Take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 6.9.2025
Please share this with your friends.
Send your ideas for action items to: cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com
We rely on your input for these items!
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.
State-Level Actions
Find your SC Legislators
Action 1: TAKE a Stand: Local Immigration Action.
Courtesy of LWV Charleston Area:
“The ICE deportation raids that have shaken communities across the country hit home last weekend. Law enforcement agencies conducted a large-scale “targeted operation” on a bar in Ladson with a largely Hispanic clientele. Eighty people were arrested, including two suspected of cartel affiliations and an individual wanted for a homicide charge outside the US. However, at least 70 of those detained were “administrative arrests,” meaning they face no criminal charges, only a civil violation of immigration laws.
We fully support the lawful arrests of those involved in criminal activities at this location, and the shutdown of an establishment that operates illegally without appropriate licenses. However, we have concerns about some of what emerged from the 35-minute press conference on June 2 that featured federal, state, and local officials including the Charleston Sheriff, SC Governor, and SC Attorney General. Some statements made - and resulting coverage - give the impression that most of the bar’s patrons were involved in criminal activities. Homeland Security Agent Morant made a statement that the 200+ people at the bar were part of a “cartel after-party” although only two were arrested on drug-related charges.
The League of Women Voters does not support rhetoric that is used to demonize immigrants, regardless of their legal status. Words or actions that make immigrant groups into scapegoats will keep us from solving real problems in our communities and will create new ones."
Many questions remain about this operation, including the identification and status of detainees who have been arrested, and the legal process that will be accorded to them. Read more about the situation, LWV's immigration policy position, and our concerns on the public statement posted on our website.”
Please contact our incoming VP Issues and Actions, shaynahowell [at] gmail.com (subject: Help%20the%20LWV%20Charleston, body: undefined) (Shayna Howell), if you are interested in helping LWV Charleston follow this issue.
Action 2. SAVE the Date: Oral Arguments in the Partisan Gerrymandering case
June 24, 2025, 2 p,m., SC Supreme Court
On July 29, 2024, the League of Women Voters became plaintiff in a lawsuit filed with the South Carolina Supreme Court by ACLU and the Duffy and Young law firm. This suit, LWVSC v. Thomas Alexander, asks the Court to exercise original jurisdiction to recognize protection against partisan gerrymander in the South Carolina Constitution, and to invalidate the existing Congressional map as inconsistent with those protections.
“South Carolina’s Constitution protects its citizens’ right to exercise equal influence over our elections,” said Lynn Teague, VP for Issues and Action of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina. “We are asking the court to establish redistricting standards consistent with our Constitution. Our political process must not become one that only preserves the power of those already in office, but the rights of the people. The League remains committed to ensuring South Carolinians’ voices aren’t drowned out by systems that favor politicians.”
Read more about this issue on the LWVSC website."
Local-Level Actions
Action 3: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, June 9: 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.
Action 4: June 14 Pro-Democracy Rallies
These rallies will provide counter-programming to the massive military show parade that will be held in DC at great taxpayer expense. Indivisible.org, a 'No Kings Day' rally organizer, calls this "a nationwide day of defiance, in rejection of authoritarianism, everywhere around the country.” Learn more here. (LWVUS and LWVSC are NOT co-sponsors of these events.)
- Seneca: Saturday, June 14, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Seneca City Hall, 221 E. North 1st St.
- Pendleton: Saturday, June 14, 3-5 p.m., Pendleton Square, 124 Exchange St.
Action 5: SAVE the Date: July 17, John Lewis National Day of Action
On July 17, we honor the anniversary of the passing of civil rights icon John Lewis — not with ceremonies, but with action. Across the country, we will take to the streets and into communities to uplift his non-violent struggle for justice, voting rights, and dignity for all.
Learn how to get involved in this event, including an information session.
National Level Actions
Action 6: CALL, WRITE or VISIT YOUR SENATORS about the proposed federal budget, that includes tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans, and massive Medicaid cuts. Ask for town hall and in person meetings to discuss your concerns.
