme Court decisions making it harder to vote and easier for megadoners to sway elections, the swift passage of S. 1 is urgent. The Senate must (1) reject a talking filibuster, (2) either eliminate the filibuster or create a carve out for all voting rights legislation, (3) cancel future recesses until this legislation passes, and (4) protect this legislation from future judicial attacks.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am gravely concerned that Republicans at all levels of government are trying to eliminate all but white Americans’ freedom to vote and have their votes counted. After last week’s Supreme Court decisions making it harder to vote and easier for megadoners to sway elections, the swift passage of S. 1 is urgent. The Senate must (1) reject a talking filibuster, (2) either eliminate the filibuster or create a carve out for all voting rights legislation, (3) cancel future recesses until this legislation passes, and (4) protect this legislation from future judicial attacks.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Please work to protect our democracy. Stop obstructing and work across the aisle to help us. Support the For the People Act.
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am gravely concerned that Republicans at all levels of government are trying to eliminate all but white Americans’ freedom to vote and have their votes counted. Please continue to protect voting rights by: (1) taking steps to insulate the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from future evisceration by the anti-democracy Supreme Court majority, (2) passing HR.730 (Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act), and (3) pass the Judiciary Act of 2021 and create additional federal judgeships.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please work to protect our democracy. Stop obstructing and work across the aisle to help us. Support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act (HR.730).
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am gravely concerned that Republicans at all levels of government are trying to eliminate all but white Americans’ freedom to vote and have their votes counted. Please continue to protect voting rights by: (1) taking steps to insulate the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from future evisceration by the anti-democracy Supreme Court majority, (2) passing HR.730 (Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act), and (3) pass the Judiciary Act of 2021 and create additional federal judgeships.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am gravely concerned that Republicans at all levels of government are trying to eliminate all but white Americans’ freedom to vote and have their votes counted. Please continue to protect voting rights by: (1) taking steps to insulate the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from future evisceration by the anti-democracy Supreme Court majority, (2) passing HR.730 (Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act), and (3) pass the Judiciary Act of 2021 and create additional federal judgeships.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am gravely concerned that Republicans at all levels of government are trying to eliminate all but white Americans’ freedom to vote and have their votes counted. Please continue to protect voting rights by: (1) taking steps to insulate the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from future evisceration by the anti-democracy Supreme Court majority, (2) passing HR.730 (Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act), and (3) pass the Judiciary Act of 2021 and create additional federal judgeships.
3. Take Action
Join us for Deadline for Democracy Indivisible Tuesday with Senator Wyden and Representative Blumenauer’s staff on July 6th at 11:30. https://www.indivisibleor.org/events/deadline-democracy-wyden-blum-07-06-21
Join us to Phone Bank to Virginia on Saturday, July 10th, from 12-2. https://www.indivisibleor.org/events/phone-bank-to-virginia
Please check out Indivisible National’s phone banks for voter outreach and advocacy:
Arizona Phone Banks: June 29 and July 7
Further Reading
Oligarchy Day at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s new ruling confirms it’s the enemy of democracy
Bigots Have Finally Accomplished Their Goal of Gutting the Voting Rights Act
