Actions for the week of June 23
Heading into the heat. The smoke. The risk of ignition. ICE won’t help.
Editor’s Note: As we finished editing this newsletter, the press announced that US bombers dropped bombs on Iran. We will have found words to use in the Editorials. Stay strong.
Here is a sampling of this week’s Calls to Make, Meetings, Rallies, and Protests to put on your calendar, and Actions you can take to change the direction of our country. Nothing will change unless we change it.
More opportunities to get involved happen all the time — and we post them on our calendar.
Calls to make this week (links go to our website)
The Lies of War
By Tom Benthin
Indivisible Sonoma County has always had a very loose organizational structure. We have, more often than not, operated on the simple rule that, if you’re motivated to contribute and seem in line with our purpose of (what we now call) defeating fascism, then go for it. Our editorials and call scripts reflect that rule: they are the views and voices of the people writing them not, somehow, the collective voice of all Indivisible Sonoma County members or of the Advisory Council. We hope the articles and calls to action will motivate, perhaps even inspire, you. But you’re free to “take what you need and leave the rest”. They’re just guideposts; it’s up to you to choose your path. That’s fine. As Diane di Prima wrote, “No one way works. It will take all of us shoving at the thing from all sides to bring it down.”
In 2024, there were divergent opinions and strategies held by progressives and other Democrats on the subject of U.S. collusion in Gaza. Some felt that it was best to set Gaza aside and concentrate on Biden’s re-election. My take – expressed at the time – was that what was, by that point, clearly a genocide could not be ignored and that a better way forward was to put pressure on Biden to reduce or end our contribution, without which Israel could not have continued its assault. That strategy was also focused on Biden’s re-election and held that continuing blind support for the war waged on Gaza would harm his chances. The different approaches, in other words, still shared the key aim of keeping Democratic control of the White House. It was going to take all of us, shoving.
Regardless of which path you took at that time, pressure failed to move either Biden or Harris or the Democratic party, as they snubbed pro-Palestine activists and encouraged (often violent) police crackdowns on non-violent student protestors. This may not have cost Harris the election, but it certainly didn’t help. It also left a legacy of support for criminalizing protest.
That’s certainly not helping us now.
Lying was a part of the strategy – as it always is in war. Biden’s spokespeople used a combination of lies and evasions to pretend that the genocide wasn’t happening and that no war crimes were being committed. Matthew Miller, the state department spokesperson at the time, helped lead this effort. He now says that it is “without a doubt true that Israel has committed war crimes”. His excuse for not saying so at the time? “When you’re at the podium, you’re not expressing your personal opinion.” Or, as they used to say about an earlier genocide, he was only doing his job.
If you want to stop genocides and needless wars - or fascism - you start by uncovering the lies and telling the truth instead. The perpetrators often follow a tactic known as DARVO, which stands for “deny, attack, reverse victim and offender”. We saw this in Gaza, where Israel and the United States used a variety of lies, attacked (verbally) relentlessly, and pretended at every turn that Israel was the victim, the tens of thousands the IDF was murdering the offenders. Now the same actors are at it again, using lies to justify Israel starting a war with Iran.
It’s not just lying to drum up support for war. Trump and his allies have adopted Israel’s strategy of using “antisemitism” as an all-purpose shield. To recognize this is not to discount the danger of antisemitism. It is, instead, to realize when it is being weaponized by bad actors. Accusations of “antisemitism” have been the tip of the spear for attacks— not on antisemitism — but on higher education — attacks led by a party that openly embraces neo-Nazis. These atracks are being used as an excuse for illegal abductions and extraditions to foreign gulags.
It is essential that we distinguish the difference between antisemitism and opposition to the military actions of the state of Israel. They are not the same thing. We should, as we did in 2024, start with the Democratic party, not because they’re the worst offenders, but because, while not all Democrats are good actors, nearly every single good actor that we have is a Democrat. (We’re including Senators Sanders and King as good, but not Democrats.)
It will be a heavy lift. Israel’s propaganda has deep roots here, and AIPAC is a formidable financial foe (and one that overwhelmingly favors MAGA). The penalties for speaking up are immediate and high; the costs of going along diffuse and reflected by the stain on your conscience, not your election results. But we should keep trying, for the same reason it was important in 2024. A party complicit in genocide and illegal war can lay no claim to moral leadership. And moral leadership will be needed to get us out of this nightmare.
Confront and Oppose
It’s time for members of Congress to step up – and be more like Alex.