There are two recess periods coming up where Leagues can discuss the cuts to Medicaid with their members of Congress: the House will be in-district June 16 – 20 and both the House and Senate will be in-district June 30-July 4. This link is a Letter to the Editor Template form State and Local League leaders can use to request a Town Hall during this recess.
Use this template to write Letters to the Editor. LWVUS will put together additional materials in the coming weeks, but you can share our town halls blog and also use our action alert to contact your Senators (and Representatives) about the bill. Take action today!
Federal budget update from LWVUS 5/30/25:
“The House passed its budget bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last week in the very early hours of Thursday morning. Now the Senate will most likely write its own budget bill and then the chambers will reconcile the two for final passage and then to the President for signing. They will need to pass the bill before the August recess.
The House bill extends and expands tax cuts that disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy Americans, while making massive cuts to Medicaid, threatening loss of coverage for millions of currently eligible people.
In addition to cuts to Medicaid, the bill included ideological riders covering the declaration of nonprofits as “terrorist organizations” and a provision barring courts from enforcing contempt citations for violations of injunctions or temporary restraining orders unless a bond has been paid.” More information on these riders is available on the LWVOP website.
Write or call your Congressperson and tell them not to pass this dangerous bill.
Budget deficits are also a huge concern with this bill. News articles about the deficit are here:
- America’s Fiscal Future, from the General Accounting Office
- Trump Tax Bill will had $2.4 Trillion to the Deficit, from The Hill
- Breaking Down Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, PBS
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
Action 7: CALL, WRITE or VISIT YOUR SENATORS about the SAVE Act.
SAVE Act update from LWVUS 5/30/25:
US Senate Sidestepping Rules Opens a Dangerous Door for Attacks on Checks and Balances
LWVUS is tracking the impact of senators overriding the Senate parliamentarian ruling earlier this week, which may create a path to pass the SAVE Act and other dangerous items in the Senate. Please continue to do LTEs and op-eds locally to continue to raise visibility about harm of the SAVE Act.
SAVE Act Background: It doesn't happen
- Let’s be clear: there is absolutely no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting in federal or state elections. It is just not happening anywhere in federal or state elections.
- False claims about non-citizens voting in federal elections are a pretext for undermining our access to vote, and they spread misinformation about voting.
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It is already illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal elections. Every state also bans non-citizens from voting in state elections. Violations can lead to imprisonment and deportation.
What we need
- Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote.
- We need Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act and pass pro-voting reforms like Same-Day Registration, protections for voters with disabilities, and funding for the Election Assistance Commission.
- If legislators really want to secure and improve elections, they should invest in upgraded equipment, expanded staffing for election administrators, and training for poll workers.
Action 8: BE a critical news consumer.
We sometimes provide links to outside sources for information. Vetting information takes time and work. It is important for you to determine for yourself the sources you trust.
It is also important to get news from different sources and different points of view.
We encourage you to take a look at this Media Bias Chart from Ad Fontes, along with other information about news sources.
Other Actions You Can Take
Action 9: CELEBRATE your actions!
You can share actions you’ve completed on Facebook, #WomenDefendDemocracy, or email me to be included in our Eblasts and social media posts. Also, please contact cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com (subject: Item%20for%20the%20Action%20List, body: ) (Cherie Walker) if you have ideas for future actions. We rely on our members for much of this information!
Action 10: SHARE a post on Facebook with your friends or public. This simple action can reach many people, and takes only minutes to do.
Some posts you might want to share are available on the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and League of Women Voters of the US pages.
If you don’t know how to share a post, here is a YouTube video to learn more.
Action 11: Take care of yourself (and others!)
With so much going on in the world, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Take some time to do something you enjoy. Here’s a little cartoon to remind us to smile and be kind to others, courtesy of FunnyTimes.com
Action 12: Join the League (if you are not already a member!)
Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.
Action 13: 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.
