Hey Indivisibles – we were just hitting send on this email when Sen. Sinema started her nearly-incomprehensible rant about the filibuster (if you haven’t watched, we recommend not bothering). Here’s the truth: she said she wants a public debate on voting rights, so Senate Democrats should give her one. Her constituents will give her one, too -- she'll have to face her constituents (who she normally avoids at all costs) and Martin Luther King Jr.’s family telling her to stand up for voting rights at events in Arizona this weekend. We're going to do everything we can to persuade her -- and together, we will succeed. Don’t let her speech discourage you -- let it fire you up. - Indivisible Team

Indivisibles,

I’m Matt Traldi, one of Indivisible’s co-founders. I’m writing to tell you why late last year, I got arrested at the White House to demand President Biden join the fight for our democracy -- and to ask you to take action this weekend -- at the critical moment in this fight. (You don’t have to get arrested, though!)

Trump’s election, his supporters’ coup attempt, and the four years in between made it clear how deeply the cracks in our democracy run. But the groundswell of activism fighting back also proved that when we unite, we can win.

Unfortunately, despite activists winning a narrow Democratic trifecta in 2020, we're a year in and President Biden and the Democrats in Congress still haven’t gotten voting rights legislation across the finish line.

That’s why I decided I had to join with partners -- civil rights leaders, old colleagues from the labor movement, and Indivisibles from across the country -- to take a stand. We marched to the White House and told President Biden: No More Excuses, we need Voting Rights Now! I’d never been arrested before, and I was a little nervous. Some of my fellow marchers were too. But I took comfort knowing that I wasn’t there alone. I was there with partners, allies, and friends. And I wasn’t there as an individual, I was there as part of a movement. All of you were there with me, indivisible.

There’s fantastic news: the President heard us -- those of us in DC that day, and every activist, including you, who’s spoken out these past months. This week in Georgia, he told the country why we need a real democracy; he demanded the Senate do whatever they have to do to change the filibuster and protect voting rights. And this weekend, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Senator Schumer has promised that the Senate will finally take an up or down vote on whether to change its rules and do its job. We’re closer than we’ve ever been. And you can make the difference. Here’s what we’re asking:

1. Sign up for an MLK Weekend voting rights event. This is the highest-impact (and take it from me, maybe the most fun!) thing you can do to get democracy reform over the finish line. Whether you’re joining MLK Jr.’s family in Arizona or DC or other activists at events nationwide, this is your chance to show your elected officials, neighbors, and the press that we demand voting rights. And don’t worry, these aren’t intended to be the kind of events you get arrested at.
2. Make some calls! Depending on who you are represented by (or not represented by) make one or both of the calls below:

• If you have a Democratic senator (or two!): Use this script to call them. Tell them you expect them to not just vote for voting rights and abolish the filibuster to do it, but to put pressure on their colleagues to do the same.
• If you don’t have senators or have a Republican senator: Call the White House and tell President Biden’s team that you need him to be a champion for democracy.

If you’ve taken both actions above and want to do more, consider making a donation. This week we’re running a brand new peer-to-peer texting program, a custom-made website, event support, organizing, swag, and more. All of that costs a lot and since we don’t take any corporate money or money from politicians, we need you. If you’re able, please click here to support this week of action and all we do.

We -- you and me and this whole movement -- are the reason we’re this close. Our organizing, our activism, our local Indivisible groups.

I don’t know what’s going to happen this week. Nobody does. But I know Indivisibles across the country are going to show up to fight for a real democracy. I know that if we win, it will be because of activism like yours. The fight won’t be over -- the same rightwing authoritarians trying to undercut our democracy right now will keep at it -- but we’ll make progress. And I know that if we don’t get these bills passed now, the fight for a country that works for all its people won’t be over -- because it’s in Indivisible’s DNA that when the odds are long, that’s when we show up. And I believe that we will win.

In solidarity,
Matt

P.S. -- Confused about last night's news about a bill related to NASA and how it's going to help us get democracy reform passed? Check out this video our Director of Democracy Policy, Meagan Hatcher-Mays, recorded this morning explaining what's up.