The way to stop bullies is to stand up to them and force them to back down. True for us, true for our members of Congress.
We need them to step up. To the barricades.
Let’s make some calls!
CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: NO WAR, NO GENOCIDE
Please call your members of Congress and say:
Lies are once again being used to push us into war. I’m asking the [senator, congressperson] to oppose war with Iran and the genocide in Gaza by refusing to fund Israel and by condemning both aggressions publicly.
Call your Representatives and Senators
CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: BE MORE LIKE ALEX
Please call your members of Congress and say:
Trump will only be stopped when the public is mobilized. The [Senator/Congressperson] must help by confronting the regime directly, as Senator Alex Padilla did, and demonstrating their opposition. They must do this both inside and outside of Congress, including by joining demonstrations and putting themself on the front lines. As they do, they must challenge the regime and explain to the public what is really happening, calling out the fascists’ lies. We need them to step up. Right now.
Call your Representatives and Senators
CALL YOUR SENATORS: FIGHT THE MAGA MURDER BUDGET
Democratic “no” votes can’t stop the MAGA Murder Budget in the Senate, since it’s a reconciliation bill and can be passed with a majority vote. But Democrats can still fight back, calling out the harm the bill will cause and branding those who vote for it as choosing to murder their own constituents.
Please call your senators and say:
I know you can’t STOP the MAGA Murder Budget bill. I’m asking you to fight back against it, by raising as much hell around it as you possibly can. The MAGA Murder Budget would turn our government into a weapon against our people, abducting our neighbors, killing off life-saving programs like cancer research and Medicaid, and letting billionaires rob us of everything 'we the people' created to care for each other. It will kill people, lots of them. Put up a fight!
CALL YOUR SENATORS: OPPOSE THE VOTER SUPPRESSION (aka “SAVE”) ACT
The House has passed what Republicans call the “SAVE” Act, legislation that would cause over 21 million Americans to LOSE their vote by imposing voting requirements that they cannot reasonably meet, even though they are fully eligible to vote. The act strips away the right to vote from anyone who can’t produce documents that millions of Americans don’t have, can’t afford, or struggle to access.
Now the bill is in the Senate, where it must be defeated. Senator Padilla has vowed to “lead the charge” to defeat the bill in the Senate and has taken some steps to block it. Democrats can defeat the Voter Suppression Act by staying unified, since the filibuster will require a supermajority of votes for the legislation to pass. It will not be enough for either Padilla or Schiff to merely vote “no”. We also need them to pressure their colleagues to vote no as a unified block. No flinching, no defections.
UPDATE: As of May 9th, only 9 Democratic senators were on record in opposing the “SAVE” Act (one was Padilla, but Schiff’s name is missing). This bill can be killed. It is critical to call now!
Please call your Senators and say:
I’m calling to ask the Senator to lead the charge to defeat S. 128, the so-called “SAVE” Act, by not only voting no himself, but also by pressuring all of his Democratic colleagues to do the same. The caucus must stay unified and defeat S. 128, which is pure MAGA voter suppression.
IN CALIFORNIA
CALL YOUR STATE SENATORS: DON’T BREAK THE SOLAR CONTRACT
Governor Newsom's CPUC has proposed to break the solar contracts, slash the solar credits, and slap with a solar tax all of the solar customers who signed up for solar before April 2023 (NEM1 and NEM2). Our best chance of stopping this proposal is to make it Dead On Arrival in the State Legislature.
Please call your state senator and say:
Please vote NO on AB 942 “as amended”. The bill will break the State of California’s contract with solar consumers and harm hard-working Californians who did the right thing by investing in solar panels.
CALL YOUR STATE SENATORS: DON’T GIVE TRUMP ACCESS TO OUR POWER GRID!
A truly awful bill, killed several years ago, is back. The Pathways bill, SB 540, would forfeit California’s autonomy over our power grid, opening it to control by other states and, most worryingly, Trump’s regime. It must be stopped.
Please call your state senators and say:
Please oppose SB 540, the Pathways bill. Do not sell us out by handing control of our energy grid over to Trump and his minions. Keep our energy future in our hands. Vote NO on SB 540.
Call your California State Senator
CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS: SAY NO TO NEWSOM’S ATTACK ON MEDI-CAL
Gov. Newsom’s new budget proposal would block re-enrollment in Medi-Cal for anyone who loses coverage — even temporarily, regardless of citizenship — due to changes in income, paperwork issues, or life circumstances. Coupled with the Republicans’ move to require everyone to re-enroll every 6 months, this will lead to LOTS of Californians losing life-saving coverage and access.
