missouri week in action, august 20

DEAR INDIVISIBLES,
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It's women's equality week! This week women across Kansas City will get together to celebrate winning the power to vote, examine our intersectional history, and build strength toward political power.

There are so many great events to choose from! We're going to start the week, however, by heading to one of our favorite progressive hangouts in KCMO (Bier Station) to meet a woman trying to make history in KS-03: Sharice Davids, who's running to replace Kevin Yoder as the congressperson representing our friends across the state line (this is a fundraiser but donations are not required).

Thank you to everyone who came to the America Needs Unions rally on Thursday. We heard some very inspiring speeches and were encouraged to hear so many electeds and candidates stand with workers. We were especially excited to hear from State Auditor Nicole Galloway, who has been doing essential work in our state government to keep officials honest and hold them accountable when they transgress, as well as Missouri State Senate candidate Hillary Shields, who her political life as a founding member of Indivisible KC in 2016.  The heart she showed as a newbie grassroots organizer is still apparent as she continues to be a passionate advocate for workers. Hillary is running to replace Mike Cierpiot, who voted in favor of "Right to Work for Less," making it necessary for workers across the state to rise up.

As Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II pointed out, something special is happening in Missouri: "We’ve just done something that is causing people to tremble across the country! We didn’t just slap 'Right to Work,' we kicked it! That’s what happens when we unite and get together. The unity of working people is what did that, and we need to keep that unity going moving forward to say that America Needs Unions!”

​America Needs Unions Rally Photo Credits: Sarah Starnes

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Stand Up!
Keep up with the most impactful stories and be ready to take action on developing stories.

National News

• Secretary Ryan Zinke thinks environmentalists cause forest fires. Experts in forest management agree that climate change is at least partially responsible, and the only person yet arrested for arson in connection with the most recent fires has a history of posting right wing conspiracy theories. Sadly, Zinke will not be deterred by experts or evidence.
• The years-long conflict in Yemen continues to rage. Saudi Arabia used bombs that we sold them to blow up a school bus, killing dozens of children, possibly after a U.S. aircraft refueled the Saudi bomber mid-flight. Congress has passed largely toothless oversight recommendations, and the U.S. military continues to pass intelligence to the Saudis.
• Omarosa Manigault Newman revealed a large collection of taped conversations with members of the Trump administration/Trump family. Trump claims that he kept an "incompetent employee" around entirely because she complimented him. Full details of why she stayed in the administration for so long, or why she was allowed into the White House at all, are still emerging. Meanwhile, she has released a tape of Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump attempting to use campaign money to pay Omarosa to stay quiet, a possible campaign finance violation.
• Check out IKC's blog to view THE BEST SUMMARY EVER of the Trump/Putin alliance.

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Missouri News

• The League of Women Voters endorsed the Clean Missouri anti-corruption initiative which will appear as Amendment 1 on the November ballot. “This is our chance to put Missourians before big donors, lobbyists and partisan games,” said Louise Wilkerson, Secretary of LWV of Missouri. “Amendment 1 will increase fairness, integrity, transparency and accountability in Missouri’s General Assembly. Because the League of Women Voters believes in good government and equal rights for all, we are proud to endorse Amendment 1 to clean up the Missouri Legislature.”
• The Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) found reasonable evidence former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens broke laws when filing a campaign finance report. Yet, for the second time this year, the Cole County prosecutor has declined to file charges.
• Read more in our Missouri News Roundup.

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Fight Back!

Tell you elected officials where you stand on key issues, including those listed here. 
Call, send an e-mail, write a letter, visit an office. Click on your federal representatives’ name for contact information

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt
U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II
U.S. Congressman Sam Graves
U.S. Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler
Click here for a map of Missouri’s U.S. Congressional Districts.
Click here to look up your State of Missouri Elected Officials.

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Speak Out!

OPPOSE SCOTUS NOMINEE KAVANAUGH

​#WhatsAtStake Our friends at Indivisible East Bay have put together a resistance toolkit for opposing Kavanaugh. The toolkit includes talking points and even a suggested calling script. Call or visit both Missouri Senators every day. We have so much to lose.  

