January 8, 2022 Newsletter
Posted on January 10, 2022
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Massachusetts' best resource for keeping the House and the Senate and turning purple states Blue.
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Volunteers Taking Back Democracy
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In This Issue
● Voting Rights ● Upcoming Swing Blue Alliance All Volunteer Roundup ● AIM HI ● Vigils across MA
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January 6: Grieving the blatant disregard of democratic ideals and lighting the way to their return
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According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, it just doesn't make sense. States are tearing down voting rights with a simple majority, but Senate rules require 60 votes to recognize and reaffirm voting rights protection across the nation.
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The Senate's hands are tied by the filibuster. "If Republicans continue to hijack the rules of the chamber to prevent action onsomething as critical as protecting our democracy, then the Senate will debate and consider changes to the rules," Schumer said from the Senate floor on Tuesday.
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Take a stand
Here’s a chance for you to put your finger on the balance. Reach out to voting rights advocates in key states. Make it easy for them to call their Senators, even providing the relevant phone numbers.
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Multiple opportunities every day
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Empower other volunteers to reach out to people who care about the right to vote. Give them an easy way to contact targeted Dem Senators who are on the fence about carving out the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation.
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The first Swing Blue Alliance All Volunteer Roundup of 2022 will be a blockbuster.
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Get onto Zoom on Sunday, January 26 @ 5-6 pm and hear about:
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- If and how the US Senate will filibuster the filibuster
- The key role that NH has in the fate of the Senate
- Recruiting Pennsylvania Democrats to get involved in their local elections
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Get the scoop from leaders on the front lines:
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- Izzy Bronstein, National Campaigns Director at Common Cause, who organizes and trains a national network of grassroots and community leaders to work on local, state, and national campaigns
- Lucas Meyer, founder and chair of 603 Forward, which is building the political power of young working Granite Staters
- Andrea Koplove, Organizing Director for Turn PA Blue, whose efforts have provided countless opportunities for volunteers to affect elections
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Get involved in a small-group breakout session about voting rights, New Hampshire, or volunteer recruiting – your choice! There is even a door prize!
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Sunday, January 16 @ 5-6 pm ET
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SBA's Overarching Strategy
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How does an all-volunteer grassroots organization swing America blue? AIM HI. SBA takes advantage of our volunteers' combined years of experience affecting the course of elections to define campaign criteria. We design and execute/implement projects that are:
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- Additive: We supplement existing resources; if we don’t do it, it won’t get done.
- Important: We help keep the US Senate and House blue and help flip key state legislatures.
- Measurable: We choose campaigns where we can quantify the effect of our work.
- Helpful: We support our partners who are fighting on the front lines.
- Impactful: We customize proven tactics to achieve our intended outcomes.
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Sunday, January 16 @ 5-6 pm ET
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A Stand for Democracy:
January 6 Vigils Across Massachusetts
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By rush hour on January 6, activists began a day-long vigil across the state to recognize and denounce the horrors of last year's insurrection in Washington, DC. Citizens met in the chilly morning hours in Lynn and continued at events of all sizes … in Northampton, Worcester, Eastham, and Williamstown; in Nahant, Andover, Pittsfield, and Framingham; and in a large Zoom session that connected concerned residents around Boston.
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Altogether, an estimated 2,000 Massachusetts citizens turned out in 25 locations to solemnly remember last year’s attempted coup and renew their commitment to voting rights and other pillars of American democracy.
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“Our actions provided safe spaces to connect with others and voice our fear, anger, and hope,” said Debbie Paul, chairperson of the Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition. “Those who oppose tyranny must remind those who would overturn legal elections: It is the voters – and ONLY the voters – who choose their representatives."
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To prevent further destruction of voting rights, Paul added, the Senate must immediately pass the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, and DC Statehood.
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“Our forefathers said it’s a democracy only if you can keep it,” said Alix Smullin, who helped organize the standout in Lynn. “That’s our job, we’ve got to keep this democracy.”
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Sponsored by the Indivisible Mass Coalition
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Our Mission
Swing Blue Alliance (formerly Swing Left Greater Boston) is the largest all-volunteer Democratic grassroots organization headquartered in Massachusetts. We use proven methods to protect our Democracy, work on competitive local and national elections, and strengthen the Democratic party at the grassroots level.
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Your contribution will help fund the operations of this volunteer-produced newsletter, which goes out to over 15K subscribers.
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