Please call your state legislators and say:
I am calling to ask the [assemblymember / senator] to oppose Governor Newsom’s budget proposal blocking re-enrollment for anyone who loses coverage. The governor should not be balancing the budget on the backs of the sick. Let him attack someone deserving instead. Like the oil companies.
Call your California State Senators and Assemblymembers
Response to Israel’s bombing of Iran – Demand a Stop to War
By Ron Zucker
On Saturday, June 21, Trump claimed credit for a U.S. bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear facilities including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – sites close to civilians.
This act was not Constitutional – Congress did not authorize this action. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) has introduced S.J. Res 59, a war powers resolution in the Senate, and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) have introduced H. Con. Res 38, a similar war powers resolution in the House. Both resolutions clarify there is no authorization for the U.S. to be at war with Iran, and we need to demand our lawmakers support them. We’re also asking our House reps to not support a reckless and repugnant resolution from Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) conveying U.S. support for Benjamin Netanyahu's illegal attack on Iran that has killed hundreds of Iranian civilians, displaced millions from Tehran, one of the world’s most populous cities, and triggered unfortunate but predictable Iranian reprisals that have spread fear and destruction in Israel.
On Friday, Rep. Mike Thompson became a co-sponsor of H. Con. Res. 38. When you call his office, please thank him.
Demand your Members of Congress call for the end of hostilities and ask them to cosponsor the Iran War Powers Resolutions in the House and Senate. You might also suggest that there is no tolerable military solution to this conflict … and to stop any nuclear weapons ambitions, we need more talking, not more bombing and killing.
I’m asking the [senator, congressperson] to oppose war with Iran and the genocide in Gaza, both by condemning our entry into the war and by refusing to fund Israel and by condemning Israel’s aggressions publicly. I expect full opposition on every issue until the war is stopped.
Call your Representatives and Senators
Our calendar is updated regularly. Check our calendar to stay current!
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MEETINGS and EVENTS
Protect Migrant Neighbors -- Indivisible Sonoma County Community Conversation Series
Wed, Jun 25, 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm | US/Pacific
At the Sebastopol Grange
Protect our migrant neighbors. Let's stop ICE raids from separating families!
Join us to learn how we can fight back and how you can help.
What's the Plan? Weekly Conversation with Indivisible's co-founders
Thu, Jun 26, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm | US/Pacific
The onslaught of news, the chaos coming out of the White House – it’s all meant to overwhelm us. It’s a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back.
The antidote: Coming together in community to process what’s happening, to sift through what’s important and what’s just noise, and coalesce around strategies for fighting back.
Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week, as we carve out an hour to discuss what’s happening and – more importantly – what’s the plan.
https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/773746/
Workers Over Billionaires: May Day to Labor Day
Thu, Jun 26, 2025
5:00pm - 6:00pm | US/Pacific
Join May Day Strong for a strategy update on the May Day Movement. We'll look ahead to actions planned for Labor Day and other ways our communities are fighting back across the country. Bring a friend and help us grow the movement to put working families ahead of the billionaire agenda.
Signup for the call here!
Indivisible Sonoma County After Hours Support / Brainstorm / Activist Group
Thu, June 19, 2025 6:00pm | US/Pacific
RSVP for location. In Santa Rosa / In Person!!
Come to one or all of these meetings to gather with a community of progressive folks active in grassroots actions. IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ATTENDING, PLEASE ARRIVE AT 5:45 PM FOR ORIENTATION. THANK YOU.
Each of us has something to contribute to this existential responsibility that rests on all of us. Sign-up for location details.
Marches / Protests / Rallies
Make certain you are prepared for whatever could happen when you are where others could confront you. Read Indivisible National’s advice, here: https://indivisible.org/resource/safety-security-and-digital-preparedness-second-trump-administration
Cotati Weekly Protest
Thu, June 26, 2025 5:30pm - 6:00pm | US/Pacific
Join with neighbors on Thursdays at La Plaza Park as we protest the Trump administration's march toward fascism. We'll be holding signs for people to see as they drive by.
101 Pedestrian Overpass Protest
Thu, Jun 26, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm | US/Pacific
Location: 101 Pedestrian Overpass (just south of the Hwy 12 interchange)
Come join us on the Pedestrian 101 overpass (just south of the Hwy 12 interchange) every Thursday, 4:00-5:00 pm to peacefully demonstrate against the administration’s corruption, amorality, and lies.
