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Last Sunday, a dispute at Vero Beach's Humiston Park led to a man being shot in the abdomen. This comes after another tragic shooting just ten days prior when a man was shot 14 times and killed at a Ft. Pierce gas station on U.S. 1 following a heated argument inside the store. Gun violence remains the #1 killer of children in America and new polling ([link removed]) shows protecting children from gun violence and mass shootings in schools and public spaces is a top concern for voters. The Democratic Club of Indian River invites you to join them for a special event on Wednesday, September 27th at 6:30.

Watch the heroic story of how Gabby Giffords fought to end gun violence after a 2011 assassination attempt and learn how you can engage in the fight! The film screening is FREE and they encourage each attendee to purchase a refreshment bundle at a suggested donation of $10 per person.

GABBY GIFFORDS WON’T BACK DOWN tells the extraordinary story of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, her relentless fight to recover following an assassination attempt in 2011.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE ([link removed])
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DESANTIS GERRYMANDERING UPDATE

Last Friday, Second Judicial Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh struck down ([link removed]) Governor DeSantis' racially gerrymandered congressional district map. The unconstitutional map had carved up the congressional territory that had last been represented by a Black Democrat.

“This decision is vindication for Black voters in North Florida,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried, “who had their representation unfairly and illegally stripped from them as part of Ron’s political games. We applaud Judge Marsh for a fair decision that defended both the rights of the people and the Florida Constitution.

“Ron’s racist congressional map was an affront to democracy and could never be allowed to stand. We look forward to an expedited appeals process and a new map in advance of the 2024 elections — one that gives Black voters in North Florida the representation and respect they deserve.”
PUBLISHED OPED

Ron DeSantis, once considered a "green Governor," is now a climate change denier labeling climate change as a "lie" meant to politicize natural events like hurricanes. DeSantis' stance contradicts the widely accepted scientific consensus on climate change. Our local Democrat, Richard Leonard, penned an op-ed on the issue that was recently published by TCPalm. We've posted Richard's piece to our website.
READ THE OPED HERE ([link removed])
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING UPDATE
Moms for Liberty successfully used a new state law to remove at least 20 books from Indian River County school libraries during last month's School Board meeting. The group read "inflammatory" passages from challenged books, prompting the unanimous vote by the board to remove books considered sexually explicit. This strategy relied on a Florida law, HB 1069, which requires the removal of books when someone is prohibited from reading them during a public meeting. The law bypassed the school district's policy for book challenges, making the process more efficient. Moms for Liberty had previously challenged these books in the 2021-2022 school year, with only five books removed. The meeting also disrupted plans by the local NAACP chapter to protest Gov. Ron DeSantis' new education policies on African-American histories.

We need your voice to counter the extreme coordinated takeover of education. Make a plan to attend the next Indian River County School Board meeting Monday, September 25, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Details here ([link removed]) .
Congress has also taken notice and is responding with a full Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing "Book Bans: Examining How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature" scheduled for Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Watch live HERE ([link removed]) .
ALERT
Disgusting neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, including the Goyim Defense League, Blood Tribe, and The Order of the Black Sun, shamefullyhttps://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/nazi-groups-march-on-orlando-blasting-white-supremacist-chants-labor-day-weekend-photos/Slideshow/34993872/34993942held separate demonstration ([link removed]) s ([link removed]) in Orlando during Labor Day weekend. The Goyim Defense League is notorious for its vile anti-Semitism, while the Blood Tribe, originally from Maine, propagates neo-Nazi ideologies with disturbing fervor. The Order of the Black Sun, a despicable new neo-Nazi group based in Florida, utilized public demonstrations to spread their abhorrent white supremacist beliefs.
Anti-Semitic incidents have seen a disturbing increase in the U.S., including Central Florida, and previous demonstrations in the area have featured the sickening display of hate symbols and political references.
ABORTION ACCESS UPDATE
Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) has reached a significant milestone in their campaign to put abortion access on the 2024 ballot in Florida. They have gathered enough verified petitions to qualify for Supreme Court review, with more than a third of the necessary petitions already validated. The Florida Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments regarding the 15-week abortion ban today. The campaign aims to limit government interference in personal medical decisions and address the threat posed by abortion bans to individual freedoms. Thank you to everyone who has helped with this effort. If you have not yet signed a ballot petition, please see more information below.
TAKE ACTION
Request your vote-by-mail ballot HERE ([link removed]) .

