“WOKE” TARGETED IN FLORIDA
Social justice advocates should be warned that Florida is a place where “‘woke’ goes to die.”
QUICK READ: DeSantis’s attack on “woke-ness” is a page from the Republican playbook. Avoiding substantive debate, the GOP takes social wedge issues and, using fear-mongering and lies, further drives Americans into opposing camps. But woke means to be aware of issues of racial and social justice. So his attack on those of us who are woke is another example of Republican racism in new clothes.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Progressives are working to win votes in November for a future where everyone is treated equally, where truth and the rule of law have force, where everyone can vote, and where government is harnessed for the common good.
Republicans are not even discussing this. Rather, they are committed to using the tools that have been so effective for them: lies, fear and division – no matter the violence it does to people, especially children, and the violence it does to democracy.
Given Republicans’ structural advantages, the future could look a lot like Gov. Ron DeSantis's “free state of Florida.” And the “woke” he is pursuing are rights that protect minorities.
Last week, the Republican-controlled Florida legislature passed the last in a series of bills that have nothing to do with a better future but, according to the Miami Herald, but are assaults designed to provoke “hate of The Other made official and the stoking of divisions.”
DeSantis’s culture wars will mobilize the GOP base. Until the elections, the emphasis in Florida and elsewhere will likely be on “education” and “parental rights” (aka, attacks on civil rights and truth).
We must fight for a better, not a bitter future.
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].
I want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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 want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
I want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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].
I want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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].
I want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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 want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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 want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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 want my children to be protected and fully educated, including about the history of racism in America. I object to a curriculum designed by politicians. America’s democracy needs educated voters. And voters need the freedom to cast their votes.
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ACTION 3: GOOD TROUBLE
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Find out more about Indivisible Oregon here.
TUESDAY 11:30am-12:30pm LETTER WRITING PARTY - INDIVISIBLE OREGON:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/442887/Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
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 that 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.
Rally inconsisent Democratic voters to vote in 2022 with Progressive Turnout Project | Feb, 2022 | Medium
FURTHER READING:
Florida Legislature passes restrictions on certain speech | Miami Herald
How White Victimhood Fuels Republican Politics | FiveThirtyEight
From COVID moms to critical race theory, GOP sees schools as political battleground
Florida Legislature’s attack on public school education | Miami Herald