This will be a regular weekly protest spot/time. Let’s show our community that resistance is alive and active.
Bring your signs and your spirit and pass the word on.
Washington St. Overpass Protest, Petaluma
Thu, June 26, 2025 5:30pm - 6:30pm | US/Pacific
Come join us on the Washington Street 101 overpass (southside) Thursday May 15, 5:30-6:30pm to peacefully demonstrate against the administration’s corruption, amorality, and lies. This will be a regular weekly protest spot/time. Let’s show our community that resistance is alive and active.
Bring your signs and your spirit and pass the word on.
VA Clinic Weekly Action
Fri, June 27, 2025 11:00am - 1:00pm | US/Pacific
Veterans Administration Clinic
Join and support the Veterans Administration Clinic weekly action. Meet at 11:00 at 2285 Challenger Way, Santa Rosa.
The VA Clinic doesn’t treat every veteran in the best of times, and these are not the best of times. Clinicians’ jobs have been eliminated. Benefits have been eliminated. President 2.0 would cut the care for veterans even further.
Those out there protesting for better care are grateful and surprised by the support from Indivisible. They thought we forgot that we are all in this together.
Let’s never let a moment pass when we forget that we are stronger together. And that together, we are Indivisible.
Sonoma Plaza Vigil against Trump
Fri, Jun 27, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm | US/Pacific
Fridays NOON - 1 PM
Sonoma Plaza (Broadway and E. Napa St.)
Stand-Up Fridays at the Guerneville Plaza
Fri, June 27, 2025
4:00pm - 5:00pm | US/Pacific
Guerneville Plaza
Petaluma Protests - Every Saturday
Sat, Jun 28, 2025
11:00am - 12:00pm | US/Pacific
Healdsburg Weekly Protests for Democracy
Sat, Jun 28, 2025
11:00am - 12:00pm | US/Pacific
Healdsburg Plaza
Join us on the corner of Healdsburg’s Plaza Saturdays from 11am to Noon
Meet your neighbors on the corner of Healdsburg Ave. and Matheson Street.
Brings signs if you like or simply come and join the group. (There will be extra signs available.)
TeslaTakeDown - Musk Must Fall - Global Day of Celebration
Sat, Jun 28, 2025
11:00am - 1:00pm | US/Pacific
Santa Rosa Tesla Showroom
Though Elon has left DOGE, he is still deeply tied to the Trump regime, still fueling conspiracies and fascist rhetoric, and still using his immense wealth to warp government policy and buy elections around the globe.
On June 28—Elon's birthday—let's celebrate everything we've achieved and a recommit to the long fight still ahead.
And our birthday gift to the Broligarch in Chief? A global party with one powerful message: Musk Must Fall.
What to bring: Signs to wave!
Please stay on the sidewalk and do not block entrances. Do not engage with counter-protests. No parking on private property, please.
This is a volunteer-organized visibility event to protest Musk.
Actions targeting Musk-owned businesses are designed as accountability actions against Musk in his DOGE role as a political actor and are not framed around any intent to cause economic harm to any business interest.
Actions targeting Musk-owned businesses are designed as accountability actions against Musk in his DOGE role as a political actor and are not framed around any intent to cause economic harm to any business interest.
TeslaTakedown - Musk Must Fall - Sebastopol
Sat, Jun 28, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm | US/Pacific
Sebastopol Tesla Supercharger Station
Protest at the Sebastopol Tesla Supercharger Station at the Lucky shopping center!
Elon is still deeply tied to the Trump regime, still fueling conspiracies and fascist rhetoric, and still using his immense wealth to warp government policy and buy elections around the globe.
On June 28—Elon's birthday—let's celebrate everything we've achieved and a recommit to the long fight still ahead. There will be music - a family friendly event!
Read more details...
Protest Avelo Airlines' Deportation Flights - ONGOING
Sun, Jun 29, 2025
11:00am - 1:00pm | US/Pacific
Sonoma County Airport
Avelo Airlines has accepted a $150 million contract to operate deportation flights, aiding in the illegal removal of individuals without their right to a fair hearing or due process. This is not only inhumane but a direct violation of our Constitution.
We’re calling for a full boycott of Avelo Airlines and organizing weekly protests at our local airport.
We will be on the sidewalk leading to the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, which is currently a hub for Avelo's flights. At a time when a maximum number of travelers will see our protest, it is also a good opportunity to protest federal layoffs with the FAA.
You can park nearby or take SMART to get there. No parking on private property, please.
Sign up here.
