Monday, June 4, 2018

INCO NEWSLETTER 6/4

Trump's Pardons
Trump is flexing his pardoning powers.  If it ends in him pardoning key witnesses in the Russia investigation, that would trigger marches and rallies for the Rule of Law across the nation, including ours in Astoria. Stay vigilant. INCO is ready to respond - - see info below.
Kindness: "the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate."  INCO opposes the US government forcibly separating immigrant children from their parents, fostering hatred and bigotry, promoting oppression, siding with dictators, and depriving people of medical care. 
Get active with INCO! With your help, we can turn the country around.
 ACTION PRIORITIES
 www.indivisible.org    Contact elected officials here.
Sign up for the weekly Americans of Conscience Action Checklist. This week's Checklist is here.
 
• Keep families together. The administration's family separation policy will have long-term consequences for the US.  When immigrating children and teens grow up after having been forcibly separated from their parents by the US government, we shouldn't be surprised if they turn against this country. Here's an update from Jen Hoffman.

• Protect all Americans. In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico was invaded and subsequently became a possession of the United States. Puerto Rico’s citizens are American citizens. Urge your Members of Congress to make sure that Puerto Ricans receive the same protection and support as US state residents, especially as the island recovers from Hurricane Maria. . 

 Focus. INCO encourages you to focus on one or a few issues you care about. Stay in touch with your Members of Congress and other VIPs about your concerns. Possible issues: Net neutrality. Foreign policy with Iran, North Korea, our NATO allies. Right-wing extremists running for national office. ICE and immigration policy.   

• Demand sensible gun laws. With your help, Americans can prevent gun violence. Indivisible tells how we can support #NeverAgain. Local activists are in process of starting chapters of Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action.

• Tell your Members of Congress to uphold the rule of law and protect our democracy. Especially if Trump fires Rosenstein or Mueller or otherwise tries to stomp on the rule of law. More info here.
Postcards To Voters Writing Party
Friday, June 8
4:30pm - 6pm at Bebe’s house in Gearhart
We're writing postcards to voters as part of a national effort to get progressive victories in key elections around the US.
Postcards, pens and postage provided — we just need you!
And afterwards let’s go to McMenamin’s Sandtrap Pub for sustenance and libations.  Contact Bebe at 
littlebylittle4change@gmail.com for address.  

We're Turning Our Country Around
. . . . . . . . . 

You can send Postcards to Voters on your own 
It's easy to sign up for www.postcardstovoters.org - they'll send you easy guidelines, and you'll be able to anonymously contact anonymous voters elsewhere at your convenience.

New and future voters Love Postcards to Voters!
PTV inspires teenagers and 20,000 postcard-writers to make a difference in elections!
INCO Celebrates with PRIDE - Saturday, June 9
Walk with INCO in the Riverwalk PRIDE Parade12 noon, leaves from the Riverwalk at 4th Street. March with other resisters behind the INCO banner.

Visit the INCO table at the PRIDE Block Party, 1-6 pm, Riverwalk at Barbey Maritime Center. You can get your own INCO t-shirt, 'In Our America' yard sign, INCO buttons, a copy of the US Constitution, and more. Stop by to show your support! 
HAPPENINGS
Check for details and new posts on our events page.
All Indivisibles are welcome at all these events and meetings.
 
THIS WEEK
Friday, June 8 - Postcards to Voters Writing Party, 4:30 - 6 pm at Bebe's house in Gearhart.Contact Bebe at littlebylittle4change@gmail.com for address.  

Saturday, June 9 - Walk with INCO in Riverwalk PRIDE Parade, 12 noon, leaves from the Riverwalk at 4th Street; then visit the INCO table at PRIDE Block Party, 1-8 pm, Riverwalk at Barbey Maritime Center; incoregon@gmail.com for details.
                                                                                       
UPCOMING
Tuesday, June 12 - Seaside/Gearhart Community Group Meeting , 6:30-8:00 pm at Kathleen Macdonald’s house, 77 7th Ave, Seaside. We will be planning our participation in the 4th of July Parade in Seaside. 

