DISQUALIFYING INSURRECTIONISTS FROM SERVING IN CONGRESS
We need legislation incorporating the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause to keep insurrectionists out of Congress.
QUICK READ: The January 6 Commission, the Justice Department, and others are finding damning evidence of government officials and some candidates who aided the Trump coup attempt. The 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause prohibits people who’ve engaged in an insurrection against the United States from running for public office. Let’s use it.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
The violence that took place at our nation’s capital was a clear attempt to overturn a free and fair election.
Those who actively participated in the insurrection must be held accountable. So must those Members of Congress who enabled and participated in this attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
The 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause prohibits people from running for a federal or state public office, being a member of the Electoral College, or serving as a civil or military officer of the U.S. if they
Served in Congress or a state legislature, as a military officer, or a state executive or judicial officer, where they swore to support the Constitution, and
Engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S.
The January 6 Commission, the Justice Department, and researchers have already uncovered damning evidence—from speeches, tweets, and interviews occurring before, during, and after January 6—of the involvement of state and federal officials in planning and carrying out the insurrection.
As we continue to struggle with its aftermath and ongoing attempts to overturn the 2020 and future elections, we must use every tool available, including the Disqualification Clause, to keep insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple.
ACTION One: 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].
As we continue to struggle with the aftermath of the January 6 attempted coup and ongoing attempts to overturn the 2020 and future elections, it is essential that we use every tool available, including the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause, to keep insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple. It is time to enact legislation establishing a procedure for doing this and to push for the removal of those Members who helped to plan, participated in, or aided the insurrection.
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].
As we continue to struggle with the aftermath of the January 6 attempted coup and ongoing attempts to overturn the 2020 and future elections, it is essential that we use every tool available, including the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause, to keep insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple. It is time to enact legislation establishing a procedure for doing this and to push for the removal of those Members who helped to plan, participated in, or aided the insurrection.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
When you took office, you swore “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States” against both foreign and domestic enemies. It is time for you to honor that oath and vote for legislation to keep the insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple, as the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause requires.
ACTION TWO: 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].
The January 6 Committee has done an excellent job of revealing the far-reaching tentacles of Trump’s attempted coup, which appear to have included Members of Congress. To keep the insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple, it is time to incorporate the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause into legislation establishing a procedure to do just that and to push for the removal of those Members who helped to plan, participated in, or aided the insurrection.
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].
You are sacrificing our country for your own power. It is disgusting. When you took office, you swore “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States” against both foreign and domestic enemies. It is time for you to honor that oath and vote for legislation to keep the insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple, as the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause requires.
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].
The January 6 Committee has done an excellent job of revealing the far-reaching tentacles of Trump’s attempted coup, which appear to have included Members of Congress. To keep the insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple, it is time to incorporate the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause into legislation establishing a procedure to do just that and to push for the removal of those Members who helped to plan, participated in, or aided the insurrection.
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].
The January 6 Committee has done an excellent job of revealing the far-reaching tentacles of Trump’s attempted coup, which appear to have included Members of Congress. To keep the insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple, it is time to incorporate the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause into legislation establishing a procedure to do just that and to push for the removal of those Members who helped to plan, participated in, or aided the insurrection.
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].
The January 6 Committee has done an excellent job of revealing the far-reaching tentacles of Trump’s attempted coup, which appear to have included Members of Congress. To keep the insurrectionists out of the government they sought to topple, it is time to incorporate the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause into legislation establishing a procedure to do just that and to push for the removal of those Members who helped to plan, participated in, or aided the insurrection.
ACTION 3: Other ways of fighting back
Below are opportunities to fight for our country in which you might be interested. So, as John Lewis said, go and make some “good trouble.”
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Want to help GOTV with the Newberg school board recall vote? The vote is on Tuesday so the shifts are between now & then. RBS & RDB: Volunteer Sign-up
Freedom to Vote Act Phonebank with Common Cause · Common Cause
Oregonians must protect democracy in the House by replacing retiring US Representative Peter DeFazio with another Democrat, and replacing Democrat Kurt Schrader, the “Manchin of the House,” with a progressive.
Demand your primary news source drop “bothside-ism” for truth.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon
Center for Common Ground is starting new Reclaim Our Vote campaigns: TEXAS Primary is First! Writing to 730,000 Black registered voters in Texas, urging them to vote in the upcoming March 1st Primary. Only 1 in 25 Texas voters participate in primaries Postcards For Texas with Center for Common Ground
Act for Democracy has a meeting on Tuesday, January 25, at 5:00 pm. Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan will be the guest.
Join Indivisible Oregon’s Policy Team. Email Bobbie Isaacman at bobbieisaacman@gmail.com
FURTHER READING:
Disqualifying Insurrectionists and Rebels: A How-To Guide
Don’t Underestimate the Legal Challenge to Madison Cawthorn’s Reelection
