LWVAC is launching a "What You Can Do" (WYCD) campaign where we share a series of action plans. Being an activist has a broad range of engagement. These WYCD messages are intended to make being an activist easy. Ten minute activism. You can do it. Organizers do the research and work. We serve it to you in bite sized pieces. The important thing is that we don't just let the injustices and robbery of our democracy go unanswered. To be complacent is to be complicit. We will not be complicit. Read more about this campaign here.
To receive the What You Can Do actions directly, please email info [at] lwv-alachua.org (subject: What%20You%20Can%20Do) with "What You Can Do" in the subject line. Request to be added to the email list. Messages come out about once a week.
CURRENT ACTION TOPICS: 1) Military in LA, 2) Handcuffing a senator
National Legislators:
Senator Rick Scott: (202) 224-5274
Senator Ashley Moody: (202) 224-3041
Representative Kat Cammack: (202) 225-5744
1) In a joint statement League of Women Voters of California Executive Director Helen Hutchinson and LWVUS CEO Celina Stewart said:
The President villainizing protesters is nothing but a performance to direct violence against the American People. By deploying the National Guard, against the wishes of state officials, the administration intends to cause fear and distract from their inhumane immigration raids.
This administration is assaulting concerned Americans to silence voices of dissent. The President’s overreach signals a larger crackdown on protests across the country meant to intimidate us from speaking out.
The President declared the protests as rebellion against the United States, a characterization he uses as his basis for overstepping his presidential powers to subvert the First Amendment right to association and protest.
Action Item:
Call your legislators. Suggested verbiage:
*Protesting is a fundamental right of Americans. Protesters were largely peaceful; the exceptional instances of damage were handled by local law enforcement. Calling in the National Guard on the pretense of a rebellion was extremely inaccurate. Training marines with plans to send them to LA is using the military against Americans. Where is your voice (name of legislator) in speaking out for the fundamental rights of Americans? You are a national legislator. What are you doing to protect Americans and where is your dissent from executive branch overreach?
*Immigrants are an essential part of the culture and economy of this country. Treating all immigrants like criminals will harm every Floridian and American. We depend on their work ethic and skills to build our homes, repair our roads and bridges and put food on our table. (Name of legislator), who will do these jobs if the assault on immigrants continues? Have you thought about how that will affect businesses, farmers and the construction industry in Florida? Where is your voice in speaking for rule of law for immigrants?
*The executive branch that failed to call the national guard in January 2021 when heavily armed people broke into the capital, damaged the building, assaulted officers, threatened to hang the vice president and threatened lawmakers has called in the national guard because of largely peaceful protests. (Name of legislator), do you see the incredible hypocrisy of that?
2) Handcuffing Senator Alex Padilla: Yesterday, during a homeland security news conference, Senator Alex Padilla of California walked into the room and said clearly, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” Security pushed him out of the room, pushed him to the ground face down and handcuffed him.
Action Item: Call your legislators. Suggested verbiage:
*Yesterday Senator Alex Padilla was taken to the ground and handcuffed when he went to a news conference to ask a question. Today, some legislators are defending the handcuffing of a senator saying he was inappropriate. (Name of legislator), what is your position on the handcuffing of a senator who announced his name and his desire to ask a question. I think it is abhorrent.