Wednesday, June 13 - INCO Book Club6:30 pm, at Carolyn's, Astoria. Contact cebeady@outlook.com for directions. This month's book is Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think  by George Lakoff.  Either the second edition 2002 or the third edition 2016 works. The author analyzes the unconscious world-views of liberals and conservatives, explaining why they are at odds over so many seemingly unrelated topics.

Wednesday, June 20 Vote The Future meeting, 6:30 pm, Seaside Library Board Room. All Indivisibles interested in voting and elections are welcome.

Saturday, June 23 -Warrenton Community Group Meeting, 11 a.m., Dooger's Restaurant, Warrenton; no purchase necessary

Saturday, July 7 - Astoria Community Group meeting, 8 a.m., Street Fourteen Cafe, 1410 Commercial; no purchase necessary
Make the Blue Wave Happen
News from the progressive campaign trail! Take action THIS WEEK to Storm the Midterms and flip Congress, starting with neighboring Congressional Districts OR-2 and WA-3. We'll update you weekly about these campaigns.
OR-2:  Jamie McLeod-Skinner is the Democratic candidate running against Greg Walden. District 2 is a large geographic area that includes Hood River, The Dalles, Bend, Grants Pass, Medford and Ashland. Do you know anyone who lives in CD 2? If so, it’s time to network — Your friends and family actually will get to vote for Jamie! Talk to them and ask them to get involved in Jamie’s campaign.
WA-3: What makes WA-3 a swing district? It includes “pivot counties” where voters chose Obama in 2008 and 2012 but chose Trump in 2016. Located in southwestern Washington, WA-3 includes Pacific County, across the river from Astoria, as well as Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.
The best way to #StormTheMidterms is to motivate voters in swing districts.
 
Oregonians are joining forces with #RiseAndOrganize to listen to voters in our closest swing district. 
Email us at incoregon@gmail.com to get involved.  
Artful Truth-Telling
Watch this  8-1/2 minute video about, Alexandra Bell, an artist who uses public art to expose bias in journalism, intended or not. She's a fascinating women worth seeing in action, especially as she reworks the front pages of the New York Times.  
INSIGHTS 
“It's easier to be cynical; to accept that change isn't possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and actions don't matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future.”
~ Barack Obama
We're Ready! 
Here's INCO's plan if Trump crosses one of three red lines that threatens the rule of law as it relates to the investigation: fire Mueller, fire Rosenstein, or pardon key figures. 
  • If actions are triggered BEFORE 2 p.m. local time —> events will begin @ 5 p.m. local time.
  • If actions are triggered AFTER 2 p.m. local time —> events will begin @ noon local time the following day.
We'll take to the streets to Rally for the Rule of Law at 8th and Commercial in Astoria. Indivisibles across the nation will be gathering according to this schedule.  

We'll post info about a Rally for the Rule of Law on our INCO Facebook page and email an Action Alert. You can also sign up (RSVP) for a notification here.  
USE YOUR VOICE
Inform and inspire others with a letter to the editor (LTE) to the Daily Astorian. Letters are among the most popular features in the paper. Even a paragraph or two makes an impact. Rules and directions for submitting your letter are here
Write about an issue you care about.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
INCO has Community Groups in Manzanita-Cannon Beach, Seaside-Gearhart, Warrenton, Astoria-East County, or the Washington Peninsula. All INCO Indivisibles are invited to get active with INCO's Events Team, Oppose Bigotry Team, Vote the Future Team, and Book Club. Contact incoregon@gmail.com for more information.
 
Questions, suggestions, & photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com
Elections, voting, issues, and more at INCO's Vote the Future website:  incovotethefuture.org.

 Join INCO's closed Facebook group for more actions, information, and discussion.
Share this newsletter and our website with other resisters.
INCO is supported entirely by donations. Please donate here.

Deb Vanasse and Laurie Caplan, INCO Co-chairs
INCO Weekly Newsletter   June 4, 2018