For the Week of May 19, 2025

🎙️May 19, 2025 Weekly Actions Audio – available for when you’re on the go

🔷 Thanks for all who joined us at our May Group Meeting on Zoom. Please see the NOTES if you missed it or need links for things. The June meeting will be in person. You will need to register to attend due to capacity restrictions. The location will be given as confirmation of attendance to those who register.

🔷 Here are two good resources to keep us informed of where we stand as a Democracy. The Democracy Index from the Contrarian is useful as a summary of week’s events that relate to democracy. Real Time Fascism is an automated system that scans global headlines every 30 minutes. It identifies relevant keywords and phrases, filters out unreliable sources, and then uses GPT-4 to detect and classify stories according to the 14 characteristics of fascism identified by Dr. Lawrence Britt.

🔷 Stand Up. Speak Out. Sign-waving, Tuesdays in Bellevue: Join us on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 in Bellevue. Let The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, who is spitting truths in this clip from a concert in the UK, motivate and inspire you to join us. We have a playlist too! Click HERE for more details and to let us know you are joining us!

🔷 Come learn about digital security for political activists! This 2-hour workshop will build on the presentation at the March IE in-person meeting, including deeper dives into various aspects of digital security, specific recommendations and action items, and opportunities to get hands-on support from fellow IE members. Space is limited so register to attend.

🔷 SAVE THE DATE! A National No Kings Protest day has been called for June 14th. Watch the website for details, and check these videos of rally signs to inspire you, made by member Susan M: Short Version (3:42 min) & Long Version (6:40 min).

📣 See Eastside and Seattle Protests 2025 for up-to-date opportunities.

Here are your 2 actions and Bright Spots.

✊ Action 1 – Tell Our Governor to Protect Autism Data from RFK Jr

From: Seattle Indivisible

Three weeks ago we had an action to tell our legislators to speak out about misinformation from HHS about autism. Since then things have gotten more dystopian, with RFK, jr. proposing an autism registry. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker quickly announced an executive order to shield his state’s medical data from the federal government. State agencies and contractors were instructed not to share personally identifiable autism data with the federal government unless required by law.

Let’s call on our governor to do the same.

🔷 Governor Bob Ferguson: 360-902-4111 | EMAIL

☎ Sample Script:

My name is [NAME] from [CITY, ZIP]. We all deserve dignity, privacy, and the freedom to live without fear of surveillance or discrimination. RFK Jr.’s misguided obsession with autism, and his desire to create a registry is truly dystopian. Please take steps, like Governor Pritzker in Illinois, to ensure that our state remains a leader in protecting the rights of individuals with autism and all people with disabilities. Please sign an executive order to protect Washingtonians’ health data.

Thank you.

✊ Action 2 – Contact Your Legislators to Block Funding Increases for ICE and Increase Awareness of 287(g) Programs

Sources: From TheJournalistsResource, OPB.org, atg.wa.gov, The Atlantic and 5 Calls

If you are wondering why ICE arrests seem to be becoming more violent, look no further than the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Section 287(g). This section authorizes ICE to turn state and local police into arms of ICE, and divert the time and attention of local officers towards enforcing federal immigration law. Law enforcement agencies can only participate in a 287(g) agreement if it does not conflict with state or local laws. To learn more about how this controversial program is quietly being expanded, look here.

In March of 2025, Washington State AG Nick Brown’s office filed suit against the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for illegally collaborating with federal immigration officials and aiding the Trump administration’s efforts to enlist local officials for federal civil immigration work.

Such collaboration is illegal according to the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW) of 2019. It states that Washington’s limited law enforcement resources are best spent enforcing state law, solving crime, and helping ensure the state remains a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected in order to keep Washington working. It is unconscionable that a program like Section 287(g) is allowed to expand without any oversight or accountability. The proposed ICE-Deportation Funding Increase adds billions more to the budget, making liaisons between federal immigration and local law enforcement more likely and profitable.

Action 2a: Contact your legislators urging them to block the proposed increase for ICE and mass deportations in budget reconciliation.

🔷 Sen. Patty Murray: DC 202-224-2621 | Seattle 206-553-5545 | EMAIL

🔷 Sen. Maria Cantwell: DC 202-224-3441 | Seattle 206-220-6400 | EMAIL

🔷 Rep. Suzan DelBene (1st): DC 202-225-6311 | Kirkland 425-485-0085 | EMAIL

🔷 Rep. Kim Schrier (8th): DC 202-225-7761 | Issaquah 425-657-1001| EMAIL

🔷 Rep. Adam Smith (9th): DC 202-225-8901 | Renton 425-793-5180 | EMAIL

☎ Sample Script:

My name is [NAME], and I am a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I’m reaching out to urge you to vote against any budget plan that increases funding for ICE and Trump’s mass deportation operation. The Republican budget bill proposes between $90 and $175 billion in spending increases for ICE over the next decade. ICE has been unlawfully detaining immigrants around the country without cause or due process. We should be stopping them, not enabling them to do it more. I urge you to vote against any budget plan that increases ICE funding, and ensure due process for every single person living in the United States.

