LAD is an Indivisible Group

(see Indivisible’s latest action items, below)

Longmont Area Democrats signed on and registered with Indivisible shortly after the publication of the first Indivisible Guide in December of 2016. At the time, Indivisible advocated for direct contact with congressional legislators, which LAD has wholeheartedly embraced since its own beginning in 2003, and especially in 2014, with the creation of CLEAN (Community Legislative Early Action Network, which works with state legislators, and tracks bills as they wind through the state legislative process).

Indivisible has been a vital network to thousands of groups like LAD across our nation and we appreciate their steadfast support — and creation and development of tools for democracy and effective, people powered activism!

NEW FOR 2024-25! THE LATEST INDIVISIBLE GUIDE, HERE.

(LAD note: Date specific events will be removed from this list as they occur, but we’ll retain resource info that can be used as a reference on an ongoing basis)

— THE LATEST ACTION ITEMS FROM INDIVISIBLE (National) —
(Find all national webinars and trainings here)

READ: Here we go. Indivisible, 1/20/25. Excerpt: “So as we endure this shock and awe campaign over the coming week, let’s remember, it’s not a sign of Trump’s invincibility. It’s a sign he’s at the height of his power now. He can make a lot of noise, cause a lot of damage, but soon he’s going to realize the constraints of his very narrow governing coalition and run up against rising backlash to his staggeringly harmful and massively corrupt policies.” Read the rest of the email, here.

READ: FROM EZRA LEVIN, Co-Executive Director of Indivisible, News of the Week, a Tale of Two Strategies, 1/19/25

Join our “Help Over Hate” Weekend of Service. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, so this inauguration weekend — as Trump and his allies prepare to attack our rights and divide our communities — we’re coming together through action and solidarity. From January 17-20, Indivisible groups across the country will unite for this weekend of service by hosting events designed to empower their community. Check out the toolkit to find out how you can participate!

Cabinet Nominees and Release the Special Counsel’s Report on the Classified Documents Case:  Currently, there is no plan for AG Merrick Garland to release Vol 2 of Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents. This information needs to be released to the public – we paid for it!! Enough pandering to Trump as it will be gone after Jan 20.

  • Watch this clip of Michael Steele, previous RNC Chair, on Deadline:White House speak about this issue and his criticism of the Dems for not fighting to get it released! (Start at 01:04:00 in 2nd hour of show)
  • Contact your MOCs and demand the report be released before Jan 20! Tell them to put pressure on Garland to release it. You can use some of the arguments made in the clip above as to its importance!

The nominees Trump has put forward for Senate confirmation lack experience and are not prepared for their jobs! From Pete Hegseth to Pam Bondi to RFK JR, they will work to make those institutions they are in charge of work for them and their wealthy friends, not for us! Get more info here and how you can take action! 

Tell our Senators to vote NO on these abhorrent nominees!

If you haven’t already, read the new Indivisible Guide. Our new “Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink” is brimming with tips and strategies designed to help you organize effectively and push back as Trump seeks to dismantle our democracy and roll out Project 2025. Once you’ve finished reading the guide, take our short survey and let us know if there’s anything else you need to make it actionable.

— THE LATEST ACTION ITEMS FROM COLORADO INDIVISIBLE —

REGISTER HERE

Commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr Day | Blackout Inauguration Day – January 20, 2025

We are encouraging black out viewing of the inauguration or engaging in service to your community during that time.  What can you do instead?

  • Join the MLK Marade! Details here! Starts at 9:30 regardless of the weather
  • Perform a community service! Help a neighbor, donate items to a food bank, donate funds to a community organization you care about
  • Watch a movie or read a book on MLK
  • Make sure your television isn’t tuned into a news station during the inauguration!
  • On Inauguration Eve, Jan 19 at 5:30 pm MT, “Keep calm and listen to Heather Cox Richardson” – We are not alone. We have each other, and we know from Heather’s daily letters that small groups of regular people like us can change the course of history. Now is not the time to back down or to give up on our values. It’s time to focus and keep going.

Colorado 2025 Legislative Session has begun!

