Indivisibles,

This past weekend, Hurricane Helene swept through the Southeast, leaving a trail of unprecedented destruction. The grim aftermath counts over 100 lives lost, an untold number of people still missing, and unfathomable damage to homes and infrastructure. Roads throughout western North Carolina remain impassable, leaving people cut off and isolated, accessible only by air, highlighting the reality of our worsening climate crisis.

Adding a deeply personal layer to this tragedy is the impact on our own family. Just a few weeks ago, our co-founder Leah was on the ground visiting Indivisible groups in Western NC, sharing in their strength and dedication to securing a win for Harris/Walz. Today, we learned that at least six of our groups in the region have been directly impacted by the storm, including the groups in the photo below. 

Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg (far left) hangs out with folks from Indivisible Common Ground WNC and Indivisible Highlands at the Bands and Booths event for Sylva Pride on September 14, 2024. 

This week, we won’t be including a “donate to Indivisible” message in the newsletter -- instead, we hope you’ll take those dollars and send them to an organization working on disaster relief in the places most affected by Hurricane Helene. You can check here for a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) list of organizations needing support, or donate directly to Manna Food Bank in Asheville, BeLoved in Asheville, or Operation Airdrop. 

In the face of this disaster, stark contrasts in leadership have emerged.

While FEMA has attributed Helene's severity to the ongoing climate crisis, Donald Trump dismisses climate change as a "scam" -- from the comfort of his NY loft, no less, far away from the devastation in his home state of Florida. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris cancels her West Coast campaigning and heads to FEMA headquarters in DC to do what she’s always done -- confront the existential threat of climate change head-on. Through her unwavering support for the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and the 2021 infrastructure law, Harris has championed investments in environmentally friendly programs and resources, showcasing a dedication to safeguarding our planet for future generations.

Meanwhile, Trump's legacy of environmental deregulation and his current ambitions to dismantle vital agencies like the National Weather Service pose a direct threat to our nation's ability to respond to climate-related disasters -- such actions would leave us blindsided in the face of future crises, rendering the unconscionable notion of being unprepared a reality.

As we stand amidst the wreckage of Helene, the path forward is clear. We must mobilize to ensure leaders who recognize and respect the severity of the climate crisis govern our future. Electing leaders like Kamala Harris, who are committed to enacting and supporting robust climate policies, is not just a political choice -- it is a necessity for survival.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work electing a president who cares about our country and the environment, read on for your weekly to-dos:

 Your 5 weekly to-dos 

1. Register for our national phonebank into TX on Tuesday, October 1 at 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT. Texas is one of our target Senate races, so join in tomorrow and help us talk to voters about this critical race, supporting Colin Allred, plus making sure they're ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
2. Join a post-VP debate coffee klatch with Leah and Ezra. Reflect on the VP debate, chat about current events, and share your thoughts and questions with Leah and Ezra while you enjoy a cup of your favorite beverage.
3. Join us alongside partner Vote Forward for a virtual letter-writing party on Thursday, October 3 at 7pm ET/4pm PT. We’ve been igniting change from the ground up, one letter at a time! The Big Send -- our ambitious mission to engage 10 million key House district voters with handwritten letters -- is coming to a close and we want you to join us for our very last one! There will be ASL interpretation available on this call.
4. If you’re eligible, sign up for Neighbor2Neighbor. Neighbor2Neighbor is the most effective form of voter contact that we’ve seen. Connect with your community while ensuring that your democracy-aligned neighbors get out to vote this year. It’s simple. It’s quick. And, it’s a fun way to get to meet some of your neighbors who you have something in common with -- a pro-democracy future.  
5. Check out our new All In For Harris page. Not sure what you want to do or what’s available near you? Well, now you can plug in your address and find out what actions you can take right now to ensure a Democratic trifecta come November 5.

Preventing Another January 6th

Register for our National Call featuring Rep. Jamie Raskin, our own Ezra Levin, and the creators of The Sixth on Tuesday, October 8 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. We’re opening up our final Majority Over MAGA Action Team call to the full Indivisible network because we think this is a panel you won’t want to miss. January 6th was a modern tragedy and a dire showing of the lengths to which MAGA extremists will stretch to hijack our democracy. Hear from Rep. Jamie Raskin -- who was in the Capitol during the attempted insurrection -- alongside Ezra Levin and the powerhouse duo behind The Sixth documentary, filmmakers Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine. join us as we dissect the dark shadow of that day and light up the path forward, making sure nothing close to January 6th ever happens again.

 Women Wednesdays for Harris

Register for Women Wednesdays for Harris this Wednesday at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT and every week through the election. From blooming candidates to record voting turnouts, women are the heartbeat of democracy; so for this week’s Women Wednesdays, we’ll be hearing from some incredible guests like Michelle Buteau and Rep. Susie Lee to learn about how women are showing up and showing out for this election -- from candidates, to advocates, to celebrities, to Indivisible action team leaders, women have always been and will always be the changemakers. 

Every Wednesday through Election Day, we will be partnering on a national call bringing together women from all across the country to build community, strategize, and share tools to drive a Harris victory in November.

 IndivisiWin of the Week 

A group of more than 75 folks from Indivisible Oil Region Rising and Indivisible Outcry were proud to show their support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in front of their courthouse in Venango County PA last week.

Demand Your Members of Congress Call For A Ceasefire

In a significant move, the United States has announced today that it is committed to dispatching more than $300 million in humanitarian aid to support Palestinians in Gaza. While this financial aid is a necessary step towards alleviating the suffering, it's crucial to acknowledge that the aid alone can't surmount the barriers that the ongoing conflict creates. A spokesperson for USAID highlighted the reality on the ground, stating that "barriers to access and insecurity” prevent aid workers from adequately meeting the needs of the 2.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Gaza -- the fact that 300 aid workers have lost their lives in the region starkly underscores the perilous conditions under which these humanitarian missions operate.

The urgency for a ceasefire becomes even more acute amidst the widening circle of conflict, including the recent escalations in Yemen and Lebanon. Here’s what we know: while humanitarian aid is a critical and immediate necessity, it's not a panacea. Without a ceasefire, these efforts are akin to applying a bandage to a grievous wound. The enormity of the devastation caused by this conflict demands more than just aid -- we must take action to address the root of the crisis. Netanyahu must agree to a ceasefire and hostage release deal that ends the fighting and returns everyone held in captivity back to their loved ones.

Therefore, we urge you to reach out to your senators and representatives. Make it unequivocally clear that the US must do more than provide a Band-Aid, we must use every bit of influence and leverage we have to finalize a ceasefire. 

Indivisible Civics' Powering Progress

Register for our final Apathy to Action Education Series call: Spread Voting Truths! on Wednesday, October 9 at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT in collaboration with the Truth Brigade.

For this session, we’re teaming up with special guest Audrey McCabe from Common Cause to address how to meaningfully communicate the truth in the face of rampant lies. You’ve learned about de-escalation, understanding the threats to our democracy, and how to craft a personal narrative, now find out how to put all of them together and communicate clearly. 

Again, this is our final Apathy to Action call, so you only have one more opportunity to learn from an expert in cutting through the noise and using messaging tactics that change hearts and minds. Register for the final Apathy to Action call today!

Follow us on Facebook, Mastodon, Threads, and Instagram to keep up on the latest information, and text “INDIVISIBLE” to 59798 to opt-in to our text messaging program, where we send rapid response actions a few times a month.

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team