Take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 8.18.2025
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.
Local-Level Actions
ACTION 1: ATTEND a Community Conversation about the proposed Duke Gas Plant in Anderson
Tue, Aug 19, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, 1625 Broadway Lake Rd, Anderson, SC
Join the Sierra Club of SC and partners Upstate Forever and Conservation Voters of SC for a community conversation. We'll address questions about Duke's plans for approval on a major gas plant in Anderson County, what the plant could mean for the local environment, issues about the pipeline's potential air pollution, cost to customers, water usage, route impacts and how you can help hold Duke accountable.
ACTION 2: Holding Power ACCOUNTABLE From LWVUS
Here are some suggestions from the second Unite and Rise Playbook. These activities help make the League more visible, engage new volunteers, and deepen connections in our communities. Together, our small acts of leadership keep our democracy strong!
Daily Democracy Practice: Take daily nonviolent action to hold power accountable
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Post voter registration deadlines or League events on your social media.
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Wear your League pin, shirt, or tote bag in public to spark conversations.
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Observe and share what you learn at a school board or city council meeting.
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Share a photo of yourself volunteering with the League and tag your local League account.
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Forward a League newsletter or action alert to 3 people and invite them to join the promoted activities.
Members can access the playbook through the LWV League Management Site for more specifics.
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, August 18: 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, August 18: 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.
- Tuesday, August 19: Oconee County Council Meeting in the County Council Chambers located at 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC at 6 pm. Here are links to the Calendar, Agenda and Minutes and Videos of past county council meetings.
Action 4: Attend a session: The Legislative Process and Public Education
Greenville, Thursday, August 28
Promoted by the Freedom to Read coalition, these one-hour sessions will help attendees understand how state laws affect public education. Each session will cover the legislative process, navigating the SC Legislature website, current bills, and tips for engaging in advocacy. The League of Women Voters of South Carolina is a partnering organization. Learn more at the LWVSC website.
State-Level Actions
ACTION 5: UPDATE on Redistricting in SC
“Expert: South Carolina would face legal battle if it tried to change congressional map . As a South Carolina gubernatorial candidate calls for lawmakers to redraw the Congressional map, one advocacy group said it would be unfair to voters.” See the response from Lynn Teague with the South Carolina League of Women Voters.
Learn more about redistricting from LWVUS.
ACTION 6: PETITION for no ICE Detention Camp in South Carolina.
“Anti-immigrant politicians want to build a version of Florida's disastrous Alligator Alcatraz facility here in South Carolina.” ACLU
You can read more about this issue from the ACLU, and sign the petition.
National-Level Actions
ACTION 7: TELL your congressperson to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Since the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the Voting Rights Act (VRA), at least 31 states have enacted 114 voting laws that make it harder to vote, with the burden falling hardest on Black voters and other voters of color. We need a fully restored VRA to defend our democracy and protect the freedom to vote.
Tell your members of Congress to protect the freedom to vote and support the passage of the JLVRAA.
ACTION 8: 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, watch this YouTube video: How to Share a Facebook Post.
ACTION 9: ADVOCATE: Understand the Three Branches of Government
Upcoming Unite and Rise Training: LWVUS Democracy in Your Hands Series
This virtual training series will include five key topics, outlining how Leagues can activate and mobilize their communities in this rapidly changing political environment and make a lasting impact. Members are welcome to attend any of the following sessions, occurring through the summer and early fall. Find the upcoming agenda and more information on each session.
- Jul. 23, 11am ET | Championing Issues That Matter Most to You
- Aug. 20, 12:30pm ET | Understand the Three Branches of Government
- Sept. 17, 11am ET | Working With Local Election Officials to Anchor Change
ACTION 10: 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 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 (subject: Defending%20Democracy, body: ) (Cherie Walker) know.
