Defending Democracy at Home and Abroad
Putin’s military campaign against Ukraine and the GOP’s assault on voting pose serious threats to democracy, which we must fight simultaneously
QUICK READ: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine starkly demonstrates the conflict between democracy and dictatorship. Biden has committed the US to protecting democracy, and Americans must stand behind him. We must continue to do so, even if, as Biden has warned, protecting Ukraine’s fragile democracy will likely come with a cost at home.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Ukrainians and Americans have the right to choose their leaders and future.
Russia’s invasion, whether annexing Ukraine piece by piece or overthrowing the government in Kyiv, poses an immediate threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty and its the democratically elected President and Parliament.
Putin fears a democratic Ukraine because its represent an alternative to his autocracy.
This most serious attempt to recreate the Soviet Union threatens not only Ukraine but all of Europe and the NATO alliance whose eastern flank is vulnerable to future Russian aggression.
Unless Putin is stopped, the world will be embroiled in another Cold War with devastating global consequences.
At home we face a domestic threat to democracy, which has escalated since Trump’s overwhelming defeat in the 2020 Presidential election.
Trump’s seditious statement praising the invasion, which Putin’s exploiting, continues his assault on our democracy .
Congress cannot sit idly by. It must present a united front—denouncing Putin’s belligerency and those Americans spreading the Kremlin’s propaganda, and vigorously supporting Biden’s attempts to defend democracy at home and abroad.
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].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Congress must:
- Support President Biden’s sanctions, including halting Nord Stream 2
- Authorize supplementary military, economic and humanitarian assistance
- Denounce Trump’s seditious behavior that gives arms to the enemy
- Pass voting rights legislation
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Congress must:
- Support President Biden’s sanctions, including halting Nord Stream 2
- Authorize supplementary military, economic and humanitarian assistance
- Denounce Trump’s seditious behavior that gives arms to the enemy
- Pass voting rights legislation
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Now, more than ever, it is time to put country over party, support your President, and denounce politicians and pundits who give arms to the enemy.
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].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Congress must:
- Support President Biden’s sanctions, including halting Nord Stream 2
- Authorize supplementary military, economic and humanitarian assistance
- Denounce Trump’s seditious behavior that gives arms to the enemy
- Pass voting rights legislation
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].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Now, more than ever, it is time to put country over party, support your President, and denounce politicians and pundits who give arms to the enemy.
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].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Congress must:
- Support President Biden’s sanctions, including halting Nord Stream 2
- Authorize supplementary military, economic and humanitarian assistance
- Denounce Trump’s seditious behavior that gives arms to the enemy
- Pass voting rights legislation
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].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Congress must:
- Support President Biden’s sanctions, including halting Nord Stream 2
- Authorize supplementary military, economic and humanitarian assistance
- Denounce Trump’s seditious behavior that gives arms to the enemy
- Pass voting rights legislation
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].
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens democracy everywhere. Congress must:
- Support President Biden’s sanctions, including halting Nord Stream 2
- Authorize supplementary military, economic and humanitarian assistance
- Denounce Trump’s seditious behavior that gives arms to the enemy
- Pass voting rights legislation
ACTION 3: “GOOD TROUBLE”
Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, make some “good trouble.”
Join Indivisible Oregon.
Demand Justice is working to rebalance the Supreme Court. To get involved in this fight, click here.
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
Work to 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 stop creating false equivalencies and just report the 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 has a Reclaim Our Vote campaign for the Texas Primary! Make calls to Black registered voters in Texas, urging them to vote in the upcoming March 1st Primary. Register for phone banking here!
Rally inconsisent Democratic voters to vote in 2022 with Progressive Turnout Project | Feb, 2022 | Medium
TRAINING FOR DEEP CANVASSING WITH COIN: THURSDAY MAR 3, 6:30-8:00pm
DEEP CANVASSING WITH COIN: SATURDAY MAR 5, 10:00am-1:00pm
DEEP CANVAS PHONEBANKING WITH COIN: SATURDAY MAR 5, 10:00am-1:00pm
Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
FURTHER READING:
Conflict in Ukraine: Global Conflict Tracker
Why is Russia ordering troops into Ukraine and what does Putin want?
Fact Sheet: United States Imposes First Tranche of Swift and Severe Costs on Russia
Putin Aims to Blot Out History. Who Will Write Europe’s Future?
