We take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 12.08.2025
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.
“We all play a role in this democracy. We need to remember the power of every vote. I continue, too, to keep myself connected to a force that’s larger and more potent than any one election, or leader, or news story—and that’s optimism. For me, this is a form of faith, an antidote to fear.”
– FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
LOCAL LEVEL
ACTION 1: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, December 8: Pickens City Council meeting in City Hall, 219 Pendleton St, Pickens, SC 29671 at 6 pm. Find Schedule of Meetings, City Council Minutes, Agendas, and Livestream Recordings.
- Monday, December 8: Oconee County School Board Meeting at the District Office at 6 pm. If you cannot attend, there is a livestream option. Also, you may find the 2025 agendas and minutes from past meetings.
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Thursday, December 11: Community Advocates For Education (CAFE)-Pickens Special-Called Meetings: Two special-called meetings are scheduled for December 11, 2025 and January 8, 2026. Both meetings will be held at the Central-Clemson Library, 6:00 pm, located at 105 Commons Way, Central. Because these are special-called meetings, public comments will not be taken during these sessions. Here’s what those meetings will focus on:
December 11: Appeal of the book Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian and a review of proposed updates to the Board’s by-laws. Click here to view entire list of challenged books
January 8: Nomination and election of Library Board officers and selection of committee assignments.
ACTION 2: SAVE THE DATE: LWVOP Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 16, 4–6 pm, Lake Side House, Patrick Square, Clemson
LWVOP members and guests are invited to the Holiday Party for fellowship and to celebrate our accomplishments. Contact spurlock.pat [at] gmail.com (subject: Holiday%20Party, body: ) (Pat Spurlock) for details.
ACTION 3: Unite & Rise Playbook Three, Training Two, National Partnerships for Local Engagement
Dec 16, 3:00 PM , Virtual
Register to learn about our national Unite and Rise 8.5 partnerships and how state and local Leagues can leverage these relationships on the ground to expand our impact. Participants will gain a greater understanding of LWVUS’ national partnerships strategy, as well as receive tips, tools, and actionable next steps to start building these relationships at the local level.
ACTION 4: SAVE THE DATE: Immigration Bridges Workshop, Thursday, January 22, 6-8 PM, Pendleton SC
One way to bridge our disagreements around immigration is to understand what divides us. In this FREE workshop, community experts from upstate SC will describe the workings and shortcomings of our immigration system. They will also discuss immigration solutions that welcome immigrants and refugees as neighbors without harming the interests of American citizens. Just as important, workshop participants will discuss how to act on their concerns about immigration.
State-Level Actions
Find your SC Legislators.
ACTION 5: SAVE THE DATE: LEAD Saturday, January 24.
Registration opens December 15.
Save the date for the LWVSC League Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) on January 24 at Midlands Tech’s Beltline Campus in Columbia. Program agenda, speaker details and registration available on December 15.
ACTION 6: STAY UPDATED on the 2025 South Carolina State Water Plan, Third Edition
Addressing responsible water management is essential for the future of our state. The League of Women Voters is concerned about the possibility that the potential for water demand growth in the coming years has been underestimated. We recommend intensive monitoring of the quantity and quality of on-going water use, including both surface and ground water, and legislation to establish effective regulation of water use informed by the varying conditions in the watersheds in our state.
12/5/2025 Comments: Draft 2025 South Carolina State Water Plan
ACTION 7: CONTACT your legislators to show support for DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives in South Carolina.
Read more from Charleston City Paper/The Statehouse Report, December 5, 2025.
“Constitutional requirement’ or an ‘assault on women’? The state of South Carolina and its largest city took dramatic steps this week to begin dismantling decades-old programs designed to increase participation by women- and-minority-owned businesses in government contracting.
The moves came in response to a series of Trump administration directives aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at every level of government. In his 2024 campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to end what he termed “very unfair laws” arising from “anti-White feeling” in the country.
Trump supporters, including S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, have characterized laws calling for specific levels of women and minority participation in contracts as “a racial spoils system.” Opponents say they’re a necessary remedy for previous, and ongoing, discrimination.”
“Women will suffer from this,” Lynn Teague, LWVSC VP Issues & Action, said. “We see it as part of an attack on the rights of women from every direction, including efforts to pass draconian abortion bans and attacks on the professional status of jobs that are dominated by women.”
ACTION 8: ADVOCATE AGAINST the Income Tax Bill.
From Holley Ulbrich: “Call your senator to oppose H. 4216,, which passed the House in May 64-47 and is now in the hands of the Senate. It reduces the standard deduction and replaces a two tiered tax rate of 3% and 6% with a single rate of 3.99%. This bill would reduce state revenue by $400 million the first year, increase the tax burden on many low income families, and disproportionately benefit higher income families.”
National-Level Actions
ACTION 9: READ LWVUS Statement from CEO Celina Stewart about the harm of restricting voter registration for new citizens at naturalization ceremonies.
“Purposely excluding groups like the League from administrative naturalization ceremonies is a deliberate move by this administration to deny new citizens access to the democratic process and attack the League’s very mission to register and support new voters,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
“For decades, the League has been a fixture at naturalization ceremonies across the country, helping new Americans register to vote on the first day of their citizenship. Blocking our work with a sudden rule change is a direct attempt to prevent new voter registrations and block us from doing our critical work to provide new Americans the guidance and support they need to fully participate in civic life. The League will not be silenced.”
ACTION 10: READ LWVUS Statement: “The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and the League of Women Voters of the US issued the following joint statement strongly opposing the deployment of ICE in Minneapolis and St. Paul.”
"The League of Women Voters of Minnesota (LWVMN) condemns the decision to deploy US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to our communities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesota’s immigrant communities are integral to the economic strength, social fabric, and cultural vibrancy of our state. Federal actions that create fear, fracture families, and erode trust in local institutions are unacceptable and fundamentally at odds with the values that sustain a healthy and functioning democracy.”
Action 11: Take CARE of yourself (and others!)
Give thanks for our wonderful, strong community! And take a moment to smile. 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.
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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.