Sign the petition for the right to clean and healthy waters
HERE ([link removed]) .

Sign the petition to put abortion access on Florida's ballot HERE ([link removed]) . Then, ask others to sign the petition too. We have copies for you at our office.

Petitions can be dropped off or signed in person at our office located at 2345 14^th Ave. Suite 7, in Vero Beach.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like 2024 out there! Let's make sure our community is #VoteReady to hit the polls in the upcoming municipality, primary & general elections by volunteering for our National Voter Registration Day events across Indian River County on Tuesday, September 9th.
We'll have teams positioned across the county to spread the word about voter registration and help our community register to vote and request their vote-by-mail ballots.
Volunteer for Our National Voter Registration Day Event ([link removed])
Join us a the beach! Seventeen volunteers have joined the Democratic Club of Indian River International Coastal Cleanup Day team and we still have room for you too.Please complete this form ([link removed]) to let the Democratic Club of Indian River know how you would like to participate.

This FREE event will take place Saturday, September 16th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Seagrape Trail Beach Access (unguarded beach) located at 8462 Highway A1A, Vero Beach 32963 .

Proudly wear your Democrats of Indian River t-shirts and hats. You can purchase them at our Democratic Headquarters located at 1234 14th Street in Vero Beach every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m
RSVP HERE ([link removed])
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DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER
Volunteer with Democrats of Indian River HERE ([link removed])
Democratic Executive Committee

Steering Meeting
Wednesday September 20, 2023 5 p.m.
zoom meeting

DEC Meeting
Thursday September 28, 2023 6 p.m.
Heritage Center

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Democratic Club of Indian River Meeting
Thursday, September 21, 2023 6 p.m.
Location TBD

Join our club or pay dues HERE ([link removed]) .
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Join our club HERE ([link removed]) .
DWC Luncheon at Bent Pine
Saturday September 9, 2023 11:30 a.m.
6001 Clubhouse Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32967

Heather Stapleton, Community Engagement Coordinator for One Lagoon National Estuary Program will be our speaker.
Non member guest are invited to attend. $30 payable by cash or check at the door. Please RSVP by September 6th & include our meal choice: BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs, Ritz Cracker Crusted Cod or Vegetarian plate.
RSVP to [email protected] or text (718) 916-0682
DWC Book Group
Friday September 22, 2023 2 - 4 p.m.
Bjorkman Room at Brackett Library on IRSC Mueller Campus

We will discuss, "Virology: Essays for the Living, the Dead, and the Small Things in Between" by Joseph Osmundson

Questions? Email [email protected]
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GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
Monday September 24, 2023 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
School District of Indian River County
School Board Business Meeting. Details here ([link removed]) .
Tuesday September 19, 2023 9 a.m.
Indian River County
Board of County Commission Meeting. Details here ([link removed]) .
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 9:30 a.m.
City of Vero Beach
Regular City Council Meeting. Details here ([link removed]) .
Thursday, September 26, 2023
Town of Indian River Shores
Regular Town Council Meeting.
Thursday September 21, 2023 7 p.m.
City of Fellsmere
Regular City Council Meeting details here ([link removed]) .
Wednesday September 13th, 2023 6 p.m.
City of Sebastian
Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall. Details here ([link removed]) .

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Indian River Democrats Office Location
2345 14^th Ave. Suite 7
Vero Beach 32960

Office Hours
Tues. to Thurs. 10am-3pm

(772) 226-5267

[email protected]
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