“POWER CONCEDES NOTHING WITHOUT A DEMAND” — Frederick Douglass
Voting Rights Loss Threatens Women Too And There Are Consequences (yes, we mean you KYRsten Sinema)
QUICK READ: Alongside the recent avalanche of statewide bills attempting to disenfranchise communities of color, a second attack on democracy played out on women’s bodies is imperiling reproductive freedom. “The fight for gender equality and fight for democracy are inextricably intertwined. The fight for one is a fight for the other."
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
On MLK Day, Vice President Kamala Harris urged us not to “give up or give in” but to honor the King legacy through a continued fight “for the freedom to vote, for freedom for all.”
In response to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s position against the Voting Rights Act last week, abortion-rights advocacy organizations NARAL and Emily’s List pulled their support. Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson publicly denounced Sinema’s “unconscionable” stance, stating that “[a]ny Senator who chooses to protect arcane Senate rules over the freedom to vote is betraying their constituents and harming the fight for reproductive rights.” NARAL tweeted that it would only endorse senators “who support changing the Senate rules to…protect voting rights.”
“The fight for gender equality and fight for democracy are inextricably intertwined. The fight for one is a fight for the other.” Both racism and toxic masculinity are driving antidemocratic movements in America.
We will not back down. Protecting the vote is and has always been a long-term, ongoing battle. “In a democracy, everyone must be heard safely and freely at the ballot box.”
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
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].
It is critical that we continue to fight for voting rights. Voting rights are women’s rights. We must win this long-term battle over and over again to protect democracy.
ACTION 3: “GOOD TROUBLE”
Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, make some “good trouble.”
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Oregonians must protect democracy in the House by replacing retiring US Representative Peter DeFazio with another Democrat, replacing Democrat Kurt Schrader, the “Manchin of the House,” with a progressive, and electing a Democrat in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
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. And phone banks!
Join Indivisible Oregon
FURTHER READING:
Kyrsten Sinema, a traitor to the cause of women's rights, loses support of feminists | Salon.com
Dr. King's March on the Ballot Boxes Is Under Threat Today
EMILY's List Threatens To Pull Support For Kyrsten Sinema Over Voting Rights | HuffPost Latest News
Emily's List, NARAL pull support of Sinema over opposition to changing filibuster
MLK Jr. would be ‘greatly disappointed’ by Senate inaction on voting reform, son says | PBS NewsHour
2 Dozen Faith Leaders Begin Hunger Strike For Voting Rights On Jan. 6 | HuffPost Latest News