  • Help us determine our 2025 Indivisi-bills! Each year, we choose a number of legislative priority areas to focus our support around. We need YOUR input for 2025. Please submit the survey and let us know what legislation you’d like to see Indivisible Colorado focus on.  Take the survey here .  Survey closes on Friday, January 31!
  • Find out who represents you here: leg.colorado.gov/FindMyLegislator
  • Read this article by the Colorado Sun on how to participate in the legislative process including:
  • Follow the State legislature schedule here.
  • Follow Bills introduced here.
  • Look up Bills by number here.
  • Subscribe while you are at it! Support local journalism.

Participate in Lobby Day at the Colorado State Capitol | Join one of these groups at their Lobby Day

Join Colorado One for Lobby Day February 3 from 8AM to 2PM.  The fight for LGBTQ+ rights is more urgent than ever, and now is the time to take action. One Colorado’s LGBTQ+ Lobby Day is your chance to step forward, break down barriers, and lead your community toward equality and justice.  Register HERE.

Join the ACLU of Colorado Civil Rights Lobby Day at the Colorado Capitol building on February 25, 2025 @8:00 AM  RSVP HERE.

HELP COLORADO IMMIGRANTS

Why is this a terrible bill?

  • No due process: This bill imposes mandatory, indefinite incarceration on any undocumented person who has merely been accused of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting related offenses. Of course, those things are already illegal – but this bill does away with due process protections guaranteed in the constitution. This means that millions of people in the United States legally, like DREAMers who came to this country as young children, could be detained and deported based on mere allegations.
  • The bill also gives state attorneys general unprecedented powers to sue the federal government if they don’t like policy changes or even individual enforcement decisions.
  • It is based on lies about our immigrant communities!

What action can I take?

  • Call Senator Hickenlooper and Bennet’s offices and tell them thank you for voting no on the latest procedural vote and to continue to vote that way for the final vote.  Ask them to persuade the other Democratic Senators who voted yes to change their votes to no on the final vote.
  • Read Hick’s letter explaining why he voted no!
  • Show up to city councils, state legislative committees, and other public bodies – with the message that we support our immigrant communities BECAUSE they (public bodies) are being inundated with the opposite message right now.  The racists have been emboldened with what happened this election. When we show up in person at city council meetings, first, show up early and fill the seats at the front – and second row bring small signs (8.5 x 11 is fine).  Seeing a sea of signs is very impactful for the decision-makers.  This would apply to testifying at the state legislature too. This is especially needed in Douglas County because the County Commissioners recently adopted a resolution that supports mass deportations and has many racist and dehumanizing statements in it about immigrants.   For talking points, send an email to gina.mcafee6@gmail.com.
  • Join the local National Day of Action on Jan 25 (postponed from Jan 20 due to weather) at 2:00 at Fletcher Plaza in Aurora. More information here.

Participate with Indivisible Colorado

Join us on Blue Sky: Watch this video about how to join BlueSky

Make sure to follow @indivisible.org and @indivisible-co.bsky.social

COLORADO STATEWIDE EVENTS
Commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr day | Help Over Hate – MLK Weekend of Service: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. As Trump and his allies prepare to attack our rights and divide our communities, we’re rising up with action and solidarity. This Inauguration Weekend, in the leadup to MLK Day, from Friday, January 17th through Monday, January 20th, Indivisible groups nationwide will unite for the Help Over Hate: MLK Weekend of Service.   Organize a food drive, clean-up day, fundraiser for trans youth, each act of service is a declaration of hope and a commitment to the fight ahead of us.  Click here for the toolkit.

Participate in the Denver People’s March: Join the Denver People’s March, formerly known as The Women’s March, on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the Colorado State Capitol Building from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Please Register here on their events page. You can donate at their go fund me page here.    Follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Join the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Denver Marade: Monday, January 20, 2025, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Colorado Holiday Commission will be coordinating this annual event in Denver City Park beginning at 9:30 am.  For more information, visit their web page at drmartinlkingjrchc.org

Help Colorado Immigrants
League of Women Voters Colorado JEDI training: Sign up for the enewsletter. The League of Women Voters has several task forces including climate, Healthcare and housing as well as the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) for immigrants task force.

SHARE THIS LETTER TO YOUR NETWORKS: ACLU of Colorado Warns Local Law Enforcement Against Overreach in Federal Civil Immigration Enforcement

Support Local Journalism and Progressive Journalists
Trump is already delivering on his promise to go after the press. Read about the ABC Settlement here.  Read about the Des Moines Register here.