Thank you.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Action 2b: Increase awareness by educating your family, friends, and communities about Section 287(g) programs and their disastrous effects on our communities. Sheriffs are elected officials who often run unopposed and may hold a great deal of power over the communities they are supposed to serve. The sheriff in Adams County, Dale Wagner, was funded by America First Legal, a right wing legal hub that claims they are “the answer to the ACLU.” In order to stop the overreach of Constitutional Sheriffs, it is important for citizens to know exactly what is going on in their local sheriff’s department offices. To stay informed, you can view the sheriff’s office website, subscribe to local news outlets, or contact the sheriff’s office directly to get more information about specific cases, programs, and initiatives. Residents of King County, use the King County Sheriff’s Department Website. If your sheriff’s department is doing the right thing for citizens in their respective counties, reach out and thank them for their service, for example, through the King County Sheriff’s feedback form.

⛅ Bright Spots

From Jessica Craven’s Extra Extra! Good news after a hard week

The Trump regime’s decision to target ActBlue resulted in the left-leaning platform’s biggest fundraising day of the year.
In a surprising 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump regime from deporting a group of Venezuelan immigrants using the Alien Enemies Act. The court ruled that the Trump regime failed to provide due process, sending the case back to the appeals court for further review of due process requirements.
Check out more details in this week’s Dworkin report.

Calendar of Events

See list of upcoming Seattle and Eastside Protests HERE.
Tues May 20, 3 pm PDT – Talk Tarrifs to Me – Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren – register to attend.

Thurs May 22, 4:45 – 6:00 pm – Alphabet Resistance on the NE 4th Street Overpass in Bellevue. Click HERE for more information and sign up using access code ‘alpha’
Thurs May 22, 7-8 pm – IE Open Steering Meeting – Join Indivisible Eastside Steering online, hear what we’re working on, share what you’re working on.
Fri May 23, 5:30-7:30 pm – King County Executive Candidate Debate hosted by KCYD – Guggenheim 220, University of Washington, Seattle.
Tues May 27, 5 pm PDT – Fight Back With Friends! Monthly Call To Action – organized by Indivisible. Register to attend (and see Recorded events below).
Wed May 28, 1-2 pm – Tips and Tools for Calling Your Reps – RSVP to attend.

Save the Date

Sun June 1, 7-8 pm – Postcards/Letterwriting Zoom meetings – Register to attend.
Sat June 6, 2-5 pm – Indivisible Eastside (WA): Free Sign Making Workshop – Register to attend.
Sun June 7, 3-5 pm – Digital Security Workshop – Redmond Library. Register to attend; space is limited.
Sat June 14, 12-4 pm – 6th Annual Eastside Honoring Juneteenth Celebration – Juanita High School, Kirkland.
Sat June 14, ‘No Kings’ Day of Action – watch the website for details.

Recorded events to check out:

What’s the plan – Zoom calls with Indivisible co-founders and leaders Ezra and Leah. Watch on YouTube or register to join.
Democracy Experts Explain the Four Ways Trump Could Break Democracy: Marc Elias from Democracy Docket.
Fight Back with Friends recording – based on a relational organizing app based tool. Also see the May 27 training listed above.
The Resistance Lab – organized by Rep. Pramila Jayapal. Includes useful concepts for effective resistance, based on historical movements. You can also sign up for Future Resistance Lab sessions.
How To Beat the Broligarchs
ACLU Townhall Protect People, Not Power with Sen Chris Murphy and Joy Reid (from 3/26/25)

More Resources for Your Activism:

Indivisible.org has specific actions you can take by zip code or topic area search. Sign up to receive emails from them HERE and donate HERE.
5calls.org 5 Calls list calls to make to your congresspeople, organized by topic, including script and phone numbers, and a way to log/track your 5 Calls actions if you choose.
Chop Wood, Carry Water is a daily political activism newsletter that comes out 6 days a week. Free or paid subscriptions HERE.
Suzi and Eric LeVine are local activists. Their newsletter gives actions and insight that can inspire and keep you motivated. Subscribe to their newsletter HERE.
Mobilize – Actions in the Seattle area – use filters to narrow the type of activity you’re interested in.
Donate to Indivisible Eastside through ActBlue.
Sign up for Take Action Network to organize and track your Activism. Check out the Indivisible Eastside logo wear store at www.cafepress.com/IndivisibleEastside.
Email hello@IndivisibleEastside.com with ideas for the newsletter, questions about how to become involved, and ideas for long-term projects you’d like to be involved in.
Forward this email to a friend!

Resources:

Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink
Indivisible: Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint for Blue States to Prepare for Trump 2.0
Take Action Network – learn about an easy way to interact with state legislature
Indivisible Eastside’s YouTube Channel
Washington Indivisible Network’s YouTube Channel
https://bit.ly/RunForSchoolBoardGuideWA
https://bit.ly/RunForSchoolBoardAddendum
https://bit.ly/RunForSchoolBoardGuideBlurb
Indivisible Eastside Resources
Washington State District Finder – Congressional and Legislative districts
Who Represents Me – local and county districts
US Senate Calendar, US House Of Representatives Calendar

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