Take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 5.12.2025
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.
National-Level Actions
Action 1: CALL your Congressional representatives and express your opinion about issues important to you.
One easy way to do this is to use 5Calls.org. This is a website and an app for your phone. They offer 29 different topics, provide background information and a possible script for each topic, and give the phone numbers you need for your elected officials, so you can call them with one click. You can make 3 powerful calls in less than 5 minutes a day. Some current topics include: Defend Medicaid from Budget Cuts, and Defend CDC Funding and Programs.
Action 2. Stay informed on National Issues.
There are many good sources of news and opinions. Substack.com is one good place to connect directly with the writers behind your favorite publications and your fellow subscribers. Learn more about how Substack works, Here are a few ideas to get you started. Please email and let me know if there are others you enjoy and we will share them.
- Lynn Teague: “Retired archaeologist, active citizen, South Carolinian”
- Heather Cox Richardson: “I'm a history professor interested in the contrast between image and reality in American politics.”
- Joyce Vance: “I write while tending family, chickens, and trying to knit. Author of Civil Discourse on Substack.”
- The Contrarian: “Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy.”
Action 3: JOIN Unite and Rise 8.5
“On April 16, 2025, a US District Court Judge, James Boasberg, ruled that there is “probable cause” to find the Trump Administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his order to immediately pause deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. The executive branch’s blatant disregard for an order by the judicial branch constitutes an attack on our democratic system. Therefore, we consider our country to be in a Constitutional Crisis.” LWVUS website
Unite & Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions of this administration. Launching in May 2025 and running until the 2026 midterm elections, this initiative is part of our Women Defend Democracy campaign.
How Can You Make Change?
Unite and Rise 8.5 will fight for our democracy on multiple fronts, from the courts to the streets. More actions will be outlined in the future, but as of today, here are a few you can take:
- Protect democracy: Tell your Senators to oppose the anti-voter SAVE Act;
- Raise your voice about illegal deportations: join mobilizations around immigrant rights and due process with organizations like the National Partnership for New Americans, United We Dream, and others;
- “Turn Up the Heat” on elected officials: Connect directly with your representatives on the issues that matter via Town Halls and other opportunities
- Act locally: Join local organizations like your state or local League to act on the issues that matter in your community.
Contact information
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
Find your SC Legislators
Action 4: STAY informed.
Even though the State Legislature is out of regular session, there are actions to be followed. Read this article from the South Carolina Daily Gazette about the near total abortion ban.
Local-Level Actions
Action 5: CONTACT your Pickens County Council Representative – Don’t Reduce Funds for Libraries and Roads
At its second of three readings on the budget, Council voted 4-2 to remove the library system from its dedicated millage. The action unties library funds from increasing with county growth; instead they become part of the general fund. This encourages efforts to micromanage libraries and will likely result in reduced funds for libraries.
In the past two years, there have been significant improvements to our roads. Now, in the second budget reading, 4 Council members have voted to cut the road millage by almost half. Road funding is a complex issue but arguments made to cut funding are not based in facts.
Reach out to your council member on both issues before the Council work session on May 19 (no public comments allowed.) The third and final reading of the budget hearing is projected to be June 2.
You can read more on this issue in this article from Upstate Today.
Read Council Meetings and Agendas.
Action 6: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, May 12: Oconee County School Board Meeting at the District Office at 6 pm. If you cannot attend, there is a livestream option. Also, you may read the 2025 agendas and minutes from past meetings.
- Monday, May 12: Pickens City Council meeting in City Hall, 219 Pendleton St, Pickens, SC 29671 at 6 pm. For more information, choose from the following: Schedule of Meetings, City Council Agendas, City Council Minutes.
- Tuesday, May 13: Pickens County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Regular Board Meeting will be held in the Conference Room immediately following the Board of Canvassers meeting that begins at 9 am. Find calendar, meeting agendas and minutes.
- Thursday, May 15: Pickens County Library System Board of Trustees meeting at 6 pm at Hampton Memorial Library, 304 Biltmore Rd, Easley, SC 29640. Find Calendar Year 2025 meetings and locations. List of book titles that have been challenged; May 15 meeting agenda.
Action 7: SAVE the Date: Saturday, May 31, Greenville SC
Rally for “Stand with Ukraine.” More details are coming, or follow here.
Action 8: SAVE the Date: June 14 (Flag Day)
NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses of the current administration. Seneca, Rock Hill, Columbia and Bluffton currently have events scheduled. Learn more here.
Action 9: CELEBRATE your actions!
You can share actions you’ve completed on Facebook, #WomenDefendDemocracy, or cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com (subject: Item%20for%20the%20Action%20List, body: ) (email Cherie) to be included in our Eblasts and social media posts.
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.