A good example of their importance are these articles about the events in Aurora on  December 16th involving immigrants: | Aurora Sentinel  | The Denverite | The Sentinel

Support Podcasts and Blogs that uplift and inform you too!

Join the Truth Brigade and fight disinformation.  Next Meeting January 22, 4:30 MST.  For more information, visit the website here.

Week of 12/23/24:
We learned that the Aurora PD and ICE conducted a raid in Lowry at the Edge Apts on Dec 17. If you are unaware of this drastic situation, read more here. Trump hasn’t even taken office yet and already the overreach to intimidate our immigrant communities has started. We must protect them from illegal roundups and searches.In response to this drastic situation, the CO ACLU sent a letter to all law enforcement agencies in CO stating that “Colorado law restricts state and local law enforcement’s involvement in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law, recognizing that such entanglement threatens community trust and safety. Colorado state law specifically forbids state and local law enforcement officers from arresting or detaining individuals for civil immigration purposes, including at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). State law additionally prohibits depriving a person of their liberty  on the basis of a suspected civil immigration violation in the absence of a warrant signed by a judge.”Want to take action? Here’s what you can do whenever you can take a moment and here are talking points to help:

  • Contact Senator Bennet and Hickenlooper’s offices and express your concern and disgust at the raids that occurred. Tell them you expect a statement from their offices denouncing these actions!
    • Senator Bennet: 303-455-7600
    • Senator Hickenlooper: 303-244-1628
  • Contact Gov Polis (303-866-2471) and inform him of your disgust at what occurred in Aurora. Let him know you expect him to ask AG Weiser for an investigation!
  • Contact your state Senators and Representatives and inform them you don’t want this type of action in your community! Insist they work on legislation to go beyond current laws to strengthen immigration protection.
  • If you live in Aurora, contact the Mayor’s office and let him know you are a constituent: 303.739.7015 

Contact Gina McAfee at gina.mcafee6@gmail.com for factual information about immigrants to use in emails or calls.

Week of 12/15/24: Help Colorado Immigrants
The incoming administration is threatening our immigrant population regardless of their legal status.  The lies being spread about Colorado, especially Aurora,  are at the center of  their policies that promise to tear apart communities and families.   ICE is severely hampered in doing mass deportations unless they have the cooperation of local law enforcement.  We need to make it clear we do not support local law enforcement cooperating with ICE.

  • Write letters or call your city council, your mayor, senator, representatives and/or the governor’s office.  Write letters to your local media outlets.
  • Host a workshop.  The American Friends Service Committee has many workshops that can be tailored to your needs.
  • Attend city council meetings and speak up for immigrant rights, asking for city council to direct police chiefs not to cooperate with ICE.
  • Contact your local chamber of commerce or business organization to ask them to speak up and provide Know Your Rights training for businesses.
  • Contact your local school board and ask them to adopt policies that immigrant children and parents are safe in their buildings.

Contact Gina McAfee at gina.mcafee6@gmail.com for factual information about immigrants to use in emails or calls.

— ONGOING ACTION ITEMS FROM INDIVISIBLE (National) —

  1. If you haven’t already, read the new Indivisible Guide. Our new “Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink” is full of information, tips, and strategies designed to help you harness your power, organize effectively, and push back as Trump seeks to undermine our democracy and impose Project 2025. Read the new guide, share it with your friends, and get ready to organize Trump and his cronies right out of power. Also: You asked, we answered. The guide is now available in downloadable and easy-to-print formats.
  2. Check out our toolkit, Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint For Blue States to Prepare for Trump 2.0. If you’re in a blue state, there are numerous ways your state lawmakers can act swiftly to protect the safety, rights, and freedoms of their residents — and even mitigate the harm of a Trump presidency for residents of other states. This toolkit will show you how to push your leaders to take action against the looming threat of a second Trump administration. If you’re in a state where your Democratic elected officials are already making moves to resist, you’ll learn how to cheer on your electeds and how to stand by them when the going gets tough. (LAD will keep you apprised of local actions from Colorado and Boulder County’s elected officials, who often visit our first-Wednesday-of-the-month meetings)

DO THIS REGULARLY:
Check out the Take Action Now tab at Indivisible.org