Take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 6.16.2025
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.
Celebrating Local-Level Actions!
Action 1: June 14 Pro-Democracy Rallies
WOW! Local residents and league members showed up in force to peacefully protest for democracy. Nationally, it is estimated by Indivisible.org that “over five million people here in the US, along with allies in cities from London to Tokyo, stood united today in the belief that democracy is worth fighting for. The protesters were peaceful, organized, and above all — they were brave.”
Watch a video from the Seneca protest. Below are shots from the Pendleton protest.
And coming to you from Dover-Foxcroft Maine:
If you are interested in what you can do to continue this momentum, Indivisible.org has a national call on Monday, June 17 at 8 p.m. ET.
If you have more pictures, please cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com (subject: No%20Kings%20photos, body: ) (submit them) and we will share them next week.
Action 2: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, June 16: 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.
- Monday, June 16: 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.
- Monday, June 23: Pickens City Council Work Session, 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 3: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.
Action 4: SAVE the Date: Sunday, June 29 Community Focused Town Hall
Sponsored by Indivisible Clemson Area, they will hold a Community-focused Town Hall, at which they will concentrate on ways to connect the dots between national events and local activism. You will hear from active leaders in our communities and think together about how to work to make a local impact. The event will be the afternoon of Sunday, June 29 at the Westside Community Center in Anderson.
State-Level Actions
Find your SC Legislators
Action 5: TAKE a Stand: Local Immigration Action.
Last week, LWV Charleston Area shared their concerns about ICE deportation raids in Charleston. “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.
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.”
LWVUS is encouraging local Leagues to share information about How To Support the Immigrant Community (which was created by the National Partnership for New Americans).
Learn more about the League position on Immigration pages 167-168.
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 6. 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."
National Level Actions
Action 7: 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.
State and Local League leaders can use our Letter to the Editor Template form to request a Town Hall during this recess.
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 8: SUPPORT Pride Month.
This year it's an important opportunity to support queer communities under threat. We’ve seen a surge in legislative and administrative attacks towards the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender individuals. Democracy includes everyone, and it’s essential that today and every day, we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. Check out the latest LWVUS blog on how trans rights are essential to a healthy democracy.
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: Join the League (if you are not already a member!)
Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.
Action 12: 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.
