Take action to defend democracy!
Even one action per week makes a difference. Please share this with your friends.
These are just suggestions of actions you could take as an individual. If you are a League member, always remember to express your personal views, and not to speak on behalf of the League.Only League Presidents or designees can speak on behalf of the League.
Actions for the week of 4.21.2025
National-Level Actions
Action 1: STAND UP TO BRAZEN ATTACKS ON OUR DEMOCRACY!
Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, and Dianna Wynn, president of the League of Women Voters, released the following statement on April 17, 2025:
“It has now been 87 days since the start of the Trump administration. From the flagrant disregard for congressional authority and governmental checks and balances to the latest action of openly defying the Supreme Court orders to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home, one thing is abundantly clear: our country is in a constitutional crisis.
"We the people must fight back. That is why the League of Women Voters is launching a powerful new initiative, Unite and Rise 8.5.
"Unite and Rise 8.5 will engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters between now and November 2026 to protect and preserve our democratic institutions.
"The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy — checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections — are under direct and sustained threat. In this extraordinary moment, we cannot proceed with business as usual. All Americans — no matter who you voted for in 2024 — need to come together, stand united, and fight back to save our democracy. We cannot afford to fail the generations to come.”
What can you do: Starting May 1, the League will launch the Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, which aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 will showcase the many ways voters can drive change, including through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement. The initiative is part of LWV’s Women Defend Democracy campaign. Check back here for more details as they become available. For now, continue to spread the word with your friends, neighbors and on social media.
Action 2: Urge Your Members of Congress to Stand Up for Democracy.
The President has issued a series of executive orders and directed actions that violate the law and Congress’ power. Congress must act now to restore the stability of our nation before it’s too late.
The US Constitution establishes the authority of each branch of government to ensure a system of checks and balances. Congress’ daily inaction threatens the rule of law and our Constitution and greenlights the executive branch's gross overreach. Americans’ liberties, the Constitution, and our democracy are at imminent risk.
CALL or WRITE your members of Congress and demand that they stand up for our democracy.
The Honorable Lindsey Graham (Dear Senator Graham)
290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5972
The Honorable Tim Scott (Dear Senator Scott)
104 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-6121
If you live in Oconee or Pickens counties, your U.S. Representative is:
The Honorable Sheri Biggs (Dear Representative Biggs)
1530 Longworth Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5301 (DC), 864-224-7401 (Anderson).
Other counties, find your U.S. Representative’s name and contact information here.
State-Level Actions
Action 3: STAY AWARE of education bills in South Carolina.
S.62 is back as a compromise bill, but they have the votes to pass it. It is probably not a priority because we can’t stop it. We can take some consolation in the fact that due to people’s efforts so far, the bill is not quite as bad as it might’ve been. At least they put a Legislative cap on the budget for it. Read LWVSC positions on education bills here.
Action 4: Education/Book Banning Update
Writing thank you notes to the State Board of Education members who have been willing to speak in favor of student’s of freedom to read, especially the Reverend Tony Vincent who is the new Oconee-Anderson appointee, is definitely a good idea. Go to the recording of the last State Board of Education meeting and listen to his comments. His comments start at about 1:07 on the recording.
Dr. David O’Shields (from Laurens) made some very helpful comments at the last meeting, too. Anyone who has a relationship with any State Board member could help by contacting them and encouraging them to revise the current regulations so that no book can be eliminated on the basis of just a short passage. Reviewers should at least have to consider the work as a whole.
You can also consider attending the State Board of Education meeting on May 6th at 1 pm in Columbia.
Action 5: Call or write your Legislators and members of Congress about threats to Medicaid nationwide and in SC.
Federal budget proposals threaten major cuts to Medicaid, which would severely affect SC's ability to serve children, the disabled and the elderly, unless the General Assembly used state funds to offset federal cuts. These potential cuts would also gut our ability to pass Medicaid Expansion. Learn what we can do to educate our state legislators on these budget issues that could devastate our ability to serve the most vulnerable.
In late February, the US House of Representatives passed and the Senate is now considering a budget resolution to cut $880 billion, mostly from the Medicaid insurance program over the next 10 years – “pay-fors” to fund tax reductions that mainly benefit the well-to-do and corporations. These cuts are massive – equal to 29% of all state funding for Medicaid across the country. While the detailed proposals matter on the impact for each state, cuts of this level would reduce South Carolinians’ access to healthcare and severely limit our ability to close the insurance coverage gap in the future.
The Honorable Lindsey Graham (Dear Senator Graham)
290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5972
The Honorable Tim Scott (Dear Senator Scott)
104 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-6121
If you live in Oconee or Pickens counties, your U.S. Representative is:
The Honorable Sheri Biggs (Dear Representative Biggs)
1530 Longworth Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5301 (DC), 864-224-7401 (Anderson).
Other counties, find your U.S. Representative’s name and contact information here.
Local-Level Actions
Action 6: ATTEND the phone-in Town Hall meeting with U.S. Representative Sherri Biggs.
Monday, April 21, 6 pm, Virtual
Call-in number is 833-380-0737.
ACTION 7: Spartanburg Town Hall at Wofford College with Rep. Clyburn
Tuesday, April 22
Note: this event was included last week, but is now at capacity. They are no longer accepting registrations.
ACTION 8: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
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Monday, April 21: City of Clemson Council meeting held at Council Chambers, Clemson City Hall, 1250 Tiger Blvd # 1, Clemson, SC 29631 at 6:30 pm unless otherwise noted. The 2025 calendar is here.
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Monday, April 21: Pickens County Council Mid-Month meeting in the Main Conference Room of the Administration Facility, 222 McDaniel Avenue Pickens, SC 29671 at 6:30 pm. Here are links to their 2025 Council Meeting Calendar, Pickens County Calendar, and to the agenda and minutes and videos.
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Thursday, April 24: Oconee Board of Elections & Voter Registration, (Certification of Special Election) at 415 South Pine St. Walhalla SC in Council Chambers at 10 am unless posted otherwise.
Check our calendar for more complete listings.
Action 9: CELEBRATE your actions!
The League of Women Voters in South Carolina is over 900 volunteers strong and growing! Thanks to everyone for staying strong!
Members from local Leagues attended a rally in Unity Park Greenville on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Action 10: Join the League (if you are not already a member!)
Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.
Action 11: Sign up for the mailing list.
If someone forwarded this email to you, sign up to get it directly!
We would love to hear from you about this initiative. Feel free to forward this email to others who wish to find ways to participate. Whether it’s how this made you feel, results you saw, or suggestions for future topics, please let cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com (Cherie Walker) know.