Additionally, there is a nation-wide protest against Kavanaugh's nomination scheduled for Sunday, August 26th. Join multiple like-minded local organizations to tell Senator McCaskill to vote NO on Judge Brett Kavanaugh! Help us show Senator McCaskill that Missourians do not want him as a Supreme Court Justice! We will rally outside her office at 4141 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Mo. starting at 1:00 PM. Hosted by Move On and NARAL.

PROTECT OUR BRAVE MILITARY MEMBERS FROM PREDITORY LENDING

The White House is attempting to reduce financial protections for military members. The Military Lending Act is a longstanding law meant to stand between predatory lenders and young people too exhausted from boot camp to read the fine print on a loan, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under Mulvaney claims it does not have the authority to enforce the law as written. Call your representative and ask that they demand that the CFPB protect our service men and women by enforcing the Military Lending Act.

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Take Action!
Make a call, join a phone bank, rally or protest, learn about an issue, sign a petition ... help build a better a better country.

​AUGUST 19 - 26: CELEBRATE THE 98TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE

​Women's Equality Week, marking the 98th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.  Women's Equality Week is an expansion of Women's Equality Day, August 26th, the day in 1920 when the 19th Amendment was ratified giving women the right to vote. During the week an ad-hoc coalition of non-partisan organizations, agencies and the media will be offering programs on the issues that prevent women from achieving full equality.   Check out all the great events planned for the week of Aug. 19 - 26.

​MONDAY, AUGUST 20: SUPPORT SHARICE DAVIDS' CAMPAIGN, MEET DCCC NATIONAL CHAIR, BEN RAY LUJAN

Sharice for Congress is coming back to Bier Station (120 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64114) at 7 p.m. Monday, August 20. And, she's bringing Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee National Chair, Ben Ray Lujan, with her.  Event details: Fundraiser for Sharice for Congress at Bier Station. Donations will be accepted. Let's get the Blue Wave rolling!

​MONDAY, AUGUST 20: SURJ - FIGHT AGAINST ICE RAIDS AND ENCAMPMENTS

Join the SURJ Solidarity Action team this month to look at how our countries’ history is wrought with the racist injustice of putting people into camps and also instances when movements of resistance worked powerfully against such deep injustices. There is a nationwide movement being led by people of color against ICE raids and encampments, and now is a time where we need to get involved. Monday, August 20, 7 to 9 p.m., St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran, 3800 Troost, Kansas City, Mo. Hosted by Showing up for Racial Justice - Kansas City.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23: HELP CONDUCT THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASS

​As part of the PPC National Door-to-Door Campaign August 23 - 25, Kansas City progressives will be going door-to-door, engaging poor communities by registering voters, taking a brief survey and asking residents to get involved in changing America's course.  Thursday, August 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. (Brief training session at 6 p.m., followed by canvassing) St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran, 3800 Troost, Kansas City, Mo.  The event is hosted by Stand Up KC.

​SATURDAY, AUGUST 25:  LEARN ABOUT THE LIFE & LEGACY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

Free Community Screening of "Anne Braden: Southern Patriot."  Braden was charged with sedition for attempting to desegregate Louisville in 1954 and hailed by Dr. King as one of the only five southern whites he could trust.  Tickets are free [click here] but seats are limited. The screening will be on Saturday, August 25 at 12 Noon at the Tivoli Theater, 4050 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, Mo. Hosted by Stand Up KC's Fannie Lou Hamer Women's Committee.

​SUNDAY, AUGUST 26: UNITE FOR JUSTICE AND DEMAND THAT THE U.S. SENATE STOP
​JUDGE BRETT KAVANAUGH’S NOMINATION

​All across the country, Americans will stand united in commitment to our freedom and our future. Join multiple like-minded organizations to tell Senator McCaskill to vote NO on Judge Brett Kavanaugh! Help us show Senator McCaskill that Missourians do not want him as a Supreme Court Justice! We will rally outside her office at 4141 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Mo. starting at 1:00 PM. Hosted by Move On and NARAL.

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