We take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 11.17.2025
Thanks to everyone who contributed items this week!
We rely on your input for these items!
Please share this with your friends.
Send your ideas for action items to: cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com
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: UNITE AND RISE 8.5
TUESDAY TRAINING Laying the Groundwork: Building Sustainable Partnerships
Tuesday, November 18, 3 – 4pm ET
Register for Unite and Rise 8.5
“Unite and Rise 8.5 is more than a campaign; it’s a movement-building strategy. Each 90-day arc connects us, grows our collective capacity, and pushes us closer to a democracy that truly reflects the people it serves. By centering women, partnerships, and power, we are building not just for this election cycle, but for the generations to come.”
Strong partnerships don’t just happen; they are built with intention. This training will introduce Leagues to the core steps of partnership-building: how to identify and reach out to potential allies, establish trust, and sustain relationships over time. Participants will gain practical tools for beginning outreach, learn strategies for showing up as reliable partners, and explore ways to grow collaborations that benefit both the League and community organizations. By laying this groundwork now, Leagues will be better positioned to build lasting partnerships that expand reach, deepen impact, and center the voices of those historically excluded from full participation in our democracy.”
Learn more about Unite and Rise 8.5 on the LWV site. You must be logged in to the League Management site to access the playbook.
ACTION 2: FIGHT MISINFORMATION. ATTEND the next Democracy Integrity Briefing
Tuesday, November 18, 3:30 pm
Join the Democracy Integrity Briefing meeting
The Algorithmic Transparency Institute, a project of the National Conference on Citizenship, partners with the League of Women Voters to inform LWV National and State Leagues about narratives circulating online related to elections, democracy, voting, and other key topics.
ACTION 3: ATTEND the LWVOP monthly meeting: “What’s Happening in Our Public Libraries?”
Tuesday, November 18, 4-6 pm
Clemson United Methodist Church, 300 Frontage Road, Clemson
Community Advocates For Education (CAFE) leaders Reba Kruse, Pickens County, and Gordon Crain, Oconee County, will update the community on efforts to ban books in public libraries and schools.
Kathy Headley, former Clemson professor, will discuss the policy swings which are driving legislative proposals and edicts from the SC Department of Education to censor literacy education.
Please join us for a lively discussion and call to action.
ACTION 4: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, November 17: 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, November 17: Pickens County School Board Meeting (subject to change, check the website) at 1348 Griffin Mill Rd, Easley, SC 29640 at 6 pm. Board meetings are livestreamed; to watch, please connect to the SDPC YouTube page. You may view videos of past meetings.
- Tuesday, November 18: Pickens County Municipal Runoffs. Vote at your polling place from 7 am to 7 pm.
- Tuesday, November 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. View the 2025 calendar.
- Tuesday, November 18: 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.
- Wednesday, November 19: Pickens County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Board of Canvassers meeting at 4 pm at the Pickens County Administration Facility, 222 McDaniel Ave, B-9, Pickens, SC 29671. Find the calendar, meeting agendas and minutes.
- Thursday, November 20: Pickens County Library System Board of Trustees meeting at 6 pm at Central-Clemson Library, 105 Commons Way, Central, SC. Calendar Year 2025 meetings and locations. List of book titles that have been challenged.
State-Level Actions
Find your SC Legislators.
ACTION 5: Keep up the PRESSURE! On Nov. 18, 2 pm, the Medical Affairs Subcommittee will again hear testimony on S. 323.
S 323 remains unacceptable in its entirety. There is no amendment that could make this bill acceptable. It would treat any abortion as homicide with exceptions only for imminent death of the mother or loss of major bodily function.
Talking points:
- S 323 would require that even the youngest rape and incest victims carry pregnancies to term. Girls are increasingly reaching puberty at very young ages, so this raises the possibility of girls as young as 8 being required to give birth, an exceedingly dangerous demand.
- With S323 no one could decide for themselves whether to continue a pregnancy when a fetus is found to have no chance of survival. Senator Cash and his allies would have decided for them.
- The bill would demand specific resources for all “non-emergency” births from 19-37 weeks (ICU, two doctors present). Many South Carolinians can’t access those resources and even the few rural hospitals we have are in danger.
What can you do?
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As a constituent, continue to call YOUR Senator Rice, (803) 212-6124; Senator Cash (803) 212-6116; and Senator Alexander (803) 212-6220. Demand that they abandon this egregious attack on our autonomy, privacy, speech, and safety. Personal calls from constituents are the most effective means of influencing Legislators!
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Keep contacting Senators on the Medical Affairs Subcommittee and urge them to oppose S.323. Even lawmakers who generally support abortion bans can’t ignore overwhelming opposition from their constituents.
Cash, (803) 212-6124
Corbin, (803) 212-6100
Fernandez, (803) 212-6024
Garrett, 803-212-6016
Hutto, (803) 534-5218
Martin, (803) 212-6420
Saab, (843) 355-5349
Tedder, (803) 212-6132
Verdin, (Chairman) (803) 212-6250
Zell, (803) 212-6040
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Amplify this message by liking and sharing the Facebook posts from LWVSC and LWVOP.
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Be Informed.
ACTION 6: Read “Ignoring the Middle: Legislative Disconnect With South Carolina Public Opinion,” article by LWV Charleston area. ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS WHY?
“The SC legislature is passing legislation that clear majorities of the South Carolina public, as reflected in these polls, do not favor and likely would not vote for if they had an opportunity through issue referenda. This disconnect applies to issues such as abortion restrictions, background checks for gun purchases, the age to purchase types of weapons, medical marijuana, and providing a full and accurate account of how racial discrimination shapes South Carolina history. When a representative sample of the South Carolina public is directly asked to share their opinions about issues, we can see these opinions do not match the content of the bills and regulations that are passing through the SC legislature and being endorsed by the governor. There is middle ground in South Carolina, but it is being ignored.”
Read this fascinating article from Charleston LWV.
National-Level Actions
ACTION 7: “The crisis is far from over.” Statement from Celina Stewart, LWVUS, on the Reopening of the Federal Government
“While we are relieved that the government has reopened and critical services are being restored, this record-length shutdown came at a steep cost. Millions of Americans were deprived of their paychecks, and basic human needs hung in the balance—all while our elected leaders continued to get paid, but failed to secure long-term solutions that support working families and strengthen our democracy. The crisis is far from over—the deal that ended the shutdown has left Americans vulnerable as they face immediate uncertainty about their health care coverage.”
Read the full statement, and continue to pressure your Congresspeople to resolve the health care issue.
ACTION 8: STAY INFORMED: 2025 Federal Advocacy Wrap
November 20, 2025, 3:00 pm
Join the LWVUS Advocacy team for a recap of our federal advocacy work in 2025. During this webinar we'll reflect back on the first half of the 119th Congress and deliver updates on legislation and executive actions that LWVUS has been tracking and engaging with, including opposing the SAVE Act and Medicaid cuts in the "One Big Beautiful Bill."
Register for the Federal Advocacy Wrap.
Action 9: Take CARE of yourself (and others!)
Many people in our community are being impacted by the government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits. You can help by donating money & food to LOCAL Food Banks. Contact them directly to see what they need.
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 (subject: Defending%20Democracy, body: ) (Cherie Walker) know.