Calls, Postcards, Texts, Training
Phone Bank for Spanberger
Mon, Jun 23, 2025
3:00pm - 5:00pm | US/Pacific
Joined by GDHQ Affiliates: Alameda County Democratic Party, Blue Future, Change Begins with ME (Indivisible), Chop Wood Carry Water, Democrats for Israel Los Angeles, Eastside Gladiators, Heart of LA Democratic Club, Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic Club, Indivisible Westside Los Angeles, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Malibu Democratic Club, Palos Verdes Democratic Club, Sonoma County Democratic Party, South Asians for America, Swing Left/Take Action San Diego, and Swing Left West Valley
Are you ready to make calls and talk to voters to ensure we elect Abigail Spanberger as Virginia's next Governor?
Sign up here!
Postcarding Party (Online)
Mon, Jun 23, 2025
4:30pm - 5:30pm | US/Pacific
Join Ann's weekly virtual postcarding party to write with like-minded folks, make new friends and chat while registering Democrats one postcard at a time!
More info and instructions here!
#HandsOff our Health Care Phone Banks
Tue & Thur, Jun 24 & 26, 2025
2:30pm - 7:30pm | US/Pacific
House Republicans passed the biggest Medicaid cut in American history in the dark of night—ripping health care from 14 million Americans, taking food away from 18 million hungry kids, and slashing more than $700 billion from Medicaid. And that’s not all—their budget is so reckless it would trigger an explosion in the deficit, resulting in an additional $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, all to fund tax breaks for billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
RSVP here!
Petaluma Postcard Pod
Tue, Jun 24, 2025
4:30pm - 6:00pm | US/Pacific
Petaluma Postcard Pod is back!
Petaluma Postcard Pod is a GREAT community!
Phonebank with Indivisible—Stop the Trump Tax Scam
Wed & Thu, Jun 25 & 26, 2025
8:00am - 9:30am | US/Pacific
Every Wednesday and Thursday in June, join Indivisible for a phonebank where we’ll be calling voters and connecting them directly to their Senator. Together, we’ll urge Republicans to oppose the Trump Tax Scam—a reckless GOP tax plan that prioritizes billionaires like Elon Musk while selling out working families.
Republicans in Congress are trying to ram this through using budget reconciliation, bypassing bipartisan support to give trillions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. Their plan? Slash Medicaid, SNAP, and early education programs—all so billionaires can hoard more wealth while everyday Americans pay more.
We’ll be using Scale to Win, our easy-to-use calling tool, to make sure voters can speak out and be heard.
Let’s stand up for economic justice. Let’s stop this scam in its tracks. RSVP now and make your voice heard!
Sign up here.
Have accessibility questions? Reply to your registration email to confirm your requirements or request more information.
Good Trouble Lives On
Wed, Jun 25, 2025
4:00pm - 5:00pm | US/Pacific
These are a series of national mobilization planning calls for the July 17th actions.
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Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people.
On July 17, the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, we’re taking action across the country to defend our democracy and carry forward his legacy of Good Trouble.
From voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act to the criminalization of protest, the Trump administration is launching a full-scale attack on our civil and human rights. But we know the truth: in America, the power lies with the people, and we’re rising to prove it.
Join us for a national day of nonviolent action as we rally, march, host teach-ins, press conferences, and vigils to demand that Congress fight back and protect our freedom to vote. This is a moment of moral clarity and collective power.
We march in peace. We act in power.
RSVP Here
Good Trouble Lives On.
Texting: Register Democrats in Swing States
Thu, Jun 26, 2025
3:00pm - 4:30pm | US/Pacific
Welcome to the biggest fight of our lives. Time to join Field Team 6's free BYOP text team - and text millions of unregistered likely Democrats in key swing states to win 10 key elections in 2025, and more in '26!
We love free texting! We call it BYOP or Bring Your Own Phone, although it actually uses your own computer, usually with an anonymized Google Voice number. It's a great way to register new Democrats!
More details and the User Guide here!
Postcards at Democratic Party Headquarters
448 Sebastopol Ave.
Fri, June 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm | US/Pacific
Friday Postcard Parties every week from 1:00-3:00 at the Sonoma County Democratic Headquarters at 348 Sebastopol Ave in Santa Rosa.
Here’s your chance to talk politics with people like you who are making a difference!
We write postcards, but mainly we talk, eat, and laugh! Please join us.
Please BYO postcards.
Addresses, scripts, and instructions provided.
Email: rebeccamont@gmail.com
Phone: 707-484-0414